Written Answers of 29 July 1988

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Student Grant
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish in the Official Report the allowances for parental contributions to student grants since 1985–86; and if he will show parental contributions as a percentage of the full student grant in each year.

  Mr. Jackson
  Parental contributions to mandatory student awards are assessed on the basis of the parents' residual income in accordance with specified scales. The levels of residual income below which no parental contribution would be assessed are as follows:

  Academic year

  Residual income

  £

  1985–86

  8,100

  1986–87

  8,700

  1987–88

  9,300

  1988–89

  9,900

  The average assessed parental contribution expressed as a percentage of the average mandatory award in 1985–86 and 1986–87 (the latest year for which this information is available) is:

  Per cent.

  1985–86

  38·8

  1986–87

  38·4

  Expenditure
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what were the figures for average expenditure per pupil in(a) primary and (b) secondary schools in each shire county education authority and the average for all shire counties in 1984–85 and the latest year for which information is available.

  Mr. Jackson
  The information requested is given in the following table.

  Average Net Institutional Expenditure (1) Per Pupil (£ cash)

  1984–85

  1986–87

  Local Education Authority

  Primary

  Secondary

  Primary

  Secondary

  £

  £

  £

  £

  Isles of Scilly

  1,125

  1,670

  1,330

  2,205

  Avon

  735

  1,085

  850

  1,310

  Bedfordshire

  770

  1,060

  875

  1,250

  Berkshire

  725

  1,055

  845

  1,280

  Buckinghamshire

  710

  1,095

  845

  1,320

  Cambridgeshire

  680

  960

  815

  1.205

  Cheshire

  710

  1,010

  810

  1,235

  Cleveland

  750

  1,075

  890

  1,355

  616

  1984–85

  1986–87

  Local Education Authority

  Primary

  Secondary

  Primary

  Secondary

  £

  £

  £

  £

  Cornwall

  670

  965

  795

  1,175

  Cumbria

  735

  1,025

  915

  1,315

  Derbyshire

  730

  1,020

  875

  1,305

  Devon

  670

  980

  800

  1,225

  Dorset

  700

  960

  870

  1,190

  Durham

  730

  965

  920

  1,225

  East Sussex

  705

  1,000

  825

  1,235

  Essex

  685

  1,015

  820

  1,255

  Gloucestershire

  695

  1,015

  835

  1,260

  Hampshire

  685

  980

  825

  1,220

  Hereford and Worcester

  680

  955

  815

  1,180

  Hertfordshire

  730

  1,075

  870

  1,350

  Humberside

  815

  1,040

  915

  1,270

  Isle of Wight

  705

  960

  785

  1,150

  Kent

  645

  935

  760

  1,145

  Lancashire

  670

  1,015

  780

  1,255

  Leicestershire

  755

  1,100

  885

  1,390

  Lincolnshire

  665

  985

  795

  1,185

  Norfolk

  710

  1,010

  850

  1,230

  North Yorkshire

  730

  1,035

  850

  1,240

  Northamptonshire

  705

  1,035

  815

  1,250

  Northumberland

  720

  1,000

  840

  1,230

  Nottinghamshire

  785

  1,110

  935

  1,365

  Oxfordshire

  765

  1,070

  905

  1,350

  Shropshire

  715

  1,040

  850

  1,285

  Somerset

  655

  950

  780

  1,195

  Staffordshire

  770

  1,025

  880

  1,255

  Suffolk

  725

  975

  830

  1,165

  Surrey

  675

  1,030

  820

  1,260

  Warwickshire

  710

  1,010

  845

  1,220

  West Sussex

  660

  965

  785

  1,220

  Wiltshire

  695

  975

  850

  1,230

  Average for all English shire counties

  710

  1,020

  840

  1,255

  Note:

  Net institutional recurrent expenditure covers the cost of salaries and wages, premises and certain supplies and services. It does not include the cost of school meals, central administration and inspection, debt charges or revenue contributions to capital outlay.

  Pupil-Teacher Ratios
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what were the average pupil-teacher ratios in(a) primary and (b) secondary schools for each shire county education authority and the average for all shire counties in 1984–85 and the latest year for which information is available.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The average pupil-teacher ratios in(a) primary and (b) secondary schools for each shire county local education authority and the average for all shire counties in 1984–85 and 1986–87 (the latest year for which information is available) are as follows:

  Pupil-teacher ratio

  Primary schools

  Secondary schools

  January

  January

  January

  January

  1984

  1987

  1984

  1987

  Avon

  23·9

  24·1

  16·4

  16·4

  Bedfordshire

  23·3

  22·0

  17·5

  17·1

  Berkshire

  23·0

  23·6

  16·2

  16·0

  Buckinghamshire

  24·3

  24·4

  16·5

  16·1

  Cambridgeshire

  23·6

  23·2

  16·8

  16·2

  Cheshire

  22·7

  23·2

  16·9

  16·7

  Cleveland

  22·1

  22·1

  16·2

  15·5

  Cornwall

  23·7

  23·2

  16·9

  16·5

  Cumbria

  21·2

  21·2

  15·9

  15·2

  617

  Primary schools

  Secondary schools

  January

  January

  January

  January

  1984

  1987

  1984

  1987

  Derbyshire

  22·2

  21·3

  16·9

  15·5

  Devon

  23·6

  22·6

  16·9

  16·5

  Dorset

  23·5

  22·9

  17·1

  16·5

  Durham

  21·7

  22·1

  16·8

  16·7

  East Sussex

  22·1

  22·4

  17·1

  16·4

  Essex

  24·1

  23·1

  17·1

  16·8

  Gloucestershire

  22·9

  22·4

  17·0

  16·1

  Hampshire

  24·0

  23·3

  17·1

  16·5

  Hereford and Worcester

  25·1

  24·1

  17·5

  16·8

  Hertfordshire

  22·4

  21·8

  16·1

  15·5

  Humberside

  20·9

  21·4

  16·2

  15·6

  Isle of Wight

  23·6

  23·5

  18·0

  17·1

  Kent

  23·9

  24·0

  17·1

  16·6

  Lancashire

  23·2

  23·6

  16·4

  15·9

  Leicestershire

  22·5

  22·9

  16·0

  15·5

  Lincolnshire

  24·1

  24·0

  17·0

  16·6

  Norfolk

  22·3

  22·4

  16·6

  16·2

  North Yorkshire

  21·8

  21·9

  16·4

  16·3

  Northamptonshire

  22·1

  22·7

  16·5

  16·3

  Northumberland

  23·3

  23·1

  17·4

  16·3

  Nottinghamshire

  21·1

  20·7

  15·8

  15·1

  Oxfordshire

  23·9

  23·0

  17·2

  16·5

  Salop

  21·6

  21·3

  16·2

  15·5

  Somerset

  23·8

  22·9

  17·6

  16·7

  Staffordshire

  22·3

  22·9

  16·3

  16·5

  Suffolk

  22·1

  22·5

  16·9

  16·8

  Surrey

  22·5

  21·3

  16·4

  15·8

  Warwickshire

  22·5

  21·7

  17·1

  16·5

  West Sussex

  23·3

  22·8

  17·0

  16·4

  Wiltshire

  23·5

  22·8

  17·0

  16·7

  Non-Metropolitan Counties

  22·9

  22·6

  16·7

  16·2

  Voluntary Organisations
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when the London Voluntary Service Council can expect a reply to its letters to the Minister of State of 18 and 26 May about the future funding for voluntary organisations working in the field of education in inner London.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  A reply has been sent today.

  Endometriosis
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if the Medical Research Council has carried out any research into the disease endometriosis; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  The MRC reproductive biology unit is currently carrying out studies on the treatment and causes of endometriosis. Two MRC project grants:Steroid hormone control of phospholipid turnover in the regulation of menstrual bleeding; and
  Psychiatric disorders and measured menstrual loss in women having hysterectomies for excessive menstruation

  both of which have just ended, are relevant to this subject.

  The MRC also supports research in the areas of obstetrics and gynaecology, fertility and human reproduction which may have indirect relevance to the understanding of this disease. The council is always willing to consider soundly based research grant applications in competition with other applicants.

  Teachers
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of English 618
  teachers in secondary schools have (a) higher degrees, (b) first degrees, (c) A-level pass, (d) O-level pass and (e) other academic qualifications in this subject.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  In January 1984, the latest date for which full figures of post-A-level qualifications are available, there were an estimated 45,700 full and part-time teachers who taught English in maintained secondary schools in England. The percentages of these teachers qualified in English beyond A-level are as follows. No information is available on the A and O-level qualifications of secondary school teachers.

  Percentage of teachers

  Main subject of higher degree

  2

  Main subject of degree (including BEd)

  36

  Main subject of other post A level qualification

  17

  Subsidiary subject of degree (including BEd)

  3

  Subsidiary subject of other post A level qualification

  13

  No qualification in the subject beyond A level

  29

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his latest estimate of the numbers of teachers required to teach(a) science, (b) mathematics and (c) modern languages by 1992.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Estimates of the numbers of teachers required to teach subjects within the national curriculum will depend on the timetable for the introduction of its various requirements, on my right hon. Friend's proposals in respect of each subject and on the outcome of the National Curriculum Council's subsequent consultations.

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what were the numbers of entrants into teacher training for(a) science, (b) mathematics and (c) modern languages in each of the last available five years;

  (2) how many graduates of (a) universities and (b) polytechnics entered the teaching profession for each of the last available five years.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what were the numbers of teachers qualifying from training in(a) science, (b) mathematics and (c) modern languages for each of the last available five years.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Numbers entering secondary courses of initial teacher training in English universities, polytechnics and colleges in, respectively, science, mathematics and modern languages, in each of the last five years were:

  Science

  Mathematics

  Modern languages

  1983

  1,400

  1,041

  724

  1984

  1,300

  917

  716

  1985

  1,215

  791

  697

  1986

  1,310

  848

  631

  1987

  1,573

  1,140

  681

  619
  Notes:

  1. Figures based on returns of intakes to secondary initial teacher training courses made each autumn by universities, polytechnics and colleges to the DES.

  2. Figures on entrants to primary courses of initial teacher training are not disaggregated by subject specialism.

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many teachers left the profession before the official retirement age for each of the last available five years.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The numbers of full-time maintained nursery, primary and secondary teachers leaving the maintained, assisted and grant-aided sector before the age of 60 in each of the last five available years are as follows:

  Financial year

  Teachers

  1980–81

  28,600

  1981–82

  26,345

  1982–83

  25,627

  1983–84

  25,382

  1984–85

  27,171

  11985–86

  27,224

  1Provisional.

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many places there were for graduates in English on postgraduate teaching courses for each of the last available five years.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Aggregate numbers of target places in English universities, polytechnics and colleges for secondary PGCE courses in English in each of the last five years were:

  Year

  Places

  1983

  775

  1984

  716

  1983

  729

  1986

  763

  1987

  758

  In addition, over this period it was open to graduates in English, as in other subjects, to proceed to PGCE courses for intending primary teachers.

  City Technology Colleges
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will list the consultants advising the Government on city technology colleges; and what is his estimate of the cost of this exercise;

  (2) if he will list the consultants advising those city technology colleges already announced, giving an estimate of the cost.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  As from January 1987 the Government have been advised by a group of four, and latterly five individual experts, plus the Organisation for Rehabilitation through Training, on the curriculum and related issues of city technology colleges. The estimated cost to the Department to date is £40,000.

  Kinghurst, Nottingham and Teesside CTC trusts are each employing the services of a number of advisers to help them establish their CTCs. Details are available from the CTC trust concerned in each case. The Department is contributing an estimated £225,000 towards the cost of these services over a period of three years.

  Post-16 Education
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to ensure that post-16 educational opportunities in England and Wales are comparable with those available in the other European Economic Community countries by 1992.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Government's priority is to ensure that wide-ranging opportunities for post-16 education and training are available in this country, and to encourage more young people to take advantage of them. To that end we have developed important new programmes such as the two-year YTS and the certificate of pre-vocational education. Our examination reforms and the Education Reform Bill will help to give more 16-year-olds the motivation and the qualifications they need to stay on, We are working to produce a more rational system of vocational qualifications. We are emphasising to young people and to employers the importance of continuing education and training, not least in order to produce the skilled and productive work force which we will need if we are to continue to compete effectively in Europe after 1992.

  Student Unions
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will seek to place upon heads of polytechnics and colleges of further education and upon university vice-chancellors a legal duty to ensure that college students unions do not misappropriate their funds or apply them to causes other than the material welfare of students.

  Mr. Jackson
  I refer to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock (Mr. Janman) on 18 April, at column 292, in which my right hon. Friend indicated the Government's intention to collect up-to-date information on a number of issues relating to student unions and thereafter to reach conclusions and consult all concerned on the best action to take. A questionnaire will be issued to a sample of institutions shortly.

  In the meantime, all student unions covered by the law of charity are already under a duty to apply their funds only on activities designed to promote the interests of students as students.

  Co-ordinating Committee for Marine Science and Technology
  Mr. Ken Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has now completed the appointments to the Co-ordinating Committee for Marine Science and Technology.

  Mr. Jackson
  Yes. The full committee membership is now:

  Members

  Sir John Mason, CB, DSc, FRS

  Chairman

  Non-Governmental Members

  Mr. George C. Band

  Director General, UK Offshore Operators Association Ltd.

  Admiral Sir Lindsay Bryson, FRSE, FEng

  Chairman, Marine Technology Directorate Ltd.

  Dr. Douglas Georgala, CBE

  Industrial Consultant, Laboratory of the Government Chemist

  621

  Members

  Sir Anthony Laughton, FRS

  Former Director, Institute of Oceanographic Sciences, Deacon Lab.

  Mr. Don Lennard

  Managing Director, Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Systems Ltd.

  Prof, Ernest Naylor, DSc, FIBiol

  Lloyd Roberts Professor of Zoology, University College of North Wales, Bangor.

  Prof. Tom Patten, CBE, FEng, FIMechE, FRSE

  Chairman, Seaboard Lloyd Ltd.

  Sir David Smith, FRS

  Vice Chancellor of Edinburgh University.

  Departmental Members

  Prof. Michael Burdekin, FEng, FICE, FIMechE

  Professor of Civil and Structural Engineering at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology. Science and Engineering Research Council representative.

  Mr. Peter Carter

  Director of R&D Branch, Offshore Supplies Office, Departmentof Energy.

  Dr. Anthony Hawkins

  Director Aberdeen Marine Laboratory, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland.

  Mr. Harold Hill

  Director of Fisheries Research, Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food.

  Mr. Peter O'Neill

  Head of Science and Research Policy and Programming Division, Department of Transport.

  Mr. Charles Robson

  Head of Chief Scientist Group, Department of Environment.

  Dr. Mike Sutton

  Engineering Markets Division, Department of Trade and Industry.

  Dr. David Tyte

  Deputy Director, (Underwater) Admiralty Research Establishment, Portland, Ministry of Defence.

  Dr. John Woods

  Director of Marine Sciences, Natural Environment Research Council.

  Assessors

  Miss Rowena Harris

  Science and Technology Secretariat, Cabinet Office

  Mr. Henry Hogger

  Assistant Head of Maritime, Aviation and Environment Department, Foreign & Commonwealth Office

  Mr. Robin Ritzema

  Head of Division Science Branch, Department of Education and Science

  Secretary

  Dr. Nicholas Flemming

  Recruitment and Promotion
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what measures he has implemented to ensure that recruitment and promotion policy in his Department does not directly or indirectly discriminate against applicants who were mature students or women returning to work following a career break due to child care.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  For the grades of administration officer and below, where the Department recruits direct, we are trying to widen our recruitment field, particularly to married women returning to work and mature people, by using centrally devised tests as an alternative to formal qualifications. Staff are encouraged to return to the Department following a career break for child care or 622
  other circumstances and they retain the grade and seniority that they had achieved at the date of leaving. Promotion at all levels is based on ability.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Development Projects
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give a breakdown, by project, of the resources reallocated to development projects resulting from the savings arising from the United Kingdom's withdrawal from UNESCO.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  In the financial year 1986–87, the latest for which figures are available, the £6·4 million saved by our withdrawal from UNESCO was reallocated in full to aid projects, as shown in the following table.

  Re-Allocation of 1986/87 UNESCO Savings

  Final Expenditure 1986/87

  £

  £

  Committed

  Spent

  1. ODA Technical Co-operation Training Programme

  Country—

  Botswana

  300,000

  203,370

  Mauritius

  150,000

  —

  Swaziland

  150,000

  43,378

  Gambia

  40,000

  40,000

  Ghana

  150,000

  150,000

  Kenya

  200,000

  200,000

  Nigeria

  75,000

  75,000

  Sierra Leone

  55,000

  55,000

  Tanzania

  80,000

  80,000

  Sri Lanka

  100,000

  100,000

  Maldives

  50,000

  50,000

  Cyprus

  17,000

  —

  Caribbean Commonwealth

  100,000

  100,000

  Fiji, Tonga, Solomons, Vanuatu, Kiribati, Tuvalu

  52,000

  52,000

  1,519,000

  1,148,748

  British Council Aid Administration Charges

  353,000

  266,510

  Total

  £1,872,000

  £1,415,258

  2. English Language Training Courses

  Country—

  Senegal

  46,000

  46,000

  Ivory Coast

  10,000

  10,000

  Guinea

  30,000

  30,000

  Mali

  30,000

  30,000

  Benin

  32,000

  32,000

  Niger

  30,000

  30,000

  Cameroon

  50,000

  50,000

  Morocco

  66,000

  66,000

  Mauritius

  40,000

  28,000

  Madagascar

  40,000

  40,000

  Mozambique

  40,000

  40,000

  Djibouti

  75,000

  —

  Bangladesh

  150,000

  112,173

  Burma

  50,000

  50,000

  689,000

  564,173

  British Council Aid Administration Charges

  110,000

  90,268

  Total

  799,000

  654,441

  3. ODA Shared Scholarship Scheme

  300,000

  300,000

  623

  £

  £

  Committed

  Spent

  4. Foreign and Commonwealth

  Office Scholarships and Awards Schemes

  600,000

  600,000

  5. ODA Cultural Projects International Centre for the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property: Training course for African museum conservators

  100,000

  100,000

  6. PES transfer to FCO for cultural projects:

  Visiting Arts

  Heritage Trust

  Arts Council

  Latin American Arts Association

  European Youth Theatre

  Encounter

  100,000

  100,000

  7. Chinese student scholarships in United Kingdom

  950,000

  —

  8. Distance learning project in Commonwealth countries

  100,000

  100,000

  9. Nassau fellowships

  500,000

  370,853

  10. Commonwealth Media Development Fund

  100,000

  100,000

  11. Royal Society

  i. International Geological Correlation Programme

  23,400

  —

  ii. International Council of Scientific Unions

  17,900

  —

  iii. International Centre for Theoretical Physics

  15,500

  —

  iv. Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research

  9,000

  —

  v. Commission for the Geological Map of The World

  3,900

  —

  vi. International Brain Research Organisation

  1,600

  —

  vii. International Cell Research Organisation

  3,800

  —

  viii. International Union of Microbiological Sciences

  2,000

  —

  ix. International Union of Geological Sciences

  1,400

  —

  x. International Union for Conservation of Nature

  2,700

  —

  xi. International Federation of Automatic Control

  9,300

  —

  xii. International Centre for Pure and Applied Mathematics

  1,900

  —

  xiii. World Federation of Engineering Organisations

  3,400

  —

  95,800

  —

  Royal Society charges

  9,580

  —

  Total

  105,380

  105,380

  12. Research in Arid Commonwealth Africa

  400,000

  400,000

  13. Inter-governmental Oceanographic Commission

  96,000

  96,000

  14. Man and the Biosphere/International Hydrological Programme/International Association of Hydrological Sciences

  189,000

  189,000

  624

  £

  £

  Committed

  Spent

  15. Dissemination of results of research

  200,000

  170,000

  Grand Total items 1–15 =

  £6,411,380

  1£4,700,932

  (73·32%)

  1 Full use of the total amount was not possible because of the late start on the allocations following announcement of the programmi: in mid-April.

  Departmental Programmes
  Mr. George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much has been spent by his Department in each of the past five years on the evaluation of departmental programmes; and what proportion this constitutes of(a) the amount allocated for evaluation and (b) the Department's total budget.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  [holding answer 28 July 1988]: Information in respect of the Overseas Development Administration is as follows:

  Expenditure on evaluation1 £ thousand

  Expenditure on evaluation as percentage of allocation

  Expenditure on evaluation as percentage of total net aid programme

  1983–84

  293

  78

  0·02

  1984–85

  369

  68

  0·02

  1985–86

  375

  81

  0·02

  1986–87

  375

  86

  0·02

  1987–88

  425

  95

  0·03

  1 Virtually all expenditure on evaluation has been in respect of evaluation of Departmental programmes.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Heavy Vehicles (Fines)
  Mr. Onslow
  To ask the Attorney-General what action the Lord Chancellor is taking, in his capacity as chairman of the Magistrates Association, to draw magistrates' attention to the conclusions of the report of the National Audit Office concerning the financial advantage of regularly overloading a 38-tonne vehicle relative to the national average fine imposed for such an offence.

  The Attorney-General
  The Lord Chancellor, in his capacity as president of the Magistrates Association, will take the opportunity of expressing his personal views on this matter on a suitable occasion when addressing members of the association. When addressing west midlands magistrates in July 1986, Lord Chancellor Hailsham said, referring in particular to offences of overloading commercial vehicles:"Where the motive is profit and the rewards are high, a swingeing fine may be the right penalty or the offender will simply recou himself in a very short time by further offences."

  This was reported in the November 1986 issue of The Magistrate.

PRIME MINISTER

  Ministers (Correspondence)
  Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop
  To ask the Prime Minister whether she will remind Ministers that when the regular staff of their private offices are on holiday, they must not omit to instruct the replacement staff of the necessity to enclose a second copy with all Ministers' letters sent to right hon. and hon. Members.

  The Prime Minister
  My right hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury has written to Ministers accordingly.

  Iranian Airbus (Incident)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister, further to her replies dated 11 July on the shooting down of the Iranian Airbus,Official Report, column 4, whether Royal Navy ships in the vicinity had indirect information on the Iranian Airbus's flight path; and whether the equipment of the Royal Navy is such as to preclude a similar error.

  The Prime Minister
  HMS Beaver heard warnings to an unidentified aircraft on the international civil distress frequency at the time of the incident. The equipment and operating procedures of Royal Navy ships are designed to minimise the risk of misidentifications.

  Single European Act
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister why she agreed to the Single European Act; and what are its implications for national sovereignty.

  The Prime Minister
  The provisions of the Single European Act were fully debated by the House during the various stages of the European Communities (Amendment) Bill, which completed its passage through the House on 10 July 1986.

  Scientific Officers and Scientists
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) what is the typical salary of a Civil Service scientific officer after three years' service, and of a National Health Service scientist after the same service; and if she will make a statement on the implications of the disparity;

  (2) what is the starting salary of (a) a Civil Service scientific officer and (b) a National Health Service graduate scientist; and if she will make a statement on the implications of the disparity between them.

  The Prime Minister
  The information requested is a follows:

  Starting salary

  After 3 years

  £

  £

  Civil Service scientific officer

  8,284–9,687

  9,687–10,622

  NHS scientist

  8,255–10,369

  9,452–11,073

  Notes:

  NHS figures are those in the current offer which, if accepted, would become effective from 1 April 1988; Civil Service figures are subject to review from 1 August 1988.

  Starting salaries depend on individual qualifications and relevant experience.

  Economic and Monetary Union
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Prime Minister when she first agreed to the principle of economic and monetary union 626
  within the European Economic Community or any development of that principle at a meeting of the Heads of Governments of member states or at any meeting of the European Council established by the Single European Act.

  The Prime Minister
  The first of the many meetings at which Community Heads of Government, with United Kingdom participation, reaffirmed the objective of economic and monetary union took place on 19–20 October 1972.

  Departmental Responsibilities
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Prime Minister which Department will be responsible for(a) social services, (b) disability and (c) children; and if she will make it her policy that the titles of the new Departments of state reflect these as responsibilities.

  The Prime Minister
  Responsibility for the personal social services at central Government level falls to the Secretary of State for Health. Health care and personal social services for children, and those for people with a disability are matters for him. Benefits for all client groups are the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Social Security. The Minister for Social Security and the Disabled exercises the Department's responsibility for the co-ordination of Government policies concerning disabled people. The two Departments will be known as the Department of Social Security and the Department of Health.

  10 Downing Street
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Prime Minister what work on the interior and exterior of No. 10 Downing street is envisaged during the next 12 months; what is the estimated cost; and how much in total has been spent on(a) fixtures and fittings, (b) interior and exterior decoration and (c) the grounds of No. 10 Downing street since 1979.

  The Prime Minister
  Work on the interior and exterior of 10 Downing street envisaged during 1988–89 consists of refurbishment, restorations, electrical and security improvements and general maintenance at an estimated cost of £975,000. Information on how much in total has been spent on fixtures and fittings, interior and exterior decoration and the grounds of 10 Downing street since 1979 is not available.

  Ministers (Advisers)
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list in the Official Report the grades of, and or salaries paid to political and special advisers to (a) herself, (b) Secretaries of State and (c) Ministers, showing each Department separately.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 27 July 1988]: The number of special advisers in each Department is as follows:

  Number

  Cabinet Office (including No. 10)

  9

  Foreign and Commonwealth Office

  2

  Her Majesty's Treasury

  3

  Department of Health

  12

  Department of Social Security

  Department of Education and Science

  1

  627

  Number

  Department of Employment

  1

  Department of Trade and Industry

  2

  Home Office

  2

  Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  1

  Department of Energy

  1

  Department of Transport

  1

  Scottish Office

  1

  Department of the Environment

  2

  Ministry of Defence

  1

  Lord President of the Council

  1

  1 The allocation of special advisers is still under consideration.

  None of these posts is graded.

  Two special advisers are unpaid and four are on secondment from the private sector. Apart from the three most senior advisers, the remainder are paid on a common pay spine, as follows:

  Point No.

  Salary

  No. of advisers

  1

  13,715

  1

  2

  14,587

  11

  3

  15,047

  4

  15,591

  5

  16,479

  11+1

  6

  17,090

  7

  17,686

  8

  18,287

  9

  18,966

  10

  19,859

  11

  20,497

  12

  21,270

  13

  22,117

  14

  22,927

  1

  15

  23,736

  3

  16

  24,755

  1

  17

  26,359

  1

  18

  27,702

  1

  19

  29,050

  1

  20

  30,398

  11

  21

  31,741

  3

  22

  33,021

  1

  23

  34,301

  24

  35,952

  2

  25

  37,159

  26

  38,366

  27

  39,312

  11

  28

  40,258

  1

  1 These four advisers are paid on a pensionable basis, as members of the principal Civil Service pension scheme and their pay is reduced accordingly. The pay of all other special advisers is non-pensionable.

  Children and Young People
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list the responsibilities of each Government Department, broken down by departmental divisions, for matters relating to children and young people aged under 18 years.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 27 July 1988]: Government responsibility for services relating to children and young people covers a wide range of activities and involves a number of departments. The main responsibilities within England are as follows:

  Department of Education and Science

  —Promotion of education, including the organisation of primary and secondary education, school curriculum and assessment policy, and public examinations.

  Department of Employment

  —Responsibility for training, employment and vocational
  628
  education schemes for young people, such as YTS, TVEI and other educational programmes.

  —Central responsibility for the career service.

  Department of Environment

  —Provision of play for pre-school children.

  —Provision of play for pre-school children.

  —Grants under the urban programme for projects benefiting children.

  Department of Health

  —Health services for children and young people in hospital and in the community, including child health surveillance and dental and school health services.

  —Policy for social services for children, including day-care, foster-care and adoption, and prevention of child abuse.

  —Nutrition, including infant feeding.

  —Care and protection of children.

  —Social services for socially deprived families and children in care.

  —Care, control and treatment of juvenile delinquents.

  Home Office

  —Criminal justice policies.

  —Arrangements for offenders given custodial sentences.

  —Magistrates' court proceedings involving the custody and maintenance of children.

  Lord Chancellor's Department

  —Family law relating to children.

  Department of Social Security

  —Policy on social security benefits affecting children and young people, including cash benefits for disabled people, unemployment benefits (family credit, child benefit, and one-parent benefit), the social fund, state and occupational pensions, income support and housing benefits.

  (Payments of benefits is undertaken by the Department and by local authorities. Payment of unemployment benefits is undertaken by the Department of Employment on an agency basis.)

  In Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, some of the functions are carried out by the Departments listed above; others or their equivalents are, subject to apropriate legislation, performed by the Welsh, Scottish and Northern Ireland Offices.

  Further breakdown by departmental divisions would be possible only at disproportionate cost.

THE ARTS

  Elstree Studios (Nitrate Film)
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Minister of the Arts if he will make provision for the stocks of nitrate film at present stored at Elstree studios; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Luce
  The British Film Institute could carry out the necessary conservation work, and it is in discussion with the owners at present.

  Public Expenditure
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will publish in the Official Report an analysis of receipts to his programme, consistent with the reply of 27 May, Official Report, columns 375–376, analysing by function or nature of item (a) the receipts classified as charges with respect to programme expenditure, (b) the receipts classified as charges with respect to running costs expenditure and (c) the amounts of receipts in respect of (i) programme expenditure and (ii) running costs expenditure estimated to have been met from other public expenditure programmes.

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 28 July 1988]:An analysis in the precise form requested is not available, but the arts and

  629
  libraries receipts detailed in the reply of 27 May relate to programme expenditures. They fall into the following categories, and the table covers the last three years for which firm figures are known.

  £ million

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  Museums and Galleries

  -8

  -11

  -8

  Libraries (Central)

  -16

  -18

  -16

  LA Museums and Galleries

  -10

  -11

  -11

  LA Libraries

  -37

  -39

  -42

  TOTAL

  -71

  -79

  -77

  It is not possible to identify the amounts that originate in other public expenditure programmes.

  English National Opera and London Festival Ballet
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will make a statement on the future funding of the English National Opera and London Festival Ballet.

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 28 July 1988]: These companies receive their public funding from the Arts Council and from Westminster city council, on behalf of London generally. I am aware of the anxieties which have been expressed about the continuation of Westminster's contribution when the basis of local authority finance is changed. I hope that all the parties which currently

  Number1 of visitors to National museums and galleries 1978–1987

  1978

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  British Museum (Natural History)

  2,901

  2,869

  2,410

  3,299

  2,869

  3,193

  3,022

  3,354

  3,240

  1,999

  Imperial War Museum

  1,462

  1,419

  1,449

  1,160

  1,180

  1,256

  1,366

  1,291

  1,176

  1,185

  National Maritime Museum

  1,260

  1,102

  1,145

  997

  997

  600

  600

  600

  380

  442

  NMGM

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,163

  1,329

  Science Museum

  5,176

  5,147

  5,790

  5,464

  4,554

  4,784

  4,510

  4,608

  4,825

  4,733

  Tate Gallery

  1,081

  1,141

  1,331

  891

  1,219

  1,270

  1,266

  997

  1,153

  1,742

  Victoria and Albert Museum

  1,937

  1,992

  1,724

  1,711

  2,058

  2,221

  2,079

  2,067

  1,439

  1,399

  Total

  13,817

  13,670

  13,849

  13,522

  12,877

  13,324

  12,843

  12,917

  13,376

  12,829

  1 in thousands.

  Estimates Definitions (Expenditure)
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will publish in the Official Report a table covering each of the votes on class XIII and for each of the years 1979–80 to 1990–91, which shows gross expenditure on estimates definitions.

  £'000s

  British Museum

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  British Museum

  12,350

  12,771

  13,096

  13,345

  13,938

  (Class X,12)

  (Class V,1)

  (Class V,1)

  (Class XIII, 1)

  (Class XIII.1)

  British Museum (Natural History)

  9,416

  9,731

  11,415

  11,787

  17,958

  (Class X, 10)

  (Class X, 10)

  (Class X, 10)

  (Class XII.10)

  (Class XII, 10)

  Imperial War Museum

  3,997

  4,100

  4,445

  4,497

  4,727

  (Class X, 15)

  (Class V,2)

  (Class V,2)

  (Class XIII,2)

  (Class XIII,2)

  National Gallery

  6,659

  6,992

  6,571

  6,771

  7,017

  (Class X,16)

  (Class V,3)

  (Class V,3)

  (Class XIII,3)

  (Class XIII,3)

  National Maritime Museum

  3,988

  4,275

  4,218

  4,462

  4,677

  (Class X,17)

  (Class V,4)

  (Class V,4)

  (Class XIII,4)

  (Class XIII,4)

  National Portrait Gallery

  1,757

  1,886

  1,777

  1,814

  1,819

  (Class X,18)

  (Class V,5)

  (Class V,5)

  (Class XIII,5)

  (Class XIII,5)

  Science Museum

  7,642

  8,483

  8,954

  9,171

  9,589

  630
  contribute will continue to do so, and that means will be found to adjust their contributions as may become necessary and appropriate.

  Sponsors (TV Advertising)
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will make a statement on the relaxation of television advertising rules for sponsors of major arts events.

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 28 July 1988]: I welcome recent efforts by both the IBA and BBC to relax their guidelines on the credits which may be given to arts sponsors. I believe the IBA changes will be very helpful, but I am still concerned at the disparity of treatment between the arts and sport in the BBC guidelines and I shall continue to press for equality.

  Museums
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will publish in the Official Report for each year in the period 1970 to 1987 and for the institutions listed in his earlier reply of 26 May, Official Report columns 259–260 (a) the number of adult entrants, (b) the number of concession entrants and (c) admission revenue.

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 27 July 1988]: This information is not available in the precise form requested. However, total attendances at each of the institutions listed in my reply of 26 May in each year since 1978 were as follows:

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 27 July 1988]: The Office of Arts and Libraries was established in 1983. The following table shows gross spending since then on the votes which in the last closed year, 1987–88, comprised class XIII.
  631

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  (Class X,13)

  (Class V,6)

  (Class V,6)

  (Class XIII.6)

  (Class XIII,6)

  Tate Gallery

  5,320

  5,594

  5,644

  5,782

  6,497

  (Class X, 19)

  (Class V,7)

  (Class V,7)

  (Class XIII,7)

  (Class XIII,7)

  Victoria and Albert Museum

  10,299

  11,340

  10,670

  11,023

  11,680

  (Class X,14)

  (Class V,8)

  (Class V,8)

  (Class XIII,8)

  (Class XIII,8)

  Wallace Collection

  781

  822

  876

  906

  939

  (Class X,20)

  (Class V,9)

  (Class V,9)

  (Class XIII,9)

  (Class XIII,9)

  Arts and the Heritage

  111,671

  124,111

  129,871

  173,670

  183,514

  (Class X,21)

  (Class V, 10)

  (Class V.10)

  (Class XIII, 10)

  (Class XIII,10)

  £'000

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  Libraries

  45,324

  47,286

  48,719

  53,143

  54,238

  (Class X,22)

  (Class V,11)

  (Class V,11)

  (Class XIII,11)

  (Class XIII, 11)

  OAL Administration

  1600

  906

  1,186

  1,165

  1,288

  (Class X,23)

  (Class V, 12)

  (Class V,12)

  (Class XIII, 12)

  (Class XIII,12)

  1 Part-year only.

  The Vote Structure of class XIII was reorganised and simplified in 1988–89. The details are as follows:

  £'000

  Vote 1.

  Museums and Galleries

  153,576

  Vote 2.

  Arts and the Heritage

  174,364

  Vote 3.

  Libraries

  89,668

  Vote 4.

  Office of Arts and Libraries Administration

  1,522

  Supply Expenditure
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will publish in the Official Report a table, covering each of the institutions for which a vote is taken on class XIII and for each of the years 1979–80 to 1990–91, which shows the public expenditure content of such Supply expenditure.

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 27 July 1988]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to his earlier question on the matter. All the Supply expenditure referred to is classified as public expenditure.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Cash Dispensers
  Sir Geoffrey Finsberg
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will make a statement on progress in discussions on providing an automated cash dispensing teller machine within the precincts of the House for the convenience of hon. Members and staff.

  Mr. Wakeham
  I replied to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Warrington, South (Mr. Butler) about cash dispensing facilities in the House on 23 May, at column 22. I have received no further representations on this subject. I understand, however, that this facility is being considered by the relevant sub-committee of the Services Committee as one of the possible amenities and facilities to be provided in the new parliamentary buildings.

  Written Answers (Cost)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what information he has about the total estimated 632
  cost of providing answers to written parliamentary questions in the current Session of Parliament; and how many such questions have been tabled.

  Mr. Wakeham
  Records of the total cost of answering parliamentary questions are not kept centrally. However, following an interdepartmental exercise in 1972, an assessment was made of the average cost of answering a written parliamentary question. This average figure is updated regularly and currently stands at £51. A total of 43,128 written and priority written parliamentary questions have been tabled to date this Session.

CIVIL SERVICE

  Departmental Programmes
  Mr. George
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service how much has been spent by his Department in each of the past five years on the evaluation of Department programmes; and what proportion this constitutes of(a) the amount allocated for evaluation and (b) the Department's total budget,

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 28 July 1988]: The Office of the Minister for the Civil Service's management accounting system provides for the continuous review of the Department's work in addition to an annual evaluation of all its programmes. The system is an integral part of the process of management in the Department and it is therefore not possible to identify separately the resources involved.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Furnishing Fabrics (Fire Safety)
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether any guidance has recently been issued by his Department in order to indicate with whom responsibility rests for ensuring that furnishing fabrics conform to the new furniture fire safety regulations.

  Mr. Forth
  In answer to inquiries about responsibility for ensuring that these requirements of the new regulations are met, I have said that the primary responsibility lies with suppliers of furniture; suppliers of furnishing fabrics
  633
  direct to the public also have a legal responsibility. The enforcement of the regulations will be a matter for the local authority trading standards department.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) if he will list the types of interliners or barrier cloths which currently meet the ignition source five test; and if he will place in the Library full details of the interliners' performance;

  (2) what recent representations he has now received from furnishing fabric suppliers concerning their inability to find interliners or barrier cloths that will meet the ignition source five test;

  (3) what tests have been carried out by his Department to check the validity of manufacturers' claims that their products meet the ignition source five test for furnishing fabrics.

  Mr. Forth
  I recognise the concerns which have been expressed by some parts of the furniture industry about the availability of interliners which will meet the ignition source 5 test which is to be carried out over standard polyurethane foam. No specific tests have been carried out by my Department to verify the statements of manufacturers about their products, but I am satisfied by the information available to me that there are materials which will meet the test. I understand that the manufacturers are generally known in the industry and I have no doubt that they will co-operate with the furniture industry in meeting the requirements of the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988.

  Point II

  (£'000)

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  Voted Expenditure

  Outturn

  Provisional Outturn

  Supply Estimates

  Patent Office (current expenditure)

  19,501

  19,253

  24,668

  25,690

  26,427

  28,136

  30,043

  Contributions to International Agencies

  308

  355

  375

  379

  491

  785

  926

  Advisory (Grant in Aid)

  0

  0

  0

  0

  56

  60

  60

  Computers

  1

  0

  18

  311

  2,618

  2,463

  2,630

  Gross Total

  19,810

  19,608

  25,061

  26,380

  29,592

  31,444

  33,659

  Receipts

  -27,292

  -29,211

  -31,342

  -33,464

  -35,828

  -36,520

  -39,900

  Net Total

  -7,482

  -9,603

  -6,281

  -7,084

  -6,236

  -5,076

  -6,241

  Public Expenditure
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish a table in the Official Report, in the same format as his written reply of 11 July, Official Report, columns 31–34, on receipts classified as charges in respect of his programme expenditure over the years 1982–83 to 1990–91, but consistent with the reply of 27 May Official Report, Volume 134, columns 375–76, indicating the receipts in respect of running costs expenditure together with a supplementary analysis indicating, separately, the amounts of receipts in respect of

  Patents Designs and Trade Marks
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish in the Official Report a table, covering the years 1982–83 to 1990–91, which collates on the same basis (a) the non-capital receipts and expenditure account published in the annual report of the Comptroller-General of Patents Designs and Trade Marks, (b) the presentation of voted expenditure in the supply estimates and appropriation accounts for class V, Vote 2, section E (protection of innovation) and (c) the protection of innovation component in the support for industry line of table 5.1 of column 288.

  Mr. Forth
  The table shows the voted expenditure figures in the Supply Estimates and Appropriation Accounts for class V, vote 2, section E, for the years 1982–83 to 1988–89. Expenditure for the other years requested has not yet been voted. These figures cannot readily be collated on the same basis as the non-capital receipts and expenditure account published in the annual report of the Comptroller-General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks, because the financial information in this annual report is presented on a calendar year basis. The figures for the protection of innovation component in the support for industry line of table 5.1 of column 288 are the same as the net total figures in the table given here.

  programme expenditure and of running costs expenditure estimated to have been met from other public expenditure programmes.

  Mr. Forth
  The information requested by the hon. Member for receipts in respect of programme expenditure was given in my hon. Friend's reply of 11 July, at columns 31–34, which also explained why the totals differed from those provided by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary in his reply of 27 May. The information requested for receipts in respect of running costs expenditure is as follows:
  635

  Table 1

  Trade and Industry public expenditure: receipts in respect of running costs included in other Departments

  Departments running costs 1982–83 to 1990–91

  (000's)

  Sub programme

  Title

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  outturn

  outturn

  outturn

  outturn

  outturn

  provisional outturn

  supply estimates

  plan

  plan

  040109

  Individual firms

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  040201

  Research establishments

  -213

  -3,093

  -4,806

  -2,851

  -11,949

  -12,176

  -12,480

  -12,972

  -13,112

  040202

  Industrial research and development and other

  0

  -3

  -5

  -795

  -675

  0

  0

  0

  0

  040203

  Standards

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  040204

  Protection of innovation

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  040205

  Aircraft and aero-engine R and D

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  040206

  Miscellaneous support services

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  040209

  Space technology

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  040301

  Concorde

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  040302

  Assistance to Rolls-Royce Ltd.

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  040306

  Assistance to the shipbuilding industry

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  040501

  Export promotion

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  040602

  Registered trading practices etc.

  0

  0

  7,163

  -332

  -294

  -147

  -168

  -287

  -294

  040801

  Departmental administration

  -2,153

  -2,258

  -65

  -2,145

  -2,334

  -3,058

  -2,205

  -2,795

  -2,815

  040803

  Other services

  0

  3

  5

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Totals

  -2,366

  -5,351

  2,292

  -6,123

  -15,252

  -15,381

  -14,853

  -16,054

  -16,221

  Table 2

  Trade and Industry public expenditure: receipts in respect of running costs included in other Departments 1982–83 to 1990–91

  (000's)

  Sub programme

  Title

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  outturn

  outturn

  outturn

  outturn

  outturn

  provisional outturn

  supply estimates

  plan

  plan

  040109

  Individual firms

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  040201

  Research establishments

  -15

  -21

  -24

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  040202

  Industrial research and development and other

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  040203

  Standards

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  040204

  Protection of innovation

  0

  0

  -31,342

  -33,464

  -35,829

  -35,994

  -39,900

  -37,721

  -38,664

  040205

  Aircraft and aero-engine R and D

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  040206

  Miscellaneous support services

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  040209

  Space technology

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  040301

  Concorde

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  040302

  Assistance to Rolls Royce Ltd.

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  040306

  Assistance to the shipbuilding industry

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  040501

  Export promotion

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  040602

  Registered trading practice etc.

  -28,184

  -11,014

  -11,358

  -15,559

  -18,717

  -20,775

  -19,381

  -18,164

  -18,728

  040801

  Departmental administration

  -928

  -975

  4

  -1,450

  -1,989

  -7,169

  -2,556

  -2,200

  -2,255

  040803

  Other services

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Totals

  -29,127

  -12,010

  -42,720

  -50,473

  -56,534

  -63,938

  -61,837

  -58,085

  -59,647

  Job Creation (Northern Region)
  Mr. Trotter
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list those schemes for which his Department is responsible which are aimed at industrial support and or job creation in the northern region, showing the annual cost in each case.
  636
  Mr. Atkins
  Those schemes which were open for application during 1987–88 (the latest year for which figures are available), for which my Department was responsible and which were aimed at industrial support and/or job creation, are listed as follows. A regional analysis of expenditure for these schemes is not always available; accordingly, the list of schemes is divided into those for which information is available and other.
  637
  Schemes for which expenditure in the northern region is available:

  £ million

  Old regional development grant

  29·0

  Revised regional development grant

  33·6

  Regional selective assistance

  24·9

  Microelectronics support scheme

  less than 0·1

  Fibre optics scheme

  Nil

  Advanced manufacturing technology scheme

  Nil

  Support for major projects

  Nil

  In addition, capital expenditure by English Estates on behalf of the Department in the northern region was £21·7 million.

  Schemes for which no regional analysis is available:

  Business improvement scheme.

  Exchange risk guarantee scheme.

  Certification schemes.

  Crude balances in manufactures

  United Kingdom trade with:

  US $ million

  Belgium/Luxembourg

  Denmark

  France

  Fed. Rep. Germany

  Greece

  Ireland

  Italy

  Netherlands

  Portugal

  Spain

  1958

  -39

  -114

  -35

  60

  -40

  -146

  -49

  -89

  -44

  -40

  1969

  271

  220

  127

  -272

  111

  333

  49

  63

  38

  190

  1977

  558

  459

  -482

  -2,322

  286

  894

  -677

  497

  178

  293

  1987

  -866

  -94

  -1,903

  -12,220

  249

  800

  -2,548

  -1,833

  -161

  410

  19881

  -1,021

  -135

  -2,045

  -14,696

  249

  716

  -3,197

  -3,387

  -110

  124

  1January to May (annual rate).

  Federal Republic of Germany trade with:

  Belgium/ Luxembourg

  Denmark

  France

  United Kingdom

  Greece

  Ireland

  Italy

  Netherlands

  Portugal

  Spain

  1969

  118

  -150

  1,269

  268

  225

  76

  77

  1,090

  166

  395

  1977

  1,082

  -718

  3,441

  2,284

  532

  71

  -1,140

  4,320

  400

  870

  Nominal exchange rate

  Relative export prices11975=100

  Deutschmark/£

  1969

  9·38

  89

  1975

  5·45

  100

  1977

  4·05

  99

  1987

  2·94

  84

  1988 (Q1)

  3·01

  80

  (Q2)

  3·14

  —

  1The export unit value index for manufactures for Germany divided by that for the United Kingdom, both expressed in a common currency.

  Sources:OECD, Overseas Trade Statistic, IMF.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will publish in the Official Report for each year since 1970 the index of the volume of (a) West German and (b) United Kingdom exports of manufactures and finished manufactures to the EEC.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  This information is not available.

  Constant price data are available only at the level of total trade or by commodity. Geographical analyses in volume terms of individual countries' trade are not available.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the deficit on trade with the EEC in manufactures less precious stones in the first five months of 1988 and in 1970 after taking into account the change in import and export unit values.
  638
  Support for the private sector shipbuilding industry.

  In addition, to the foregoing, and as part of the enterprise initiative announced earlier this year, my Department is now also responsible for assistance to exceptional projects and regional enterprise grants.

  Manufactures
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will publish for 1958,1969, 1977, 1987 and the current year to date at an annual rate(a) the United Kingdom and (b) West German balance of trade in manufactures with each of the EEC countries, and the real rate of exchange between sterling and the deutschmark in nominal and real terms based on relative export unit values in 1975.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The available information is in the following table:

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Data on export and import unit values are not available for United Kingdom trade analysed by area. The information requested is therefore not available.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for each year since 1978 gross and net investment in manufacturing per head of the population in the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Japan, France, Italy and Germany.

  Mr. Maude
  Comparable figures for OECD countries over this period are not available. Available information is contained in the publication "OECD National Accounts 1973–85".

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will publish an updated table showing various indices of competitiveness and the relative volume of trade in manufactures in the manner of the written reply of 22 October, 1979,Official Report, columns 56–60, together with a column showing the relative value of trade in manufactures with the EEC.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Competitiveness indices are published in table F3 of the "Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics and Annual Supplement." The other data requested are in the following table.
  639

  Terms of trade in manufactures

  Relative volume of trade in manufactures

  1980=100 Relative value of trade in manufactures with EC countries

  1975

  90

  128

  98

  1976

  86

  128

  102

  1977

  89

  126

  103

  1978

  92

  112

  93

  1979

  96

  98

  90

  1980

  100

  100

  100

  1981

  102

  96

  91

  1982

  101

  90

  84

  1983

  100

  79

  75

  1984

  100

  78

  76

  1985

  101

  79

  78

  1986

  103

  77

  76

  1987

  103

  76

  79

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the relative volume of United Kingdom exports to imports of manufactures from the United States of America and Germany, respectively, together with relative export prices based on 1975=100.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The information about relative export prices is available in the "Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics." Information is not available for the relative volume of United Kingdom trade by country.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for each year since 1970 imports of manufactured less precious stones from the EEC as a percentage of the United Kingdom market for manufactures and United Kingdom exports of manufactures less precious stones as a percentage of the EEC market for manufactures;

  (2) whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for 1958, 1968 and each year since 1970 the European Economic Community share of United Kingdom exports and imports of manufactures less precious stones;

  (3) whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for 1958, 1968, 1978 and 1987 the United Kingdom share of European Economic Community imports of manufactures.

  United Kingdom overseas trade with EC and non-EC countries1

  Balance of payments basis

  Balance £ Billion

  Ratio of exports to imports, percentage

  Manufactures2

  Non fuel goods2

  Manufactures2

  Non fuel goods2

  EC

  Non EC

  EC

  Non EC

  EC

  Non EC

  EC

  Non EC

  1970

  +0·6

  +1·9

  +0·2

  +0·3

  143

  168

  108

  105

  1971

  +0·4

  +2·6

  -0·1

  +1·0

  123

  191

  97

  119

  1972

  +0·1

  +2·1

  -0·5

  +0·4

  102

  162

  86

  108

  1973

  -0·4

  +1·9

  -1·2

  -0·4

  90

  139

  76

  95

  1974

  -0·5

  +2·5

  -1·9

  -0·0

  90

  140

  74

  100

  1975

  -0·6

  +4·3

  -2·2

  +2·0

  90

  167

  73

  119

  1976

  -0·5

  +5·4

  -2·0

  +2·1

  94

  167

  81

  116

  1977

  -0·5

  +6·7

  -2·0

  +2·6

  95

  167

  85

  116

  1978

  -1·7

  +6·8

  -2·9

  +3·5

  86

  163

  81

  121

  1979

  -2·6

  +5·3

  -4·0

  +1·6

  83

  140

  80

  108

  1980

  -1·2

  +6·6

  -2·1

  +3·6

  92

  147

  89

  118

  1981

  -2·6

  +7·2

  -4·0

  +4·6

  84

  150

  80

  123

  1982

  -4·3

  +6·7

  -6·0

  +4·3

  77

  142

  75

  119

  1983

  -7-·2

  +4·9

  -9·2

  +2·1

  69

  125

  68

  108

  1984

  -8·1

  +4·2

  -10·5

  +0·8

  70

  118

  69

  102

  1985

  -8·7

  +5·7

  -11·2

  +2·5

  72

  123

  70

  108

  1986

  -10·1

  +4·6

  -12·8

  +1·6

  70

  118

  69

  105

  640
  Mr. Alan Clark
  Data excluding trade in precious stones are not readily available. The available information on the United Kingdom share of EC imports is published in table E3of annual supplement of the "Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics." Data on the shares of United Kingdom imports and exports of manufactures accounted for by the other member states of the EC are in the following table:

  Shares of United Kingdom international trade accounted for by other EC countries, per cent.

  Balance of payments basis

  Year

  Exports

  Imports

  11958

  19

  36

  11968

  29

  34

  1970

  31

  35

  1971

  30

  39

  1972

  32

  42

  1973

  33

  44

  1974

  35

  46

  1975

  32

  47

  1976

  35

  49

  1977

  36

  50

  1978

  37

  53

  1979

  41

  54

  1980

  40

  52

  1981

  38

  52

  1982

  39

  54

  1983

  40

  54

  1984

  40

  53

  1985

  42

  55

  1986

  44

  57

  1987

  46

  56

  1Overseas Trade Statistics basis.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for each year since 1970 and 1988 to date the United Kingdom visible trade balance in (a) manufactures less precious stones and (b) total trade less fuels and precious stones with the EEC and with the rest of the world, together with the export-import ratios in each case.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Information excluding data for trade in precious stones is not readily available. The available information is in the following table:
  641

  Balance £ Billion

  Ratio of exports to imports, percentage

  Manufactures2

  Non fuel goods2

  Manufactures2

  Non fuel goods2

  EC

  NonEC

  EC

  NonEC

  EC

  NonEC

  EC

  Non EC

  1987

  -10·2

  +3·0

  -13·3

  +0·5

  73

  110

  72

  101

  1988 first quarter

  -3-·2

  -0·4

  -4·0

  -1·0

  69

  94

  68

  90

  1Data for 1970 to 1987 are classified to SITC (Rev. 2).

  2 Data for 1988 are classified to SITC (Rev. 3).

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the change in the volume of exports of finished manufactures in(a) the latest three months and (b) the fourth quarter of 1987; what assessment he has made of the causes of this change; and what further change he expects as a result of the increase in the real value of the pound sterling since the fourth quarter of 1987.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  [holding answer 28 July 1988]: The volume of exports of finished manufactures increased by 7 per cent, between the first and second quarters of 1988. For the third and fourth quarters of 1987 the increase was 3 per cent.

  There are many factors, as well as relative prices, which influence changes in the volume of United Kingdom exports, such as the growth in the world economy and the success of United Kingdom industry in producing goods which, in design, quality and marketing, meet the requirements of world markets.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is his estimate of the effect of an increase of 10 per cent, in the real exchange rate on United Kingdom imports and exports of manufactures.

  Mr. Major
  I have been asked to reply.

  United Kingdom manufacturing trade performance depends on many factors other than just the exchange rate. The effects of changes in cost or price competitiveness build up over a period of years, and may well be dominated by changes in non-price competitiveness.

  EC (Trade Deficit)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether, further to his reply of 20 July,Official Report, columns 621–2, giving the trade deficit with the EEC in the first five months of the current year, he will publish in the Official Report his estimate of the number of British jobs represented by the trade deficit.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The deficit in our balance of trade in manufactured goods with the European Community reflects many interrelated factors, including the pattern of our trade in other goods and services with other areas. Since changes in the deficit cannot take place in isolation, no meaningful estimates can be made of the number of jobs represented by the deficit.

  Departmental Recruitment and Promotion Policy
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what measures he has implemented to ensure that recruitment and promotion policy in his Department does not directly or indirectly discriminate against applicants who were mature students or women returning to work following a career-break due to child care.

  Mr. Forth
  The DTI's policy statement on equal opportunities, which was issued in 1984 in agreement with 642
  the Department trades unions and which takes account of the code of practice issued under the Equal Opportunities Act 1975, has been placed in the Library of both Houses. All DTI staff serving on recruitment and promotion duties are particularly briefed to guard against any form of direct or indirect discrimination in any circumstance.

  EC (Investments)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will bring up to date the figures on direct investment in tables 6 and 7 of the evidence submitted by Her Majesty's Government to the Treasury and Civil Service Committee on the Financial and Economic Consequences of United Kingdom Membership of the European Communities (pages 22–3 of HC 57–11 Session 1984–85).

  Mr. Maude
  The available information is given in the tables.:

  Table 6

  United Kingdom: Inward Direct Investment (figures for 1960–1983 exclude oil companies)

  £ million

  World

  EC1

  Non-EC

  of which:

  total

  total

  total

  USA

  Japan

  1960

  135

  4

  131

  85

  —

  1961

  238

  18

  220

  185

  —2

  1962

  130

  3

  127

  95

  —

  1963

  160

  10

  150

  105

  1

  1964

  162

  18

  144

  113

  —

  1965

  197

  15

  182

  151

  -—2

  1966

  196

  11

  185

  155

  1

  1967

  170

  54

  116

  94

  2

  1968

  274

  26

  248

  208

  2

  1969

  322

  34

  288

  205

  8

  1970

  363

  62

  301

  226

  8

  1971

  450

  38

  412

  286

  —4

  1972

  408

  51

  357

  268

  14

  31973

  734

  117

  617

  393

  18

  1974

  854

  80

  774

  410

  —22

  1975

  615

  96

  519

  310

  —41

  1976

  799

  174

  625

  550

  —16

  1977

  1,326

  270

  1,056

  636

  99

  1978

  1,261

  291

  970

  809

  —24

  21979

  1,740

  218

  1,522

  994

  51

  21980

  2,541

  3

  2,538

  1,912

  14

  21981

  980

  12

  968

  118

  173

  1982

  1,137

  171

  966

  372

  —48

  1983

  2,063

  434

  1,629

  1,131

  170

  1984

  —246

  —2,073

  1,827

  1,505

  —6

  1985

  4,123

  1,319

  2,804

  2,183

  36

  1986

  4,078

  2,338

  1,740

  1,276

  15

  1EC includes Denmark, Irish Republic, Greece, Spain and Portugal in all years.

  2Figures for 1979, 1980 and 1981 were affected by exceptional loan arrangements between United Kingdom affiliates and their overseas parents.

  3United Kingdom joined EC.

  643

  Table 7

  Values of US Outward Non-oil Direct Investment2

  $million excluding oil

  World

  Europe

  EC1

  UK

  UK as percentage of EC Per cent.

  UK as percentage of world Per cent.

  1966

  4,473

  1,721

  n/a

  480

  1967

  3,522

  1,326

  n/a

  174

  1968

  3,898

  1,329

  n/a

  441

  1969

  5,067

  2,093

  n/a

  455

  1970

  5,390

  2,305

  n/a

  593

  1971

  5,553

  2,654

  n/a

  671

  1972

  6,093

  2,424

  n/a

  320

  1973

  9,759

  4,945

  3,827

  1,137

  29·7

  11·6

  1974

  12,548

  5,105

  3,541

  934

  26·4

  7·4

  1975

  9,367

  3,248

  2,206

  535

  24·3

  5·7

  1976

  9,528

  4,112

  3,141

  440

  14·0

  4·6

  1977

  10,094

  4,538

  3,857

  1,513

  39·2

  15·0

  1978

  14,579

  7,171

  5,743

  1,916

  33·4

  13·1

  1979

  15,414

  8,445

  6,561

  2,838

  43·3

  18·4

  1980

  17,201

  10,908

  8,908

  5,210

  58·5

  30·3

  Japanese direct investment overseas1

  Share of world investment

  UK

  EC

  World

  UK share of EC

  UK

  EC

  USA

  US$ million

  US$million

  US$ million

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  1973–82

  1,230

  3,323

  26,403

  37

  5

  13

  —

  1983–86

  1,538

  5,655

  30,509

  27

  5

  19

  49

  1These Japanese direct investment figures cover only share capital and long-term loans and unlike the US figures do not include unremitted profits, short-term loans and trade credit.

  Source:Japanese Balance of Payments.

  Import Unit Values
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if, further to his answer of 20 July,Official Report, columns 621–2, concerning the increase in import and export unit values for finished manufactures since 1983, he will publish in the Official Report the percentage increase in the terms of trade for finished manufactures in (a) May 1988, (b) 1980–81, (c) the first quarter of 1987 and (d) the first half of 1973; and what estimate he has made of the effect of the increase on the balance of trade in finished manufactures.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The information is as follows:

  Terms of trade for finished manufactures

  percentage change

  over:

  May 1988

  +1·8

  April 1988

  Year 1980

  -6·2

  Year 1979

  Year 1981

  +1·5

  Year 1980

  1987 quarter 1

  -0·8

  1986 quarter 4

  1973 first half

  -1·9

  1972 second half

  No estimates of the effects of changes in the terms of trade on the balances have been made.

  Motor Cars (United States)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what information he has on the reason for the decline in United Kingdom exports of motor cars to the United States in the first five months of 1988; and if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the number of United Kingdom cars exported to the United
  644

  World

  Europe

  EC1

  UK

  UK as percentage of EC Per cent.

  UK as percentage of world Per cent.

  1981

  6,637

  2,536

  1,051

  54

  5·1

  0·8

  -5,6

  1982

  81

  1,798

  1,329

  228

  17·2

  n/a

  1983

  1,070

  1,749

  572

  768

  n/a

  71·8

  1984

  3,386

  89

  -200

  -243

  n/a

  na/

  1985

  18,995

  12,413

  11,062

  3,730

  33·7

  19·6

  1986

  24,627

  14,144

  12,681

  2,240

  17·7

  9·1

  1Nine member countries up to 1980; including Greece from 1981 onwards.

  2All figures cover all industries except oil. Direct investment is the amount invested in the year in unremitted profits, shares, loans, and short-term indebtedness by US companies in their overseas subsidiaries, branches and associates.

  n/a=Not available.

  Source:Survey of Current Business published by US Department of Commerce.

  States in each year since 1958 and 1988 to date, together with the real value of sterling based on 1975 relative export prices.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Data on number of cars exported for the years 1958 to 1969 are not available.

  As the table illustrates, United Kingdom exports of cars to the United States were at an exceptionally high level in 1987. On the basis of the figures in the first five months of this year, it looks likely that exports for 1988 as a whole will be well up on the levels achieved in 1986 and earlier years.

  United Kingdom exports to the United States of America of motor cars 1970 to May 1988

  Number

  Relative export prices

  1975=100

  1970

  77,725

  112

  1971

  110,549

  107

  1972

  68,560

  101

  1973

  65,785

  102

  1974

  73,607

  101

  1975

  69,142

  100

  1976

  82,661

  111

  1977

  55,909

  102

  1978

  56,192

  89

  1979

  47,184

  85

  1980

  31,951

  77

  1981

  13,645

  93

  1982

  14,767

  107

  1983

  18,608

  115

  1984

  21,892

  121

  1985

  25,700

  120

  1986

  27,805

  107

  1987

  50,937

  94

  11988

  15,082

  n/a

  645
  1 January to May.

  Source: Overseas trade statistics.

  Note: 1987 and 1988 figures provisional.

  Motor cars defined as:

  1970–77: Standard International Trade Classification(SITC) revised, sub-Group 732·1.

  1978–87: SITC Revision 2, sub-Group 781·0.

  1988: SITC Revision 3, sub-Group 781·2.

  Relative export prices expressed as ratio of United States unit value of exports to that of the United Kingdom.

  Imports from the European Community as a percentage of United Kingdom Home Demand

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  Divisions 2–4

  Manufacturing industries

  13·7

  14·9

  16·1

  17·2

  18·2

  18·8

  20·0

  Division 2

  Ores, metals, chemicals and non-fuel minerals

  13

  15

  16

  19

  20

  20

  25

  Class 21

  Extraction and preparation of metalliferous ores

  7

  6

  4

  7

  7

  n.a.

  n.a.

  Class 22

  Metal manufacturing

  12

  14

  14

  19

  21

  20

  24

  Class 23

  Extraction of minerals nes

  8

  9

  9

  7

  8

  4

  130

  Class 24

  Non-metallic mineral products

  6

  7

  8

  9

  10

  12

  11

  Class 25

  Chemical industry

  20

  21

  23

  25

  27

  27

  30

  Class 26

  Production of man-made fibres

  41

  47

  51

  50

  52

  49

  54

  Division 3

  Metal goods, engineering and vehicles

  19

  20

  22

  22

  23

  25

  26

  Class 31

  Metal goods nes

  6

  7

  8

  8

  9

  10

  11

  Class 32

  Mechanical engineering

  18

  19

  19

  20

  22

  24

  26

  Class 33

  Office Machinery and data processing equipment

  42

  48

  47

  41

  43

  46

  44

  Class 34

  Electrical and electronic engineering

  15

  16

  18

  18

  22

  21

  22

  Class 35

  Motor vehicles and parts

  32

  37

  41

  39

  39

  40

  35

  Class 36

  Other Transport Equipment

  15

  13

  14

  16

  12

  14

  16

  Class 37

  Instrument Engineering

  26

  23

  22

  24

  23

  24

  30

  Division 4

  Other manufacturing industries

  10

  10

  11

  12

  13

  13

  13

  Classes 41/42

  Food, drink and tobacco

  9

  9

  10

  11

  11

  12

  11

  Class 43

  Textile industry

  21

  22

  24

  26

  27

  27

  27

  Class 44

  Leather and leather goods

  14

  15

  16

  16

  20

  19

  18

  Class 45

  Footwear and clothing industries

  14

  15

  16

  18

  18

  19

  15

  Class 46

  Timber and Wooden Furniture

  8

  9

  9

  10

  10

  11

  9

  Class 47

  Paper, printing and publishing

  5

  5

  6

  7

  7

  8

  8

  Class 48

  Processing of rubber and plastics

  15

  15

  17

  17

  18

  19

  20

  Class 49

  Other manufacturing industries

  13

  11

  12

  11

  13

  12

  19

  1 High figure caused by erratic trade in precious stones.

  n.a.—Not available.

  Secured Loans
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will place in the Library any information at his disposal concerning consumer understanding of the concept of a secured loan including any research carried out by his Department and any advice tendered by the Office of Fair Trading and other consumer bodies.

  Mr. Forth
  I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible and place a copy in the Library.

  Credit Advertisements
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what percentage of credit advertisements in the county of Leicestershire appeared to be in breach of relevant legislation during the period from 1 April 1987 to 31 March; how many and what percentage of such breaches led to prosecutions; and with what results;

  (2) how many and what percentage of credit advertisements in each county in the United Kingdom during the year from 1 April 1987 to 31 March appeared to be in breach of relevant legislation; how many and what percentage led to prosecution; and with what results.

  Mr. Maude
  I will write to the hon. and learned Member as soon as possible and place a copy in the Library.

  EC (Imports)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will publish in the Official Report a table similar to that in table 15·10 of the Monthly Digest of Statistics showing imports from the European Economic Community as a percentage of home demand.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Estimates are given in the following table:

  Halifax
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has any plans to visit Halifax in the near future to view the prospects for industry.

  Mr. Atkins
  I have no plans to visit Halifax at present. Regional Policy

  Regional Policy
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the progress of Her Majesty's Government's new regional policy.

  Mr. Atkins
  In January 1988 the White Paper, "DTI—the department for Enterprise" (Cm. 278), announced changes in regional policy designed to reflect the Government's aim of encouraging enterprise. Since the beginning of the year over 1,250 applications for regional selective assistance have been received by the Department and the Scottish and Welsh Offices. Since January, over 5,400 applications have been approved (following an initial two-day business review) for the new consultancy initiatives, and preliminary indications are that over 40 per cent, of them have been from the assisted areas of Great Britain. There have also been over 450 applications under the regional enterprise grants scheme which was introduced on 1 April 1988.

  Manufacturing Investment
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries have had a greater increase in manufacturing investment than the United Kingdom since 1979.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Figures of manufacturing investment for OECD countries are not available on a comparable basis over the period since 1979. Available figures for OECD countries are published in "OECD National Accounts 1973–1985."

  Single European Market
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a further statement on the implications of the completion of the single European market in 1992 for his Department's regional policy.

  Mr. Maude
  The single market will provide competitive businesses in the regions with major opportunities. My Department took due account of the implications of the single market for the regions when we introduced reforms to regional policy, as part of the enterprise initiative, at the beginning of this year.

  Frogs Legs
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what has been the total by value and weight and country of origin of frogs legs imported into the United Kingdom to each year since 1980; and if he will make it his policy to ban any further imports.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Prior to 1988 frogs legs were not separately identified in the OTS.

  For the period January to May 1988 imports of frogs legs were:

  Country of origin

  m/tonnes

  £ 000

  Belgium/Luxembourg

  8-·5

  24·9

  Indonesia

  7·9

  23·4

  France

  1·1

  3·5

  I have no immediate plans to ban imports of this product.

  Stainless Steel
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what action he proposes to take in response to anti-competitive price-fixing arrangements for stainless steel within EEC and EFTA countries.

  Mr. Atkins
  It is for the European Commission to investigate alleged violations of European Community competition rules. Any restrictive agreements involving only one United Kingdom party would not fall under the scope of United Kingdom restrictive trade practices legislation.

  English Estates
  Mr. Heddle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish in the Official Report the terms of reference of English Estates.

  Mr. Atkins
  The English Industrial Estates Corporation is a non-departmental public body which trades as English
  648
  Estates. It is funded by the Government to provide and facilitate the provision of industrial and commercial premises and sites in certain parts of the country in support of regional and inner city policies. It carries out two main programmes on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry. One is in the assisted areas of England and the other is a new programme in the inner cities under which it funds managed workspace projects in partnership with the private sector. It also provides premises on behalf of the Rural Development Commission in rural development areas.

  A E Services
  Mrs. Golding
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the circumstances which led the Registrar of Companies to give notice in February that the company AE Services would be dissolved.

  Mr. Maude
  The Registrar of Companies informs me that, in October 1987, he received information from a director of AE Services Limited to confirm that the company was no longer in business. The Registrar therefore gave notice in the London Gazette of his intention to strike the company's name off the register. There were no objections to this course of action and the company was therefore dissolved on 21 June 1988.

  Elstree Studios
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assurances were given by Cannon Films to his Department on the purchase by the company of Elstree studios regarding retaining them for film production.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Secretary of State's decision not to refer the acquisition by Cannon of Screen Entertainment Ltd. to the MMC did not depend on any assurances, about the future use of Elstree studios.

  National Engineering Laboratory
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if any foreign-based company or organisation has submitted a bid, or is connected with any of the bids, for the National Engineering Laboratory.

  Mr. Forth
  There are no foreign-based companies or organisations submitting a bid for the National Engineering Laboratory. There are two United Kingdom-based bidders with links to companies overseas, Moore Barrett and Redwood Limited, part of the SGS group, whose ultimate parent is the Societe de Surveillance Holding SA of Switzerland; YARD Limited, which is a member of the CAP Group plc and which has some Belgian, French, German, Netherlands and Spanish subsidiaries plus other overseas.

  Petrol Companies (Pricing Operations)
  Mr. Hill
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will refer the pricing operations of the major petrol companies to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

  Mr. Maude
  I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible and place a copy in the Library.

  Films
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the conclusions which he has drawn from his consultations with the cinema and film industries about follow-up action to the 1983 Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on the supply of films and the subsequent experimental films release scheme; and whether he will make an early order under the Fair Trading Act 1973 to implement the two main recommendations by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission concerning barring and popular films.

  Mr. Maude
  I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible and place a copy in the Library.

  Secondhand Furniture
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he has received about safety standards on the sale of secondhand furniture; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible and place a copy in the Library.

  Post Office
  Mr. Hill
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if, in the light of its profits before taxation in the last financial year, he will make a statement on whether there are any plans for privatising the Post Office.

  Mr. Forth
  It is the Government's view that there are significant benefits to be gained in transferring activities from the public to the private sector. We have made it clear that because of its special character we have no intention of privatising the Royal Mail. But we do not rule out other parts of the Post Office as possible candidates for privatisation. My right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Rushcliffe (Mr. Clarke) announced that the Post Office would be selling Girobank on 7 June. We have not made any further decisions about privatisation.

  Special Telephone Number
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much his Department has paid for the special telephone number 200 1992.

  Mr. Maude
  I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy in the Library.

  Barlow Clowes
  Dr. Glyn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what consideration will be given to the number

  Gross expenditure on R and D for social science and humanities1

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  Expenditure

  0·10

  0·15

  0·22

  0·11

  0·09

  As a percentage of total expenditure

  0·01

  0·01

  0·02

  0·01

  0·00

  As a percentage of total R and D expenditure

  0·02

  0·04

  0·05

  0·02

  0·02

  Performed within the department

  ——None——

  Performed in higher education

  0·05

  0·04

  0·00

  0·00

  0·01

  Performed in industrial research associations and non industrial research institutes

  0·05

  0·09

  0·01

  0·01

  0·01

  1 Figures have been rounded to second decimal place.

  650
  of stockbrokers and financial intermediaries who advised their clients to invest with Barlow Clowes during the course of the inquiry into the circumstances surrounding its collapse.

  Mr. Maude
  I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible and place a copy in the Library.

  Recorded Message Services
  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the telephone recorded message services which have been terminated by British Telecom under the Telecommunications Act 1984 due to the offensive content of the service.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 28 July 1988]: British Telecom does not have powers of its own under the Telecommunications Act 1984 to terminate these services. Its ability to do so arises out of the terms of its contracts with message service providers. As such, the actions it takes are a commercial matter between the parties concerned subject to BT fulfilling the obligations of its licence.

  Nevertheless, I understand from BT that the company has withdrawn its facilities from 15 services following adjudications by the Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services (ICSTIS) that the services were in breach of the ICSTIS code of practice. This is in addition to cases in which service providers have withdrawn recorded message services voluntarily when ICSTIS has notified them that complaints have been lodged.

  Social Science Research
  Mr. George
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much has been spent by his Department in each of the past five years on social science research; what percentage this constitutes of total departmental expenditure and of the Department's research budget; and how much of the research has been undertaken(a) within his Department, (b) by universities and polytechnics and (c) by independent research organisations.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 28 July 1988]: The available information relates to gross expenditure on research and development including that performed elsewhere in central Government for R and D in total and for R and D in social science and humanities. The figures for total departmental expenditure exclude that on public corporations and are net of receipts. The information is given in the table:

  Third-world Exports
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the main features of the preferential trading arrangements available to Third-world countries wishing to export to Britain, together with a list of those countries to which such arrangements apply.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  [holding answer 28 July 1988]: As a member of the European Community, the United Kingdom is party to the following preferential trading arrangements.

  The Lome convention grants preferential treatment to products imported into the Community from the 66 African, Caribbean and Pacific states in Table 1. All ACP industrial products, except textiles and rum, and the great majority of agricultural products, are granted duty-free access and the remainder benefit from either a reduced rate of duty or exemption from duty for a limited quantity of imports. There is a parallel arrangement between the EC and the dependencies of member states in table 2.

  The EC generalised scheme of preferences grants preferential treatment to products imported into the Community from the countries in table 3. All industrial products are granted duty-free access, and agricultural products access at reduced rates of duty, subject to quantitative limits in the case of certain products sensitive to Community interests.

  In addition, the Community has preferential trade agreements with the countries listed in table 4. Under these agreements the Community also gives duty-free access to industrial products, and access at reduced rates of duty to agricultural products, subject to limits in the case of certain sensitive products.

  Table 1.

  List of ACP signatories to the third Lomé Convention

  Angola

  Malawi

  Antigua and Barbuda

  Mali

  Bahamas

  Mauritania

  Barbados

  Mauritius

  Belize

  Mozambique

  Benin

  Niger

  Botswana

  Nigeria

  Burkina Faso

  Uganda

  Burundi

  Papua New Guinea

  Cameroun

  Rwanda

  Cape Verde

  St. Christopher and Nevis

  Central African Republic

  St. Lucia

  Chad

  St. Vincent and the

  Comoros

  Grenadines

  Congo

  São Tomée and Principe

  Djibouti

  Senegal

  Dominica

  Seychelles

  Equatorial Guinea

  Sierra Leone

  Ethiopia

  Solomon Islands

  Fiji

  Somalia

  Gabon

  Sudan

  Gambia

  Surinam

  Ghana

  Swaziland

  Grenada

  Tanzania

  Guinea

  Togo

  Guinea-Bissau

  Tonga

  Guyana

  Trinidad and Tobago

  Ivory Coast

  Tuvalu

  Jamaica

  Vanuatu

  Kenya

  Western Samoa

  Kiribati

  Zaire

  Lesotho

  Zambia

  Liberia

  Zimbabwe

  Madagascar

  Table 2

  List of overseas countries and territories

  Anguilla

  652

  Aruba

  British Antarctic Territories

  British Indian Ocean Territory

  British Virgin Islands

  Cayman Islands

  Falkland Islands

  French Polynesia

  French Southern and Antarctic Territories

  Greenland

  Mayotte

  Netherlands Antilles

  New Caledonia and Dependencies

  Pitcairn

  St. Helena and Dependencies

  St. Pierre and Miquelon

  South Sandwich Islands and Dependencies

  Turks and Caicos Islands

  Wallis and Futuna Islands

  Table 3

  List of developing countries and territories enjoying generalised tariff preferences

  Afghanistan

  Kenya

  Algeria

  Kiribati

  Angola

  Korea

  Antigua and Barbuda

  Kuwait

  Argentina

  Laos

  Bahamas

  Lebanon

  Bahrain

  Lesotho

  Bangladesh

  Liberia

  Barbados

  Libya

  Belize

  Madagascar

  Benin

  Malawi

  Bhutan

  Malaysia

  Bolivia

  Maldives

  Botswana

  Mali

  Brazil

  Mauritania

  Brunei Darussalam

  Mauritius

  Burkina Faso

  Mexico

  Burma

  Morocco

  Burundi

  Mozambique

  Cambodia

  Nauru

  Cameroon

  Nepal

  Cape Verde

  Nicaragua

  Central African Republic

  Niger

  Chad

  Nigeria

  Chile

  North Yemen

  China

  Oman

  Colombia

  Pakistan

  Comoros

  Panama

  Congo

  Papua New Guinea

  Costa Rica

  Paraguay

  Cuba

  Peru

  Cyprus

  Philippines

  Djibouti

  Qatar

  Dominica

  Romania

  Dominican Republic

  Rwanda

  Ecuador

  Samoa

  Egypt

  Sao Tome and Principe

  El Salvador

  Saudi Arabia

  Equatorial Guinea

  Senegal

  Ethiopa

  Seychelles and dependencies

  Fiji

  Sierra Leone

  Gabon

  Singapore

  Gambia

  Solomon Islands

  Ghana

  Somalia

  Grenada

  South Yemen

  Guatemala

  Sri Lanka

  Guinea

  St. Christopher and Nevis

  Guinea Bissau

  St. Lucia

  Guyana

  St. Vincent

  Haiti

  Sudan

  Honduras

  Surinam

  India

  Swaziland

  Indonesia

  Syria

  Iran

  Tanzania

  Iraq

  Thailand

  Ivory Coast

  Togo

  Jamaica

  Tonga

  Jordon

  Trinidad and Tobago

  653

  Tunisia

  Vietnam

  Tuvalu

  Western Samoa

  Uganda

  Yugoslavia

  United Arab Emirates

  Zaire

  Uruguay

  Zambia

  Vanuatu

  Zimbabwe

  Venezuela

  American Oceania

  Anguilla

  Aruba

  Australian Antarctic Territories

  Australian Oceania (Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Norfolk Island)

  Bermuda

  British Antarctic Territories

  British Indian Ocean Territory

  British Virgin Islands and Montserrat

  Cayman Islands

  Falkland Islands and Falkland dependencies

  French Polynesia

  French Southern and Antarctic Territories

  Gibraltar

  Greenland

  Hong Kong

  Macao

  Mayotte

  Netherlands Antilles

  New Caledonia and dependencies

  New Zealand Oceania (Tokelau and Niue Islands; Cook Islands)

  Pitcairn

  South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

  St. Helena

  St. Helena dependencies

  St. Pierre and Miquelon

  Turks and Caicos Islands

  Virgin Islands of the United States

  Wallis and Futuna Islands

  Table 4

  List of Mediterranean countries enjoying preferential trading arrangements with the EC

  Algeria

  Malta

  Cyprus

  Morocco

  Egypt

  Syria

  Israel

  Tunisia

  Jordan

  Turkey

  Lebanon

  Yugoslavia

WALES

  Welsh Development Agency (Grants)
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library details of the projects in Wales that have received Welsh Development Agency section 10 grants for each of the past five years.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The WDA's section 10 powers have not been exercised during the period concerned.

  Average Rates

  Community

  Difference

  Average Rates

  Community

  Difference

  Average Rates

  Average Rates

  per adult including Community Councils

  Charge per adult including Community Councils

  £ per adult

  per cent

  per adult excluding Community Councils

  Charge per adult excluding Community Councils

  £ per adult

  per cent

  per adult excluding use of special funds and including Community Councils

  per adult excluding use of special funds and excluding Community Councils

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  Alyn and Deeside

  176

  143

  33

  19

  170

  136

  33

  20

  190

  183

  Colwyn

  198

  150

  48

  24

  198

  150

  48

  24

  204

  203

  Delyn

  177

  152

  24

  14

  171

  146

  24

  14

  159

  153

  Glyndwr

  155

  151

  4

  3

  152

  148

  4

  3

  160

  156

  Rhuddlan

  170

  139

  31

  18

  166

  135

  31

  19

  175

  171

  Wrexham Maelor

  162

  155

  7

  4

  156

  148

  7

  5

  166

  160

  Carmarthen

  123

  153

  -30

  -24

  112

  142

  -30

  -27

  133

  122

  Ceredigion

  136

  142

  -6

  -4

  129

  135

  -6

  -5

  140

  133

  Dinefwr

  110

  138

  -28

  -25

  105

  133

  -28

  -26

  113

  108

  Llanelli

  137

  162

  -24

  -18

  121

  146

  -24

  -20

  156

  140

  Preseli Pembrokeshire

  126

  138

  -12

  -9

  122

  133

  -12

  -9

  124

  120

  NHS Expenditure
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his reply of 14 July to the hon. Member for Ynys Môn (Mr. Jones), if he will express the 11 per cent, real increase in National Health Service spending in Wales since 1985–86 on a year by year basis, indicating in the case of 1988–89 what percentage is attributable to the nurses' pay settlement.

  Mr. Grist
  I do not recognise the figure of 11 per cent, to which the right hon. Gentleman refers: the increase in spending on the National Health Service in Wales since 1985–86 is nearly 16 per cent, in real terms. The year-on-year increases are 3·9 per cent., 6·1 per cent, and 50 per cent, respectively. The nurses' pay settlement following the fifth report of the review body accounts for 3 per cent, of the increase since 1987–88.

  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Ynys Môn (Mr. Jones) of 14 July,Official Report, column 342, he will give the information on National Health Service expenditure for Wales expressed as gross domestic product per head of population.

  Mr. Grist
  Expenditure on the National Health Service in Wales was £921·055 million in 1985–86 and GDP per capita in Wales was £4,509 in 1985. The ratio between these sums is 204,270:1.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table showing in respect of each district and county in Wales(a) the rate amount per adult for 1988–89, (b) the relevant equivalent community charge for 1988–89 and (c) the variation of (b) from (a) in cash terms and proportionate terms; and if he will show for (a) above the equivalent rate per adult excluding from rate levies the use of, and rating for, balances and contributions to and from special funds, and for both exclusive and inclusive of community councils' precepts and charges.

  Mr. Grist
  Illustrative figures for 1988–89 are given in the following table.

  The figures for each district and county are averages of the total precepts of all relevant councils in the area and all figures exclude the use of balances.

  Average rates per adult are calculated on a theoretical basis which is comparable with the community charge calculations; both assume the same spending levels.

  Community charge calculations are based on present needs assessments which are under review and no allowance has been made for transitional safety net arrangements.
  655

  Average Rates

  Community

  Difference

  Average Rates

  Community

  Difference

  Average Rates

  Average Rates

  per adult including Community Councils

  Charge per adult including Community Councils

  £ per adult

  per cent

  per adult excluding Community Councils

  Charge per adult excluding Community Councils

  £per adult

  per cent

  per adult excluding use of special funds and including Community Councils

  per adult excluding use of special funds and excluding Community Councils

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  South Pembrokeshire

  152

  142

  10

  7

  144

  133

  10

  7

  155

  147

  Blaenau Gwent

  116

  158

  -42

  -36

  114

  156

  -42

  -37

  129

  128

  Islwyn

  127

  156

  -29

  -23

  127

  156

  -29

  -23

  136

  136

  Monmouth

  167

  147

  21

  12

  163

  142

  21

  13

  174

  169

  Newport

  185

  151

  33

  18

  184

  150

  33

  18

  192

  191

  Torfaen

  154

  153

  0

  0

  150

  149

  0

  0

  155

  152

  Aberconwy

  173

  138

  35

  20

  169

  135

  35

  20

  175

  172

  Arfon

  129

  136

  -8

  -6

  124

  132

  -8

  -6

  130

  126

  Dwyfor

  160

  137

  22

  14

  157

  134

  22

  14

  162

  159

  Meirionnydd

  158

  142

  16

  10

  154

  138

  16

  10

  154

  150

  Ynys Mon

  154

  132

  22

  14

  150

  128

  22

  15

  156

  152

  Cynon Valley

  108

  158

  -50

  -46

  107

  157

  -50

  -47

  108

  107

  Merthyr Tydfil

  124

  170

  -46

  -37

  123

  169

  -46

  -38

  124

  123

  Ogwr

  151

  167

  -15

  -10

  149

  165

  -15

  -10

  156

  I54

  Rhondda

  85

  159

  -74

  -86

  85

  159

  -74

  -86

  101

  101

  Rhymney Valley

  139

  174

  -35

  -25

  136

  171

  -35

  -26

  139

  136

  Taff Ely

  145

  165

  -20

  -14

  139

  159

  -20

  -14

  145

  139

  Brecknock

  131

  135

  -4

  -3

  124

  128

  -4

  -3

  138

  131

  Montgomeryshire

  128

  119

  9

  7

  123

  114

  9

  7

  137

  132

  Radnor

  134

  125

  9

  7

  132

  122

  9

  7

  148

  145

  Cardiff

  179

  112

  67

  17

  179

  112

  67

  38

  179

  179

  Vale of Glamorgan

  166

  123

  43

  26

  157

  114

  43

  28

  168

  160

  Port Talbot

  154

  207

  -53

  -34

  154

  207

  -53

  -34

  155

  155

  Lliw Valley

  142

  187

  -45

  -32

  137

  182

  -45

  -33

  143

  138

  Ncath

  141

  172

  -31

  -22

  134

  165

  -31

  -23

  155

  148

  Swansea

  192

  201

  -9

  -5

  191

  200

  9

  -5

  206

  205

  Clwyd

  172

  149

  23

  13

  167

  144

  23

  14

  175

  170

  Dyfed

  131

  147

  -15

  -12

  122

  138

  -15

  -13

  138

  129

  Gwent

  154

  153

  2

  1

  152

  150

  2

  1

  162

  160

  Gwynedd

  154

  136

  17

  11

  150

  132

  17

  12

  155

  151

  Mid Glamorgan

  130

  166

  -36

  -28

  127

  164

  -36

  28

  133

  131

  Powys

  130

  126

  4

  3

  125

  121

  4

  3

  140

  134

  South Glamorgan

  176

  115

  60

  34

  173

  113

  60

  35

  176

  174

  West Glamorgan

  169

  195

  -25

  -15

  167

  192

  -25

  -15

  179

  177

  Total Wales

  151

  151

  0

  0

  147

  147

  0

  0

  156

  152

  Departmental Recruitment and Promotion Policy
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what measures he has implemented to ensure that recruitment and promotion policy in his Department does not directly or indirectly discriminate against applicants who were mature students or women returning to work following a career-break due to child care.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  My Department has implemented the following measures: high age limits for the main recruitment grades; the issue of guidance to members of selection and promotion boards which, inter alia, stresses the need to avoid direct or indirect discrimination on age or other grounds; fields of review for promotion which mean that length of service is not the major factor in determining promotion; staff who take career breaks and are later reinstated do so without any loss of seniority in their grade; and expansion of opportunities for part-time work, including job-sharing arrangements.

  School Nurses
  Mr. Kirk wood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list in the Official Report, for each year over the last five up to the latest for which figures are available, the following information with respect to school nurses: (a) the total number employed (given as total, whole-time, part-time, and whole-time equivalent), (b) the establishment figures and (c) the number of vacant posts.

  Mr. Grist
  There are currently no reliable figures which distinguish school nurses. However, district health authorities are, in conjunction with Welsh Office officials, improving coding procedures to enable information on school nurses in post to be obtained.

  Welsh Water Authority (Fish Farm Licences)
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations have been received by his 656
  Department concerning the granting of fish farm licences by the Welsh water authority to companies established by the authority; what steps have been taken to ensure that the authority will act in an impartial manner in both its planning and regulatory functions in relation to its subsidiaries; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  I have received correspondence from the owners of one commercial fish farm on the subject of abstraction licences.

  The Welsh water authority is a body corporate and the exercise of its planning function is a matter for the authority. Applications for licences to abstract water and consent to discharge effluent which are required by the authority for its own operations would be called in for my determination. There are also rights of appeal to me against the terms of licences and consents which the authority proposes to issue to third parties.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will investigate the circumstances in which the Welsh water authority granted a section 30 consent under the Freshwater and Salmon Fisheries Act on 23 June to Acquanorse pic to place cages in the Llysyfran reservoir; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The statutory responsibilities for consents issued under section 30 of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act rests with the Welsh water authority. I have no locus in the matter.

  Political Parties
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what resources of his Department are deployed in maintaining and developing relationships with political parties and their members in(a) in England and (b) in Wales; and if he will indicate the resources that are devoted to each such party.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  None.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Ron Davits
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the amount of time spent, by percentage, of total hours worked by Welsh Office civil servants, on the analysis on his behalf of political material.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  I supply the analysis; my Department provides facts.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the approved establishment of the Welsh Office at 1 April and at 1 April for each of the preceding five years; and what was the numbers of civil servants in post, by grade, at those dates.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  On 1 April each year my Department's manpower ceilings were as follows:

  Staff

  1983

  2,220

  1984

  2,195

  1985

  2,287

  1986

  2,294

  1987

  2,278

  1988

  2,215

  I shall write to the hon. Gentleman with the detailed information requested, and will place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

  Political Literature
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations are undertaken by(a) Conservative constituency associations and (b) other political groups in England and Wales with his Department, on the factual content of literature produced by them.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Wherever I think it necessary.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those occasions since June 1987, when his Department has made unsolicited official responses to literature distributed free of charge to the public by political parties in Wales; and if he will indicate for each occasion the nature of the response.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  So far as I am aware, none.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when his Department first obtained the copy of the Caerphilly Labour Herald issue No. 1, which formed the basis of his letter to the hon. Member for Caerphilly of 15 July.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  On 9 June 1988.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library a copy of his letter of 15 July to the hon. Member for Caerphilly, together with a copy of the Caerphilly Labour Herald which was the subject of that correspondence.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  I have placed a copy of my letter in the Library of the House. It is for the hon. Gentleman to place a copy of the newsletter from his constituency Labour party in the Library of the House if he so wishes.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list the issues of political literature, held by his 658
  Department distributed by (a) the Labour party, (b) the Conservative party, (c) Plaid Cymru and (d) the Liberals, Alliance, SLD or SDP, in each case showing that received (i) since the general election of 1987 and (ii) between the general elections of 1983 and 1987;

  (2) what is his policy with respect to the purchase by his Department of literature produced by local political organisations;

  (3) if it is the policy of his Department to collect systematically literature distributed by political parties in Wales.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The Welsh Office places orders for the policy documents of the main political parties, but we do not have regular arrangements for the purchase of literature produced by local political organisations. Detailed lists of publications held could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to obtain for his Department's library all future issues of the newsletter produced by the Caerphilly constituency Labour party.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  No. We are not interested in works of fiction.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the cost of Civil Service time incurred during the research by his Department into the edition of the Caerphilly Labour Herald which was the subject of his correspondence of 15 July to the hon. Member for Caerphilly.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  £5.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on how many occasions since June 1987 his Department has carried out analyses of literature distributed free of charge to the public by political parties in Wales; and if he will indicate any subsequent action taken by him in each case.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Once, when I wrote to the hon. Gentleman.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the cost to his Department of purchases of literature produced by political parties in Wales during 1987–88; and if he will list such purchases.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  My Department spent £240 on literature produced by the political parties in Wales last year. £235 of this was accounted for by the purchase of Welsh manifestos prior to the election for the purposes of briefing incoming Ministers.

  Water Supplies (Disconnections)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many households in Wales were disconnected from their water supplies in 1987–88.

  Mr. Grist
  The information is not available in the form requested. In 1987–88 the Welsh water authority disconnected 2,067 properties within their area of supply. Of these, 1,400 were reconnected after payment of bills.

  Member's Correspondence
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many copies of his letter to the hon. Member for Caerphilly of 15 July were made; and if he will list the recipients.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Thirty. One copy was sent in reply to correspondence; one was sent to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment; six copies were for internal departmental use and 22 copies were supplied to the lobby correspondents at Westminster representing the Welsh and the main national media in the hope that they would inform the public of the rebates available to people on low incomes so as to eradicate the considerable unfounded fears that have been created in the Caerphilly area.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the cost of preparing his letter of 15 July to the hon. Member for Caerphilly and of the additional copies to the press.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  A total of £24.

  Voluntary Organisations (Information)
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will make it his policy to make available the resources of his Department, free of charge, to any voluntary organisation wishing to inform the public of the nature and consequences of recent legislation.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Each case is considered on its merits.

  Bed-and-breakfast Accommodation
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the number of people in bed-and-breakfast accommodation in Wales, paid for by public funds at the latest date for which statistics are available.

  Mr. Grist
  The information available relates to numbers of families, not to individuals. On 31 March

  Research spending

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  Departmental expenditure on social science R and D and humanities (£ million)

  0·9

  0·6

  0·7

  1·5

  2·0

  Percentage of total1 departmental expenditure (per cent.)

  0·04

  0·02

  0·03

  0·05

  0·07

  Percentage of total departmental research spending (per cent.)

  1·5

  1·6

  1·6

  2·6

  3·5

  Expenditure on research2 undertaken within my Department (£ million)

  0·2

  0·1

  0·1

  0·2

  0·2

  Expenditure on research2 undertaken by higher education establishments (£ million)

  0·2

  0·2

  0·2

  0·3

  0·3

  Expenditure on research2 undertaken by industrial research associations and non·industrial research institutes (£ million)

  0·3

  0·2

  0·3

  0·9

  1·4

  1 Percentage of total expenditure within my responsibility as given in the Government expenditure White Paper.

  2 Figures may not add due to rounding.

  Health Spending
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give for each year since 1974 in Wales (i) total National Health Service expenditure, (ii) current expenditure on hospital and community health services, (iii) capital expenditure on hospital and community health services, (iv) expenditure on family practitioner services, (v) expenditure on centrally funded National Health Service services and (vi) expenditure on personal social services; if he will give each(a) in cash terms, (b) adjusted using the relevant pay and prices index and (c) adjusted using the gross domestic product deflator; and if he will place in the Library details of the methods used to make the adjustments.
  660
  1988, there were 59 homeless families in Wales who had been placed in bed-and-breakfast accommodation funded by local authorities.

  Housing
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answers to the hon. Member for Torfaen (Mr. Murphy) of 19 July,Official Report, column 564, how much of the £457 million to be spent on housing in the valleys is accounted for by expenditure allocated to housing within the planning totals set out in the public expenditure White Paper, and what is the figure for each year.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Within the £457 million to be spent on housing in the valleys over the next three years, gross public expenditure is expected to be around £225 million. I anticipate that this amount will be spread more or less equally over the three years.

  Social Science Research
  Mr. George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much has been spent by his Department in each of the past five years on social science research; what percentage this constitutes of total departmental expenditure and of the Department's research budget; and how much of the research has been undertaken(a) within his Department (b) by universities and polytechnics and (c) by independent research organisations.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  [pursuant to his reply, 27 July 1988]: The available information relates to gross expenditure on research and development including that performed elsewhere in central Government for R and D in total and for social sciences and humanities. The information is given in the following table:

  Mr. Grist
  [holding answer 18 February 1988]: The information requested is set out in the tables. Figures relating to pay and prices terms have been constructed by reference to indices maintained by the Department of Health from English data, as separate pay and prices indices for Wales are not available.

  (i) Total National Health Services Gross Expenditure

  at 1987–88 prices

  £ million cash

  Adjusted by the relevant pay and prices index

  Adjusted by the GDP deflator

  1974–75

  207·0

  872·7

  761·8

  1975–76

  278·1

  913·8

  814·5

  1976–77

  312·3

  909·1

  808·1

  661

  £ million cash

  Adjusted by the relevant pay and prices index

  Adjusted by the GDP deflator

  1977–78

  353·4

  939·3

  802·9

  1978–79

  405·2

  970·5

  831·6

  1979–80

  474·9

  950·7

  833·9

  1980–81

  611·9

  965·0

  906·2

  1981–82

  697·8

  1,009·0

  940·4

  1982–83

  769·3

  1,035·5

  967·9

  1983–84

  816·4

  1,045·8

  981·0

  1984–85

  882·9

  1,067·4

  1,016·0

  1985–86

  942·1

  1,081·5

  1,023·0

  1986–87

  1,013·5

  1,094·6

  1,064·5

  11987–88

  1,129·2

  1,129·2

  1,129·2

  1 provisional outturn.

  (ii) Hospital and community health services: gross current expenditure

  at 1987–88 prices

  £ million cash

  Adjusted by the relevant pay and prices index

  Adjusted by the GDP deflator

  1974–75

  142·3

  598·7

  523·7

  1975–76

  190·0

  620·5

  556·5

  1976–77

  216·9

  622·5

  561·3

  1977–78

  244·2

  645·4

  554·8

  1978–79

  277·1

  668·1

  568·7

  1979–80

  329·3

  658·9

  578·3

  1980–81

  428·2

  669·3

  634·2

  1981–82

  482·6

  697·4

  650·4

  1982–83

  521·0

  707·0

  655·5

  1983–84

  548·4

  708·0

  659·0

  1984–85

  589·3

  718·9

  678·1

  1985–86

  629·3

  730·0

  683·4

  1986–87

  671·6

  728·7

  705·4

  11987–88

  749·4

  749·4

  749·4

  1 Provisional outturn.

  (iii) Hospital and community health services: Gross capital expenditure

  at 1987–88 prices

  £ million cash

  Adjusted by the relevant pay and prices index

  Adjusted by the GDP deflator

  1974–75

  15·3

  56·5

  56·3

  1975–76

  23·1

  65·4

  67·7

  1976–77

  18·0

  45·5

  46·6

  1977–78

  21·1

  46·7

  47·9

  1978–79

  23·7

  46·9

  48·6

  1979–80

  24·4

  40·0

  42·8

  1980–81

  32·1

  41·8

  47·5

  1981–82

  41·4

  52·2

  55·8

  1982–83

  47·1

  58·5

  59·3

  1983–84

  49·9

  60·8

  60·0

  1984–85

  53·3

  62·3

  61·3

  1985–86

  55·1

  60·8

  59·8

  1986–87

  60·6

  63·7

  63·7

  11987–88

  62·9

  62·9

  62·9

  1 provisional outturn.

  (iv) Family Practitioner Services: Gross expenditure

  at 1987–88 prices

  £ million cash

  Adjusted by the relevant pay and prices index

  Adjusted by the GDP deflator

  1974–75

  46·2

  188·2

  170·0

  1975–76

  60·8

  193·0

  178·1

  1976–77

  72·3

  206·6

  187·1

  1977–78

  82·3

  215·8

  187·0

  1978–79

  97·2

  225·5

  199·5

  662

  £ million cash

  Adjusted by the relevant pay and prices index

  Adjusted by the GDP deflator

  1979–80

  113·0

  221·6

  198·4

  1980–81

  142·3

  228·1

  210·7

  1981–82

  162·4

  234·8

  218·9

  1982–83

  187·9

  251·2

  236·4

  1983–84

  202·3

  256·5

  243·1

  1984–85

  221·0

  262·1

  254·3

  1985–86

  234·2

  263·9

  254·3

  1986–87

  252·6

  271·0

  265·3

  11987–88

  282·2

  282·2

  282·2

  1 Provisional outturn.

  Note: Includes the costs of the family practitioner services administration and related services.

  (v) Centrally financed National Health Services: Gross expenditure

  At 1987–88 prices

  £ million cash

  Adjusted by the GDP deflator

  1974–75

  3·2

  11·8

  1975–76

  4·2

  12·3

  1976–77

  5·1

  13·2

  1977–78

  5·8

  13·2

  1978–79

  7·2

  14·8

  1979–80

  8·2

  14·4

  1980–81

  9·3

  13·8

  1981·82

  11·4

  15·4

  1982·83

  13·2

  16·6

  1983·84

  15·7

  18·9

  1984–85

  19·3

  22·2

  1985–86

  23·4

  25·4

  1986–87

  28·6

  30·0

  11987–88

  34·7

  34·7

  1 provisional outturn.

  Note:

  1. Because of the variety and multiplicity of individual budgest it is not meaningful to derive a single inflation factor for this expenditure.

  (vi) Personal Social Service: Gross expenditure

  at 1987–88 prices

  £ million cash

  Adjusted by the relevant pay and prices index

  Adjusted by the GDP deflator

  1974–75

  37·1

  132·5

  136·5

  1975–76

  50·4

  149·5

  147·6

  1976–77

  57·9

  151·6

  149·8

  1977–78

  63·0

  150·5

  143·1

  1978–79

  76·9

  169·6

  157·8

  1979–80

  92·7

  173·4

  162·8

  1980–81

  111·6

  173·8

  165·3

  1981–82

  120·3

  166·6

  162·1

  1982–83

  131·3

  169·6

  165·2

  1983–84

  143·5

  176·1

  172·4

  1984–85

  147·8

  174·4

  170·1

  1985–86

  155·9

  174·1

  169·3

  1986–87

  169·3

  180·5

  177·8

  11987–88

  182·1

  182·1

  182·1

  1 Provisional outturn.

ENERGY

  British Nuclear Fuels Ltd.
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the current budget for trainees at British Nuclear
  663
  Fuels Ltd.; what is the estimate for next year's budget; and what is the nature and extent of the future provision for trainees at British Nuclear Fuels Ltd.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  This is a management matter for British Nuclear Fuels plc.

  UKAEA Training School
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if there are any plans for the possible closure of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority's training school at Risley;

  (2) whether any studies have been carried out or commissioned concerning the cost-effectiveness of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority's training school at Risley.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  This is a management matter for the UKAEA.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what information he has as to the intake at the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority's training school at Risley for the academic year starting in September; what has the intake been for the last five years; and whether British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. will continue to send trainees to the training school after 1988.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  These are management matters for the UKAEA and BNFL.

  Offshore Oil and Gas (Safety)
  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what is the definition of serious injury used in the reporting of offshore accidents;

  (2) what changes in the definition of serious injury used in the reporting of offshore accidents have been made in the last 10 years;

  (3) what changes in the definition of offshore worker used in the reporting of offshore accidents has been made in the last 10 years; and what is the current definition;

  (4) what changes in the definition of offshore accidents have been made in the last 10 years; and what is the current definition.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  The Offshore Installations (Inspectors and Casualties) Regulations 1973 (SI 1973/1842) require owners of offshore installations to notify me of all casualties or other accidents involving loss of life or danger to life in respect of all persons on offshore installations or attendant vessels, whether or not those persons are working. There are no definitions of 'serious injury', 'offshore worker' or 'offshore accident' in the regulations but owners have been informed that serious injury includes:

  (a) Fracture of skull, spine, pelvis, arm, forearm, thigh or leg.

  (b) Dislocation of shoulders, elbow, hip, knee or spine.

  (c) Amputation of hand or foot, or substantial part of hand or foot.

  (d) Loss of sight of an eye.

  (e) Other serious bodily injuries, eg. internal haemorrhage, burns asphyxia, bends, or other injury likely to endanger life, cause permanent incapacity for work or substantially impair efficiency.

  664

  (f) Any person who suffers such an electric shock or burn, by coming into contact with any conductor in a circuit in which the voltage for the time being exceeds 25, that he requires first aid or medical treatment.

  (g) Undue exposure of any person to doses of radiation from radio active materials.

  These criteria have not been altered during the past 10 years.

  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will introduce legislation to extend the provisions of the Building (Scotland) Acts to offshore oil and gas installations.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  No. The Offshore Installations (Construction and Survey) Regulations 1974 (SI 1974/ 289), supported by the guidance notes on design and construction for offshore installations, issued by my Department, set down specific requirements for the design and construction of offshore installations.

  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will introduce legislation to extend the provisions of the Fire Precautions Acts to offshore oil and gas installations.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  No. There are specific requirements for the provision of fire and gas detection systems and for fire-fighting equipment on offshore installations in the Offshore Installations (Fire-Fighting Equipment) Regulations 1978 (SI 1978/611).

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the prosecutions in date order brought since 1977 regarding North sea offshore safety requirements; which company or person was prosecuted in each case; what was the exact charge brought in each case; and what was the penalty imposed in each case.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  [holding answer 25 July 1988]: A register of convictions of companies under the provisions of the relevant offshore safety legislation is being assembled in my Department and will be available for inspection by members of the public on appointment from 15 August. If the hon. Member wishes, I shall make arrangements for him to come and inspect it.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  European Community (Membership Consequences)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will bring up to date the figures in table 1 of the evidence submitted by Her Majesty's Government to the Treasury and Civil Service Committee on the financial and economic consequences of United Kingdom membership of the European Communities (page 59 of HC57-II, Session 1984–85).

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Table 1 of the evidence submitted by Her Majesty's Government to the Treasury and Civil Service Committee on the financial and economic consequences of United Kingdom membership of the European Communities is updated as follows:
  665

  Agricultural land prices by land class in England and Wales1 all properties, both vacant possession and tenanted sales

  Year

  Average price by predominant grade of land2

  Index of average prices of all grades of land3

  1 and 2£/ha

  3 £/ha

  4 and 5 £/ha

  All grades £/ha

  In current terms 1967–68 to 1970–71 = 100

  In real terms 1967–68 to 1970–71 = 100

  1983–84

  4,938

  3,857

  2,225

  3,497

  732

  149

  1984–85

  5,058

  4,006

  2,020

  3,585

  750

  144

  1985–86

  4,320

  3,838

  2,425

  3,499

  732

  135

  1986–874

  3,879

  3,498

  2,224

  3,311

  653

  116

  Sources and footnotes 1,2and 3 are as in the original table.

  4 Figures for 1986–87 relate to England only as date for England and Wales combined are not available after 1985–86.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will bring up to date the figures in tables f1 and f2 of the evidence submitted by Her Majesty's Government to the Treasury and Civil Service Committee on the financial and

  Net farm income on full-lime farms by farm type: England 1982–83 to 1986–87

  All dairy farms

  All livestock farms

  All cropping farms

  Pig & poultry farms

  Horticultural farms

  Money terms (£'000)

  Index in real terms 1982–83 = 100

  Money terms (£'000)

  Index in real terms 1982–83 = 100

  Money terms (£'000)

  Index in real terms 1982–83 = 100

  Money terms (£'000)

  Index in real terms 1982–83 = 100

  Money terms (£'000)

  Index in real terms 1982–83 = 100

  1982–83

  13·5

  103

  5·3

  110

  17·2

  103

  *11·5

  81

  *2·3

  28

  1983–84

  7·8

  57

  4·8

  96

  20·7

  119

  *8·7

  59

  *16·8

  198

  1983–84

  8·3

  61

  5·2

  103

  21·5

  123

  13·4

  91

  15·2

  179

  1984–85

  8·7

  60

  4·6

  86

  21·1

  115

  33·5

  215

  7·3

  82

  1984–85

  9·0

  62

  5·1

  97

  21·1

  116

  30·1

  193

  7·2

  81

  1985–86

  11·4

  74

  4·1

  73

  5·2

  27

  21·8

  132

  3·2

  34

  1985–86

  12·9

  84

  4·4

  78

  4·9

  25

  20·0

  121

  3·2

  34

  1986–87

  14·4

  91

  2·7

  46

  14·7

  73

  16·4

  96

  7·6

  78

  Source: Farm Business Survey.

  Notes: Pairs of years relate to an identical sample of farms. Full-time farms are defined as those of 4 British Size Units (BSU) or more except for farm types asterisked where there is a range of 4–250 BSU. One BSU represents 2,000 ECU of standard gross margin at average 1978–80 values.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will bring up to date the figures in table M of the evidence submitted by Her Majesty's Government to the Treasury and Civil Service Committee on the financial and economic consequences of United Kingdom membership of the European Communities (page 56 of HC57-II Session 1984–86).

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Estimates are no longer prepared on the basis requested. Detailed information on the incomes, assets and liabilities of farm businesses by farm type and country is contained within the 1988 edition of "Farm Incomes in the United Kingdom", a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  Products (Statistics)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish in

  Levy applicable in the United Kingdom, threshold price and notional 'world" price on 6 January and 23 July 1988; supplies for consumption in the United Kingdom; information for the main food items covered by the Common Agricultural Policy

  6 January 1988

  23 July 1988

  Commodity

  1 Threshold (or equivalent) price

  2 Levy applicable in UK

  3 Notional "world" price

  1 Threshold (or equivalent price)

  2 Levy applicable in UK

  3 Notional "world" price

  99 Supplies for human consumption in, UK

  £/tonne

  £/tonne

  £/tonne

  £/tonne

  £/tonne

  £/tonne

  '000 tonnes

  Common wheat

  173

  135

  51

  165

  85

  88

  5,466

  Barley

  158

  126

  43

  150

  65

  92

  1,967

  Maize

  158

  117

  51

  163

  83

  88

  1,160

  666
  economic consequences of United Kingdom membership of the European Communities (pages 39–40 of HC 57–11 Session 1984–85).

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The information requested in respect of table f 1 is as shown. Information updating table f2 appears at table 25 in the White Paper on the "Annual Review of Agriculture 1988" (Cm. 299).

  the Official Report a table showing for 6 January and for the latest available date the United Kingdom levy/ threshold price for products covered by the common agricultural policy, the United Kingdom levy and the world price together with the amount consumed in the United Kingdom in the latest period of 12 months for which figures are available.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The information is set out in the table. I remind the hon. Member that the "world" prices shown are generally the lowest offer prices at the Community frontier which underlie the Commission's calculation of the variable import levies. These prices are the lowest recorded and it is likely that, on average, higher prices would have to be paid if larger quantities were to be purchased on world markets or if suppliers on world markets diminished.

  I must caution strongly against drawing conclusions from the information requested.
  667

  6 January 1988

  23 July 1988

  Commodity

  1 Threshold (or equivalent) price

  2 Levy applicable in UK

  3 Notional "world" price

  1 Threshold (or equivalent price)

  2 Levy applicable in UK

  3 Notional "world" price

  9 Supplies for human consumption in UK

  £/tonne

  £/tonne

  £/tonne

  £/tonne

  £/tonne

  £/tonne

  '000 tonnes

  Sugar (white)

  440

  4313

  140

  435

  4249

  196

  2,111

  Butter (82 per cent, fat)

  2,336

  51,853

  553

  2,336

  51741

  641

  266

  Cheese (Cheddar)

  2,365

  1,715

  771

  2,365

  1,615

  830

  396

  Skimmed milk powder

  1,302

  794

  553

  1,302

  788

  541

  121

  Beef and veal

  2,708

  61,756

  1,138

  2,708

  61,765

  1,075

  1,124

  Pigmeat

  1,412

  565

  590

  1,431

  556

  616

  1,300

  Sheepmeat

  2,821

  7

  8

  2,821

  7

  8

  362

  Poultrymeat

  1,016

  451

  696

  1,015

  401

  699

  1,022

  Eggs

  869

  293

  687

  822

  571

  305

  738

  Notes to table:

  All figures have been rounded to nearest pound.

  1 For commodities for which there is no threshold price the following have been used: beef and veal—guide price converted to deadweight (using a killing out percentage of 53·8 per cent.); pigmeat and sheepmeat—basic price; poultrymeat and eggs—sluicegate prices plus basic levy converted at the green rate.

  2 Levy is net of monetary compensatory amounts. Rates of levy vary for different tariff headings. The rates quoted are: beef and veal and pigmeat—carcase; poultrymeat—70 per cent, chickens; eggs—in shell.

  3 Notional "world" prices have been calculated by subtracting the levy applicable from the "threshold" price. The beef price is also adjusted for duty. For pigmeat, poultrymeat and eggs the "world" price has been taken as the sluicegate price, less supplementary levy, where appropriate. The resulting estimate has been converted from ecu/t at the appropriate market rate of exchange: £0·694909 = 1 ecu on 6 January and £0·656335 = 1 ecu on 23 July.

  4 In practice the United Kingdom's imports from third countries are normally covered by the Lome convention and enter the Community levy-free.

  5 A special lower rate of levy is applicable to imports of butter from New Zealand.

  6 Most imports of beef from third countries are subject to special arrangements allowing entry at reduced levy rate.

  7 Imports of lamb under voluntary restraint arrangements with principal suppliers and related agreements are subject to a reduced charge of 10 per cent, ad valorem. Any imports outside these arrangements are subject to levies which cannot exceed the 20 per cent, tariff bound in the GATT.

  8 No appropriate "world" price is available.

  9 Total United Kingdom new supplies mainly for human consumption (1987 forecast): the figures for cereals include grains used for brewing, distilling and industrial uses but exclude animal feed. The figures for butter and cheese include all types of these products.

  Agricultural Imports
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the United Kingdom levies on imports of agricultural products from outside the EEC on 6 January and at the latest available date as a percentage of the world price and the intervention price.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The information is set out in the table. I remind the hon. Member that the "world" prices derived for the purpose of this calculation are the lowest recorded and do not represent those which might obtain if larger quantities were purchased from world markets or if supplies on world markets diminished.

  United Kingdom levy1 as percentage of (a) the "world" prices2 and (b) the intervention price3 in the United Kingdom

  6 January 1988

  23 July 1988

  Commodity

  (a)

  (b)

  (a)

  (b)

  Common wheat

  265

  111

  97

  72

  Barley

  294

  109

  70

  58

  Maize

  230

  96

  94

  70

  Sugar (white)

  223

  80

  127

  64

  Butter (82 per cent. fat)

  335

  89

  272

  84

  Cheese (cheddar)

  223

  —

  195

  —

  Skimmed milk powder

  144

  69

  146

  68

  Beef and veal

  154

  72

  164

  72

  Pigmeat

  96

  51

  90

  50

  Poultrymeat

  65

  —

  57

  —

  Eggs

  43

  —

  187

  —

  1 The levies taken are at the full rate. In the case of beef, butter and sugar, the United Kingdom obtains a large proportion of its supplies at reduced rates of levy.

  2 "World" prices have been calculated by subtracting the common import levy from the "threshold" price. The beef price is also adjusted for duty. For pigmeat, poultrymeat and eggs the "world"

  668
  price has been taken as the sluicegate price, less supplementary levy where appropriate.

  3 "Intervention prices" have been defined as:

  Common wheat—relevant month's intervention price for bread-making wheat of standard quality.

  Barley and maize—relevant month's intervention price.

  Sugar—intervention price for white sugar plus storage levy.

  Butter—intervention price for 82 per cent. butter.

  Skimmed milk powder—intervention price.

  Beef and veal—intervention price converted to carcase equivalent using 53·8 per cent. killing out coefficient.

  Pigmeat—lowest intervention price.

  There are no intervention price for cheddar cheese, poultrymeat and eggs. The intervention prices used will differ in some cases from buying in prices.

  Recruitment and Promotion Policy
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures he has implemented to ensure that recruitment and promotion policy in his Department does not directly or indirectly discriminate against applicants who were mature students or women returning to work following a career break due to child care.

  Mr, Donald Thompson
  My Department is directly responsible for the recruitment of administrative officers, equivalent grades, and below. Selection panels are instructed on the need to guard against any form of discrimination. Selection criteria based, for example, on sex are strictly forbidden as are criteria which might discriminate on age grounds against mature students or women returning to work following a career break.

  All staff have been issued with guidance entitled. "How to cope with changes in domestic responsibilities and still have a job," a copy of which has been placed in the Library. This encourages staff to consider alternatives to

  669
  resignation and also contains guidance on rejoining the Civil Service after a period away from work. A scheme designed to give preferential consideration for reinstatement when staff resign for domestic reasons is also under discussion with my Department's trade union side. This will give staff who resign for domestic reasons further encouragement to rejoin my Department when they are ready to return to work, and I hope the scheme will be introduced shortly.

  Those responsible for assessing staff for promotion are regularly reminded of the need to guard against any form of discrimination, and to avoid making any assumptions about mobility or length of future service in reaching decisions.

  My Department began monitoring the progress of women through all stages of recruitment competitions last year. Monitoring of promotion and allocation to duties will start this year. The need for further action will be considered in the light of the results which emerge.

  Advisory Committees
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will give a list of his advisory committees, stating in each case how many members are also members of the National Farmers Union.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The main advisory bodies sponsored by my Department are listed in "Public Bodies 1987," of which a copy is in the Library. Complete information as to how many members are also members of the National Farmers Union is not readily available.

  Milk
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the reductions in(a) milk production and (b) milk quota in each European Community country in 1987–88 as a percentage of (i) national production and (ii) European Community production, together with the cumulative total for all years since 1984.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The information requested is contained in the following tables:

  (i)

  (ii)

  National Production

  EC 10 Production

  1986–87

  1986–87

  Belgium*

  -4·3

  -0·14

  Denmark

  -5·7

  -0·28

  France*

  -4·0

  -1·02

  Germany*

  -10·0

  -2·39

  Greece*

  +8·8

  +0·04

  Ireland

  -4·7

  -0·26

  Italy

  +0·9

  +0·08

  Luxembourg

  -5·3

  -0·02

  Netherlands

  -8·0

  -0·98

  United Kingdom

  -5·9

  -0·93

  EC 10

  -5·9

  Spain*

  -4·0

  10·18

  EC 11

  -4·0

  -5·9

  1 Percent. of EC 11.

  Note: Quota in all member states was reduced by 6 per cent, in 1987–88 although this was partially offset in the members states marked with an asterisk by transfers between direct sale and wholesale quota. In addition, Spain was allocated a further 50,000 tonnes of wholesale quota from the Community reserve.
  670

  Change in quota (wholesale) between 1986–87 and 1987–88 as a percentage of:

  (i)

  (ii)

  National Production

  EC 10 Production

  1986–87

  1986–87

  Belgium

  -5·7

  -0·19

  Denmark

  -6·0

  -0·29

  France

  -5·6

  -1·43

  Germany

  -5·7

  -1·37

  Greece

  -7·1

  -0·03

  Ireland

  -5·7

  -0·32

  Italy

  -6·2

  -0·53

  Luxembourg

  -5·5

  -0·02

  Netherlands

  -5·9

  -0·72

  United Kingdom

  -5·9

  -0·92

  EC 10

  —

  -5·79

  Spain

  -3·9

  1 -0·17

  EC 11

  -5·71

  -5·70

  1 percentage of EC 11

  Cumulative change in production between 1983–84 and 1987–88 as a percentage of 1983–84 production:

  Cumulative change

  Belgium

  -3·5

  Denmark

  -12·9

  France

  -6·2

  Germany

  -15·3

  Greece

  +15·5

  Ireland

  -2·9

  Italy

  +3·8

  Luxembourg

  -2·7

  Netherlands

  -13·4

  United Kingdom

  -12·0

  EC 10

  -9·7

  Cumulative change in milk production (EC 10) between 1983–84 and 1987–88 compared with difference between 1983–84 production and 1987–89 quota:

  Production reduction

  Quota reduction

  9·7

  10·1

  Note: Data on milk production was obtained from Eurostat, and the latest available information for 1987–88. Wholesale quota allocations were taken from the appropriate EC regulations and include allocations of quota from the Community reserve. The Eurostat figures are for "deliveries to dairies"; this differs slightly from the definition of "wholesale deliveries" for quota purposes so that the Eurostat milk production figures are not strictly comparable with quota.

  Farming (National Laws)
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals have been made by the EEC Commission for the harmonisation of national laws on pesticides, insecticides, fertiliser and organic farming; what is the current position of each proposal in relation to EEC Council approval; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  As regards EC pesticides (including insecticides), the EC Commission put forward a draft directive harmonising aspects of national laws on the approval of "plant protection products" in 1976. No progress has been made on this text since 1983, and the Commission is understood to be preparing a revised text for discussion.

  I am aware that the Commission is working on a draft proposal on the production and marketing of agricultural

  671
  products and foodstuffs obtained without the use of synthetic chemicals, but as no proposals have been published I cannot comment any further.

  Council directive 76/116 published in 1975 sets certain standards on labelling and composition of some inorganic fertilisers traded between member states. Proposals by the EC Commission to extend these harmonisation measures have included a recent new directive on fluid fertilisers agreed by the Council, and a further proposal for one on secondary nutrients is currently under consideration by the Council.

  Butter
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what changes have taken place in the consumption of butter per person in each EEC country since 1973.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Information on butter consumption since 1973 is contained in the Commission publication "The Agricultural Situation in the Community—1987 Report", page T/165. A copy is in the Library of the House.

  Set-aside Scheme
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what provisions he is making under the set-aside scheme to ensure that land set aside which is crossed by public rights of way is kept clear; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ryder
  Farmers are already required to keep rights of way over their land unobstructed. This will not be affected by their joining the set-aside scheme. The advisory guidelines to be issued shortly will remind farmers of the need to conform to obligations as regards rights of way on their land. Enforcement is a matter for highways authorities.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the countries which have banned the import of United Kingdom cattle following the discovery of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in British herds.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Australia and Israel have told us that they will not permit imports of cattle from this country because of bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

  Soil Erosion
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to continue to support the joint scheme with soil survey for monitoring soil erosion by aerial photography.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The practical work in the joint scheme with the Soil Survey and Land Research Centre for monitoring soil erosion by aerial photography is now complete. The results are being interpreted and, together with advice from the Priorities Board for Research and Development in Agriculture and Food, will inform decisions on the need for further studies.

  Bovine Soinatrophin
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from Waitbhz, Tesco and Sainsbury supermarket companies on the subject of bovine somatrophin.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Earlier this year my officials met the British Retailers' Association (whose membership includes various supermarket chains) to discuss the subject.

  Disease Eradication Schemes
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the percentage valuation payments made in respect of compensation paid to farmers for the various disease eradication schemes.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The compensation payable for animals slaughtered in the event of disease occurring is as follows:African swine fever (which has never occurred in this country)—if the animal is affected, 50 per cent, of the value immediately before it became affected; if not, the value of the animal immediately before it was slaughtered.
  Aujeszky's disease—for all animals slaughtered, their market value immediately before they were slaughtered had they not been affected or suspected or exposed to infection of Aujeszky's disease, up to a maximum of £300 (For Aujeszky's disease the cost of compensation is paid in full from a statutory levy on pig producers).
  Bovine spongiform encephalopathy—for an affected or suspected animal an amount equal to 50 per cent, of either

  (a) the market value of the animal; or

  (b) 125 per cent, of the average price in respect of the month which occurred two months prior to the month in which the market value of the animal was determined rounded down to the nearest multiple of £2,

  whichever is the less.
  For an animal in which bovine spongiform encephalopathy cannot be confirmed post mortem, an amount equal to either

  (a) the market value of the animal; or

  (b) 125 per cent, of the average price in respect of the month which occurred two months prior to the month in which the market value of the animal was determined rounded down to the nearest multiple of £2,

  whichever is the less.
  (The Order providing for compensation in respect of bovine spongiform encephalopathy comes into effect on 8 August 1988.)
  Brucellosis—where the slaughtered animal is an affected animal or a reactor an amount equal to 75 per cent, of either

  (i) its market value or

  (ii) 125 per cent. of the average price in respect of the month which occurred two months prior to the month in which the market value of the animal was determined rounded down to the nearest multiple of £4.

  Where the slaughtered animal is not an affected animal or a reactor, an amount equal to either

  (i) its market value or

  (ii) 125 per cent, of the average price in respect of the month which occurred two months prior to the month in which the market value of the animal was determined rounded down to the nearest multiple of £4.

  Cattle plague (which has not occurred in this country since 1877)—if the animal is affected, 50 per cent, of its value immediately before it became affected but not more than £20; if not, the value immediately before it was slaughtered but not more than £40.

  673
  Classical swine fever (which is not present in this country)—if the animal is affected, 50 per cent, of the value of the animal immediately before it became affected; if not, the value of the animal immediately before it was slaughtered.
  Foot and mouth disease (which is not present in this country)—if the animal is affected, the value of the animal immediately before it became affected; if not, the value of the animal immediately before it was slaughtered.
  Pleuro-pneumonia (which has not occurred in this country since 1898)—if the animal is affected, 75 per cent, of the value immediately before it became so affected, but not more than £30; if not, the value immediately before it was slaughtered.
  Rabies (which is not present in this country)—where the animal was affected, 50 per cent, of its market value immediately before it became affected; in every other case the market value of the animal immediately before it was slaughtered.
  Swine vesicular disease (which is not present in this country)—where the animal was affected, its value immediately before it became affected, in every other case the value of the animal immediately before it was slaughtered.
  Tuberculosis—where the slaughtered animal is an affected animal or a reactor an amount equal to 75 per cent, of either

  (i) its market value or

  (ii) 125 per cent, of the average price in respect of the month which occurred two months prior to the month in which the market value of the animal was determined rounded down to the nearest multiple of £4.

  Where the slaughtered animal is not an affected animal or a reactor, an amount equal to either

  (i) its market value or

  (ii) 125 per cent, of the average price in respect of the month which occurred two months prior to the month in which the market value of the animal was determined rounded down to the nearest multiple of £4.

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give, in respect of each environmentally sensitive area(a) the total extent, in hectares, (b) the extent of agricultural land, (c) the number of farmers eligible to enter into management agreements, (d) the number of agreements concluded with farmers and (e) the total area of land covered by agreements.

  Mr. Ryder
  The total area in hectares of each environmentally sensitive area in England is as follows:

  Hectares

  Broads

  29,870

  Somerset Levels and Moors

  26,970

  South Downs

  48,820

  Pennine Dales

  15,900

  West Penwith

  7,200

  Breckland

  88,480

  North Peak

  50,250

  Suffolk River Valleys

  38,000

  Shropshire Borders

  21,360

  Test Valley

  2,690

  The figures are provisional and subject to minor amendment when final measurement and checking has been completed. The extent of agricultural land in each ESA is still being measured and will be presented in the report to Parliament referred to in my answer of today's date. Information on the number of farmers eligible to enter the ESA scheme in each area is not available.

  The number of agreements concluded in 1987 and total area of land covered in each ESA are as follows:
  674

  Number

  1Area

  Broads

  389

  6,735

  Somerset Levels and Moors

  523

  7,709

  South Downs (East)

  58

  3,104

  Pennine Dales

  218

  8,130

  West Penwith

  139

  5,552

  1 Hectares.

  The other areas were not open for applications until 1988. Applications received in 1988 for all areas are still being processed.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in respect of land within each environmentally sensitive area, how many applications have been received from voluntary conservation bodies wishing to enter into management agreements; what is the total area of land involved; how many agreements have so far been concluded with voluntary conservation bodies; and what is the total area of land involved.

  Mr. Ryder
  The information requested on applications is not available for 1988. In England 11 agreements covering some 570 hectares were concluded with voluntary conservation bodies in 1987. The information could not be given for individual environmentally sensitive areas without risking disclosure of information on individual agreements.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to report to the House, in accordance with the requirements of section 18(8) of the Agriculture Act 1986, on the performance of management agreements in environmentally sensitive areas; and whether any such report will describe the steps taken to monitor the effect of the agreements on wildlife and the landscape in each area.

  Mr. Ryder
  I expect to place a report, as required by section 18(8) of the Agriculture Act 1986, in the Libraries of both Houses by the autumn. The report will describe how the Ministry is monitoring the effects of ESA agreements in England, including on wildlife and the landscape, and will provide statistical information about each ESA.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what contribution he expects to receive from European Community funds towards the costs incurred in 1987 and 1988 in making payments to farmers in environmentally sensitive areas in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Ryder
  The European Community will contribute 25 per cent, of the cost of payments to farmers of up to 60 ecu (£39) per hectare in the case of land on which hill livestock compensatory allowances are paid and 100 ecu (£65) per hectare on other land. I expect the contribution to amount to approximately £340,000 in 1987 but it is too early to make a firm estimate for 1988. The United Kingdom is a net contributor to the European Community budget so all payments to this country from the Community are funded by the Exchequer.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the savings which will be made in expenditure under the common agricultural policy on commodities produced on farms in environmentally sensitive areas in the United Kingdom in 1987 and 1988.
  675
  Mr. Ryder
  It is too early to make a reliable estimate. Estimation of such savings will be made as part of the programme of monitoring and evaluation of the environmentally sensitive areas scheme.

  Sheep (Radioactive Marking)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what date, and in which country or region, in each of the four countries in the United Kingdom, the last sheep were marked blue between 28 September 1987 and 10 January 1988 subsequently re-monitored and tagged for slaughter prior to entering the food chain.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The last dates on which blue-marked sheep were presented for remonitoring were as follows:

  Date

  England

  8 April 1988

  Northern Ireland

  15 January 1988

  Scotland

  22 April 1988

  Wales

  5 May 1988

  All of these sheep were below the action level and tagged so that they were released from slaughter restriction.

  Restrictions were lifted from all blue-marked on 1 June 1988.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Sports Clubs (Grants)
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what grants were made in each of the last three years to(a) rugby clubs, (b) soccer clubs, (c) hockey clubs, (d) cricket clubs, (e) athletic clubs and (f) the Gaelic Athletic Association; and what provision has been made for specific clubs in the above categories in the 1988–89 financial year.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I will write to the hon. Gentleman.

  Flooding
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what sums are being expended on flood prevention works in Strabane in the current and following financial years.

  Mr. Needham
  I will write to the hon. Gentleman.

  Shootings (Gibraltar)
  Sir Eldon Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will call for a report from the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary as to the cost to public funds of the security operation mounted by the Royal Ulster Constabulary in relation to the return of the bodies of Irish Republican Army terrorists killed in Gibraltar, including the cost required to guard their respective homes and to police the funerals.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  I will write to my hon. Friend.
  676
  Sir Eldon Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his policy as to how the additional costs arising from the police operations in relation to the return of the Irish Republican Army members killed in Gibraltar shall be recouped.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The costs will be contained within existing provisions.

  Sir Eldon Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make available to the police authority and the Royal Ulster Constabulary extra funds to cover the additional costs of policing that arose in relation to the return to Northern Ireland of the three Irish Republican Army members killed in Gibraltar.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  In any financial year there will be a number of known and unexpected events which will involve increased police activity. Such matters are taken into account during the preparation of the police authority's estimates.

  Gaelic
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the status of Gaelic will be in the proposed educational reform; and if he will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Public Expenditure
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a further table in the Official Report, in the same format as the written reply of 7 July, Official Report, columns 733–34, on receipts classified as charges in respect of his programme expenditure over the years 1982–83 to 1990–91, indicating the receipts in respect of running costs expenditure together with a supplementary analysis indicating, separately, the amounts of receipts in respect of programme expenditure and of running costs expenditure estimated to have been met from other public expenditure programmes.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply 1 gave him on 7 July 1988, at columns 733–34, for the information on charges in respect of programme expenditure. Information on the source of these receipts is not readily available but it is estimated that receipts to the Northern Ireland programme from other public expenditure programmes is minimal.

  The information on receipts in respect of running costs expenditure for the years 1987–88 to 1990–91 is shown in the table; the information for the years 1982–83 to 1986–87 is not presently available in the same format and I will write to the hon. Member when the information comes to hand.

  Receipts in respect of Northern Ireland running costs expenditure coming from other public expenditure programmes cannot be readily distinguished from receipts coming from one Department to another within the Northern Ireland programme. The figures shown in the secondary analysis in the table therefore contain both elements.
  677

  Public expenditure Receipts in respect of running costs expenditure 1987–88 to 1990–91

  £ million

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  Agriculture, Fishery and Forestry Support

  Agency fees etc

  3

  3

  3

  3

  Trade, Industry Energy and Employment

  Miscellaneous

  1

  2

  2

  2

  Roads and Transport

  Car Parking

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Vehicle and Driver Testing and Driver Licensing Fees

  4

  4

  4

  4

  Agency Services Driver Licensing

  2

  2

  2

  2

  Environmental and Miscellaneous Services

  Water and Sewerage Charges etc

  16

  16

  17

  17

  Accommodation Services

  11

  12

  12

  12

  Planning Service

  2

  2

  2

  2

  Other Environmental Services

  4

  5

  5

  5

  Law, Order and Protective Services

  Forensic Science and Other Services

  4

  4

  4

  4

  Health and Personal Social Services

  Agency Services etc

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Social Security

  Recoupment from National Insurance Fund for Agency Services

  23

  27

  28

  28

  Other Agency Services etc

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Other Public Services

  Computer and Other Recoveries

  2

  2

  2

  2

  Total

  76

  83

  84

  86

  of which

  138

  142

  143

  145

  Notes:

  1 is estimated to relate to running costs expenditure included in public expenditure programmes.

  (1) Figures in the table are consistent with Cm. 288.

  (2) Individual figures may not sum to totals because of roundings.

  Debt (Benefit Reductions)
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table showing the total deduction made from(a) invalidity benefit, (b) child benefit, (c) widows' benefit, (d) supplementary benefit, (e) unemployment benefit, (f) sickness and (g) retirement pension in each year 1979 to June 1988, inclusive, under the Payments for Debt (Emergency Provisions) Act (Northern Ireland) 1971.

  Mr. Needham
  I will write to the hon. Lady.

  Anglo-Irish Parliamentary Committee
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he intends to propose the setting up of an Anglo-Irish parliamentary committee; and what consultations have been undertaken as to the number of hon. Members from each of the political parties who would sit on this committee.

  Mr. Tom King
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Recruitment and Promotion Policy
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures he has implemented to ensure that recruitment and promotion policy in his Department does not directly or indirectly discriminate against applicants who were mature students or women returning to work following a career break due to child care.
  678
  Mr. Ian Stewart
  I will write to the hon. Lady.

  Blackwater Arterial Drainage Scheme
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what is the current estimated total cost of the Blackwater arterial drainage scheme; if he will list the sources from which the cost will be met; and if he will list for each of the phases of the Blackwater arterial drainage scheme, the contract number, location and estimated cost, and, for those phases completed, the final cost;

  (2) what steps are being taken to monitor the impact of the Blackwater arterial drainage scheme on the wildlife and landscape of the catchment; and if he will summarise the results of such monitoring.

  Mr. Viggers
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Finn-Lacky Catchment
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what steps have been taken to survey the wildlife of the Finn-Lacky catchment; if he will list the sites within the Finn-Lacky catchment that qualify for notification as areas of special scientific interest by virtue of their flora, fauna or physiological interest; and, in the event of an arterial drainage scheme for the catchment, if he will prepare an environmental statement under EC directive 85/337;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the scheme for the drainage of the Finn-Lacky catchment; if he will estimate the number of hectares of agricultural land whose drainage will be improved as a result of such a scheme; if he will list

  679
  the sources from which he anticipates the cost of the scheme will be met; and if he will state the estimated cost of the scheme and the financial benefit he expects to accrue as a result of public investment in it.

  Mr. Viggers
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Strip Searches (Maghaberry)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many strip searches were made of female prisoners in Her Majesty's prison, Maghaberry, in June, giving the number of persons involved and number of times each person was searched; if any prison contraband, smuggled item or illegal correspondence was discovered in any search, indicating which items; in how many cases prisoners refused to be searched and had to be restrained while the search was being conducted; and what were the reasons for the search under each of the following headings:(a) making a remand appearance at a trial, (b) attending trial, (c) inter-prison visit or (d) other reasons.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The information requested is as follows:

  Number of searches

  June

  Total number of searches carried out

  25

  Total number of inmates searched

  16

  Number of prisoners searched once

  8

  Number of prisoners searched twice

  7

  Number of prisoners searched more than twice

  1

  Reason for search

  June

  First admission on remand/awaiting trial

  5

  First admission on scntcncc/final discharge

  12

  Attending remand court

  —

  Attending trial

  —

  Inter-prison visits

  1

  Pre-release home leave

  7

  No prohibited article was found during these searches and no prisoner refused to be searched.

  Bed-and-breakfast Accommodation
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the number of people in bed-and-breakfast accommodation in Northern Ireland paid for by public funds at the latest date for which statistics are available.

  Mr. Needham
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  MacBride Principles
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if, further to his reply to the question from the hon. Member for Brent, East of 22 July, column 873, he will, whilst not identifying the individuals concerned, break down the total sum of £86,856 into the cost of support to each individual concerned along with any known political or trade union connections of each individual.

  Mr. Viggers
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference (Pub Bombings Cases)
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the Birmingham, Guildford and Woolwich bombing cases were among the subjects discussed at the meeting of the Anglo-Irish Conference; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Tom King
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Royal Ulster Constabulary
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Belfast, South of 27 January,Official Report,column 292, how many of the total days off sick or injured by members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary were attributed to (a) injury and (b) sickness; and if he will give this information for the last five years, stating average days off per capita.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  I regret that there were some statistical errors in the reply that my predecessor gave to the hon. Member on 8 February at columns 85–6.

  The corrected information in respect of the regular RUC is as follows:

  Injury on Duty

  Average per Member

  Sickness

  Average per Member

  1983

  14,233

  1·78

  91,388

  11·42

  1984

  17,444

  2·15

  110,048

  13·54

  1985

  21,351

  2·58

  111,318

  13·48

  1986

  23,527

  2·86

  124,780

  15·15

  1987

  23,676

  2·87

  131,462

  15·97

  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information he has as to the number of days off work sick reported for members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary for each of the last five years; and if he will express this as an average figure.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  I regret that there were some statistical errors in the reply that my predecessor gave to the hon. Member on 27 January at column 292. The corrected information is as follows:

  The following number of days were lost by members of the regular Royal Ulster Constabulary as a result of sickness and injury on duty for each of the last five years:

  Days lost

  1983

  105,621

  1984

  127,492

  1985

  132,669

  1986

  148,307

  1987

  155,138

  In 1986, these figures represented an average loss of 18·01 days per member, and in 1987 18·84 days per member.

  Marches
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what guidance or advice he has given to
  681
  the Royal Ulster Constabulary regarding the re-routing, banning, or imposition of conditions on marches or meetings in Northern Ireland; and what representations he has received from organisations and individuals about the operation of the Public Order (Northern Ireland) Order.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  [holding answer 28 July 1988]: The control of marches and public meetings in Northern Ireland is an operational matter for the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary. Since the Public Order (Northern Ireland) Order 1987 came into force in April 1987, records show that one letter has been received about possible changes to the legislation.

  Belfast
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what is the total amount of expenditure on the building of houses and facilities in the Poleglass estate; what amount has been spent upon maintenance and repairs; what is the total number of dwelling units provided; and if he will express the expenditure as a figure per capita of residents;

  (2) what is the amount spent on the erection of new houses by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive in the area denned in "Making Belfast Work" as Catholic West Belfast; what is the amount in maintenance and repairs on such property; what is the amount paid in repair and improvement grants to residents in the area defined as Catholic West Belfast, published by his Department; what is the amount paid to voluntary housing organisations in this area; and what is the amount paid to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive by those who accepted the right to buy their property in the defined area.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  [holding answer 28 July 1988]: These are matters for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, but I understand from the chairman that the information is not immediately available. I will write to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.

  Departmental Programmes
  Mr. George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been spent by his Department in each of the past five years on the evaluation of departmental programmes; and what proportion this constitutes of(a) the amount allocated for evaluation and (b) the Department's total budget.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 28 July 1988]: The process of evaluation of my Department's programmes is part of the work itself. It is therefore not possible to identify separately the resources involved.

  Nuclear Bunkers
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the three nuclear bunkers to be developed in Northern Ireland, indicating how far work has progressed on each bunker, the expected date of completion of each bunker and the most recent estimate of the total cost of each.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  [holding answer 28 July 1988]: Work is progressing satisfactorily on the first of the three Northern Ireland emergency centres at Ballymena. Work
  682
  on this centre was started in July last year and is due to be completed in November 1989 at an estimated cost of £3·2 million. No date has yet been scheduled for work to be commenced on either of the other two centres. The most recent estimate for the cost of the other two centres is £2·6 million and £2 million respectively.

  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement indicating what areas are to be served by each of the proposed nuclear bunkers in Northern Ireland; what those services will be; what are the numbers designated to work in each bunker in the event of a nuclear attack; and when the list of those designated to staff these bunkers in the event of a nuclear attack was last updated.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  [holding answer 28 July 1988]: All three emergency centres will function on an integrated basis to provide all essential services to the community of Northern Ireland as a whole. If necessary, each individual centre can provide a comprehensive Provincewide service. Provision has been made for approximately 235 personnel to be designated to the centre currently under construction. It is intended to allocate approximately 260 staff to cover the remaining two centres. The list of those designated to staff the centres is subject to continuous review.

  Training Schemes (Belfast)
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on Belfast areas of training, detailing the areas involved, the financial commitment, the employment levels involved, its structure and the criteria used in planning the scheme; and what methods and criteria will be used to assess its progress.

  Mr. Viggers
  [holding answer 26 July 1988]: Action teams represent an intitiative to focus additional resources to directly benefit areas of multiple deprivation. Areas are selected on the evidence of the Belfast areas of need survey. Each team has a budget of £500,000 per annum, services a population in the region of 15,000 and is charged with the broad objective of identifying the major needs of the area and co-ordinating means of resolution in co-operation with existing agencies and the local community groups. Four teams are presently in operation covering the separate areas of Lower Shankill/Lower Falls, Duncairn/New Lodge, Springfield and Riverside. A further four teams are planned to become operational soon. The Policy Research Institute has been appointed to evaluate the initiative.

  Social Science Research
  Mr. George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been spent by his Department in each of the past five years on social science research; what percentage this constitutes of total departmental expenditure and of the Department's research budget; and how much of the research has been undertaken(a) within his Department, (b) by universities and polytechnics and (c) by independent research organisations.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  [holding answer 27 July 1988]: The information is as follows:

  683

  Year

  Departmental expenditure social science research

  Percentage total departmental expenditure

  Percentage expenditure of departmental research budget

  Expenditure within department

  Universities or polytechnics

  Independent research organisations

  £ million

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  1982–83

  0·7

  0·020

  7·36

  0·6

  0·03

  —

  1983–84

  0·8

  0·020

  5·44

  0·7

  0·1

  0·02

  1984–85

  0·7

  0·017

  5·83

  0·6

  0·1

  0·02

  1985–86

  0·8

  0·018

  5·40

  0·6

  0·2

  —

  1986–87

  0·9

  0·019

  4·86

  0·7

  0·02

  —

  Departmental Advertising
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary State for Northern Ireland (1) what was the total spending by his Department on press, public relations and advertising, respectively, in 1987–88;

  (2) what is the latest figure for the estimated spending in 1988–89 by his Department on (a) TV advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I will write to hon. Member.

  Statistical Divisions
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list for 1979, 1984 and the most recent year the numbers of staff by grade in the statistical division in his Department; if he will differentiate between staff in the statistical posts and staff in administrative posts; and if he will give separate figures for the Central Register Office Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  [holding answer 21 July 1988]: I will write to the hon. Member.

  Public Relations
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what is the latest figure for the estimated expenditure by his Department on press and public relations during 1988–89;

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

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answers 21 July 1988]: I will write to the hon. Member.

  Computer Work Stations
  Mr. Warren
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many computer work stations there are in his Department; what is the ratio of work stations to civil servants; and how he expects this to change over the next five years.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Information Technology
  Mr. Warren
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will list the composition of the senior information technology strategy committee in his Department; and how many times in the past year its meetings have been attended by Ministers;

  (2) how many of the staff in his Department at grades 1, 2 and 3 have attended courses or training on information technology awareness or management in the last 12 months.
  684
  Mr. Ian Stewart
  [holding answers 21 July 1988]: I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Abortion
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has any plans to seek to legalise abortion in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 15 July 1988]: I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Air Travel (Expenditure)
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the expenditure on air travel in each month from 1 January to 30 June for the Northern Ireland Civil Service; and if he will provide figures for the Northern Ireland Office as a whole and broken down by Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  [holding answer 28 July 1988]: I will write to the hon. Gentleman.

SCOTLAND

  Recruitment and Promotion Policy
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what measures he has implemented to ensure that recruitment and promotion policy in his Department does not directly or indirectly discriminate against applicants who were mature students or women returning to work following a career break due to child care.

  Mr. Rifkind
  My Department conducts training courses for members of recruitment and promotion boards which contain elements on the avoidance of discrimination and these are supplemented by written guidance.

  Subject to certain conditions, my Department reinstates all applicants who resigned for domestic reasons. Previous service is taken into account for pay and seniority purposes and, in certain circumstances, previous performance assessments count towards eligibility for promotion boards.

  My Department has no special measures relating to the recruitment or promotion of mature students.

  Police (Special Branches)
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many police officers and civilians are serving in or responsible to the special branches of Scottish police forces, listed by police force.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I shall write to the hon. Member.

  Public Expenditure
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report, in the same format as his written reply of 7 July, Official Report,columns 672–74, on receipts classified as charges in respect of his programme expenditure over the years 1982–83 to 1990–91, indicating the receipts in respect of running costs expenditure together with a supplementary

  Public expenditure: receipts in respect of running costs expenditure 1982–83 to 1990–91—Scotland Programme1

  £ million

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  Outturn

  Outturn

  Outturn

  Outturn

  Outturn

  Estimated Outturn

  Plans

  Plans

  Plans

  Law, order and protective services

  Penal system

  -0

  -0

  -0

  -0

  -0

  -0

  -1

  -0

  -0

  Administration of Justice

  -5

  -5

  -6

  -6

  -7

  -7

  -8

  -8

  -8

  Total Law, order and protective services

  -5

  -5

  -6

  -7

  -7

  -7

  -8

  -8

  -8

  Other public services

  -4

  -3

  -4

  -14

  -14

  -15

  -17

  -16

  -17

  Total Scotland Programme

  -10

  -9

  -10

  -21

  -21

  -22

  -25

  -25

  -25

  1 Due to rounding, individual figures do not necessarily sum to the totals.

  Public expenditure: receipts in respect of running costs met from other public expenditure programmes 1982–83 to 1990–91—Scotland Programme

  £ million

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  Outturn

  Outturn

  Outturn

  Outturn

  Outturn

  Estimated Outturn

  Plans

  Plans

  Plans

  Other public services

  -8

  -11

  -12

  -4

  -3

  -3

  -3

  -3

  -3

  Total Scotland Programme

  -8

  -11

  -12

  -4

  -3

  -3

  -3

  -3

  -3

  Borders Region
  Mr. Kirk wood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether consideration has been given to designating the Borders region as eligible for rural development status under heading 5B of the proposed reform of the European Community structural funds;

  (2) what representations he has made to the European Community to establish the Borders region as being eligible to qualify for rural development status under heading 5B of the proposed reform of the European Community structural funds.

  Mr. Lang
  The European Commission has only just agreed its proposals for the detailed eligibility criteria under which rural areas would qualify for objective 5B. We shall need to study these proposals closely. It is therefore too early to say whether Borders region will qualify. The implications of any regional fund assistance for non-assisted rural areas such as Borders, which might divert money away from assisted areas, would need careful consideration.

  Rates
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average domestic rates bill per household in(a) 1979–80 and (b) 1988–89 for (i) Aberdeen, (ii) Dundee, (iii) Edinburgh, (iv) Glasgow, (v) Stirling and (vi) Scotland as a whole.
  686
  analysis indicating, separately, the amounts of receipts in respect of programme expenditure and of running costs expenditure estimated to have been met from other public expenditure programmes.

  Mr. Rifkind
  Receipts in respect of programme expenditure met from other public expenditure programmes cannot be distinguished within the reply given on 7 July. For running costs expenditure, the information is as follows:

  Mr. Ernie Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the average domestic rates bill for each household in(a) 1979–80 and (b) 1988–89 for (i) Scotland, (ii) Aberdeen, (iii) Dundee, (iv) Edinburgh, (v) Glasgow and (vi) Stirling.

  Mr. Lang
  The information requested is as follows:

  Average Domestic Rate Bill 1979–80

  Average Domestic Rate Bill 1988–89

  £

  £

  Aberdeen City

  161

  432

  Dundee City

  134

  486

  Edinburgh City

  188

  603

  Glasgow City

  138

  506

  Stirling

  158

  585

  Scotland

  149

  494

  Note:

  The 1988–89 average rate bills for Edinburgh and for Scotland have been calculated after taking into account Lothian Regional Council's voluntary rate reduction.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the latest estimated average poll tax bill per person for 1988–89 and 1989–90 for(a) Aberdeen, (b) Dundee, (c) Glasgow, (d) Edinburgh, (e) Stirling and (f) Scotland as a whole.
  687
  Mr. Lang
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Dundee, West (Mr. Ross) on 29 July 1988.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when, pursuant to his answer of 7 July,Official Report, column 676, he expects to issue guidance on the procedures involved in determining which individuals are severely handicapped, and thus exempt from liability to pay the poll tax.

  Mr. Lang
  My right hon. and learned Friend expects to issue guidance to the medical profession on the issue of certificates in respect of the severely mentally impaired for community charge purposes as soon as possible after the relevant Scottish provisions of the Local Government Finance Act come into force in August.

  Mr. Ernie Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the estimated average community charge per individual for(a) 1988–89 and (b) 1989–90 for (i) Scotland, (ii) Aberdeen, (iii) Dundee, (iv) Edinburgh, (v) Glasgow and (vi) Stirling.

  Mr. Lang
  My reply of 22 March to the hon. Member for Aberdeen, South (Mr. Doran) at column 72, gave estimates of the levels of personal community charge required to replace domestic rate income in each regional, islands and district council area in Scotland in 1988–89. The levels of personal community charge for 1989–90 are a matter for local authorities.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he proposes to take to implement the amendments to the Abolition of Domestic Rates, etc. (Scotland) Act 1987 which are being made in the Local Government Finance Act.

  Mr. Lang
  The Bill has now received Royal Assent, and a commencement order will shortly be made in respect of the provisions relating to Scotland. The necessary regulations will be made thereafter, on a timetable which has regard to the existing timetable for the introduction of the community charge in Scotland, and in particular to the fact that community charges registers will come into force on 1 October. The regulations will be the subject of appropriate consultation.

  School Leavers
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the total number of pupils leaving year (S4) in secondary schools in Scotland in each of the years 1979 to 1987, inclusive, and for each of the following destinations: employment, employment with training, non-advanced further education, Government training schemes, remaining at school (S5) and unemployment.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him of Thursday 28 July for information on numbers of pupils leaving S4. The information requested on destinations is not readily available.

  Training
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list the training programmes(a) administered by his Department using the Industry Acts and regional assistance provisions, (b) sponsored by the
  688
  EEC social fund but administered by his Department, (c) sponsored by the Scottish Development Agency and (d) sponsored by the Manpower Services Commission;

  (2) if he will give the total expenditure on all aspects of training programmes (a) administered by his Department, (b) sponsored by the EEC social fund, (c) provided by the Scottish Development Agency and (d) provided by the Manpower Services Commission;

  (3) if he will give the total amount of expenditure on direct support for industrial training in the current year;

  (4) if he will give the total number of (a) vacancies at job centres and (b) vacancies at careers offices in Scotland in each month between January 1987 and June 1988, inclusive;

  (5) if he will give the total expenditure of the Manpower Services Commission in Scotland in each of the years 1979 to 1987, inclusive, and for each client group for each function of the commission.

  Mr. Lang
  I shall write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give(a) the total number of places being provided in the new adult training programme in Scotland and (b) an estimate of the number of people participating in the programme in each of the years 1988–89, 1989–90 and 1990–91.

  Mr. Lang
  We plan to provide some 41,000 employment training places in Scotland. With an average expected length of stay of 6 months this should mean provision for around 49,000 participants from September 1988 to March 1989, and around 84,000 participants in each of the two subsequent years.

  Housing Allocations (Strathkelvin)
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will meet Strathkelvin district council to discuss the housing financial allocations for 1988–89; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland has no plans to meet the district council. On 31 May, in response to representations from the council, the Secretary of State offered a meeting with officials of the Scottish Development Department to discuss the issue in question; this offer has not been taken up.

  Bed-and-breakfast Accommodation
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of people in bed-and-breakfast accommodation in Scotland paid for by public funds at the latest date for which statistics are available.

  Mr. Kirk wood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the latest figures for the number of people in bed-and-breakfast accommodation in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  There are no overall figures for the number of persons in bed-and-breakfast accommodation paid out of public funds. However, it is estimated that the number of households placed in bed-and-breakfast accommodation under the provisions of the homeless persons legislation at 31 March 1988 for Scotland was approximately 230.

  SHARPEN Report
  Dr. Moonie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) when he will make the SHARPEN report available to the public;

  (2) if he will make available forthwith the Scottish Health Service Planning Council's commentary to him on the SHARPEN report;

  (3) when he will be in a position to give the Government's reaction to the recommendations of the Scottish Health Service Planning Council on the priorities to be adopted in the Scottish Health Service, as contained in the foreword to the SHARPEN report.

  £ millions

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  Board

  Indicative Level

  Payments

  Indicative Level

  Payments

  Indicative Level

  Payments

  Indicative Level

  Argyll and Clyde

  ·273

  ·004

  ·284

  ·058

  ·295

  ·035

  ·308

  Ayrshire and Arran

  ·227

  ·025

  ·237

  ·047

  ·246

  ·142

  ·257

  Borders

  ·154

  ·273

  ·190

  ·097

  ·153

  ·103

  ·149

  Dumfries and Galloway

  ·531

  ·469

  ·354

  ·283

  ·214

  ·112

  ·180

  Fife

  ·540

  ·379

  ·331

  ·218

  ·301

  ·410

  ·285

  Forth Valley

  ·404

  ·192

  ·473

  ·347

  ·421

  ·251

  ·221

  Grampian

  ·507

  ·271

  ·522

  ·408

  ·621

  ·601

  ·511

  Greater Glasgow

  ·795

  ·010

  ·832

  ·473

  ·873

  ·431

  ·897

  Highland

  1·094

  ·626

  1·341

  1·222

  ·626

  ·517

  ·510

  Lanarkshire

  ·437

  ·126

  ·440

  ·117

  ·424

  ·145

  ·402

  Lothian

  ·533

  ·108

  ·481

  ·539

  ·486

  ·707

  ·509

  Orkney

  ·015

  ·025

  ·015

  ·015

  ·015

  ·011

  ·015

  Shetland

  ·015

  —

  ·016

  ·016

  ·017

  ·016

  ·017

  Tayside

  ·313

  ·154

  ·396

  ·235

  ·368

  ·114

  ·361

  Western Isles

  ·176

  ·192

  ·183

  ·150

  ·148

  ·140

  ·103

  Total

  6·015

  2·854

  6·095

  4·225

  5·208

  3·735

  4·725

  Dr. Moonie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many memoranda of agreement between itself and

  Memoranda of agreement

  Year

  Health board

  Body

  Title

  1986

  Greater Glasgow

  Strathclyde Regional Council

  East End mental health project—Easterhouse

  1986

  Greater Glasgow

  Strathclyde Regional Council

  Supported accommodation project

  1986

  Greater Glasgow

  Strathclyde Regional Council

  Joint care scheme

  1986

  Orkney

  Orkney Islands Council

  Day Centre/Hospital for the elderly—in Kirkwall

  1986

  Orkney

  Orkney Islands Council

  As above with link corridor to local authority residential home—in Stromness

  Total = 5

  1987

  Greater Glasgow

  Strathclyde Regional Council

  Fountainview Hostel (Quarrier's Homes)

  1987

  Lothian

  WASP

  Maintenance of existing service of 10 year duration for agoraphobics and others with severe anxiety problems

  1987

  Lothian

  NUCLEUS

  NUCLEUS—Counselling and support services for mentally handicapped children and their families

  1987

  Lothian

  Scottish Council on Disability

  Disability information dissemination in the Lothians

  1987

  Lothian

  Edinburgh Association for Mental Health

  Community Care

  1987

  Lothian

  Granton Community Health Project

  Granton Community Health Initiative

  1987

  Lothian

  Garvald Training Centre

  Garvald Community Enterprises

  1987

  Lothian

  Lothian Play Forum

  Special Needs Playscheme/Equipment

  1987

  Lothian

  Disablement Income Group

  Welfare Benefit Advisory Service in Hospitals

  1987

  Lothian

  Craigshill Good Neighbour Network

  Craigshill Daycentre for Confused Elderly, Livingston

  1987

  Lothian

  St. Michael's Hospital Day Care Centre Committee

  St. Michael's Hospital Day Care Centre

  1987

  Lothian

  Southside Community Care Project

  Pleasance Social Centre, Edinburgh

  Total = 12

  690
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I have nothing to add to the statement I made on 16 June at column 208 in reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Tayside, North (Mr. Walker).

  Health Boards
  Dr. Moonie
  To ask the Secretay of State for Scotland with reference to Scottish Office circular NHS 1985 (GEN) 18, for the years 1985–86, 1986–87 and 1987–88, what were the indicative amounts for, and payments made by, each Scottish health board and in total for all boards in respect of support finance; and what are the indicative amounts for each board for 1988–89.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information is given in the following table:

  other bodies has each health board submitted annually under paragraph 36 of Scottish Office circular NHS 1985 (GEN) 18; and what are the project titles.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information is as follows:
  691

  Year

  Health board

  Body

  Title

  19881

  Ayrshire and Arran

  Scottish Association for Mental Health (Supported Accommodation) Ltd.

  Saltcoats Supported Accommodation

  19881

  Ayrshire and Arran

  Scottish Association for Mental Health (Supported Accommodation) Ltd.

  Ayr Supported Accommodation

  19881

  Lothian

  Haddington and District Day Centre Committee

  Haddington and District Day Centre

  19881

  Lothian

  Crossroads Care Attendant Scheme

  Crossroads Care Attendant Scheme—Bathgate/Whitburn Area

  19881

  Lothian

  Midlothian Local Health Council

  Midlothian Mental Health Project—Community Development Worker

  Total = 5

  1 To date.

  Dr. Moonie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information is available in respect of jointly financed projects entered into under Scottish Office Circular NHS 1985 (GEN) 18, particularly the number, cost to the National Health Service and local authorities, types and distribution of projects.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  No information is available centrally from health boards. A study of local authority participation is in train but an analysis of the results has not yet been completed.

  Licensing (Convictions)
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many convictions there have been in the last five years for which information is available for contraventions of section 2, section 7(3), section 19(1), section 29(2), section 33(4) and (5), section 34(3) and (6), section 36(3), section 38(4), section 41(1), section 41(3), section 50(6), and section 54(1 )(a) and (b) of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976;

  (2) how many convictions there have been in the last five years for which information is available for contraventions of section 57(7) and (8), section 58(7), section 58(8), section 59(7), section 64(6), section 68(1), (2), (3) and (5), section 69(1) and (2), section 70(1), section 72(1) and section 73(1) of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976;

  (3) how many convictions there have been in the last five years for which information is available for contraventions of section 84, section 85, section 86, section 87(1)(a) and (b), section 88, section 89, section 90(a), (b) and (c), section 92(1)(a) and (b), section 91(2) and (3), section 92(1), section 91(2) and section 93 of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976;

  (4) how many convictions there have been in the last five years for which information is available for contraventions of section 94(1), section 95, section 96(a) and (b), section 97(1), (2), (3) and (4), section 98(1) and (2), section 99(a) and (b) of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976.

  (5) how many convictions there have been in the last five years for which information is available for contraventions of section 100(a) and (b), section 101(1) and (2), section 103, section 111, section 112(1) and (3), section 113, section 114(2), section 119 section 120(1) and (2), section 120(7), section 123(2) of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The available information is given in the table. I regret that it is not possible to provide statistics in the precise format requested. Section 692
  50(6) was repealed by the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1981 and section 94(1) by the Finance Act 1981.

  Number of persons with a charge proved under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976

  Sections

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  54 and 83

  57

  35

  39

  24

  29

  57 and 95

  1

  4

  3

  8

  —

  68(1)

  75

  114

  90

  106

  113

  68(2)

  136

  103

  77

  116

  130

  68(3)

  50

  56

  50

  42

  47

  72 and 73

  2

  1

  2

  —

  —

  74

  15

  19

  27

  14

  19

  77

  9

  9

  5

  5

  7

  78(1) and 79

  80

  82

  95

  84

  65

  78(2)

  2

  —

  2

  2

  2

  81

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  82

  —

  5

  —

  2

  —

  87

  1

  1

  1

  1

  —

  90(a) and 90(b)

  4

  11

  8

  4

  3

  90(c)

  4

  2

  2

  1

  3

  92

  15

  6

  9

  4

  1

  97(2)

  —

  1

  2

  —

  —

  97(1), (3), (4) and 98 to 101

  1

  4

  2

  6

  4

  Other offences by licensees

  37

  27

  20

  10

  15

  Other offences (not licensee)

  28

  24

  27

  25

  21

  Notes:

  1. Convictions under section 85 cannot be distinguished from other offences involving the obstruction of a constable in pursuance of his duty and are excluded from the table.

  2. The category "other offences (not licensee)" may include convictions under the Licensed Premises (Exclusion of Certain Persons) Act 1980.

  Health Services
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the figures in his reply of 12 July,Official Report, column 114, as deflated by the health services pay and prices indices or the personal social services index as appropriate in the manner of his replies to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) of 19 January 1987, Official Report, column 395–96, and 14 November 1986, Official Report, column 397–98.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  As I have already indicated to the hon. Member, most recently in a letter dated 30 March 1988, no separate index has been constructed which relates to the movement of pay and prices within the Health Service in Scotland. The Department of Health maintains indices for pay and price movements in England but the composition of expenditure on hospital and community
  693
  health services in Scotland—particularly the proportions accounted for by the various categories of staff costs—will differ from England; and on various items, such as rates and electricity, there tend to be marked variations in the changes in costs north and south of the border.

  Rate Support Grant
  Mr. Ron Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the rate support grant for Scotland(a) in 1978–79 and (b) in 1988–89, in 1988–89 money.

  Mr. Lang
  The total of rate support grant for Scotland was £2,232 million in 1978–79 and £2,038 million in 1988–89, both in 1988–89 prices.

  Caledonian MacBrayne Ferries
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if his Department has been involved in any discussions with P and O Ltd. about the future of Caledonian Macbrayne ferries in connection with his plans to privatise the Scottish Transport Group.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I shall write to the hon. Member.

  YTS and Community Programme
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the total number of places on the YTS and community programme in Scotland at the most recent date for which figures are available, broken down by local authority, nationalised industry, public sector, industry and commerce, voluntary sector and health boards.

  Mr. Lang
  The information is not available in the precise form requested. Figures for authorised places in Scotland at 30 June 1988 for YTS are given in table 1 and for community programme in table 2.

  Table 1

  YTS: Authorised Places at 30 June 1988

  Number

  Local authorities and health boards

  18,331

  Other public sector (including nationalised industries and skillcentres)

  1,399

  Industry and commerce and other private sector

  39,840

  Voluntary sector

  2,175

  61,745

  Table 2

  Community Programme: Authorised Places at 30 June 1988

  Number

  Local authorities

  20,650

  Nationalised industries

  130

  Private sector

  219

  Voluntary sector

  15,160

  Health boards

  204

  36,363

  Scottish Homes (Chairman)
  Sir Hector Monro
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is able to announce his decision on the appointment of a chairman-designate of Scottish Homes; and if he will make a statement.
  694
  Mr. Rifkind
  I am pleased to announce that, subject to parliamentary approval of the Housing (Scotland) Bill, I propose to appoint Sir James Mellon KCMG to be the first chairman of Scottish Homes. Sir James will serve as chairman-designate until the legislation is enacted and the provisions in part I of the Bill setting out the arrangements for the establishment of Scottish Homes are brought into force by commencement order. Thereafter, Sir James will be chairman for the period to 31 March 1993.

  I am delighted that Sir James has accepted this appointment. I have no doubt that, as a Scot who has had a distinguished career in the diplomatic service, involving a special interest in commercial and industrial matters, he has the qualities necessary to ensure that Scottish Homes will make a major contribution to the provision of housing in Scotland and to the environmental and economic regeneration of Scotland.

  South of Scotland Electricity Board
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made by the South of Scotland electricity board in following up the report on the board by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission published in August 1986; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Rifkind
  I have now received the second response of the SSEB to the MMC report published in August 1986. This describes progress and the steps taken by the board to meet the Commission's conclusions. I have placed copies in the Library. The board has responded in a constructive way to the MMC's recommendations and good progress has been made since my statement to the House on 7 April 1987 on the SSEB's initial response.

  I am encouraged by the initiatives taken by the board to reduce its meter reading billing and collection costs and its level of outstanding debt by the introduction of power-card registers and special payment schemes. Tight cost reduction targets have been applied to the board's budgets, and at the same time the board has made significant progress with the quality assurance programme and in setting targets for quality of service in relation to electricity supplies. Good progress has also been made in drawing up an assessment system for allocating priorities and resources for distribution network refurbishment and in preparing an investment appraisal manual.

  I am satisfied that the board has picked up and pursued the points that concerned me in its initial response particularly in relation to staffing surpluses and adjustments to the tariff structure. The board has, however, decided against setting separate targets for contracting and appliance retailing. I consider that in due course this will be a matter for the privatised company to determine in the light of its commercial judgment. Meantime, I am pleased to note the improved profitability of this part of the board's activities.

  I am grateful to the MMC for a very helpful and constructive report. The action outlined in this response which has been taken by the board to implement the MMC's recommendations to improve performance and increase cost-effectiveness will stand the board in good stead as it prepares itself to operate successfully in the private sector.

  Education (Expenditure)
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the total amount of expenditure on education by central Government and of education authorities in Scotland in cash and real terms in each of the years 1979 to 1987, inclusive.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 28 July 1988]: I shall write to the hon. Member.

  Scottish Development Agency investments in companies by Scottish constituencies: 1984–1988

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  Total

  Constituency

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  Aberdeen North

  246,000

  51,000

  30,000

  30,000

  357,000

  Aberdeen South

  144,000

  320,000

  15,000

  43,000

  522,000

  Angus East

  54,000

  15,000

  487,000

  235,000

  791,000

  Argyll and Bute

  57,000

  —

  55,000

  75,000

  187,000

  Ayr

  352,000

  211,000

  362,000

  151,000

  1,076,000

  Banff and Buchan

  322,000

  151,000

  15,000

  305,000

  793,000

  Caithness and Sutherland

  —

  —

  —

  250,000

  250,000

  Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley

  79,000

  54,000

  63,000

  65,000

  261,000

  Clackmannan

  30,000

  —

  —

  20,000

  50,000

  Clydebank and Milngavie

  64,000

  117,000

  65,000

  59,000

  305,000

  Clydesdale

  71,000

  8,000

  40,000

  20,000

  139,000

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  256,000

  247,000

  25,000

  120,000

  648,000

  Cunninghame North

  371,000

  35,000

  30,000

  113,000

  549,000

  Cunninghame South

  12,000

  50,000

  10,000

  1,055,000

  1,127,000

  Dumbarton

  121,000

  5,000

  5,000

  25,000

  156,000

  Dumfries

  173,000

  79,000

  85,000

  153,000

  490,000

  Dundee East

  5,000

  82,000

  104,000

  320,000

  511,000

  Dundee West

  74,000

  57,000

  586,000

  406,000

  1,123,000

  Dunfermline East

  23,000

  57,000

  270,00

  20,000

  370,000

  Dunfermline West

  5,000

  95,000

  —

  40,000

  140,000

  East Kilbride

  88,000

  67,000

  330,000

  971,000

  1,456,000

  East Lothian

  48,000

  150,000

  344,000

  213,000

  755,000

  Eastwood

  —

  —

  250,000

  24,000

  274,000

  Edinburgh Central

  80,000

  220,000

  101,000

  839,000

  1,240,000

  Edinburgh East

  72,000

  600,000

  —

  6,000

  678,000

  Edinburgh Leith

  21,000

  80,000

  27,000

  47,000

  175,000

  Edinburgh Pentlands

  —

  306,000

  8,000

  —

  314,000

  Edinburgh South

  3,000

  —

  —

  —

  3,000

  Edinburgh West

  5,000

  86,000

  —

  —

  91,000

  Falkirk East

  6,000

  —

  162,000

  76,000

  244,000

  Falkirk West

  148,000

  —

  —

  70,000

  218,000

  Fife Central

  127,000

  113,000

  357,000

  597,000

  Fife North East

  —

  5,000

  41,000

  261,000

  307,000

  Galloway and Upper Nithsdale

  300,000

  39,000

  52,000

  39,000

  430,000

  Glasgow Cathcart

  —

  30,000

  —

  —

  30,000

  Glasgow Central

  442,000

  373,000

  191,000

  295,000

  1,301,000

  Glasgow Garscadden

  —

  —

  7,000

  —

  7,000

  Glasgow Govan

  1,000

  35,000

  110,000

  32,000

  178,000

  Glasgow Hillhead

  31,000

  32,000

  584,000

  4,000

  651,000

  Glasgow Maryhill

  9,000

  —

  —

  10,000

  19,000

  Glasgow Pollok

  —

  —

  47,000

  30,000

  77,000

  Glasgow Provan

  10,000

  —

  6,000

  —

  16,000

  Glasgow Rutherglen

  17,000

  —

  46,000

  —

  63,000

  Glasgow Shettleston

  —

  15,000

  38,000

  72,000

  125,000

  Glasgow Springburn

  502,000

  —

  —

  —

  502,000

  Gordon

  369,000

  432,000

  101,000

  547,000

  1,449,000

  Greenock and Port Glasgow

  10,000

  134,000

  10,000

  —

  154,000

  Hamilton

  39,000

  193,000

  10,000

  70,000

  312,000

  Inverness, Nairn and Lochaber

  —

  —

  —

  395,000

  395,000

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  273,000

  32,000

  200,000

  27,000

  532,000

  Kincardine and Deeside

  18,000

  70,000

  150,000

  100,000

  338,000

  Kirkcaldy

  57,000

  6,000

  48,000

  51,000

  162,000

  Linlithgow

  142,000

  109,000

  134,000

  235,000

  620,000

  Livingston

  18,000

  800,000

  1,101,000

  586,000

  2,505,000

  Midlothian

  371,000

  72,000

  134,000

  37,000

  614,000

  Monklands East

  49,000

  4,000

  125,000

  151,000

  329,000

  Monklands West

  —

  —

  10,000

  50,000

  60,000

  Moray

  —

  20,000

  —

  25,000

  45,000

  Motherwell North

  28,000

  30,000

  215,000

  140,000

  413,000

  SDA Investments
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list Scottish Development Agency investments in companies in(a) Scottish constituencies and (b) Scottish districts since November 1984.

  Mr. Ian Lang
  [holding answer 16 June 1988]: Information on the number of companies in which the Scottish Development Agency has invested cannot be provided on a constituency and district basis without incurring disproportionate cost. However, the table sets out the total value of SDA investments by Scottish constituencies and districts, over the four financial years 1984–85 to 1987–88.
  697

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  Total

  Constituency

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  Motherwell South

  34,000

  140,000

  —

  7,000

  181,000

  North Tayside

  100,000

  42,000

  35,000

  3,000

  180,000

  Orkney and Shetland

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Paisley North

  187,000

  74,000

  41,000

  112,000

  414,000

  Paisley South

  —

  12,000

  20,000

  —

  32,000

  Perth and Kinross

  74,000

  221,000

  124,000

  97,000

  516,000

  Renfrew West and Inverclyde

  72,000

  72,000

  13,000

  8,000

  165,000

  Ross, Cromarty and Skye

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Roxburgh and Berwickshire

  30,000

  90,000

  82,000

  148,000

  350,000

  Stirling

  71,000

  158,000

  36,000

  211,000

  476,000

  Strathkelvin and Bearsden

  —

  —

  85,000

  10,000

  95,000

  Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale

  15,000

  17,000

  622,000

  55,000

  709,000

  Western Isles

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Scottish Development Agency investments in companies by Scottish Districts—1984–1988

  District

  198–485

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  Total

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  Berwickshire

  40,000

  30,000

  25,000

  9,000

  104,000

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  5,000

  —

  608,000

  55,000

  668,000

  Roxburgh

  —

  77,000

  34,000

  138,000

  249,000

  Tweeddale

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Clackmannan

  27,000

  —

  —

  5,000

  32,000

  Falkirk

  183,000

  40,000

  198,000

  198,000

  619,000

  Stirling

  45,000

  108,000

  —

  159,000

  312,000

  Annandale and Eskdale

  45,000

  8,000

  38,000

  30,000

  121,000

  Nithsdale

  348,000

  57,000

  48,000

  83,000

  536,000

  Stewartry

  43,000

  —

  10,000

  53,000

  106,000

  Wigtown

  40,000

  54,000

  40,000

  26,000

  160,000

  Dunfermline

  61,000

  152,000

  271,000

  85,000

  569,000

  Kirkcaldy

  191,000

  6,000

  161,000

  389,000

  747,000

  North East Fife

  —

  8,000

  41,000

  255,000

  304,000

  Aberdeen City

  390,000

  366,000

  30,000

  530,000

  1,316,000

  Banff and Buchan

  322,000

  146,000

  15,000

  305,000

  788,000

  Gordon

  369,000

  433,000

  100,000

  47,000

  949,000

  Kincardine and Deeside

  58,000

  85,000

  165,000

  143,000

  451,000

  Moray

  —

  25,000

  —

  25,000

  50,000

  Badenoch and Strathspey

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Caithness

  —

  —

  —

  250,000

  250,000

  Inverness

  —

  —

  —

  225,000

  225,000

  Lochaber

  —

  —

  —

  170,000

  170,000

  Nairn

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Ross and Cromarty

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Skye and Lochalsh

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Sutherland

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  East Lothian

  30,000

  137,000

  353,000

  193,000

  713,000

  Edinburgh City

  235,000

  1,321,000

  126,000

  892,000

  2,574,000

  Midlothian

  358,000

  43,000

  121,000

  12,000

  534,000

  West Lothian

  136,000

  922,000

  1,248,000

  894,000

  3,200,000

  Argyll and Bute

  53,000

  —

  —

  75,000

  128,000

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  —

  —

  —

  10,000

  10,000

  Clydebank

  68,000

  117,000

  65,000

  59,000

  309,000

  Clydesdale

  92,000

  8,000

  40,000

  78,000

  218,000

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  256,000

  237,000

  25,000

  120,000

  638,000

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  83,000

  10,000

  63,000

  32,000

  188,000

  Cunninghame

  718,000

  85,000

  42,000

  1,160,000

  2,005,000

  Dumbarton

  73,000

  5,000

  5,000

  25,000

  108,000

  East Kilbride

  88,000

  67,000

  330,000

  971,000

  1,456,000

  Eastwood

  4,000

  —

  297,000

  24,000

  325,000

  Glasgow City

  1,002,000

  456,000

  961,000

  471,000

  2,890,000

  Hamilton

  18,000

  193,000

  10,000

  20,000

  241,000

  Inverclyde

  25,000

  134,000

  10,000

  —

  169,000

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  268,000

  16,000

  200,000

  27,000

  511,000

  Kyle and Carrick

  8,000

  271,000

  350,000

  184,000

  813,000

  Monklands

  52,000

  4,000

  155,000

  201,000

  412,000

  Motherwell

  62,000

  170,000

  215,000

  147,000

  594,000

  Renfrew

  260,000

  186,000

  94,000

  77,000

  617,000

  Strathkelvin

  53,000

  10,000

  85,000

  —

  148,000

  Angus

  14,000

  25,000

  502,000

  225,000

  766,000

  Dundee City

  39,000

  139,000

  685,000

  736,000

  1,599,000

  Perth and Kinross

  174,000

  285,000

  148,000

  100,000

  707,000

  Orkney

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Shetland

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Western Isles

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  698

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total number of long-term unemployed leaving the register in Scotland and in each travel-to-work area for each month between January 1987 and June 1988 inclusive.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 21 July 1988]: The number of claimants who had been unemployed for over 52 weeks

  Claimants unemployed for more than 52 weeks leaving the count (excluding manually recorded departures)

  1987

  TTWA

  January

  February

  March

  April

  May

  June

  July

  August

  September

  October

  November

  December

  Aberdeen

  123

  184

  176

  172

  320

  256

  321

  338

  338

  333

  405

  244

  Alloa

  42

  81

  54

  52

  85

  60

  65

  70

  98

  100

  80

  58

  Annan

  25

  24

  21

  27

  18

  21

  27

  30

  30

  32

  36

  21

  Arbroath

  20

  38

  30

  24

  38

  32

  55

  30

  56

  41

  58

  50

  Ayr

  78

  151

  133

  120

  197

  127

  149

  205

  151

  149

  194

  100

  Badenoch

  12

  17

  13

  14

  I8

  16

  13

  14

  6

  11

  23

  6

  Banff

  12

  14

  16

  15

  24

  11

  18

  23

  31

  25

  22

  22

  Bathgate

  88

  204

  201

  169

  253

  179

  225

  314

  321

  275

  303

  159

  Berwickshire

  4

  13

  14

  17

  32

  11

  19

  17

  22

  7

  23

  18

  Blairgowrie and Pitlochry

  15

  39

  26

  34

  39

  36

  39

  36

  33

  20

  35

  24

  Brechin and Montrose

  16

  23

  23

  29

  34

  22

  30

  48

  38

  45

  44

  23

  Buckie

  8

  14

  9

  11

  20

  7

  15

  10

  I8

  12

  12

  12

  Campbeltown

  9

  17

  17

  10

  23

  14

  14

  20

  21

  20

  12

  17

  Crieff

  5

  15

  6

  7

  8

  7

  4

  12

  12

  9

  14

  6

  Cumnock and Sanquhar

  46

  106

  89

  77

  122

  75

  80

  99

  100

  91

  96

  56

  Dumbarton

  67

  124

  114

  72

  132

  74

  117

  158

  160

  132

  164

  64

  Dumfries

  43

  70

  71

  51

  80

  56

  53

  61

  80

  62

  68

  50

  Dundee

  180

  336

  298

  256

  368

  347

  370

  308

  410

  376

  469

  244

  Dunfermline

  95

  226

  157

  166

  231

  145

  194

  196

  197

  197

  213

  128

  Dunoon and Bute

  8

  30

  31

  30

  32

  32

  23

  27

  22

  31

  28

  25

  Edinburgh

  469

  825

  650

  524

  842

  658

  712

  919

  818

  944

  962

  547

  Elgin

  32

  38

  37

  30

  63

  39

  52

  45

  61

  62

  67

  29

  Falkirk

  138

  237

  267

  230

  268

  245

  226

  299

  239

  287

  300

  187

  Forfar

  8

  19

  22

  17

  29

  44

  34

  40

  41

  28

  35

  24

  F'orres

  11

  14

  13

  12

  21

  18

  12

  17

  16

  19

  22

  13

  Fraserburgh

  12

  15

  14

  13

  23

  13

  19

  20

  27

  20

  26

  15

  Galashiels

  16

  31

  16

  25

  41

  26

  21

  25

  36

  29

  38

  23

  Girvan

  11

  17

  15

  20

  19

  16

  17

  24

  28

  15

  17

  4

  Glasgow

  1,189

  2,692

  2,091

  1,726

  2,801

  2,100

  2,598

  2,681

  2,872

  2,665

  2,929

  1,734

  Greenock

  101

  231

  186

  163

  260

  212

  179

  271

  256

  217

  294

  147

  Haddington

  10

  21

  17

  21

  46

  19

  33

  40

  43

  29

  54

  13

  Hawick

  8

  22

  17

  26

  24

  10

  22

  12

  27

  23

  24

  7

  Huntly

  5

  12

  8

  4

  12

  5

  11

  12

  6

  13

  14

  7

  Invergordon and Dingwall

  29

  49

  51

  71

  103

  71

  62

  101

  77

  52

  72

  36

  Inverness

  38

  109

  109

  95

  123

  114

  101

  126

  129

  110

  127

  84

  Irvine

  116

  271

  272

  199

  275

  240

  199

  291

  297

  291

  306

  181

  Islay/Mid Argyll

  6

  18

  16

  11

  14

  15

  13

  21

  9

  10

  14

  12

  Keith

  10

  9

  11

  11

  18

  14

  10

  21

  13

  15

  9

  9

  Kelso and Jedburgh

  8

  16

  7

  10

  12

  7

  5

  6

  14

  11

  14

  6

  Kilmarnock

  63

  139

  103

  112

  135

  114

  94

  133

  202

  165

  171

  100

  Kirkcaldy

  157

  255

  212

  186

  303

  223

  252

  253

  347

  254

  337

  198

  Lanarkshire

  346

  781

  566

  527

  927

  737

  725

  836

  925

  770

  894

  560

  Lochaber

  27

  29

  22

  32

  57

  32

  32

  35

  23

  28

  22

  23

  Lockerbie

  11

  14

  12

  8

  18

  9

  12

  15

  15

  7

  16

  9

  Newton Stewart

  11

  16

  22

  14

  16

  11

  13

  23

  9

  18

  11

  10

  North East Fife

  27

  55

  35

  33

  60

  35

  37

  51

  40

  50

  50

  34

  Oban

  16

  12

  14

  24

  33

  28

  25

  31

  14

  18

  16

  14

  Orkney Islands

  12

  21

  11

  19

  29

  17

  17

  24

  21

  20

  15

  7

  Peebles

  9

  18

  12

  12

  6

  8

  11

  12

  11

  11

  6

  12

  Perth

  56

  71

  64

  58

  92

  71

  87

  89

  94

  75

  90

  51

  Peterhead

  17

  40

  32

  36

  41

  41

  57

  51

  43

  49

  38

  35

  Shetland Islands

  12

  17

  16

  21

  25

  13

  16

  18

  12

  15

  22

  15

  Skye and Wester Ross

  8

  16

  18

  23

  32

  26

  24

  20

  17

  17

  15

  13

  Stewartry

  15

  30

  29

  18

  34

  21

  26

  25

  24

  33

  17

  9

  Stirling

  53

  106

  88

  76

  124

  93

  93

  135

  125

  128

  127

  77

  Stranraer

  18

  38

  25

  31

  29

  29

  22

  38

  47

  20

  47

  28

  Sutherland

  9

  10

  15

  10

  21

  17

  22

  20

  22

  13

  12

  6

  Thurso

  7

  28

  10

  15

  26

  8

  17

  16

  19

  11

  16

  9

  Western Isles

  15

  70

  47

  59

  44

  37

  21

  52

  38

  37

  40

  34

  Wick

  5

  8

  10

  20

  28

  9

  13

  9

  10

  10

  14

  13

  Scotland

  4,007

  8,146

  6,681

  5,885

  9,168

  6,973

  7,773

  8,876

  9,211

  8,557

  9,579

  5,662

  Claimants unemployed for more than 52 weeks leaving the count (excluding manually recorded departures)

  TTWA

  1988

  January

  February

  March

  April

  May

  June

  Aberdeen

  252

  271

  295

  331

  242

  202

  Alloa

  58

  98

  86

  79

  80

  63

  Annan

  26

  28

  22

  34

  29

  31

  Arbroath

  27

  35

  32

  23

  37

  28

  Ayr

  104

  111

  135

  175

  142

  144

  Badenoch

  12

  10

  7

  19

  11

  13

  Banff

  12

  24

  21

  28

  22

  30

  Bathgate

  163

  181

  222

  192

  149

  163

  Berwickshire

  5

  7

  5

  17

  12

  10

  Blairgowrie and Pitlochry

  24

  26

  19

  27

  12

  29

  Brechin and Montrose

  23

  41

  35

  32

  27

  33

  Buckie

  16

  4

  6

  16

  17

  14

  700
  and left the count in Scotland and in each travel-to-work area for each month between January 1987 and June 1988, excluding those whose departure was recorded manually, is shown in the following tables. Complete monthly totals on a Scotland and travel-to-work area basis could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  This information is available in the Library.
  701

  TTWA

  1988

  January

  February

  March

  April

  May

  June

  Campbeltown

  12

  26

  14

  15

  14

  26

  Crieff

  4

  11

  12

  4

  6

  6

  Cumnock and Sanquhar

  72

  81

  75

  127

  108

  95

  Dumbarton

  77

  136

  122

  119

  96

  115

  Dumfries

  38

  57

  32

  60

  50

  50

  Dundee

  283

  343

  347

  292

  242

  295

  Dunfermline

  141

  179

  150

  193

  149

  174

  Dunoon and Bute

  16

  24

  28

  39

  19

  26

  Edinburgh

  630

  744

  803

  869

  694

  653

  Elgin

  32

  21

  20

  42

  30

  34

  Falkirk

  200

  277

  240

  277

  222

  217

  Forfar

  14

  23

  26

  41

  21

  28

  Forres

  14

  9

  8

  23

  13

  12

  Fraserburgh

  22

  11

  19

  16

  15

  16

  Galashiels

  20

  18

  20

  23

  17

  16

  Girvan

  10

  19

  21

  19

  17

  24

  Glasgow

  1,912

  2,141

  2,246

  2,748

  2,043

  2,086

  Greenock

  162

  173

  181

  187

  166

  173

  Haddington

  18

  22

  18

  30

  18

  28

  Hawick

  11

  15

  13

  25

  21

  25

  Huntly

  12

  4

  6

  19

  8

  8

  Invergordon and Dingwall

  31

  49

  52

  62

  41

  78

  Inverness

  78

  95

  88

  111

  139

  110

  Irvine

  212

  244

  230

  282

  206

  230

  Islay-Mid Argyll

  6

  12

  14

  24

  22

  9

  Keith

  9

  5

  7

  14

  13

  14

  Kelso and Jedburgh

  12

  13

  11

  17

  8

  22

  Kilmarnock

  97

  131

  111

  178

  95

  92

  Kirkcaldy

  187

  276

  190

  224

  175

  221

  Lanarkshire

  565

  630

  690

  739

  736

  739

  Lochaber

  22

  30

  11

  36

  28

  43

  Lockerbie

  10

  8

  10

  12

  12

  7

  Newton Stewart

  12

  8

  9

  25

  25

  13

  North East Fife

  30

  51

  36

  33

  36

  35

  Oban

  14

  19

  17

  24

  22

  20

  Orkney Islands

  19

  12

  12

  26

  20

  22

  Peebles

  9

  11

  5

  13

  20

  12

  Perth

  45

  50

  53

  89

  55

  73

  Peterhead

  39

  33

  40

  34

  26

  36

  Shetland Islands

  14

  19

  18

  15

  17

  22

  Skye and Wester Ross

  8

  14

  11

  21

  17

  27

  Stewarty

  23

  25

  23

  22

  15

  19

  Stirling

  81

  97

  82

  100

  107

  113

  Stranraer

  25

  26

  27

  61

  31

  30

  Sutherland

  10

  7

  5

  16

  14

  15

  Thurso

  7

  7

  20

  12

  18

  20

  Western Isles

  32

  25

  43

  49

  38

  39

  Wick

  10

  16

  21

  7

  17

  30

  SCOTLAND

  6,029

  7,083

  7,122

  8,387

  6,702

  6,958

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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; if he will differentiate between staff in the statistical posts and staff in administrative posts; and if he will give separate figures for the General Register Office of Scotland.

  Mr. Rifkind
  [holding answer 21 July 1988]: The information is set out in the tables:

  Scottish Office

  1979

  1984

  1988

  Professional grades

  Grade 5

  2

  2

  2

  Grade 7

  10

  12

  13

  Asst./Senior Asst. Statistician

  13

  10

  10

  Administrative grades

  Senior Executive Officer

  2

  2

  —

  Higher Executive Officer

  9

  6

  7

  Executive Officer

  25

  27

  24

  702

  1979

  1984

  1988

  Administrative Officer

  57

  49

  49

  Administrative Assistant

  22

  23

  23

  Personal Secretary

  2

  2

  2

  Total

  142

  133

  130

  General Register Office for Scotland

  1979

  1984

  1988

  Professional grades

  Grade 5

  1

  —

  —

  Grade 7

  3

  2

  3

  Assistant Statistician

  1

  —

  —

  Administrative grades

  Grade 7

  1

  1

  1

  Senior Executive Officer

  5

  —

  2

  Higher Executive Officer

  12

  5

  6

  Executive Officer

  17

  7

  9

  Administrative Officer

  60

  26

  26

  Administrative Assistant

  4

  5

  3

  Total

  104

  46

  50

  National Health Service Expenditure
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing total Scottish Health Service costs for each year from 1974–75 to 1986–87, including revenue expenditure, capital expenditure and expenditure on primary care; and if he will give a breakdown of this figure by health board.

  Table 1

  Gross expenditure in the National Health Service in Scotland

  £ million cash

  Total National Health Service expenditure

  Total revenue expenditure1

  Total capital expenditure1

  Family practitioner services expenditure

  1974–75

  453

  340

  33

  80

  1975–76

  596

  445

  42

  109

  1976–77

  676

  505

  42

  129

  1977–78

  768

  580

  43

  145

  1978–79

  882

  659

  56

  167

  1979–80

  1,053

  790

  66

  197

  1980–81

  1,330

  1,017

  67

  246

  1981–82

  1,519

  1,145

  93

  281

  1982–83

  1,648

  1,224

  102

  322

  1983–84

  1,758

  1,303

  108

  347

  1984–85

  1,885

  1,387

  118

  380

  1985–86

  1,997

  1,465

  132

  400

  1986–87

  2,126

  1,572

  116

  438

  1 Expenditure on hospital and community health services and on centrally financed services.

  Table 2

  Total Health Board Expenditure (Income and Expenditure basis per annual accounts)

  £'000

  Health Board

  1974–75

  1975–76

  1976–77

  1977–78

  1978–79

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  Argyll and Clyde

  32,889

  44,010

  49,042

  55,215

  66,257

  79,934

  96,138

  113,284

  122,350

  132,917

  136,727

  141,365

  154,606

  Ayrshire and Arran

  22,072

  28,691

  32,269

  37,531

  43,290

  50,071

  63,468

  75,068

  83,274

  89,093

  96,790

  104,286

  115,301

  Borders

  6,312

  8,576

  10,004

  11,437

  13,089

  14,930

  19,542

  22,907

  25,419

  27,825

  34,170

  37,946

  36,414

  Dumfries and Galloway

  11,516

  14,640

  16,507

  17,878

  20,398

  24,641

  31,566

  35,444

  39,092

  41,950

  45,980

  49,026

  53,709

  Fife

  20,200

  26,901

  30,340

  34,267

  39,836

  47,860

  60,041

  70,870

  79,172

  83,578

  90,364

  95,601

  104,118

  Forth Valley

  18,746

  25,212

  28,759

  32,576

  37,848

  44,492

  56,992

  65,037

  71,993

  75,567

  85,579

  95,960

  105,563

  Grampian

  36,385

  48,467

  54,166

  60,917

  70,733

  83,185

  110,133

  120,031

  130,279

  140,170

  150,652

  163.292

  177,216

  Greater Glasgow

  112,621

  150,297

  169,522

  188,260

  217,150

  257,840

  324,710

  364,281

  387,188

  408,127

  438,034

  462,591

  487,780

  Highland

  15,179

  21,241

  23,807

  27,229

  31,800

  39,191

  50,761

  57,080

  61,012

  66,500

  69,736

  73,673

  79,455

  Lanarkshire

  34,420

  46,424

  53,526

  60,426

  68,753

  82,465

  104,566

  117,609

  130,399

  138,785

  150,936

  159,560

  173,438

  Lothian

  66,268

  89,268

  101,618

  117,454

  134,069

  156,298

  194,946

  229,279

  248,934

  260,773

  276,097

  293,671

  318,402

  Orkney

  1,100

  1,504

  1,657

  1,912

  2,406

  2,723

  3,431

  4,077

  4,367

  4,894

  5,235

  5,520

  5,852

  Shetland

  1,168

  1,703

  1,962

  2,141

  2,581

  3,488

  4,464

  4,989

  6,790

  6,358

  6,461

  6,837

  7,432

  Tayside

  41,664

  55,044

  62,395

  68,925

  79,193

  92,795

  119,718

  130,440

  139,313

  147,606

  156,200

  163,453

  177,530

  Western Isles

  1,842

  2,823

  2,958

  3,408

  4,455

  4,941

  6,187

  7,083

  7,960

  8,619

  9,503

  10,385

  11,110

  Total

  422,382

  564,801

  638,532

  719,576

  831,858

  984,854

  1,246,662

  1,417,479

  1,537,542

  1,632,762

  1,752,46

  1,863,166

  2,007,926

  Footnote: Figures represent total expenditure by health boards only (on hospital and community health and on family practitioner services) and do not therefore correspond to the totals given in Table 1.

  Social Science Research
  Mr. George
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much has been spent by his Department in each of the past five years on social science research; what percentage this constitutes of total departmental expenditure and of

  Gross expenditure on R and D: Scottish departments

  £ million

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  R and D on social science and humanities1

  1·4

  1·4

  25·3

  4·9

  5·1

  Percentage of departments' total research budget

  (3·3)

  (3·0)

  (9·9)

  (9·1)

  (9·5)

  Percentage of total departmental expenditure

  (0·02)

  (0·02)

  (0·07)

  (0·07)

  (0·07)

  Performed by:

  a. Scottish departments

  0·8

  0·9

  1·1

  0·6

  0·6

  b. Higher education institutions

  0·4

  0·4

  2·9

  2·5

  2·7

  c. Industrial research associations and non-industrial research institutes

  0·01

  —

  0·9

  1·5

  1·6

  Notes:

  1The available information including elements performed elsewhere in Central Government and embraces the humanities as well as social

  2Figures from 1984–85 reflect inclusion of R and D funded mainly by the Scottish Education Department which was not recorded in earlier years as part of this survey.
  704
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 26 July 1988]: The information requested is set out in the tables. Table 1 gives a breakdown of expenditure in cash terms in the form requested. Table 2 shows the amounts spent by individual health boards over the same period.

  the Department's research budget; and how much of the research has been undertaken (a) within his Department, (b) by universities and polytechnics and (c) by independent research organizations.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 27 July 1988]: The information is as follows:

DEFENCE

  Self-loading Military Rifles
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has as to whether any rifle competitions were fired at Bisley in the current year in which self-loading military rifles were used by competitors.

  Mr. Freeman
  Bisley ranges are the property of the National Rifle Association. All service rifle meetings held at Bisley use self-loading rifles. The use by civilians of the ranges is a matter for the National Rifle Association.

  Transport
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will consider the privatisation of the services' facilities for the transport of goods in the United Kingdom other than are required by fighting formations at divisional level and below; and if he will include in the Official Report a table showing the numbers of goods vehicles owned by each service which are not in the excluded category, the number of officers and other ranks in each grade in each service required to manage, operate and service them, the total cost including all administrative overheads, pension provision, and so on, the tonnage of goods moved and the all-in cost per ton-mile of the goods transported.

  Mr. Freeman
  Work is currently in hand to examine the cost effectiveness of the freight distribution systems which are operated and manned by the services in the United Kingdom to see what further improvements might be made. This includes a review of the costs of operating these systems which will take some time to complete. In the meantime, the financial and operating information is not available in the form requested. In due course we plan to examine the feasibility of seeking commercial bids for the operation of part or all of the systems.

  City of London (Land Holdings)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the area in square metres of the land owned and occupied by his Department in the City of London; how much of this is open space; and what is its estimated value for office development.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Ministry of Defence does not own any land in the City of London.

  Salisbury Plain
  Sir Charles Morrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of any plans or proposals he has for increasing the size of the Salisbury plain training area.

  Mr. Freeman
  It is Ministry of Defence policy to purchase suitable additional land which becomes available to improve the Salisbury plain training area, and specific proposals would be discussed with the local planning authority at the time; no proposals are at present the subject of such consultation. We look carefully at 706
  opportunities, when presented, to add land to the training area to provide buffer zones to separate training and private land and these continue to be let for agriculture.

  Greenham Common
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any compensation is envisaged to the people of Newbury for the permanent loss of common land at Royal Air Force Greenham Common as a public recreational area in the event of compulsory extinction of commoners' rights.

  Mr. Freeman
  Compensation will be payable to those whose rights of common are being legally extinguished at RAF Greenham Common. The general public have no right of access to the land concerned, the freehold of which is held by the Secretary of State for Defence.

  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what repair work to fences and structures on common land at Royal Air Force Greenham Common is currently being undertaken.

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces on 13 July 1988 at column 238. In accordance with normal procedures, maintenance and repair work to the fences and structures at Royal Air Force Greenham Common is undertaken as and when necessary.

  Service Personnel (NHS)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make it his policy to use National Health Service facilities for the medical examination and treatment of service personnel in the United Kingdom; and if he will include in the Official Report a table showing for each hospital or other medical establishment in each service the number of officers and other ranks by grade needed to manage, operate and service them, the total cost including all administrative overheads, pension provision and so on, the throughput in terms of the number of hospital bed-nights and out-patients treated, and any other measure of productivity used in the National Health Service.

  Mr. Freeman
  No. Service men will continue to be treated in service hospitals as part of the hospitals staff training for their war role. I refer the hon. Member to the information given in the "Statement on the Defence Estimate 1988 (2)" sections 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3.

  Defence Act 1854
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will answer the question tabled for ordinary written answer on 10 June by the hon. Member for Leyton on the subject of use of the Defence Act 1854 by his Department since 1979.

  Mr. Freeman
  I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in answering his question which was due to an administrative oversight. The question has now been answered.

  Trident
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the consequences for the British Trident programme of the latest failure of a United States Trident missile.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  There are no consequences for the British Trident programme as a result of the most recent Trident D5 missile flight failure in the United States. This was only the second failure in 13 launches. This continues to represent a very high success rate for such a development programme. The cause of the failure is under investigation by the United States authorities and their initial view is that there will be little effect on the United States Trident II missile test programme.

  Fylingdales
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give(a) the date of commencement of works on the phased array radar to be built at Fylingdales, (b) the expected date of completion of these works and (c) the expected date of start of operations of the phased array radar at Fylingdales.

  Mr. Freeman
  On present plans work on the modernisation of the ballistic missile early warning system at RAF Fylingdales should start on site in mid 1989 and finish in mid 1991. The modernised radar should be operational by autumn 1992.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what unit of United States Space Command is responsible for collating the information obtained by the Fylingdales ballistic missile early warning station in its role as part of the space surveillance network.

  Mr. Hamilton
  Collation of this information is carried out in the space surveillance centre at Cheyenne Mountain air force station, Colorado Springs, a unit of United States Space Command.

  Space Tracking and Communications Systems
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the connections between the deep space tracking station proposed for construction at RAF Feltwell and the United States Milstar communications system.

  Mr. Freeman
  I understand there is no connection between the United States Milstar communications system and the deep space tracking station to be built at RAF Feltwell.

  AE Services Ltd.
  Mrs. Golding
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the role played by AE Services Ltd. on the promotion of the sale of Westland W30 helicopters with the assistance of his Department.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  My Department has had no dealings with AE Services Ltd. in relation to the sale of Westland W30 helicopters.

  F111 Aircraft (Noise)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the total number of representations received since 1985 on the noise levels of Fill United States air force planes at bases in the United Kingdom.
  708
  Mr. Freeman
  Records are not maintained in a way which would enable us to provide a list of the total number of representations which have been received concerning the noise specifically of F111 aircraft since 1985.

  Non-British Service Men (Training)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the total number of non-British service men undergoing training at Her Majesty's defence establishment per country each year since 1979.

  Mr. Freeman
  This information is confidential between Her Majesty's Government and the Governments of the countries concerned.

  Saudi Arabia
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what conditions of use have been put on the planes to be supplied to Saudi Arabia under the recently approved sales deal.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Chile (Royal Navy Visits)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many visits to Chilean ports have been made by Royal Navy vessels in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Royal Navy vessels have made the following number of visits to Chilean ports in each year since 1979:

  Year

  Visits

  1979–1981

  Nil

  1982

  1

  1983

  4

  1984

  1

  1985

  3

  1986

  4

  1987

  3

  1988 (to date)

  4

  Nuclear Submarines (Purchase)
  Mr. Terry Fields
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has on the progress of negotiations with the Canadian Government on the purchase from VSEL Nuclear Submarines of Trafalgar class vessels; when he expects any deal to be concluded; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I understand that the Canadian Government are still considering the options for purchasing nuclear-powered submarines. We continue to believe that the Trafalgar class vessels meet the Canadian operational requirement in all key respects.

  KMS
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what part his Department has played in procuring or assisting in the publication of advertisements for KMS.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Search and Rescue (RAF Brawdy)
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of(a) the number of

  709
  callouts, (b)the number of military personnel rescued and (c) the number of civilian personnel rescued, in 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987 and in 1988 to date by the search and rescue detachment based at RAF Brawdy, Pembrokeshire.

  Mr. Freeman
  I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

  United States Forces (Exercises)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of United States forces will be involved in the home defence exercises to be held in September and October; and for what purposes.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I will write to the hon. Member

  Nuclear Weapons (Definition)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give his Department's general definition of(a) tactical, (b) sub-strategic and (c) strategic with reference to nuclear weapons; and if he will indicate how those definitions apply to (i) tactical air-to-surface missiles, (ii) short range attack missiles, (iii) stand-off missiles, (iv) air-launched cruise missiles and (v) strategic air launched cruise missiles.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  West Queensway
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why his Department did not arrange for a Treasury minute to be laid before Parliament before the transfer took place of West Queensway to the Government of Gibraltar.

  Mr. Freeman
  As part of the 1983 agreement on the transfer of the dockyard to the Government of Gibraltar, which the then Under-Secretary of State for Defence Procurement announced in the House on 27 July 1983, it was agreed that to aid economic development and diversification, an area of West Queensway (comprising some 4¼ acres including the NAAFI HQ, Imperial Court, the PSA exchange stores, the Army Watermanship training centre and the Queensway Club) would be transferred once the MOD facilities had been reprovided. Difficulties arose over the proposal to release the area and protracted negotiations with the Government of Gibraltar then followed before agreement upon mutually acceptable terms were reached earlier this year. The MOD facilities have been reprovided, the area was transferred on 1 June 1988 in line with the 1983 agreement.

  The area is of no realisable value to the Ministry of Defence as, under the terms of the 1983 Lands Memorandum, surplus Crown land and property (with the exception of property which is less than 60 years old) is to be transferred to the Government of Gibraltar free of charge. Nevertheless, this case is of an unusual nature and my Department should have followed the normal practice for notifying Parliament of proposals to make such gifts. The practice in such cases is for the Department proposing to make the gift to arrange with the Treasury for a Minute to be presented to the House of Commons giving particulars of the gift and explaining the circumstances; and for assent to the gift to be withheld until 14 days (exclusive of Saturdays and Sundays) after the issue of the Minute, except in cases of special urgency.
  710
  I very much regret that the Ministry of Defence did not follow the correct procedure in this case, but nevertheless went ahead with the gift. A Minute covering the remaining areas of the gun and ordnance wharves, the transfer of which will complete the purchase, will be laid before the House immediately after the summer recess.

  COBRA Project
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on his most recent discussions with Dr. Scholz, the Defence Minister of the Federal Republic of Germany, about the COBRA project; and whether he is now in a position to announce the initiation of the development phase of this programme.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Gibraltar Inquest
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the attendance of security forces witnesses at the forthcoming inquest in Gibraltar.

  Mr. Younger
  All concerned wish to co-operate as fully as possible with the coroner. At the same time the Government have a responsibility to ensure that the personal security of witnesses is not put at risk. A final decision whether or not the witnesses should be advised to attend the inquest will be taken immediately before the inquest opens in the light of an up-to-date assessment of the security risk. At present, however, the intention of Her Majesty's Government and of witnesses is that they will go

  Sea Cadet Missiles
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a request for information or clarification as to the sale of Sea Cadet missiles overseas; and whether he will seek undertakings from the shippers of Sea Cadet missiles that such missiles have not arrived in the hands of Soviet interests.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  I have been asked to reply.

  I have no knowledge of Sea Cadet missiles. It is not the practice to obtain undertakings in respect of goods which have already been shipped. Any diversion of strategically controlled exports from the United Kingdom to an embargoed destination which comes to the attention of Her Majesty's Government would be investigated.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many hours of low-flying operations were carried out over the United Kingdom, West Germany and other countries in each of the last five years; how many hours have been carried out over the Falklands during the same period; how many accidents have occurred during those exercises, leading to how many fatalities; and what plans there are to increase flights over the United Kingdom and the Falklands as a means of reducing flights over Germany.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 24 May 1988] Low flying activity is mainly recorded by sorties (which on average last 42 minutes) rather than by hours. The numbers of low-level training sorties flown by British

  711
  military aircraft(both fixed wing and helicopter) over the United Kingdom in each of the last five years were as follows:

  Year

  Sorties

  1983

  118,920

  1984

  109,244

  1985

  115,063

  1986

  123,488

  1987

  123,293

  Figures for low-flying training sorties carried out in the Federal Republic of Germany are not available prior to 1984. Those for 1984 onwards are as follows, but are not directly comparable with the above because they do not include helicopter sorties which, in Germany, are not centrally recorded.

  Year

  Sorties

  1984

  18,752

  1985

  18,124

  1986

  16,853

  1987

  15,900

  Central records of low-flying sortie numbers in other countries are not kept.

  During the five years in question there have been 51 major accidents involving Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force aircraft operating at low level in which 53 military personnel have been killed

  Most low-flying activity by United Kingdom military aircraft takes place in the United Kingdom, although RAF aircraft based in the Federal Republic of Germany do a significant amount of training there. Low-flying training also takes place in the USA and Canada, where the majority of ultra low flying is carried out, and in other NATO countries. The distribution of low-flying training is carefully balanced according to training needs, costs and other practical considerations. There are no current plans to alter this balance.

  Commoners' Rights
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the occasions since 1979 that his Department has used, or has sought to use, the powers contained within the Defence Act 1854 to bring about the legal extinction of commoners' rights.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 16 June 1988]: The need to extinguish commoners' rights under the Defence Act 1854 has arisen at various times but only on one occasion since 1979, at RAF Greenham Common.

  Departmental Advertising
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what was the total spending by his Department on press, public relations and advertising, respectively, in 1987–88;

  (2) what was the total spending by the armed forces on press, public relations and advertising, respectively, in1987–88;

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

  (4) what is the estimated expenditure by each of the armed forces on press and public relations during 1988–89.
  712
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  [holding answer 21 July 1988]: The Ministry of Defence spent £6,980,000 on press and public relations in 1987–88 and our estimated expenditure in 1988–89 is £7,316,000. These figures include staffing costs and expenditure on films, exhibitions, publications and equipment, and cover expenditure on single-service activities as well as on central defence work. The information requested on advertising expenditure is not held centrally, and I shall write to the hon. Member.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Provisional IRA (Document)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell) of 23 June,Official Report, columns 658–59, any inaccuracies in the background brief entitled "The Provisional IRA—International Contacts Outside the United States" have been acknowledged by Her Majesty's Government; whether any apologies have been made in this respect; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We have accepted certain assurances from two individuals named in the background brief and undertook that any further copies of the brief which may be issued in future will be amended to take account of the objections raised.

  Departmental Activity
  Mr. George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many memoranda by his Department have been submitted to(a) the Foreign Affairs Committee and (b) other Select Committees so far this Session; and if he will itemise which other Committees have been in receipt of such memoranda.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Memoranda have been submitted as follows:

  Memo's

  (a)Foreign Affairs Committee

  26

  (b) Other Select Committees:-

  5

  (i) Defence Committee

  3

  (ii) Treasury and Civil Service Committees

  2

  Mr George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Bills were sponsored by his Department in the Session 1986–87 and so far in the present Session; and if he will state which Bills and on what date they received Royal Assent.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The FCO sponsored the following Bills in the last two Sessions:

  1986–87

  Territorial Sea Bill

  Diplomatic and Consular Premises Bill

  Irish Sailors and Soldiers Land Trust Bill

  All of these became Acts; they received the Royal Assent on 15 May 1987.

  1987–1988

  Arms Control and Disarmament (Privileges and Immunities) Bill

  Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency Bill

  These received the Royal Assent on 9 February 1988 and 24 March respectively.

  Mr. George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many(a) oral

  713
  statements, (b) answers to private notice questions and (c) statutory instruments have emanated from his Department in the present Session.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Figures are as follows:

  Number

  (a) Oral statements

  3

  (b) Private notice questions

  6

  (c) Statutory instruments (including Sis made in the last session and laid before Parliament in the current session)

  66

  Committee

  Date

  Subject

  Grade

  HCS 1A

  HCS 3 × 2

  Public Accounts

  16 December 1987

  Manpower Element of Technical Cooperation

  HCS 5

  Foreign Affairs

  27 January 1988

  Arms Control and Disarmament

  DS4

  HCS 3

  HCS 5 × 2

  Foreign Affairs

  3 February 1988

  Famine in the Horn of Africa

  HCS 6

  Foreign Affairs

  10 February 1988

  The Iran/Iraq Conflict

  DS4

  Public Accounts

  15 February 1988

  BAOR

  DS Senior Grade

  Defence

  17 February 1988

  Belize

  DS Senior Grade

  HCS 5

  Foreign Affairs

  30 March 1988

  Famine in the Horn of Africa

  HCS 6

  DS Senior Grade × 3

  DS 4

  Foreign Affairs

  13 April 1988

  FCO Estimates

  DS 5

  HCS 1A

  HCS 3 × 2

  Foreign Affairs

  20 April 1988

  Supply Estimates 1988–89

  HCS 5 × 2

  HCS 3

  Foreign Affairs

  4 May 1988

  Famine in the Horn of Africa

  HCS 5 × 3

  Mr.George
  To ask the Secretary of State for foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times he and Ministers from his Department have appeard before Select

  Committee

  Date

  Witness

  Subject

  Foreign Affairs

  27 January 1988

  Secretary of State Sir Geoffrey Howe

  Arms Control the Iran-Iraq Conflict

  Foreign Affairs

  10 February 1988

  Mr. D. Mellor

  The Iran-Iraq Conflict

  Foreign Affairs

  30 March

  Mr. C. Patten

  Famine in the Horn of Africa

  Foreign Affairs

  20 April

  Mr. D. Mellor

  The Iran-Iraq Conflict

  Foreign Affairs

  15 June

  Mr. D. Mellor

  Famine in the Horn of Africa

  Mr. George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many full and part-time staff are engaged in parliamentary liaison for his Department.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Twelve persons are engaged in parliamentary liaison work.

  Mr. George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many delegations he and his ministerial colleagues received from(a) hon. Members and (b) groups which contained hon. Members in the last parliamentary Session.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The details requested are as follows:

  (a) 169

  (b) 84

  714
  Mr. George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many parliamentary questions have been answered by Ministers in his Department in the Session 1987–88 so far.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Records indicate that 3,285 parliamentary questions have been answered in the Session 1987–88 so far.

  Mr. George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times witnesses from his Department, other than Ministers, have appeared before Select Committees for this Session; and if he will identify the Committees, date, subject and the grade of witnesses.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The information is as follows:

  Committees so far this Session; and if he will identify the Committees, the date, the ministerial witness and the subject.

  Mrs. Chalker

  Mr. George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many letters he and his ministerial colleagues wrote to right hon. and hon. Members in the parliamentary Session 1987–88.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Letters to Members of Parliament during this Session number 13,713.

  Recruitment and Promotion Policy
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures he has implemented to ensure that recruitment and promotion policy in his Department does not directly or indirectly discriminate against applicants who were mature students or women returning to work following a career break due to child care.
  715
  Mrs. Chalker
  Within both the mainstream diplomatic and aid wings, upper age limits on recruitment have been raised wherever possible. In the Home Civil Service cadre, the upper age limit for entry into most grades is now 55 years.

  Entry competitions to both wings are open to any eligible applicants with the required qualifications, including those gained as mature students.

  Promotion in the diplomatic service is determined by assessment of performance in a variety of jobs both at home and overseas. Seniority is not affected by career breaks. In the aid wing, staff attend a promotion board whose members are given guidance on equal opportunities policy.

  Arrangements exist in both wings to allow for the reinstatement of officers who resign but later wish to resume their careers. A flexible approach is adopted to requests for special unpaid leave for domestic reasons.

  Western European Union
  Mr. Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what specific mandate has now been granted to the Western European Union agency formed from the merger of the three agencies responsible for studying security questions.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We support the merger of the three WEU agencies in Paris into one: this should enable their resources to be more effectively deployed in support of revitalisation of the WEU. But the merger has not yet formally taken place, and the question of a mandate for a new agency does not yet arise.

  Mr. Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will support the proposal of the Luxembourg Government to instruct the new Western European Union agency to define the tasks and methods of work of a European defence research institute which would be required to improve knowledge in the member countries of the European dimensions of defence questions;

  (2) what is Her Majesty's Government's position on the Western European Union assembly's recommendation for the creation of a European Agency, financed by all the Western European countries, to promote research in all areas of conventional armaments and to prepare for the formulation of a European armaments policy.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We take the view that we should use the existing structures of the WEU as well as other available means in order to strengthen the habit of co-operation among the Europeans in security and to improve knowledge in member countries of the European dimension of defence questions.

  Mr. Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what stage has now been reached in the exchange of views leading to the accession of Portugal and Spain to the Western European Union.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The discussions with both Spain and Portugal which were initiated on 26 May are continuing, and good progress is being made.

  Mr. Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government support the accession to the Western 716
  European Union of all the European countries of the Atlantic Alliance which wish to join and which commit themselves to the same conditions as governed the Portuguese and Spanish cases.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Discussions with Spain and Portugal are continuing, but have not yet been concluded. It is therefore too early to say what would be the implications for other countries wishing to apply to join the WEU.

  Mr. Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what specific measures Her Majesty's Government will propose in the Western European Union council for the provision of adequate information on a regular basis to the North American media and public regarding the nature, scope and aims of the reactivation of the Western European Union and the specific constraints of Western European Union countries in security matters and European co-operation in that area;

  (2) if Her Majesty's Government support the proposal made for the Western European Union council to establish an information bureau in the United States of America.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Embassies of member countries of the WEU are already working to develop awareness in north America of the WEU's contribution and objectives. The operations of Western navies in the Gulf, in which WEU has played a coordinating role, have received widespread and favourable publicity. The platform of European security principles has also been welcomed.

  Mr. Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what stage has now been reached in consultations on burden-sharing in the framework of NATO and in the Western European Union council.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The issue of burden-sharing is under close examination in both NATO and WEU. At their meeting in May, NATO Defence Ministers commissioned a report on burden-sharing to be presented to their next meeting in December. In the WEU, burden-sharing is being examined in the context of the work of following up the platform on European security interests agreed in November 1987 in The Hague.

  Mr. Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria Her Majesty's Government are proposing for assessing the share of the burden that each member of the Western European Union should assume in order to ensure their joint security.

  Mrs. Chalker
  As part of the work of following-up the platform on European security interests, the members of the WEU are examining together the share they each carry of the burden of the Alliance's common defence and ways of enhancing their contributions.

  Mr. Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government will take steps to make use of the experience gained by the Western European Union agency for the control of armaments to ascertain the methods of verification that would enable Western Europe to make a firm contribution to any agreements on the limitation of conventional armaments.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The western European countries are working with determination towards the establishment of
  717
  a forum in which conventional arms reductions can be negotiated, but the circumstances and scale of the verification requirements for any conventional arms control agreement are likely to be very different from those under which the WEU agency for the control of armaments has operated in the past.

  Bophuthatswana
  Mr. Woodcock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if a Minister in his Department will undertake a fact-finding visit to Bophuthatswana.

  Mrs. Chalker
  No. Staff at Her Majesty's embassy in South Africa pay regular visits to Bophuthatswana.

  Panama
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what visits have been made by Ministers from his Department to Panama since 1979; and if any further visits are scheduled.

  Mrs. Chalker
  My right hon. and noble Friend the Baroness Young when she was Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs visited Panama from 12 to 15 November 1983. No further visits are scheduled at the present time.

  Chemical and Biological Weapons
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further steps he is taking to enforce the banning of all chemical and biological weapons and the ending of their use.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The United Kingdom is a party to both the 1925 Geneva protocol prohibiting the use of poisonous gas and bacteriological methods of warfare, and the 1972 biological weapons convention which prohibits the development, production and stockpiling of biological and toxin weapons.

  A comprehensive global chemical weapons convention is under negotiation at the conference on disarmament in Geneva. Good progress has been made but much work remains, particularly on verification. We are continuing to play an active role in resolving the remaining problems.

  In his speech to the United Nations special session on disarmament on 7 June, my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs called for wider accession to the 1925 Geneva protocol; automatic United Nations investigation of allegations of chemical weapons use; and international action in the event of confirmed use of chemical weapons.

  Kurdish People
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Governments of Turkey, Iran and Iraq concerning their treatment of Kurdish people; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  As my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Putney (Mr. Mellor) made clear in his answer on 27 June, we regret the denial of basic human rights wherever they occur. We are aware of reports of such abuses in Iraq, Iran and Turkey, and continue to take 718
  every suitable opportunity to voice our concern. My hon. and learned Friend raised this when he visited Iraq in February. When my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs met the Iraqi Foreign Minister in March, he reiterated our concern about such violations, and the plight of Iraqi Kurds in particular. We have also protested vigorously about the use of chemical weapons on the civilian town of Halabja in Iraqi Kurdistan.

  No recent representations have been made to the Turks about the Kurds, but my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, did raise the issue of human rights in general when he met the Foreign Minister on 13 July during President Evren's visit.

  Although no specific representations about the Kurds have been made to Iran, we have made known our views on human rights abuses in Iran on a number of occasions, and have co-sponsored resolutions on this issue at both the United Nations General Assembly and the United Nations Commission for Human Rights.

  Iran and Iraq
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any plans to seek to visit Iran or Iraq in the wake of the ceasefire; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We welcome the Iranian decision to accept SCR 598, and fully support the efforts of the United Nations Secretary-General to achieve an early ceasefire leading to a comprehensive settlement. This would open the way for the early restoration of security, prosperity and development for both countries and for the whole region.

  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has no current plans to visit either Iran or Iraq.

  Hong Kong (Rhino Horn)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West of 19 July,Official Report, column 560, if the Hong Kong authorities are in contact with the university of Mainz which is currently exploring a technique for identifying rhino horn in medical preparations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  No, but they would expect the CITES secretariat to publicise the techniques should they prove successful. Since the intention of the Hong Kong Government is to introduce legislation to ban the sale of all medicinal products claiming to contain rhino ingredients, positive identification of the ingredients is not necessary.

  Amnesty International (Exhibition)
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if his Department has considered an application for an exhibition relating to Amnesty International to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Yes: we are happy that the exhibition should be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

  Chile
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further representations have been made to the Government of Chile concerning(a) violations of human rights and (b) the safety of people returning from exile.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We continue to make frequent representations, both at ministerial and official level, to the Chilean Government to improve their poor human rights record. As my hon. Friend the Member for Enfield North (Mr. Eggar) made clear in his reply of 7 June to the hon. Member, we do not believe that returning exiles are in any greater physical danger than others in Chile.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if Her Majesty's Government's representatives in Chile have had meetings with Claudimoro Almeida; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  No member of our embassy in Santiago has had meetings with Mr. Almeyda. I refer the hon. Member to my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State's replies of 8 June to the hon. Members for Warrington, North (Mr. Hoyle), for Liverpool, West Derby (Mr. Wareing) and for Cynon Valley (Mrs. Clwyd).

  Hong Kong (Otter Skins)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West of 25 July, if he will give an estimate of the number of otters represented by the 1,020 pieces of otter skin seized by the Hong Kong authorities in the first six months of 1988.

  Mrs. Chalker
  It is believed that the 1,020 pieces of otter skin seized correspond to an equivalent number of otters.

  Hong Kong (Birds)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West of 25 July, if he will identify the species of birds of prey and owls seized by the Hong Kong authorities in the first six months of 1988.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Comprehensive information is not available. The following species are, however, known to have been seized in the period in question:

  Birds of prey

  Falco Tinnuncules

  Accipiter Nisus

  Milvus Migrans

  Haliaeetus Leucogaster

  Owls

  Otus Bakkamoena

  Glaucidium Cuculoides

  Otus Sunia

  Tyto Capensis

  Overseas Prisoners
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British people are in prison abroad; in which countries they are being held; and what were the equivalent figures for each of the last five years.
  720
  Mrs. Chalker
  According to the most recent survey, there were, in early June 1988, to the best of our knowledge, 1,221 British citizens detained overseas. A breakdown by country is given in the table. Equivalent figures for the last five years, are not readily available, and could only be produced at disproportionate cost.

  British Citizens Detained Overseas: June 1988

  (Total 1,221)

  Country

  Number

  Algeria

  1

  Argentina

  1

  Australia

  8

  Austria

  3

  Bahrain

  1

  Bangladesh

  3

  Belgium

  30

  Botswana

  1

  Brazil

  3

  Bulgaria

  1

  Canada

  5

  Cyprus

  5

  Denmark

  14

  Ecuador

  1

  Egypt

  2

  Finland

  3

  France

  153

  Germany, West

  134

  Greece

  29

  Guyana

  1

  Iceland

  2

  India

  24

  Indonesia

  3

  Iran

  2

  Iraq

  1

  Ireland

  7

  Israel

  5

  Italy

  34

  Jamaica

  24

  Japan

  8

  Jerusalem

  3

  Kenya

  4

  Korea, South

  2

  Kuwait

  3

  Luxembourg

  4

  Malaysia

  2

  Malta

  4

  Mexico

  5

  Morocco

  4

  Mozambique

  1

  Nepal

  8

  Netherlands

  15

  New Zealand

  3

  Nigeria

  1

  Norway

  31

  Oman

  8

  Pakistan

  2

  Papua New Guinea

  1

  Peru

  3

  Philippines

  1

  Portugal

  37

  Qatar

  3

  Saudi Arabia

  8

  South Africa

  20

  Spain

  270

  Sri Lanka

  2

  Swaziland

  1

  Sweden

  39

  Switzerland

  50

  Taiwan

  2

  Thailand

  17

  Trinidad and Tobago

  1

  Tunisia

  2

  Turkey

  2

  Turks and Caicos Islands

  2

  United Arab Emirates

  12

  United States of America

  122

  USSR

  2

  721

  Country

  Number

  Yugoslavia

  1

  Zimbabwe

  14

  Total

  1,221

  Turkey (British Prisoners)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the total number of British subjects believed to be in prison in Turkey; what visiting arrangements they have from British officials; and what steps have been taken concerning repatriation.

  Mrs. Chalker
  There is at present only one British citizen imprisoned in Turkey. British consular officials visit him about once a month.

  Both the United Kingdom and Turkey are parties to the Council of Europe convention on the transfer of sentenced persons. The convention came into force for Turkey on 1 January 1988. The Home Office are already in direct contact with the Turkish Ministry of Justice about the possibility of transferring this British prisoner to the United Kingdom.

  John McCarthy
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the latest information he has concerning the whereabouts of John McCarthy last seen in Beirut in 1986; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Despite considerable efforts in Lebanon and elsewhere, we have no hard information on the whereabouts and well being of John McCarthy and the other British hostages.

  Hong Kong (Endangered Species)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West of 25 July, if he will identify by country of origin the endangered species seized by the Hong Kong authorities in the first six months of 1988.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The Hong Kong authorities can only identify seizures by country of export rather than origin. The 143 seizures during the first six months of 1988 were exported from:

  Number

  Belgium

  1

  Bahrain

  1

  Canada

  2

  China

  67

  West Germany

  3

  United Kingdom

  2

  Guyana

  1

  Indonesia

  13

  Italy

  7

  Japan

  3

  Korea

  3

  Macau

  2

  Malaysia

  4

  New Zealand

  1

  Philippines

  4

  Republic of South Africa

  2

  Singapore

  5

  Thailand

  6

  722

  Number

  Taiwan

  5

  United Arab Emirates

  5

  United States of America

  6

  Total

  143

  Major David Walker
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will now suspend all contact between his Department and Major David Walker and KMS in the light of evidence of his involvement in sabotage missions abroad.

  Mrs. Chalker
  There are no plans to engage Major David Walker or KMS on work for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's consul in Managua was contacted by Major David Walker or his employees in Nicaragua in March 1985, or subsequently.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We have no record of any contacts.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contacts have been maintained between officers of his Department and Major David Walker between 1979 and the present day.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Between 1979 and 1982, KMS Ltd. was employed by the FCO to provide close protection to a number of Her Majesty's ambassadors and high commissioners abroad. The FCO has not employed KMS since then.

  Mr. Nelson Mandela
  Mr. Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he now expects Her Majesty's ambassador in South Africa to visit Mr. Nelson Mandela.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Our efforts are directed not to visiting Mr. Mandela but to securing his unconditional release. We continue to urge the South African Government to release Mr. Mandela and other political detainees immediately and unconditionally.

  Tigré and Eritrea (Atrocities)
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will investigate the increasing number of reports of atrocities being perpetrated by the Ethiopian armed forces in Tigré and Eritrea provinces and modify Her Majesty's Government's trade and political relations with Ethiopia accordingly.

  Mrs. Chalker
  I regret that it is not practicable to make a thorough investigation of reports of atrocities emanating from no-go areas of Eritrea and Tigré.

  If reports of atrocities proved correct, we should of course condemn such acts by any of the parties to the civil war in Ethiopia. We have consistently urged a peaceful settlement of the conflicts on all concerned.

  European Holiday Resorts (Arrests)
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British nationals were arrested in European holiday resorts during 1987, and during 1988 to date.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Many places in Europe are considered by British citizens as holiday resorts. Following are figures for some of the more popular tourist destinations:

  British citizens arrested

  Country

  1987

  Up to 28 July 1988

  Cyprus

  6

  6

  France

  114

  55

  Greece

  101

  59

  Italy

  24

  46

  Malta

  5

  3

  Portugal

  27

  25

  Spain

  562

  359

  Switzerland

  46

  41

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Company Taxation
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much tax was paid by businesses in the latest year for which figures are available as a proportion of all tax revenue and as a proportion of national income, respectively; and what were the corresponding figures for France, West Germany, Japan and the United States of America.

  Mr. Brooke
  Data on total taxes paid by all types of business are not available. OECD has published figures for 1985 showing taxes on corporate income as percentages of total tax and GDP. They are as follows:

  Total Tax

  GDP

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  United Kingdom

  12·9

  4·9

  France

  4·3

  1·9

  West Germany

  6·1

  2·3

  Japan

  21·0

  5·9

  USA

  7·1

  2·1

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the basic rate of corporation, and so on, taxes in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries and the amount collected in company taxation per head of the population in the most recent year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Brooke
  The information is given in the table, which is supplemented by explanatory notes.

  Company tax rate

  Tax per head of population

  per cent.

  £

  Australia

  39

  194

  Austria

  55

  87

  Belgium

  43

  187

  Canada

  28

  241

  Denmark

  50

  164

  Finland

  33

  97

  France

  42

  126

  724

  Company lax rate

  Tax per head of population

  per cent.

  £

  Germany

  56

  170

  Greece

  49

  32

  Iceland

  51

  not available

  Ireland

  50

  48

  Italy

  36

  197

  Japan

  42

  398

  Luxembourg

  36

  675

  Netherlands

  42

  200

  New Zealand

  28

  162

  Norway

  50·8

  640

  Portugal

  45

  not available

  Spain

  35

  68

  Sweden

  52

  126

  Switzerland

  9·8

  156

  Turkey

  47·8

  38

  United Kingdom

  35

  305

  USA

  34

  190

  Notes:

  1. The rates of company tax shown are the latest enacted.

  2. Lower rates apply to distributed profits in Austria, Germany, Japan, Norway and Portugal. No tax is charged on distributed profits in Greece.

  3. There are lower rates for smaller companies in Austria, Belgium, Canada, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Luxembourg, United Kingdom and USA. There are also lower rates for manufacturing companies in Canada and Ireland and for public companies in Greece.

  4. There are in addition local income taxes on companies in Austria, Canada, Finland, Germany, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and USA.

  5. The figures for company tax per head are for 1985, the most recent year for which information is available. They have been converted to sterling using purchasing power parities.

  Income
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the change in the number of higher rate taxpayers in the current financial year; and if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing his estimate of their distribution by range of total income and tax category together with the aggregate tax liability in each case.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The number of married couples and single people liable to higher rates of income tax is estimated to be 1,190,000 in 1987–88, and 1,250,000 in 1988–89. The tables show the distribution of those liable to higher rate tax in 1988–89 and their income tax liability by income and tax category.

  Estimates are based on a projection of the 1985–86 survey of personal incomes and are provisional.

  Higher Rate Tax Units1 1988–89

  Thousands

  Range of income

  Single

  Married couple (wife not working)

  Married couple (both working)

  All

  £ per year

  Under 20,000

  0

  0

  0

  0

  20,000–25,000

  50

  10

  10

  70

  25,000–30,000

  70

  90

  150

  320

  30,000–50,000

  90

  190

  360

  630

  Over 50,000

  30

  80

  120

  230

  Total

  240

  370

  640

  1,250

  1 Counting a married couple as one and combining the partners' incomes.

  725

  Total tax liability of Higher Rate Tax Units1 1988–89

  £ million

  Range of income

  Single

  Married couple (wife not working)

  Married couple (both working)

  All2

  £ per year

  Under 20,000

  —

  —

  —

  —

  20,000–25,000

  260

  50

  20

  330

  25,000–30,000

  470

  540

  820

  1,830

  30,000–50,000

  860

  1,710

  2,750

  5,320

  Over 50,000

  1,230

  2,060

  2,650

  5,940

  Total2

  2,820

  4,350

  6,230

  13,410

  1 Counting a married couple as one and combining the partners' incomes.

  2 Figures may not sum exactly due to rounding.

  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the effects which the changes in taxation introduced in his latest Budget will have upon the proportion of gross income which will be paid in taxes by each quintile of income groups and upon disposable income as a proportion of gross income in each case.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Provisional estimates based on a projection of the 1985–86 survey of personal incomes are as follows:

  Income tax liability in 1988–89 as a percentage of gross income

  Before Budget changes2

  After Budget changes2

  per cent.

  per cent.

  Quintile group of taxpayers1

  Top 20 per cent.

  24·4

  20·7

  20–40 per cent.

  16·9

  15·1

  40–60 per cent.

  15·4

  13·6

  60–80 per cent.

  12·9

  11·1

  Bottom 20 per cent.

  7·5

  5·8

  1 Based on 20,900,000 tax units liable to pay tax in 1988–89. Married couples are counted as one unit and the partners' incomes combined.

  2 Budget changes to main income tax allowances, thresholds, and rates only.

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give figures on distribution of total incomes before tax in 1985–86, giving numbers of incomes in the following ranges: less than £2,000, £2,000 to £2,500, £2,500 to £3,000, £3,000 to £3,500, £3,500 to £4,000, £4,000 to £4,500, £4,500 to £5,000, £5,000 to £6,000, £6,000 to £7,000, £7,000 to £8,000, £8,000 to £10,000, £10,000 to £12,000, £12,000 to £15,000, £15,000 to £20,000, £20,000 to £30,000, £30,000 to £50,000, £50,000 to £100,000, £100,000 and over, as set out in table 1 of the "Survey of Personal Incomes".

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Table 1 of the survey of personal incomes excluded those with incomes below £2,000, which was, in 1984–85, the threshold for operation of pay-as-you-earn. Below this threshold, the tax records on which the survey is based are incomplete. Correspondingly, the 1985–86 table excludes those with incomes under £2,200. Neither table allows for the incomplete coverage in the tax records of investment income upon which basic rate tax liability has been satisfied at source.
  726

  Range of total income before tax (lower limit)

  £

  Numbers (thousands)

  2,200

  672

  2,500

  1,070

  3,000

  969

  3,500

  1,020

  4,000

  1,100

  4,500

  1,040

  5,000

  2,090

  6,000

  1,840

  7,000

  1,710

  8,000

  3,010

  10,000

  2,100

  12,000

  2,130

  15,000

  1,770

  20,000

  975

  30,000

  307

  50,000

  87

  100,000

  17

  Total

  21,900

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the change in average personal income as defined in the survey of personal incomes(a) before tax and (b) after tax at 1980 prices using the gross domestic product deflator between 1978–79 and 1988–89 of (i) the bottom 20 per cent., (ii) the next 20 per cent., (iii) the next 20 per cent., (iv) the next 20 per cent., and (v) the top 20 per cent, of incomes, including those not paying tax, giving the percentage change between 1978–79 and 1988–89.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I regret that figures for 1988–89 to include those who do not pay tax are not available.

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the average weekly earnings of(a) the lowest decile and (b) the highest decile of all employees, including within all employees male and female, full and part-time, whose pay was not affected by absence, in April 1979 and April 1987 at 1980 prices calculated using the gross domestic product deflator, giving the percentage change between the two dates.

  Mr. Major
  No figures are available for the upper and lower deciles of average weekly earnings of all employees, both male and female, full and part time. However, figures for full-time employees (males and females separately) are to be found in the new earnings survey report. The GDP deflator is published on page 6 of Economic Trends.

  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the increase in real personal disposable income over the latest period for which official figures are available.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  In the first quarter of 1988 real personal disposable income was 5½ per cent, higher than a year earlier. Further growth is expected this year.

  Overseas Assets
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the value of United Kingdom assets held overseas and the amount of United Kingdom tax payable thereon after double taxation relief; and if he will publish in the Official Report his estimate of the amount of tax which would accrue to the Exchequer if the money were invested in a similar portfolio in the United Kingdom.
  727
  Mr. Brooke
  The value of United Kingdom assets held overseas is published in table 1.2 of the "United Kingdom Balance of Payments" (the Pink Book). Estimates of tax arising from these, or corresponding United Kingdom, assets are not available for the corporate sector and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Manufacturing and Commercial Companies
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for manufacturing, other industrial and commercial companies, and the financial sector the information given for the years 1984 to 1986 in table 14.3 of the "Annual Abstract of Statistics 1988"; and if he will add a forecast for 1987.

  Mr. Major
  Separate figures for manufacturing companies are not available. A subdivision of the corporate sector between financial and industrial and commercial (including manufacturing) for the years 1984 to 1986 is given in the tables. Definitive figures for 1987 are in the course of preparation and will be available in September 1988.

  Table 1: Corporate sector appropriation account1: financial

  £ million

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Income

  Income arising in the United Kingdom Gross trading profits of companies and trading surplus of public corporations

  After deducting stock appreciation2

  -5,708

  -6,452

  -6,847

  Stock appreciation

  288

  317

  342

  Total2 3

  -5,420

  -6,135

  -6,505

  Rent and non-trading income4

  28,369

  37,921

  38,867

  Total

  22,949

  31,786

  32,362

  Income from abroad5

  5,385

  6,287

  7,746

  Total income

  28,334

  38,073

  40,108

  Allocation of income

  Dividends and interest payments4

  18,893

  26,262

  26,182

  Current transfers to charities from companies

  19

  21

  24

  Profits due abroad, net of United Kingdom tax

  728

  1,030

  702

  United Kingdom taxes on income

  1,076

  1,383

  1,634

  Royalties and licence fees on oil and gas production

  —

  —

  —

  Balance: undistributed income after taxation6

  7,618

  9,377

  11,566

  Total

  28,334

  38,073

  40,108

  Table 2: Corporate sector appropriation account1: industrial and commercial

  £ million

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Income

  Income arising in the United Kingdom Gross trading profits of companies and trading surplus of public corporations

  After deducting stock appreciation

  55,745

  64,114

  63,767

  Stock appreciation

  4,969

  2,847

  1,991

  Total3

  60,714

  66,961

  65,758

  Rent and non-trading income4

  6,604

  8,033

  8,436

  728

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Total

  67,318

  74,994

  74,194

  Income from abroad5

  8,724

  9,057

  7,868

  Total income

  76,042

  84,051

  82.062

  Allocation of income

  Dividends and interest payments4

  16,940

  21,206

  23.117

  Current transfers to charities from companies

  83

  93

  110

  Profits due abroad, net of UK tax

  5,536

  6,354

  4.825

  UK taxes on income

  13,096

  15,212

  12.792

  Royalties and licence fees on oil and gas production

  2,459

  2,366

  941

  Balance: undistributed income after taxation6

  37,928

  38,820

  40,277

  Total

  76,042

  84,051

  82,062

  1 Includes flows between the companies' sector and public corporations but excludes flows within the companies' sector.

  2 This represents the contribution of financial enterprises in the corporate sector to the gross domestic product. It is the difference between bank charges, commissions, etc, on the one hand and management expenses on the other.

  3 Before providing for depreciation and stock appreciation.

  4 Financial sector figures include payments to and receipts from industrial and commercial sector. Industrial and commercial sector figures include payments to and receipts from financial sector.

  5 After deducting depreciation allowances but before providing forstock appreciation.

  6 Before providing for depreciation, stock appreciation and additions to tax and dividend reserves.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will bring up to date the information provided in his written reply of 16 March 1983,Official Report, columns 164–65, concerning the amount of tax collected on income earning and other assets held overseas; and if he will include in the table an estimate for each year of the total value of such assets whether or not they have been assessed to tax.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Income tax payable on foreign and public revenue dividends paid by or through United Kingdom paying and collecting agents in the past six years was as follows:

  £ million

  1982–83

  120·3

  1983–84

  154·9

  1984–85

  182·7

  1985–86

  193·7

  1986–87

  212·1

  1987–88

  194·7

  In the answer given in March 1983 information was also provided on income tax payable on income from overseas charged to tax under cases IV and V of schedule D, and on the number of requests for information by the Inland Revenue under our network of double taxation agreements. Further years' estimates cannot be made except at disproportionate expense.

  Information on the value of United Kingdom assets held overseas is published in table 1.2 of the "United Kingdom Balance of Payments" (the Pink Book).

  Mortgage Interest Relief
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing his estimate of the number of cases in which higher rate relief will be given on mortgage

  729
  interest payments in the current financial year together with (a) the gross amount of interest qualifying for relief, (b) the amount of higher rate relief, and (c) the number of recipients of working age and their distribution by personal tax category and by range of total income together with the average amount of relief given by the standard and higher rate of tax;

  (2) whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing by range of income and tax status an estimate of the saving to the Exchequer in a full year from abolishing, respectively, the upper earnings limit for national insurance contributions and higher rate relief on mortgage interest.

  Beneficiaries1 of higher rate relief on mortgage interest by range of total income: 1988–89

  Range of total income of

  Number tax units

  Gross amount of interest qualifying for relief

  Cost of excess over basic rate relief

  Average basic rate relief

  Average excess over basic rate relief

  Number of non-aged tax units

  £

  thousand

  £ million

  £ million

  £

  £

  thousand

  Singles

  20,001 to 25,000

  30

  70

  5

  640

  160

  30

  25,001 to 30,000

  35

  85

  10

  620

  340

  35

  30,001 to 40,000

  25

  65

  10

  630

  370

  25

  40,001 to 50,000

  10

  25

  5

  620

  370

  10

  Over 50,000

  10

  35

  5

  730

  440

  10

  TOTAL

  110

  280

  35

  640

  310

  110

  One-earner couples

  20,001 to 25,000

  20

  45

  ..

  530

  80

  20

  25,001 to 30,000

  90

  220

  25

  600

  280

  90

  30,001 to 40,000

  95

  235

  35

  630

  370

  90

  40,001 to 50,000

  40

  95

  15

  630

  380

  35

  Over 50,000

  50

  150

  20

  730

  440

  50

  TOTAL

  295

  745

  100

  630

  340

  290

  Two-earner couples

  20,001 to 25,000

  ..

  5

  ..

  580

  50

  ..

  25,001 to 30,000

  195

  405

  35

  520

  170

  195

  30,001 to 40,000

  250

  620

  75

  610

  310

  250

  40,001 to 50,000

  65

  180

  25

  680

  380

  65

  Over 50,000

  80

  230

  35

  710

  420

  80

  TOTAL

  595

  1,435

  170

  600

  280

  595

  All

  20,001 to 25,000

  50

  120

  5

  590

  120

  50

  25,001 to 30,000

  320

  710

  70

  550

  220

  320

  30,001 to 40,000

  370

  920

  120

  620

  330

  365

  40,001 to 50,000

  115

  300

  45

  660

  380

  110

  Over 50,000

  145

  415

  60

  720

  430

  140

  TOTAL

  1,000

  2,460

  300

  620

  300

  985

  .. = less than £2,500 or £2·5 million as appropriate.

  Figures may not add due to rounding.

  1 Includes about 190,000 tax units who are kept out of higher rate tax by this relief.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the cost to the Exchequer of tax relief on interest payable on mortgages which have been taken out to raise cash for other purposes.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  It is estimated that tax relief amounting to around £100 million was falsely claimed in respect of alleged home improvement loans in 1986/87 (the last year for which figures are available). In addition, a relatively small but unqualified proportion of claims to relief on other loans has been claimed falsely.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a solicitor's letter stating the
  730
  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Provisional estimates of excess over basic rate relief on mortgage interest in 1988–89, based on a projection of the 1985–86 survey of personal incomes, are given in the table. These figures take no account of any behavioural changes which might result from the removal of higher rate relief on mortgage interest.

  It is estimated that the full year yield, at 1988–89 levels, of the abolition of the upper earnings limit for national insurance contributions would be £1·7 billion. A breakdown of this figure by status and by income will be given after the summer recess.

  purchaser's intention to buy a particular house at a particular price and dated on or before 31 July will satisfy the requirements of the Inland Revenue with respect to qualification for double MIRAS.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The new residence basis for mortgage interest relief, being introduced in the Finance Bill, restricts tax relief to the interest on £30,000 per residence, rather than £30,000 per borrower, and takes effect on 1 August. It will apply to all loans for home purchase made on or after date.

  A loan made on or after 1 August will however be treated as made before that date provided:

  731

  (a) the offer of the loan was made before 1 August and was evidenced in writing by the lender before that date, and

  (b) the borrower had entered into a binding contract before 1 August to acquire the property.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report his estimate of the number of cases in which tax relief will be claimed through MIRAS or otherwise on mortgage interest payments on residential property in the current financial year together with (a) the estimated cost to the Exchequer and (b) the number of recipients of working age and their distribution by range of total income together with the average amount of relief given; and if he will break figures down as far as possible between single persons and one and two-earner married couples.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 27 July 1988]: Provisional estimates for the United Kingdom are given in the table. Following the introduction of MIRAS in April 1983, Inland Revenue administrative records cannot be used to provide comprehensive figures on the distribution of mortgage interest relief by range of income. The estimates in the reply are therefore based on projections of data in the 1985 family expenditure survey (FES) and 1985–86 survey of personal incomes, but the sample sizes do not permit reliable estimates to be made in all the detail requested.

  The estimate of the cost of mortgage interest relief in 1988–89 takes account of the recently announced increases in the mortgage interest rate.

  Tax units1 receiving mortgage interest relief by range of total

  income 1988–89

  Range of total income

  Number of tax units with mortgage interest relief

  Average value of relief per mortgagor

  Cost of relief

  Thousands

  £

  £ million

  Up to £5,000

  690

  340

  240

  £5,001 to £10,000

  1,300

  430

  560

  £10,001 to £15,000

  2,440

  520

  1,270

  £15,001 to £20,000

  1,890

  550

  1,050

  £20,001 to £25,000

  1,110

  570

  630

  £25,001 to £30,000

  470

  710

  340

  Over £30,000

  700

  950

  660

  Total

  8,600

  550

  4,750

  1 Single persons and married couples.

  Agricultural Production Licences
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his forecast for receipts of capital gains tax on the sale of agricultural production licences for the current financial year; if he will include in the Official Report an estimate of the amount by which prices would have to fall to eliminate the premium on the transfer of entitlement to the production quota; and whether he will make it his policy to press for a reduction in the price of milk to whatever level is required to eliminate the surplus without the need to rely on quotas.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Information on capital gains tax is not available. The other parts of the question are for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and I shall ask him to write to the hon. Member.

  Productivity
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish a table showing annual increases in productivity in the United States of America and the United Kingdom for manufacturing and the whole economy, since 1976–77, including figures for the latest period of 12 months.

  Mr. Major
  Data on United Kingdom productivity can be found in table 34 of Economic Trends, and in the annual supplement to Economic Trends (1988). The OECD "Historical Statistics 1960–86", tables 3.7 and 3.10, provide data on United States productivity.

  Output
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report a. table showing his estimate of the implied difference between growth of potential output per person-hour and the growth of actual output per person-hour between the two most recent cyclical United Kingdom peaks; and if he will include (a) a figure for the United Kingdom and (b) the rate of growth in manufacturing assumed by the International Monetary Fund and the Treasury, respectively.

  Mr. Major
  Information on potential output per person-hour is not available in the form requested by the hon. Member. The Financial Statement and Budget Report contains a forecast for manufacturing output growth.

  Pensions (Underpayment)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his plans for compensation of public service pensioners for the underpayment of the state retirement pension.

  Mr. Brooke
  State retirement pensioners were compensated in respect of the underestimate of the RPI. On the decision not to compensate public service pensioners, I have nothing to add to my written answer of 18 December, at columns 845–46, to my hon. Friend the Member for Croydon, South (Sir W. Clark).

  Balance of Payments
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the outturn of the balance of payments position at the end of the current financial year.

  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the deficit on current account for the year 1988.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the current account deficit for the year 1988.

  Mr. Major
  As my right hon. Friend the Chancellor has already made clear, the current account deficit in 1988 will be larger than the £4 billion forecast at Budget time. A new forecast of the current account will be published, in the usual way, at the time of the Autumn Statement.

  Taxation
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for a married man with two children, one earner and no other allowances, the percentage in gross income taken in (a) direct taxes, including national insurance contributions less child benefit and (b) indirect taxation, including the retail prices index or other representative figure for rates, in the current financial year where the earnings of the married man are (i) three times average earnings, (ii) average earnings and (iii) 60 per cent, of average earnings and 45 per cent, of average earnings, in all cases with no other income; and if he will include the earnings figure in each case.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Figures for 1988–89 are given in the table.

  Income tax3 less child benefit

  Percentage of average earnings1 1988–89

  Gross earnings (£ per week)

  National insurance contributions2

  Single female parent

  Married female (sole earner)

  Married man (sole earner)

  100 per cent.

  4161·80

  14·56

  6·26

  -6·26

  6·26

  75 per cent.

  4121·35

  10·92

  -3·85

  -14·50

  -3·85

  1 For full-time adult females (all occupations).

  2 Not contracted out.

  3 Deducting child benefit of £7·25 per week per child and assuming no reliefs or allowances other than personal allowances.

  4 This figure assumes that earnings increase by 7½per cent, between 1986–87 and 1987–88 and by 6½ per cent, between 1987–88 and 1988–89.

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the reduction in annual liability to(a) capital gains tax and (b) capital transfer tax and inheritance tax in (i) 1988–89 and (ii) the 1978–79 indexed regime, specifying in each case the total and average reduction per taxpayer as well as the number of taxpayers in each year.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The figures for capital transfer and inheritance tax are:

  Reduction compared with the indexed 1978–79 regime

  Taxpayer numbers (thousands)

  Total liability

  Average liability1

  1978–79 indexed regime

  1988–89 regime

  £ million

  £

  600

  7,000

  80

  20

  1 Calculated for the number of taxpayers under the 1978–79 indexed regime.

  £ billion

  Personal income taxes

  National insurance contributions

  Capital taxes

  Corporate taxes1

  Local authority rates

  Central government expenditure taxes

  1978–79

  19·1

  10·2

  0·8

  4·4

  5·8

  18·2

  1979–80

  21·1

  12·0

  1·0

  6·7

  6·9

  25·2

  1980–81

  24·8

  14·4

  1·2

  8·1

  8·7

  28·8

  1981–82

  29·2

  16·5

  1·6

  10·6

  11·0

  33·6

  1982–83

  30·5

  18·7

  1·4

  13·0

  12·2

  35·0

  734

  Taxes as a percentage of gross earnings for a married man with two children, one earner and no other allowances

  Earnings

  Proportion of average

  £ per week

  Income tax and NICs less child benefit

  Indirect taxes

  (i) 3 times

  734·10

  29·9

  n/a

  (ii) Average

  244·70

  20·9

  13·1

  (iii) 60 per cent.

  146·80

  10·7

  n/a

  (iv) 45 per cent.

  110·10

  3·0

  n/a

  Notes:

  The estimate of indirect taxes in derived from the 1985 expenditure survey and is based on the illustrative assumption that 10 per cent. of disposable income is saved. Local authority rates are not included. Estimates cannot reliably be made for income levels either (i) three times or (iii) 60 per cent or (iv) 45 per cent. of average earnings.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for the current financial year the amount of tax and national insurance contributions payable in the circumstances described in the question from the hon. Member for Great Grimsby on 5 April 1984, Official Report, column 630; and if he will include any credit for child benefit.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Information for households with two children is in the table.

  The 1988–89 tax base is taken as given. It is not possible to determine to what extent changes in the tax regime between 1978–79 and 1988–89 may have affected the levels of transfers. I regret that it has not been possible to provide the figures for capital gains tax before the summer recess. I shall write to the hon. Member and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for each financial year since 1978–79 the amount of tax raised by (a) personal income taxes, (b) national insurance contributions, (c) capital taxes, (d) corporate taxes, (e) indirect taxes and (f) rates; and if he will give his latest forecast for the current financial year on a full-year basis.

  Mr. Brooke
  [holding answer 27 July 1988]: The information is as follows:

  735

  Personal income taxes

  National insurance contributions

  Capital taxes

  Corporate taxes1

  Local authority rates

  Central government expenditure taxes

  1983–84

  31·7

  21·3

  1·6

  13·9

  12·3

  37·8

  1984–85

  33·3

  22·7

  1·7

  18·0

  12·9

  40·6

  1985–86

  35·9

  24·6

  2·3

  18·4

  13·8

  44·0

  1986–87

  38·5

  26·6

  2·8

  14·8

  15·6

  48·5

  1987–88

  41·5

  29·1

  3·7

  17·9

  16·9

  52·4

  1988–92

  42·1

  31·6

  4·7

  19·9

  19·0

  55·4

  1 Corporation tax (including advance corporation tax but excluding corporation tax on capital gains), petroleum revenue tax, oil royalties, IBA levy and supplementary petroleum duty.

  2 Forecast.

  The forecasts are from the 1988 Financial Statement and Budget Report. All figures are on an accruals basis as in the national income and expenditure accounts.

  Export Unit Values
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for each of the EEC Six, the United States of America, the United Kingdom and Japan the percentage increase in (a) export unit values and (b) producer-wholesale prices between 1976 and 1987.

  Mr. Lilley
  Figures for export unit values are given in "IMF International Financial Statistics" and for producer and wholesale prices in "OECD Main Economic Indicators".

  Debt
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report the amount of (a) floating debt and (b) national debt outstanding at the end of the year 1987–88, the interest paid in 1987–88 in each case and the money supply in banking March.

  Mr. Lilley
  The national debt is provisionally estimated at 31 March 1988 as £197,295 million, of which £11,725 million is the provisional figure for floating debt. Interest paid on the national debt in 1987–88 was £16,233 million; including £924 million on floating debt. Full details will be given in the Consolidated Fund and national loans fund accounts and supplementary statements 1987–88, which will be published in December.

  Money supply statistics have been reported on a calendar rather than banking month basis since October 1986. They are published in Financial Statistics table 11.1.

  Bank Lending
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the increase in bank lending since May 1979; where the additional funds have come from; what effect he expects the increase in interest rates since the beginning of the year to have on banking profits; and what is his forecast of the increase in revenue to the Exchequer therefrom.

  Mr. Lilley
  Recent figures for bank lending are published in table 11·6 of Financial Statistics. Figures for earlier years are available from the Bank of England on request. Figures for banks' balance sheets are published in the Bank of England Quarterly Bulletin and earlier figures are likewise available from the Bank of England on
  736
  request. Banks' profits are a matter for the institutions concerned. But the Autumn Statement will update the projections given for tax revenues in the Financial Statement and Budget Report.

  Manufacturing Industry
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the elasticity of demand for imports and exports of manufactures relative to price; and whether he has any evidence that the elasticity in either case is different in the case of trade with the European Economic Community.

  Mr. Major
  Estimates of elasticities for exports and imports are published in the Her Majesty's Treasury "Macroeconomic Model Documentation, October 1987", a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House. No estimates of these figures have been made for trade with the European Community.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimates he has of the proportion of the investment in plant and machinery in manufacturing industry in each of the past five years which has been due to(a) the change in the real exchange rate since 1976 and (b) lack of capacity.

  Mr. Major
  No such estimates are available.

  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the growth of manufacturing productivity in the economy since 1980.

  Mr. Major
  In the three months to May 1988 output per head in manufacturing was 50 per cent, higher than its average level in 1980.

  Imports
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will issue new guidelines to the Customs Commissioners regarding the suppression of information as to imports, in the light of the provisions contained in the Finance (No. 2) Bill; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lilley
  Customs and Excise is fully aware of the need to operate the suppression arrangements with particular care in the light of the new provisions for disclosure of importers names and addresses introduced in the Finance (No. 2) Bill. Special methods will need to be adopted in order to mask information that might indirectly reveal details of the extent of business in a particular commodity. Customs is already discussing details with interested parties and will provide an adequate opportunity for comment on the new arrangements before they are implemented.

  Money Supply
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for each year since 1958 the estimated velocity of monetary circulation in terms of sterling MO and sterling M3.

  Mr. Lilley
  The available figures are as follows:

  Velocity of circulation

  Ratio of money stock to Gross Domestic Product (Average) at current market price. Annual averages

  M0

  M3

  1963

  —

  2·94

  1964

  —

  3·01

  1965

  —

  3·04

  1966

  —

  3·06

  1967

  —

  3·02

  1968

  —

  3·00

  1969

  —

  3·13

  1970

  13·11

  3·23

  1971

  13·50

  3·21

  1972

  14·24

  2·89

  1973

  14·43

  2·64

  1974

  14·55

  2·55

  1975

  16·02

  2·97

  1976

  17·09

  3·30

  1977

  18·02

  3·57

  1978

  18·07

  3·56

  1979

  18·78

  3·71

  1980

  20·21

  3·75

  1981

  21·31

  3·48

  1982

  23·08

  3·20

  1983

  23·73

  3·15

  1984

  24·04

  3·08

  1985

  25·19

  3·02

  1986

  25·92

  2·74

  1987

  27·05

  2·47

  The velocity of circulation is compiled on a quarterly basis. It is based on average end quarter estimates of M3 before June 1982, and on monthly M3 data thereafter. MO is a monthly series throughout. M3 is not available before 1963 and MO not available before 1970.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing (i) the increase in cash terms in sterling MO and sterling M3 (a) from May 1979 to the latest available date and (b) between January 1974 and May 1979, (ii) the annual rate of inflation on these three dates, (iii) the increase in the amount lent by the banks to, respectively, the public sector and the private sector, (iv) the increase in outstanding mortgages on residential property, (v) the increase in producer and retail prices and (vi) the average annual rate of increase in each of the foregoing cases.

  Mr. Lilley
  The hon. Member refers in his question to sterling MO. That as such has never existed. I assume he means MO. Sterling M3 is now called M3.

  Some of the data requested are not available monthly. In these cases, sources of calendar quarterly data are given.

  Recent figures for MO are available in Financial Statistics table 11.4; earlier figures are available on the Central Statistical Office public database or from the Bank of England on request. M3 figures are available in Financial Statistics table 11.2 and 11.3 from June 1982; quarterly figures are available for earlier periods in the annual supplement of Economic Trends 1988, page 151. Figures for the general index of retail prices and index numbers of producer prices are available in the Monthly
  738
  Digest of Statistics tables 18.1 and 18.6. Figures for bank lending to the public sector and private sector are available in Financial Statistics table 6.1 for recent monthly periods and quarterly for earlier periods. Recent quarterly figures for loans to the personal sector for house purchase are available in Financial Statistics tables 9.2 and 14.4; earlier figures are available on the Central Statistical Office public database, or on request from the Bank of England.

  Banks (Assets)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the assets held by United Kingdom banks are held in the form of(a) floating debt and (b) other Government securities; what was the comparable position in 1958; and what sums would now be required to enable the banks to re-establish the 1958 ratio.

  Mr. Lilley
  Recent figures for the assets of United Kingdom banks are published in tables 3.2, 3.3 and 3.4 of the Bank of England Quarterly Bulletin. Figures for 1958 are published in tables 9 and 10(2) of the Bank of England "Statistical Abstract", No. 1, 1970.

  Duty-free Shops
  Sir Dudley Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the current position with regard to EEC proposals on the future of duty-free shops; and what stance is being taken by Her Majesty's Government on this issue.

  Mr. Lilley
  This is presented by the Commission as a proposal consequential to its main proposals for tax approximation which are still under discussion in the Economic and Financial Affairs Council in Brussels. The United Kingdom has fundamental difficulties with the European Commission's central proposal, which we believe to be unnecessary for the completion of the single market.

  There are no EC proposals which would affect the sales of duty-free goods to passengers travelling to and from destinations outside the EC.

  Recruitment and Promotion Policy
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures he has implemented to ensure that recruitment and promotion policy in his Department does not directly or indirectly discriminate against applicants who were mature students or women returning to work following a career break due to child care.

  Mr. Brooke
  As an equal opportunities employer, the Treasury issues guidance on codes of practice to be followed by those who sit on selection and promotion boards. Under internal promotions procedure, every effort is made to include at least one female board member.

  Home Improvements
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact upon disabled owner-occupiers obtaining advances for adaptations to their homes of the abolition of tax relief for home improvements; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The removal of relief for home improvements is part of the overall strategy of limiting,
  739
  where possible, the number of special reliefs within the tax system. Most home improvement loans have been found to be for items such as double glazing, generally unconnected with any disability of the borrower. Grants remain available to help disabled people meet the cost of home adaptations.

  Exchange Rate
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the real exchange rate against the deutschmark in February 1987; and if he will publish in the Official Report the amount by which United Kingdom export prices for manufactures have increased relative to German export prices since then.

  Mr. Lilley
  Nominal exchange rates are published daily in the national press. Figures for export prices for the United Kingdom and Germany are given in the IMF's "International Financial Statistics", monthly. Alternative price indices for constructing real exchange rate indices are also available in several international publications, including "International Financial Statistics".

  Land and Buildings (Sales)
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report, in the format of table 1 of Cm. 441, a table showing the (a) local authority, (b) central Government and (c) public corporation components of the sales of public sector land and buildings, consistent with the totals provided in his answer of 10 June, Official Report columns 705–9.

  Mr. Major
  The figures in table 1 of Cm. 441, though corresponding broadly to figures included in "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1988–89 to 1990–91" (Cm. 283), the Supply Estimates for 1988–89 and earlier years, and Financial Statistics, are illustrative and were provided only in order to give a guide to orders of magnitude. They are not underpinned and have not been analysed by economic category. As indicated in paragraphs 22 and 45 of Cm. 441, detailed baselines on the new basis will be established for the 1989 public expenditure survey and figures for the outcome will be published in the 1990 public expenditure White Paper.

  EC (Economic and Monetary Union)
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer at which meeting Her Majesty's Government have assented to the principle of economic and monetary union with the European Economic Community; in what manner any such agreement has been expressed; and by what means it has been communicated to Parliament.

  Mr. Lilley
  The first of the many meetings at which Community Heads of Government, with United Kingdom participation, reaffirmed the objective of economic and monetary union took place on 19–20 October 1972, and was reported in the subsequent communiqué. The outcome of that meeting was reported to Parliament on 23 October 1972, at columns 791–94.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the advantages and disadvantages to the United Kingdom of(a) an EEC central bank and (b) a common currency in the EEC; and if he will make a statement.
  740
  Mr. Lilley
  I refer the hon. Member to the Prime Minister's statement in the House on 23 June, at columns 1254–55.

  Capital Gains Tax
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the projected reduction in capital gains tax liability of(a) the top 1 per cent., (b) the top 5 per cent., (c) the top 10 per cent., (d) the bottom 70 per cent., (e) the bottom 60 per cent., (f) the bottom 50 per cent., and (g) the bottom 25 per cent, of those liable for capital gains tax in 1988–89, together with the total number of tax units estimated to be liable.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The estimated number of individuals and trusts liable to capital gains tax on disposals made in 1988–89 is 155,000. Available information is not sufficient to permit estimates of the reductions in gains tax liability at the levels of detail requested.

  Arts
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his current estimate of the contribution made by the arts to the balance of payments figures.

  Mr. Major
  No comprehensive official estimate is available. Overseas income and expenditure relating to cultural activities enter directly or indirectly into many components of the balance of payments, especially travel and film and television services.

  Value Added Tax
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the total amount received in value added tax payments from arts institutions and bodies.

  Mr. Lilley
  I regret that an estimate is not available. Arts institutions and bodies do not constitute a separate VAT trader classification.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received concerning the imposition of value added tax on new church buildings; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lilley
  So far there have been only a few, but there is still plenty of time for representations to be made in response to the Customs and Excise consultation document issued on 21 June 1988.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received regarding those items at present zero-rated for value added tax.

  Mr. Lilley
  I have received a number of representations in favour of retaining zero-rates of value added tax.

  Bofors (Payments)
  Mrs. Golding
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from the authorities in India on the tax status and ultimate destination of payments made by Bofors of Sweden to the account of AE Services at Nordfinanz Bank, Zurich.
  741
  Mr. Norman Lament
  None.

  Alcohol and Tobacco
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what response has been made by Her Majesty's Government to the proposals of the Commission of the European Economic Community to harmonise the rates of excise duty on alcohol and tobacco products.

  Mr. Lilley
  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor has made it perfectly clear to the Economic and Finance Council that the United Kingdom considers fiscal harmonisation unnecessary for the completion of the single market.

  Public Expenditure
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will indicate the areas of expenditure to which he attaches priority in making decisions on public expenditure for the forthcoming year.

  Mr. Major
  The Government's main objective for the current public expenditure survey is that public spending should be held as close as possible to the existing planning totals so that its share in national income continues to

  Receipts which offset programme expenditure1

  £ million

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  outturn

  outturn

  outturn

  outturn

  outturn

  estimated outturn

  plans

  plans

  plans

  Chancellor's departments

  Central Office of Information

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Government Actuary

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Department of National Savings

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Her Majesty's Treasury

  31

  34

  31

  26

  31

  31

  30

  30

  30

  Total

  31

  35

  31

  26

  31

  31

  30

  30

  30

  Other departments

  Cabinet Office

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Land Registry

  79

  110

  100

  112

  139

  137

  148

  160

  165

  Ordnance Survey

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Privy Council Office

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Public Record Office

  1

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  1

  1

  1

  Office of Population, Censuses and Surveys

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Treasury Solicitors Office

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Property Services Agency

  74

  639

  664

  679

  659

  636

  610

  663

  690

  House of Commons and House of Lords

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  National Audit Office

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  3

  3

  3

  3

  Total

  157

  754

  767

  794

  803

  111

  762

  828

  860

  1 The figures in this table are consistent with figures given in "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1988–89 to 1990–91" (Cm. 288).

  Receipts which offset running costs other than those paid from other departments running costs1

  £ million

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–99

  outturn

  outturn

  outturn

  outturn

  outturn

  estimated outturn

  plans

  plans

  plans

  Chancellor's departments

  Central Office of Information

  —

  —

  4

  4

  4

  4

  4

  4

  4

  Customs and Excise

  6

  6

  7

  7

  8

  8

  8

  9

  9

  Registry of Friendly Societies

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  2

  3

  2

  2

  Government Actuary

  —

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Inland Revenue

  34

  39

  41

  42

  43

  53

  53

  55

  56

  National Investment and Loans Office

  1

  1

  2

  2

  2

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Department of National Savings

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  HM Treasury

  1

  1

  1

  6

  6

  6

  7

  7

  7

  Total

  44

  49

  56

  64

  65

  76

  77

  79

  81

  742
  decline steadily over the three survey years. With this objective in mind, the Government will review their priorities and take decisions on individual programmes and the planning totals. These decisions will be announced as usual in the Autumn Statement in November.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report an analysis of receipts to the programmes (19) Chancellor's Departments and (20) Other Departments for the years 1982–83 to 1990–91, consistent with the Chief Secretary's reply of 25 May, Official Report, columns 375–76, analysing by function or nature of item (i) the receipts classified as charges with respect to programme expenditure, (ii) the receipts classified as charges with respect to running costs expenditure and (iii) the amounts of receipts in respect of programme expenditure and of running costs expenditure estimated to have been met from other public expenditure programmes.

  Mr. Major
  [holding answer 28 July 1988]: The readily available information on a consistent basis with that given in the earlier answer is given in the tables. Figures for receipts in respect of programme expenditure from other public expenditure programmes could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
  743

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–99

  outturn

  outturn

  outturn

  outturn

  outturn

  estimated outturn

  plans

  plans

  plans

  Other departments

  Cabinet Office

  4

  4

  5

  5

  5

  6

  5

  5

  5

  Charity Commission

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Ordnance Survey

  16

  16

  18

  20

  20

  22

  23

  23

  24

  Paymaster General's Office

  1

  1

  —

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Office of Gas Supply

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  2

  2

  2

  2

  Office of Telecommunications

  —

  —

  3

  4

  4

  4

  5

  4

  4

  Office of Population, Censuses and Surveys

  6

  7

  7

  6

  7

  7

  18

  18

  19

  Treasury Solicitors Office

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Property Service Agency

  41

  46

  36

  26

  21

  23

  58

  59

  61

  Total

  68

  76

  71

  63

  60

  65

  113

  114

  117

  1 The figures in this table are consistent with figures given in "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1988–90 to 1990–91" (Cm. 288).

  Receipts which offset running costs paid from other departments running costs1

  £ million

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  outturn

  outturn

  outturn

  outturn

  outturn

  estimated outturn

  plans

  plans

  plans

  Chancellor's departments

  Central Office of Information

  —

  —

  15

  15

  14

  15

  16

  17

  17

  Inland Revenue

  —

  1

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  National Investment and Loans Office

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Department of National Savings

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Her Majesty's Treasury

  8

  8

  8

  12

  13

  13

  14

  14

  15

  Total

  8

  9

  24

  28

  28

  29

  30

  32

  33

  Other departments

  Cabinet Office

  —

  6

  7

  7

  8

  11

  12

  12

  13

  Charity Commission

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Ordnance Survey

  5

  5

  10

  11

  13

  13

  15

  15

  15

  Paymaster General's Office

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Office of Population, Censuses and Surveys

  —

  —

  1

  3

  2

  2

  —

  —

  —

  Property Service Agency

  9

  37

  19

  15

  39

  51

  58

  62

  63

  Total

  14

  48

  37

  36

  62

  78

  85

  90

  91

  1 The figures in this table are consistent with figures given in "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1988–89 to 1990–91" (Cm. 288).

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report a table for the years 1982–83 to 1990–91, parallel to, and consistent with, the earlier answer, Official Report, columns 375–76, 25 May, showing income by departmental programme classified as receipts against running costs expenditure.

  Mr. Major
  [holding answer 28 July 1988]: The information requested is given in the table. The figures in

  Public expenditure: Receipts which offset running costs expenditure1

  Department

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  outturn

  outturn

  outturn

  outturn

  outturn

  estimated outturn

  plans

  plans

  plans

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  Defence

  516

  610

  645

  670

  704

  818

  777

  810

  830

  Foreign and Commonwealth Office2

  12

  16

  15

  20

  31

  38

  41

  40

  40

  Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food3

  8

  9

  9

  9

  11

  24

  23

  30

  30

  Trade and Industry

  36

  39

  65

  85

  98

  104

  104

  110

  110

  Energy

  3

  3

  4

  4

  4

  4

  4

  —

  —

  Employment

  223

  291

  338

  413

  435

  469

  473

  470

  470

  Transport

  11

  12

  13

  15

  18

  19

  21

  20

  20

  DOE—Other environmental services

  30

  31

  32

  33

  36

  38

  38

  40

  40

  Home Office and legal departments4

  113

  133

  142

  153

  177

  176

  192

  200

  200

  Education and Science

  1

  2

  2

  2

  1

  1

  1

  —

  —

  Arts and Libraries

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  DHSS—Health and personal social services

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  —

  —

  744
  the table are consistent with my earlier answer and with information published in "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1988–89 to 1990–91" (Cm. 288); some of the figures differ slightly from those given to the hon. Member in response to a related question, which was asked of a number of different Departments, because no account has been taken, for the purposes of this table, of subsequent updates to these figures.
  745

  Department

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  outturn

  outturn

  outturn

  outturn

  outturn

  estimated outturn

  plans

  plans

  plans

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  DHSS—Social security

  616

  643

  733

  715

  663

  701

  800

  800

  900

  Scotland

  18

  20

  22

  24

  24

  25

  29

  30

  30

  Wales

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  —

  —

  Northern Ireland

  61

  65

  70

  81

  77

  76

  83

  80

  90

  Chancellor's departments

  53

  59

  79

  91

  94

  104

  108

  110

  110

  Other departments5

  83

  124

  108

  99

  122

  143

  198

  200

  200

  Total of departments

  1,786

  2,059

  2,280

  2,416

  2,497

  2,744

  2,894

  2,980

  3,050

  1 The figures for 1989–90 and 1990–91 for DHSS-Social Security have been rounded to the nearest £100 million; other 1989–90 and 1990–91 figures are rounded to the nearest £10 million.

  2 Including Overseas Development Administration.

  3 Including Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce.

  4 This group comprises the Home Office, Lord Chancellor's Department, Northern Ireland Court Service, the Crown Prosecution Service, the Serious Fraud Office and the Crown Office, Procurator Fiscal Service and Lord Advocate's Department.

  5 Including Property Services Agency and Civil Superannuation.

  Pound Sterling
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what specific weight is given, when deciding policy, regarding the value of the pound sterling, to the following factors:(a) internal production of goods and services, (b) the creation or loss of jobs, (c) inflationary trends resulting from monetary and other economic pressures, (d) the state of the balance of payments, (e) productivity and (f) other economic considerations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lilley
  The Government's monetary policy is designed to exert continued downward pressure on inflation. Exchange rate policy is part of that overall policy. Decisions are taken within a continuous and comprehensive assessment of monetary conditions so as to maintain the required downward pressure on inflation.

  Medium-term Financial Strategy
  Sir Ian Gilmour
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make available the medium-term financial strategy assumptions for the medium-term growth of personal consumption, total fixed investments, the current balance of payments and unemployment which underlay each "Financial Statement and Budget Report" since 1980.

  Mr. Major
  I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to my right hon. Friend on 4 July, at column 480.

  Inland Revenue (Keith Report)
  Mr. Chapman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the Government's intentions on implementing the remainder of the Keith committee's recommendations on the Inland Revenue's powers.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The Keith committee made wide-ranging recommendations for the modernisation of the Inland Revenue's administrative powers. Proposals in response to the recommendations were published in 1986 in the form of a consultative document, on which comments were invited. In the last two Budgets, and in the light of comments received, we have brought forward measures which give effect to some of these proposals.

  The Revenue is today, with my approval, issuing a further consultative paper which contains new and revised proposals on the remaining issues, again taking account of representations received.

  EC (Budget)
  Mr. Chapman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, following the adoption of the supplementary and amending budget for 1988, the European Commission has asked member states to make available their contributions under the 1988 intergovernmental agreement; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Brooke
  The Commission has requested that member states in a position to do so should make available on 1 August eight-twelfths of their agreed contributions under the 1988 intergovernmental agreement (IGA). In the United Kingdom's case, this would amount to 619 mecu (some £410 million). The Commission recognises that member states may have to defer payment until their domestic legislative procedures are complete. In this event, the Commission will continue to require overdraft facilities under article 12(2) of regulation 2891/77. The Government intend to provide such facilities to the Commission during August and will keep their position on the timing of IGA payments under review.

  The outstanding amount of the overdraft for the United Kindom by the end of August is expected to be around £118 million. Repayment of any drawing under this facility will be made by deduction from future own resources payments. The article 12(2) facility does not affect the total amount which the Community is authorised to spend during the year. The Commission's request does not, therefore, involve any net addition to public expenditure.

  Corporate Savings
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will bring up to date the information on corporate savings given in his written reply dated 7 July 1980,Official Report, column 71.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 28 July 1988]: The latest available information on the savings (after deducting depreciation and stock appreciation) of industrial and commercial companies and of financial companies and institutions for the years 1976 to 1986 is given in tables 5.6 and 5.8 of the 1987 edition of "United Kingdom National Accounts". Data for earlier years are on the CSO databank, which is available in the House of Commons Library.

  National Savings
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has for changes in the system of national savings; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lilley
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before the summer recess, and therefore I shall write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

  District Health Authorities (VAT)
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much rebate has been paid annually since 1983–84 to district health authorities in respect of value added tax paid on work and services contracted out.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 28 July 1988]: The amounts of value added tax reclaimed annually by regional health authorities since 1983–84 in respect of works and services contracted out are as follows:

  Year

  Reclaimed £

  1983–84

  5,511,073

  1984–85

  61,758,437

  1985–86

  115,444,090

  1986–87

  140,624,795

  1987–88

  147,782,353

  Strip Searches (Gatwick Airport)
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many men and how many women have been strip-searched by customs officials at Gatwick airport in the last year; and what guidelines have been issued to customs officials on strip-searches.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 28 July 1988]: Customs set up central records on search of the person in July 1987, but these records do not identify separately searches of men and women. Such information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. For the period 1 July 1987 to 31 March 1988, 1,834 persons were strip-searched at Gatwick.

  Section 164 of the Customs and Excise Act 1979 provides that officers may search persons where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that dutiable, prohibited or restricted goods are being carried. Customs officers are also obliged under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 to have regard to the relevant provisions of the codes of practice, including those concerning questioning of suspects and personal search in custody. In addition, officers are given guidance on search procedures in internal instructions and training courses.

  National Insurance
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report his latest estimate of the yield from an increase of 1p in the standard rate of tax and in the employees' and employers' national insurance contribution, respectively, in 1988–89; and if he will divide the tax figure to show the yield from earned and unearned income.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 27 July 1988]: An increase of lp in the basic rate of income tax is estimated
  748
  to yield about £1·4 billion in full year at 1988–89 income levels; 90 per cent, of the yield is estimated to be from tax on earned income.

  An increase of 1 per cent, in class 1 national insurance standard contribution rates is estimated to yield employee contributions of £1·75 billion and employer contributions of £2·0 billion in a full year at 1988–89 income levels.

  Endangered Species
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will provide a breakdown by species and number of the 209 live birds in the endangered species category seized by the Customs and Excise in the year to 31 March 1987;

  (2) if he will provide a breakdown of the 1,395 live animals in the endangered species category seized by the Customs and Excise in the year to 31 March 1987.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 27 July 1988]: The following information relates to live creatures imported in contravention of the restrictions imposed by the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act 1976 or Council Regulation (EEC) No. 3626–82.

  Number

  Birds

  African Grey Parrots

  4

  Indian Rosefinches

  2

  Kestrel

  1

  Musschen Broeks Lorikeets

  51

  Emerald Lorikeet

  1

  Wrinkled Hornbills

  10

  Citron Throated Toucans

  20

  Swainsons Toucans

  16

  Hyacinth Macaws

  4

  Goldfinches

  100

  Creatures other than birds

  Giant Tortoises

  7

  Viperine Snakes

  147

  Caspian Turtles

  10

  European Pond Turtle

  1

  Carpet Pythons

  2

  Ibiza Wall Lizards

  500

  Leopard Tortoises

  2

  Moorish Geckos

  2

  Tree Frogs

  145

  Pond Turtles

  18

  Edible Frogs

  96

  Tortoise

  1

  Bosc Monitors

  22

  Ocellated Skinks

  24

  Ground Lizards

  264

  Spiny-Tailed Lizards

  80

  Chilean Spotted Lizards

  30

  Leopard Geckos

  15

  Sand Boas

  2^

  Chameleons

  4

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give details of seizures of live animals, live birds and articles derived from endangered species made by the Customs and Excise in the period since 31 March 1987.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 27 July 1988]: The details sought are as follows. They relate to live creatures and articles derived from endangered species imported or exported in contravention of the restrictions imposed by the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act 1976 or

  749
  Council regulation (EEC) No. 3626/82. The figures are provisional, having been compiled on the basis of seizures reported to date.

  Number

  Birds

  287

  Creatures other than birds

  2,285

  Articles derived from endangered species

  3,535

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total estimated value of the seizures of endangered species of animals, birds and articles made by the Customs and Excise in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 27 July 1988]: Values or estimated values of many such seizures are not recorded centrally, if at all. The information sought could therefore be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give details of the seizures of endangered species of animals and birds made by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise in each year from 1979 to 1987 and the information he has concerning related criminal proceedings taken, with penalties and costs imposed.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 27 July 1988]The details sought are shown in the following table. The figures for seizures relate to live creatures imported or exported in contravention of the restrictions imposed by the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act 1976 or Council Regulation (EEC) No. 3626/82. Those for proceedings indicate the number of persons successfully prosecuted under the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 for attempted evasion of the restrictions.

  Year to 31 March

  Seizures

  No. of persons convicted

  Penalties/costs

  1979

  28

  1

  £200

  1980

  Nil

  1

  6 months (reduced on appeal to 3 months)—£200

  1981

  173

  2

  £100

  1982

  643

  2

  £700

  1983

  447

  4

  £800

  1984

  1,125

  6

  £2,250

  1985

  655

  1

  £650

  1986

  264

  4

  13 months (suspended for 2 years); £1,045

  1987

  1,604

  9

  £5,545

  1988

  2,284

  5

  £3,325

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide a breakdown of the 6,000 articles derived from endangered species by(a) type, (b) animal and (c) country of origin seized by the Customs and Excise in the year to 31 March 1987.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 27 July 1988]: As the information requested is very long I shall write to the hon. Member and place a copy in the Library.

  EC Budget Council
  Mr. Summerson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the outcome of the recent meeting of the European Community's Budget Council.
  750
  Mr. Peter Brooke
  [pursuant to his reply, 28 July 1988]: I regret that the own resources call up rate implied by the draft budget was incorrectly stated to be 1·15 per cent, of Community GNP; it is 1·11 per cent, of Community GNP.

  Private Medical Insurance
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his reply of 13 July,Official Report, column 199, to the hon. Member for Strathkelvin and Bearsden (Mr. Galbraith), how many people benefit from the income tax relief scheme for private medical insurance; which figures were used to estimate the cost of giving relief on all premiums to arrive at the sum of £240 million; and in which year those figures were compiled.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 28 July 1988]: It is estimated that in 1988–89 between 100,000 and 150,000 employees will not be taxed on the benefit of private medical insurance provided by their employers because their employment income and benefits come to less than £8,500 per year, the level at which the special rules for taxing benefits-in-kind begin to apply. Estimates of the cost of granting tax relief on all private medical insurance are derived from analyses of various surveys including the 1985–86 survey of expenses and benefits, the family expenditure survey, the general household survey and aggregate figures on private medical insurance premiums. The estimate given on 13 July related to 1988–89.

  National Accounts
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will publish in the Official Report an analysis for the years 1976 to 1986 by functional category of (a) the income from fees and charges shown as lines GTCQ, footnote 1 of table 7.2, and line CTNC of footnote 6 of table 8.2 and (b) the capital receipts shown as line GTDL, footnote 2 of table 7.3 and line CTCS, footnote 2 of table 8.3 of the United Kingdom National Accounts (1987 edition).

  (2) if he will publish in the Official Report an analysis for the years 1977 to 1986 in the same COFOG classification as table 9.4 of United Kingdom National Accounts (1987 edition) of (a) the income from fees and charges and (b) the capital receipts, which have been netted against each line entry.

  Mr. Major
  [holding answer 28 July 1988]: The information requested could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report an analysis, comparable to table 8.5 (housing operating account), for the years 1976 to 1986 of the derivation of the line entries under subsidies to water supply, passenger transport, and other economic affairs and services, in table 8.2 of the United Kingdom National Accounts (1987 edition).

  Mr. Major
  [holding answer 28 July 1988]: It is not possible without disproportionate expense to give the analysis requested in the question. In table 8.2 subsidies comprise payments by local authority rate funds to their own trading services and to public corporations. Some information on payments to their own trading services for individual financial years may be found in the trading

  751
  services revenue account tables in "Local Government Financial Statistics", published separately for England, Scotland, Wales.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report a functional analysis, using the COFOG classification, for the years 1976 to 1986 of the line entries for (a) gross trading surplus, (b) rent and (c) imputed charge for consumption of non-trading capital, in tables 7.2 and 8.2 of the United Kingdom National Accounts (1987 edition) indicating, where appropriate, the corresponding charges for depreciation.

  Mr. Major
  [holding answer 28 July 1988]: The functional analysis using the COFOG classification is produced only for government expenditure, and is not wholly appropriate for revenue items, as requested.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report a detailed analysis for the years 1976 to 1986 of the composition of miscellaneous current transfers in table 7.2 of the United Kingdom National Accounts (1987 edition).

  Mr. Major
  [holding answer 28 July 1988]: The information is as follows:

  Analysis of miscellaneous transfers (£ millions)

  Total

  Passport fees

  Court fines and fees

  Driving licences

  Public service vehicle licence fees

  Other1

  1976

  118

  12

  55

  36

  9

  6

  1977

  136

  19

  62

  37

  12

  6

  1978

  151

  26

  71

  37

  11

  6

  1979

  136

  28

  79

  11

  11

  7

  1980

  164

  34

  97

  11

  16

  6

  1981

  164

  27

  102

  11

  19

  5

  1982

  184

  37

  111

  15

  13

  8

  1983

  214

  35

  124

  30

  16

  9

  1984

  226

  48

  135

  17

  14

  12

  1985

  209

  42

  130

  15

  14

  8

  1986

  241

  51

  150

  16

  15

  9

  1 Other comprises penalties for vehicle licence offences, Road Traffic Act and sheriff court fines in Scotland, driving licence fees, public service vehicle licence fees, OFTEL fees and dog and gun licences.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report table 9.4 of the United Kingdom National Accounts (1987 edition), expressed in 1980 prices.

  Mr. Major
  [holding answer 28 July 1988]: The available information at constant prices is given in table 9.3. It would be conceptually difficult and involve disproportionate cost to calculate table 9.4 at constant prices.

  West Yorkshire
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from the West Yorkshire valuation office over the increased burden on the office because of the revaluation of non-domestic properties in West Yorkshire due to take effect in 1990; and if he will make a statement.
  752
  Mr. Norman Lainont
  [holding answer 28 July 1988]: I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before the summer recess; therefore, I shall write to the hon. Member and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

  Invisible Earnings (Arts)
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what have been the invisible earnings of the arts for each of the past 10 years.

  Mr. Major
  [holding answer 28 July 1988]: No comprehensive official estimates are available. A number of components in the invisibles account will be affected directly or indirectly by expenditure relating to cultural activities, especially travel and film and television services.

  Dewe Rogerson Limited
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the fee paid to Dewe Rogerson Limited marketing consultants, for each of their appointments as advisers on privatisation issues since 1979.

  Mr. Brooke
  [holding answer 27 July 1988]: For reasons of commercial confidentiality the Government do not give details of payments made to individual companies for privatisation advice.

  Interest Rates
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list real and actual interest rates in each European Community country on 25 July.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 28 July 1988]: The table gives nominal interest rates on 25 July for the 12 member countries of the European Community. There is no unique measure of "real" interest rates. Indices of consumer and producer prices, which are sometimes used to deflate nominal interest rates, are given in "OECD Main Economic Indicators", monthly.

  Interest rates in EC countries1

  Country

  Rate

  Germany

  4·9

  France

  7·4

  Italy

  11·5

  Netherlands

  5·1

  Belgium

  7·1

  Luxembourg

  7·1

  United Kingdom

  10·8

  Republic of Ireland

  7·9

  Denmark2

  7·0

  Spain

  10·2

  Portugal2

  13·5

  Greece2

  19·0

  Source: Bank of England.

  1 Rates are usually for instruments of three-months maturity, but the type of instrument differs from country to country. Rates are for 25 July.

  2 Discount rate.

  Social Science Research
  Mr. George
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been spent by his Department in each of the past five years on social science research; what percentage this constitutes of total departmental expenditure and of
  753
  the Department's research budget; and how much of the research has been undertaken (a) within his Department, (b) by universities and polytechnics and (c) by independent research organisations.

  £ million

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  Total social science research

  0·3

  0·3

  0·3

  0·3

  0·3

  of which:

  Universities and polytechnics1

  0·2

  0·2

  0·2

  0·2

  0·2

  Independent research organisations

  0·1

  0·1

  0·1

  0·1

  0·1

  Percentage of total departmental expenditure2

  0·18

  0·22

  0·17

  0·15

  0·14

  1 Includes contribution to joint ESRC-Treasury Macroeconomic Modelling Consortium.

  2 Departmental expenditure covers class XIX, votes 11, 12 and 15 of the Appropriation Accounts.

  Expenditure on social science research accounts for the total of central Treasury departmental expenditure on research. Separate figures for social science research conducted within the Treasury are not available.

  Company Borrowing
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the proportions of total borrowing by companies during the past six months, represented by(a) funds required to finance mergers and takeovers, (b) funds for investment in new plant, machinery, research and development and training and (c) funds for other purposes.

  Mr. Major
  This is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

  Mortgages
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for each year since 1981 the increase in mortgage funds for housing together with the increase in the value of the houses sold by reference to stamp duty or otherwise.

  Mr. Trippier
  I have been asked to reply.

  Information on numbers of houses purchased with mortgages and on the prices paid is available only from building societies, insurance companies and, from 1983, banks.

  Following are the available estimates:

  Purchases of dwellings with mortgage advances United Kingdom

  £ billion

  Gross advances

  Aggregate purchase price

  Amount

  Increase over previous year

  Amount

  Increase over previous year

  Excluding banks

  1981

  13·0

  2·2

  19·0

  2·3

  1982

  16·8

  3·8

  21·9

  2·9

  1983

  20·4

  3·6

  26·3

  4·4

  Including banks

  1983

  25·0

  not available

  31·8

  not available

  1984

  29·0

  4·0

  37·3

  5·5

  1985

  33·6

  4·6

  41·7

  4·4

  1986

  47·5

  13·9

  56·8

  15·1

  1987

  50·2

  2·8

  56·9

  0·1

  Note:

  Information on the gross amount of advances by other financial institutions, including some of the specialised mortgage lenders, and on the number and price of the dwellings purchased is not available.
  754
  Mr. Brooke
  [holding answer 28 July 1988]: The information requested for social science research undertaken outside the Department is as follows:

  Corporation Tax
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report his forecast of the yield in revenue from corporation tax and advance corporation tax in the current financial year and in 1989–90 net of double taxation relief; and if he will include figures showing the amount of tax collected as a percentage of gross trading profit and as a percentage of the amount paid out in dividends.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 27 July 1988]: The latest estimate of the yield in revenue from corporation tax and advance corporation tax for the current financial year is £19·8 billion. The forecast for 1989–90 will be published in the next Financial Statement and Budget Report.

  Mainstream corporation tax collected in 1987–88 was 21 per cent, of the gross trading profit in 1986. Advance corporation tax collected in 1987–88 was 36 per cent, of the amount of dividends paid out in 1987.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Mr. Jonas Savimbi
  Mr. Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what passport was used by Mr. Jonas Savimbi to enter the United Kingdom; and whether a visa was required.

  Mr. Renton
  On arrival in the United Kingdom on 6 July Mr. Jonas Savimbi used a passport issued by the Government of the Ivory Coast; a visa was not required. He was admitted as a visitor in accordance with the immigration rules.

  Recruitment and Promotion Policy
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he has implemented to ensure that recruitment and promotion policy in his Department does not directly or indirectly discriminate against applicants who were mature students or women returning to work following a career break due to child care.

  Mr. Hurd
  Home Office recruitment advertisements emphasise that applications will be welcomed regardless of the sex or marital status of candidates, and there are no barriers to mature candidates and those returning to work.
  755
  Recruitment interviewers receive specific training which focuses on the risks of conscious and unconscious discrimination, and how to avoid them.

  Subject to the application of seniority fields for a few grades, promotion in the Home Office is strictly on merit. All promotion board members receive training and are required to follow departmental guidance on fair and non-discriminatory procedures. There are specific arrangements to ensure that members of staff on maternity leave are considered by promotion boards.

  Police (Special Branches)
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers and civilians are serving in, or responsible to, the special branches of the police forces in England and Wales listed by the police force.

  Mr. Hurd
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Brent, East (Mr. Livingstone) on February 29, at column 390, which gives the information that is readily available.

  Detective Inspector Lee Marvin
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his Department was consulted by former Detective Inspector Lee Marvin about his intention to publish his recollections of the cases in which he was involved.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  No.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he proposes to take against Detective Inspector Lee Marvin for publication of information in the Sun newspaper.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend has no power to take action against former police officers who reveal information which was obtained in the course of their police duties. In cases where there appears to have been an offence under the Official Secrets Act, it is for my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General to consider what action should be taken. A retired police officer may also be liable to face an action under the civil law for breach of confidence if he reveals information which was imparted to him in confidence in the course of his police duties.

  Seat Belts
  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have ensued as a result of the failure to wear seat belts in motor vehicles, since it was made compulsory to do so; and how many fines for this offence are currently outstanding in England and Wales.

  Mr. John Patten
  Information on proceedings, findings of guilt and types of sentence imposed at magistrates' courts for offences of driving or riding in a motor vehicle not wearing a seat belt and of driving a motor vehicle with a child in the front not wearing a seat belt is published annually in "Offences Relating to Motor Vehicles England and Wales, Supplementary Tables" (table 5 of the issue for 1986), copies of which are in the Library. Figures for 1987 will be published later this year. Information on the number or amount of fines outstanding for these specific offences is not collected centrally.

  Official Secrets
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take steps to extend to police officers the restrictions presently imposed on security officers in respect of confidentiality and official secrets.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Police officers are already subject to the Official Secrets Act. It is an offence under the Police (Discipline) Regulations 1985 to communicate to any other person without proper authority any information which a police officer has obtained in the course of his police duties.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what restraints exist on publication by former police officers of their memoirs and on reminiscences of details of recent work in which they were involved.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Official Secrets Act continues to apply to retired police officers and, like any other person to whom matters may have been imparted in confidence, a retired police officer may be liable to face an action under the civil law for the consequences of a breach of that confidence.

  Mohammad Anwar
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now answer letters from the hon. Member for Islington, North dated 15 December 1987, 10 February 1988 and 12 July 1988 concerning Mohammad Anwar (A352040); and when Mr. Anwar can expect to hear the outcome of his 1983 and 1985 applications for asylum and residence in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Renton
  I shall write to the hon. Member shortly.

  Javier Antonio Farje Moscoso
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now reply to the letter of 7 July from the hon. Member for Islington, North concerning Javier Antonio Farje Moscoso.

  Mr. Hurd
  I have asked the chief constable of Greater Manchester police for a report on the contents of the letter of 7 July from the hon. Member. The hon. Member will receive a reply as soon as possible.

  Risley Detention Centre (Strip Searches)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many category A prisoners are at present held on remand at Risley detention centre; to how many strip searches they have been subjected in June, giving the number of persons involved, the number of times each person was searched and if any prison contraband, smuggled item or illgal correspondence was discovered in any search, indicating which items; in how many cases prisoners refused to be searched and had to be restrained while a search was being conducted; and what were the reasons for the search under each of the following headings:(a) making a remand appearance at court, (b) attending a trial, (c) inter-prison visit and (d) other reasons.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  On 28 July there were seven inmates on remand at Risley remand centre who had been placed
  757
  in category A. Comprehensive records of strip searches are available only in respect of category A women prisoners, of whom there was one in Risley on the date in question. The records show that this prisoner was strip-searched on three occasions in June—twice in connection with her temporary transfer to another prison, and one at the time of a cell change.

  No unauthorised article was discoverd on any of these occasions. On no occasion did the prisoner refuse to be strip-searched.

  Durham Prison (Strip Searches)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many category A women prisoners there were in Her Majesty's prison, Durham, in June; and how many strip searches were made on these prisoners in that month, indicating strip searches before and after consultation with legal advisers, after visits and after cell changes, wing searches and cell searches, and listing reasons for searches and illegal contraband or smuggled items found.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  During June, there were three category A women prisoners in Durham prison. The number of occasions on which each was strip-searched during the month is shown in the table:

  Inmate A

  Inmate B

  Inmate C

  After legal visits

  —

  —

  —

  After other visits

  2

  1

  1

  At the time of cell changes, and wing and cell searches

  2

  1

  1

  Others

  —

  —

  2

  No unauthorised article was found on any of the three women. I set out the reasons for such searches in my reply to a question from the hon. Member on 15 January at column 446.

  Departmental Advisers (Guidelines)
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when guidelines to his advisers appointed under section 7 of the Prevenion of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1984 came into force; what status they have; and if he will place a copy of those guidelines in the Library.

  Mr. Hurd
  No guidelines have been given to the advisers appointed by the Secretary of State under section 7 of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1984.

  Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1984
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to publish a Bill to replace the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1984.

  Mr. Hurd
  The Government intend to publish proposals for legislation to replace the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1984 later in the life of this Parliament.

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of British citizens 758
  against whom a new exclusion order was made under section 3(5) of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1984 in each year from 1984 to 1988, who were not served with their new order within two weeks of it being made; and how many remain so to be served.

  Mr. Hurd
  I am informed that all exclusion orders made under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1984 between the coming into force of the Act on 22 March 1984 and 31 March 1988, against British citizens not previously excluded, were served within two weeks of being made.

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will describe the procedure currently followed when conducting reviews prior to the expiry date of an exclusion order made under sections 4, 5 and 6 of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1984 to determine whether a new exclusion order should be made under the Act; and what opportunity is offered to the individual concerned to make representations against the new order.

  Mr. Hurd
  One month after an exclusion order is made a letter is sent to the subject of the order explaining that before the order expires, three years from the date it was made, the Secretary of State will consider whether or not to make a further order. The excluded person is invited to inform the Home Office of any change of address during the next three years so that contact can be made when the review is due. Enclosed with the letter is a form which the excluded person may use at any time to give details relevant to the reconsideration of the order; the person is asked whether he is prepared to be interviewed by a police officer as part of the review process. The person is asked to return the form after about two and a half years. If it is not returned, a further form will be sent at that time, and the authorities in Northern Ireland will be asked for help in tracing the person's current address, if necessary.

  If the Secretary of State decides to make a further order, the excluded person, when he is sent the order, is told of his rights under section 7 of the 1984 Act to make representations against the order.

  Leeds Prison (Suicides)
  Mr. Lofthouse
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will order an inquiry into the incidence of suicides at Leeds prison since June 1987.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The prison department undertakes inquiries into all inmate suicides in order to try to prevent future deaths, and coroners' inquests are held on all deaths of prisoners. We do not think that there are any grounds for setting up a formal inquiry into suicides at Her Majesty's prison, Leeds.

  Chief Inspector Brian Woollard
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning the case of chief inspector Brian Woollard; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Chief Inspector Woollard has recently reiterated his request for an independent inquiry into the influences of freemasonry in the Metropolitan police. Several hon. Members have written in support of
  759
  this request, or enclosing letters from constituents expressing concern about Mr. Woollard's treatment. No representations have been received directly from members of the public.

  The Secretary of State has carefully considered Mr. Woollard's request but remains of the opinion that it would be inappropriate to exercise his power under section 32 of the Police Act 1964 to appoint a local inquiry into Mr. Woollard's allegations.

  Mr. Woollard appeared before a disciplinary board on 25 May charged with being absent from duty. He was dismissed from the force. He has appealed against this decision to the Commissioner.

  Vehicles (Metropolitan Police Area)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many vehicles in the Metropolitan police area have been(a) removed and (b) wheel-clamped for each year since 1985.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the figures are as follows:

  Year

  Vehicles removed

  Vehicles wheel-clamped

  1985

  41,531

  34,810

  1986

  44,590

  33,270

  1987

  45,292

  111,032

  1988 (to 15 July)

  48,657

  62,831

  General Evren
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to reply to the hon. Member for Islington, North following his holding answer of 18 July concerning the visit to Britain of General Evren.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I replied to the hon. Member yesterday.

  Emergency Planning (Local Authority Budgets)
  Mr. Gerald Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effects on the efficiency of emergency planning of the reductions proposed in local authority budgets for 1988–89.

  Mr. John Patten
  Local authority bids for civil defence grant aid this year were substantially in excess of the planned provision which had been increased to £21·8 million from £19·4 million in 1987–88. Provisional approvals for expenditure have now been allocated taking account of the 1988–89 provision. These matters are the subject of current discussions with local authorities.

  Motorways (Parked Vehicles)
  Mr. Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what future steps he will take to ensure that the police exercise their duty to clear parked vehicles from motorway hard shoulders.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have no reason to doubt that police forces generally are making every effort to secure the prompt clearance of vehicles from the hard shoulders of 760
  motorways, but if my hon. Friend has any particular case or circumstances in mind, I would be grateful if he would bring this to the attention of the chief officer of the force concerned.

  Neighbourhood Watch Schemes
  Mr. Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he will take to ensure that more neighbourhood watch schemes are instituted; and if he will issue guidelines to chief officers of police on how best to co-operate with the scheme.

  Mr. John Patten
  There are now almost 56,000 neighbourhood watch schemes in England and Wales involving some 3 million households. Nevertheless, there is certainly scope for the further development of the neighbourhood watch concept and for the establishment of new schemes. We believe that schemes are likely to be most effective when they are the product of action by concerned local people. I am pleased therefore that one of the first tasks of Crime Concern, the new independent national crime prevention organisation which was launched on 23 May, will be to promote and support local effort of this kind. We are also currently considering the issue of a guidance note intended to facilitate the establishment of neighbourhood watch schemes.

  Police Officers (Service)
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for City of Durham of 6 July,Official Report, column 591–2, how many of the 2,831 vacancies caused in 1987 by constables leaving the police before completing 30 years' service have been filled; and if he will break down the information by constabulary;

  (2) pursuant to the answer of 6 July, Official Report, column 591–2, how many of the 584 vacancies caused in 1987 by the premature departure of officers at sergeant rank and above have been filled by promotion; and how many of the gaps left in the ranks from which these promotions were made have been filled.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The information is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Police Manpower
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his recently announced increases in police manpower are in every case additional to the new recruits needed to fill the vacancies created by the premature departure of police officers at all ranks.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Yes.

  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing, for each constabulary in England and Wales (a) the numbers of black and Asian officers, (b) this figure as a percentage of total force strength and (c) the numbers of black and Asian officers who have left before completing 30 years.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  There is no central record of the numbers of black and Asian officers who have left police forces before completing 30 years' service. The other information requested is as follows:
  761

  Police force

  Number of black-Asian officers in post 30 June 1988

  Percentage of force strength at 30 June 1988

  Avon and Somerset

  15

  0·50

  Bedfordshire

  27

  2·70

  Cambridgeshire

  19

  1·63

  Cheshire

  1

  0·05

  Cleveland

  4

  0·27

  Cumbria

  1

  0·09

  Derbyshire

  19

  1·06

  Devon and Cornwall

  2

  0·07

  Dorset

  3

  0·24

  Durham

  2

  0·15

  Dyfed·Powys

  0

  0·00

  Essex

  14

  0·51

  Gloucestershire

  8

  0·70

  Greater Manchester

  78

  1·13

  Gwent

  2

  0·20

  Hampshire

  7

  0·23

  Hertfordshire

  17

  1·06

  Humberside

  3

  0·15

  Kent

  15

  0·51

  Lancashire

  7

  0·22

  Leicestershire

  40

  2·29

  Lincolnshire

  1

  0·08

  Merseyside

  31

  0·66

  Norfolk

  0

  0·00

  Northamptonshire

  14

  1·28

  Northumbria

  0

  0·00

  North Wales

  1

  0·08

  North Yorkshire

  1

  0·07

  Nottinghamshire

  38

  1·68

  South Wales

  16

  0·51

  South Yorkshire

  19

  0·65

  Staffordshire

  11

  0·51

  Suffolk

  0

  0·00

  Surrey

  5

  0·30

  Sussex

  7

  0·24

  Thames Valley

  46

  1·30

  Warwickshire

  0

  0·00

  West Mercia

  14

  0·72

  West Midlands

  141

  2·13

  West Yorkshire

  70

  1·35

  Wiltshire

  8

  0·73

  City of London

  1

  0·13

  Metropolitan

  417

  1·51

  Police Officers (Dismissals)
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state, by constabulary, how many police officers of all ranks were dismissed in 1987.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The information is as follows:

  Number

  Avon and Somerset

  1

  Derbyshire

  3

  Essex

  2

  Greater Manchester

  2

  Hampshire

  1

  Lancashire

  2

  Merseyside

  1

  Metropolitan

  15

  Northamptonshire

  1

  North Wales

  1

  South Wales

  3

  Surrey

  1

  Warwickshire

  1

  West Mercia

  1

  West Yorkshire

  1

  Foreign Nationals
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign nationals were arrested in the United Kingdom during 1987, and during 1988 to date.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The information requested is not available.

  Domestic Disputes (Bolton)
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many custodial sentences were made by courts in Bolton for crimes relating to domestic disputes(a) in 1977, (b) in 1987 and (c) during 1988 to date.

  Mr. John Patten
  Information available to the Department on the outcome of criminal court cases does not separately identify crimes relating to domestic disputes.

  Remand Prisoners
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of prisoners currently held on remand, including those prisoners held in police cells; and what proportion this represents of the total prison population.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  On 30 June 1988 there were about 10,800 untried and convicted unsentenced prisoners in prison department establishments in England and Wales. A further 724 prisoners, most of whom would have been on remand, were held in police cells. Including those in police cells, the remand population was about 23 per cent, of the prison population.

  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of prisoners held on remand during the latest available year who were subsequently at trial(a) found innocent and (b) found guilty but not sentenced to a term of imprisonment; and what proportion these figures represent of the total number of prisoners held on remand that year.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The latest available information is given in the following table, updating the information published in table 2.2 of "Prison Statistics, England and Wales 1986" (Cm. 210), copies of which are in the Library.

  Receptions of untried prisoners and convicted unsentenced prisoners during 1986: by outcome of court proceedings

  Outcome

  Number of persons2

  Found not guilty or not proceeded against

  2,800

  Given a non-custodial sentence or freed on rising1

  19,200

  Received under sentence

  33,100

  Ultimate disposal not recorded

  8,400

  Total received

  63,500

  1 Includes hospital orders, guardianship orders and care orders, under some of which the offender is not released into the community but is committed to a non-penal establishment. Persons freed on rising are those who were sentenced to immediate custody of such length that it had already been served on remand.

  2 Rounded estimates.

  763
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of prisoners currently held on remand who have their privileges withheld by the prison officers or authorities.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Prison Population
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was(a) the certified normal prison population and (b) the actual population on the latest available date for Her Majesty's prisons in England and Wales.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  On Friday 22 July, the most recent date for which figures are available, the total certified normal accommodation of Her Majesty's prison establishments in England and Wales was 44,179 and the total population was 49,915. There were additionally 649 prisoners held in police cells.

  Immigration (Carriers' Liability) Act 1987
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many notices of liability to pay a charge have been issued under the Immigration (Carriers' Liability) Act 1987; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  The Immigration (Carriers' Liability) Act 1987 has proved to be an effective deterrent to persons travelling to the United Kingdom with inadequate documentation. Between 5 March 1987, when the Act came into effect, and 30 June 1988 a total of 6,791 notices of liability to pay the £1,000 charge were issued. The decrease in recent months is thought to be due to more effective document checks being made by carriers at ports and airports of embarkation, and to an extensive training programme, which is continuing, arranged by the immigration service.

  Number of notices of liability to pay a charge issued under the Immigration (Carriers' Liability) Act 1987

  Period

  Number

  1987

  5 March to 30 June

  1,594

  July

  898

  August

  658

  September

  587

  October

  425

  November

  324

  December

  367

  1988

  January

  384

  February

  266

  March

  344

  April

  329

  May

  284

  June

  331

  Parliamentary Boundary Commission for England
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to receive the report of the Parliamentary Boundary Commission for England on its next general review.
  764
  Mr. Hurd
  The commission is obliged to report on the whole of England between 1 February 1993 and 31 January 1998. The exact timing and conduct of any review is a matter for the commission.

  However, I understand that, at present, the commission hopes to submit a report to me as early as it can within the statutory period, providing there are no unforeseen delays.

  Complaints
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the practice of public bodies for which he is responsible, other than the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board, with regard to issuing to complainants, with an acknowledgement of their complaint, a printed card telling them not to write or phone to check on the progress of their complaint since this will slow its progress; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hurd
  [holding answer 22 July 1988]: The Criminal Injuries Compensation Board is the only public body for which I am responsible to adopt this practice.

TRANSPORT

  Departmental Recruitment and Promotion Policy
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he has implemented to ensure that recruitment and promotion policy in his Department does not directly or indirectly discriminate against applicants who were mature students or women returning to work following a career break due to child care.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Women are encouraged to return to work by arrangements for reinstatement and by the availability of part-time working, job sharing and special leave for domestic reasons.

  The Department has a policy of fair and open competition in recruitment and promotion. The only upper age limit for new entrants recruited directly by the Department is that they need to be able to give five years' service before retirement. Staff are not normally selected for promotion within two years of retirement.

  Motorways (Repair)
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of motorway have been repaired for each of the last five years; at what cost; and if he will list the number of miles by motorway and express the figures as a percentage of the total number of miles for each motorway.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The table shows the miles of motorway planned for renewal in each of the years from 1984–85 to 1987–88, and the percentages which these are of the length maintained. Costs for major maintenance are also given (outturn for 1984–85 and 1985–86 and allocated total figures for 1986–87 and 1987–88). Information for 1983–84 is not readily available.

  Renewal is generally associated with major maintenance schemes. Other maintenance work is also carried out on motorways. For 1987–88 £34 million was allocated to such work.
  765

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  Total

  Renewal as percentage of road length

  M1

  19·7

  14·6

  22·4

  19·9

  76·6

  41

  M2

  3·4

  2·1

  4·9

  1·8

  12·2

  49

  M3

  3·5

  —

  1·0

  1·5

  6·0

  12

  M4

  7·9

  4·8

  4·5

  4·9

  22·1

  19

  M5

  6·6

  11·5

  6·9

  7·9

  32·9

  18

  M6

  17·7

  10·2

  11·3

  12·7

  51·9

  22

  M10

  —

  —

  —

  0·3

  0·3

  10

  M11

  —

  —

  —

  0·3

  0·3

  0·5

  M18

  —

  4·2

  4·9

  4·2

  13·3

  51

  M20

  —

  0·7

  1·8

  3·4

  5·9

  16

  M25

  —

  2·7

  3·6

  —

  6·3

  5

  M27

  —

  —

  —

  2·3

  2·3

  7

  M40

  3·5

  —

  —

  3·2

  6·7

  22

  M50

  3·1

  —

  2·2

  1·8

  7·1

  32

  M56

  —

  —

  2·2

  4·4

  6·6

  20

  M62

  12·1

  14·3

  12·0

  9·9

  48·3

  46

  M66

  —

  —

  —

  2·4

  2·4

  27

  A1(M)

  2·5

  4·9

  2·3

  3·1

  12·8

  7

  Total

  80

  70

  80

  84

  314

  Cost (£m)

  192

  72

  83

  94

  1Includes an element for repairs to highway structures where these were carried out in conjunction with carriageway maintenance.

  Midland Metro(Exhibition)
  Mr. Grylls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department has considered an application for an exhibition relating to Midland Metro to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

  Mr. Portillo
  I understand that arrangements have been made with the authorities of the House for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from 19 December to 23 December.

  Road Accident Statistics
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what number and what percentage of all accidents on motorways for each of the last five years involved coaches; and how many were caused by coaches exceeding the speed limit.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The table shows the number and percentage of all accidents involving coaches on motorways for each of the last five years. The 1987 data are provisional but are unlikely to change. The accident report form used by the police does not record whether any of these coaches were exceeding the speed limit.

  Accidents involving coaches on motorways: Great Britain: 1983–87

  Year

  Number of accidents involving coaches

  As percentage of all accidents

  Per cent

  1983

  82

  2·1

  1984

  94

  2·1

  1985

  102

  2·2

  1986

  83

  1·6

  1987

  114

  2·1

  766
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many fatalities have occured on motorways in each of the last five years in accidents involving coaches; and if he will list the figures by motorway.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The information requested is given in the table. The motorways listed are those with at least one fatality in any of the five years. The 1987 data are provisional but are unlikely to change.

  Fatalities on Motorways in accidents involving coaches:

  Great Britain—1983–87

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  M1

  5

  1

  —

  4

  4

  M2

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  M4

  4

  —

  2

  —

  4

  M5

  6

  2

  —

  —

  —

  M6

  1

  3

  19

  1

  3

  M11

  —

  1

  —

  —

  3

  M27

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  M61

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  M62

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  M74

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  M621

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  A1M

  1

  —

  2

  —

  —

  Total

  18

  10

  25

  7

  14

  Heavy Lorries
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the current level of heavy goods vehicles on roads in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The overall stock of heavy goods vehicles in the United Kingdom rose by 2 per cent, to stand at 459,000 at the end of 1987. The proportion of 38-tonne articulated vehicles—first introduced in 1983—within this stock is now about 10 per cent., these numbers having risen 20 per cent, in 1987. These vehicles, however, account for 40 per cent, of goods moved by HGVs and for over 20 per cent, of goods lifted.

  It is estimated that the introduction of 38-tonne vehicles since 1983 has led to a saving of nearly 8,000 other HGVs that would have been required to cope with the current level of haulage activity.

  Her Majesty's Coastguard
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the auxiliary coastguards hours allocation for(a) training and (b) patrol and other duties for each sector in the Swansea region of the coastguard service in 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88 and 1988–89, together with the reasons for any variations in the hours allocated; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  It has not been possible to analyse figures satisfactorily before 1987–88 as requested but totals are provided.

  Refinements in projecting the requirement for auxiliary hours, various reorganisations and changes in numbers borne, prevent absolute comparisons being made between the years specified.

  The allocations for 1988–89 have been based on the actual outturn for 1987–88, allowing for anticipated changes. It will be seen that the latter figures differ, in some cases markedly, from the allocations originally made for that year for the reasons given.
  767
  It will be seen that the total planned usage of auxiliaries in the Swansea region for 1988–89 is almost identical to the outturn for the previous year.

  Most sectors are expected to maintain or increase the hours devoted to training, which are closely related to the

  Auxiliary hours allocation—Swansea region

  Sector

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  Hours used 1987–88

  1988–89

  Solway

  4,300

  2,970

  3,300

  a

  940

  a

  960

  b

  2,400

  b

  2,400

  South Cumbria

  2,800

  1,900

  2,300

  a

  1,115

  a

  1,100

  b

  2,784

  b

  2,784

  Fylde

  3,200

  2,300

  2,600

  a

  850

  a

  800

  b

  2,400

  b

  2,400

  Merseyside

  1,500

  1,050

  1,240

  a

  672

  a

  600

  b

  1,344

  b

  1,344

  Clwyd

  2,990

  2,786

  2,707

  a

  460

  a

  840

  b

  1,550

  b

  1,200

  Anglesey

  3,470

  4,453

  3,671

  a

  1,015

  a

  1,200

  b

  2,250

  b

  1,340

  Menai

  3,380

  5,120

  3,584

  a

  1,050

  a

  1,272

  b

  2,250

  b

  1,320

  Dwyfor

  3,558

  3,464

  4,258

  a

  830

  a

  1,200

  b

  2,245

  b

  2,400

  South Gwynedd

  3,080

  3,020

  1,975

  a

  278

  a

  672

  b

  740

  b

  600

  North Dyfed

  3,080

  3,020

  1,975

  a

  502

  a

  798

  b

  964

  b

  600

  Preseli

  3,080

  3,020

  1,975

  a

  690

  a

  966

  b

  972

  b

  600

  Milford Haven

  3,080

  3,020

  1,975

  a

  850

  a

  903

  b

  877

  b

  600

  South Pembrokeshire

  3,080

  3,020

  1,975

  a

  612

  a

  861

  b

  982

  b

  600

  Gower

  2,692

  2,624

  1,590

  a

  1,004

  a

  1,004

  b

  630

  b

  630

  Ogmore

  2,010

  1,968

  1,286

  a

  763

  a

  763

  b

  566

  b

  566

  Gwent

  2,692

  2,624

  1,590

  a

  1,004

  a

  1,004

  b

  630

  b

  630

  Avon

  2,692

  2,624

  1,590

  a

  1,004

  a

  1,004

  b

  630

  b

  630

  Somerset

  1,689

  1,789

  1,672

  a

  911

  a

  720

  b

  591

  b

  700

  North Devon

  5,578

  4,284

  3,960

  a

  1,051

  a

  760

  b

  1,969

  b

  2,100

  Hartland

  3,965

  3,587

  3,405

  a

  1,184

  a

  1,120

  b

  1,806

  b

  2,260

  London Underground(Escalator)
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many of the 37 London Underground escalators reported as out of service on 4 January are now working; and how many escalators were, at the latest available date, out of service and undergoing repairs.

  Mr. Portillo
  The performance of escalators is a matter for the board of London Underground Limited.

  Driving Licences
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people have had their applications to renew their driving licences refused on medical grounds relating to(a) depression and (b) other reasons; and how many appeals against such refusals were successful for each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The only analysis of medical conditions in connection with ordinary driving licences
  768
  number of individuals in the companies. However, there is also an element of training in patrol duties which it has not been possible to identify separately.

  It should also be noted that the figures do not show operational deployments, which are additional and demand led.

  was obtained from a survey undertaken in May 1987. The analysis found that 4 per cent, of medical cases were due to psychiatric conditions; 4 per cent, of the 211,151 medical cases received in 1987–88 is about 8,400. There are no figures specifically for depression.

  No details are available about successful appeals by condition. The figures show the number of successful appeals for all conditions in each of the last 10 years.

  Year

  Number

  1978

  5

  1979

  3

  1980

  2

  1981

  2

  1982

  2

  1983

  0

  1984

  0

  1985

  4

  1986

  3

  1987

  6

  London City Airport
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Stockton, South (Mr. Devlin), 9 November 1987,Official Report, column 82, on what grounds tests were allowed at London City airport of a BAe 146 aircraft on 24 July; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  This is a matter for the planning authority.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Stockton, South (Mr. Devlin), of 9 November,Official Report, column 82, if he will make available details of the permitted noise levels which rule out the use of BAe 146 aircraft at London City airport; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  In summary, maximum permitted aircraft noise levels at London City airport are:

  EPNdB)

  Take-off (sideline)

  84

  Fly-over (6500m, from start of take-off run)

  81

  Approach

  92

  The planning conditions allow limited trade-off among these levels.

  Full details are given in the planning decision letter of 23 May 1985, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Commuters
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate, for each year since 1979, of the numbers of London commuters travelling by(a) rail, (b) underground and (c) bus per day in and out of central London.

  Mr. Portillo
  Information on central London commuter traffic is published by the Department in "Transport Statistics Great Britain 1976–1986." A copy is in the Library. Estimates of the number of passengers entering London by rail, underground and bus during the morning peak period are given in table 1.4

  Greater Manchester
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what correspondence he has received from the chairman of the Greater Manchester passenger transport authority in connection with the statement concerning planned expenditure made by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the noble Lord Brabazon of Tara, in the House of Lords on 30 June,Official Report, columns 1809–1813; what reply he intends to give; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State received a letter from Councillor Harkin on this subject dated 5 July. My noble Friend replied on 12 July.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give details of the(a) existing and (b) proposed procedures for the transportation of nuclear waste in Greater Manchester; and if he will make a statement.
  770
  Mr. Portillo
  Movements of all radioactive materials, in Greater Manchester as elsewhere, must comply with stringent international safety regulations. These ensure that the design of the containers prevents any radiation risk even in the event of a severe accident.

  HMS Invincible (Antiquities)
  Mr. Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received concerning the disposal of antiquities recovered from the wreck of the warship Invincible, what steps he has taken to ensure that such disposals conform to his policy as outlined on 8 March,Official Report, column 155, together with the conditions under which the excavation of this wreck was licensed by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State met a delegation on 11 July led by my right hon. Friend the Member for Woking (Mr. Onslow) and representations have also been made by the British Archaeological Trust.

  The licence granted by my Department under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973 provides:

  (a)that diving operations within the designated area are to be carried out in accordance with plans agreed by the Advisory Committee on Historic Wreck Sites and under the overall direction of the project's archaeological director;

  (b)and that all artefacts recovered are to be given immediate preservative treatment in accordance with the advice of a named expert.

  Disposal of artefacts recovered is subject to the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Act 1894 and cannot be the subject of conditions attached to a licence issued under the 1973 Act.

  M6 (Traffic Delays)
  Mr. Waller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what were the causes of the severe congestion and delays to traffic on the northbound carriageway of the M6 motorway between junctions 6 and 23 on the afternoon of 8 July.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  I refer to my reply to the hon. Member for Newport, East (Mr. Hughes) yesterday.

  Chapel-en-le-Frith/Whaley Bridge Bypass
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, with respect to the A6 Chapel-en-le-Frith/Whaley Bridge bypass, he will give details of(a) the contract price, (b) the amount already paid to Tarmac, (c) the final and latest claim submitted by Tarmac, (d) the intitial report of the consultants concerning potential special geological conditions and (e) the name of the consultants; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  (a) The tender sum was £17·03 million. The contract was subject to remeasurement and included a contract price fluctuation (CPF) clause to allow for inflation. About £3 million has been paid in accordance with CPF.

  (b)The amount certified to date for payment to Tarmac Construction Ltd. is £33·66 million.

  (c)The outstanding claims for additional payments are commercial matters between the Department and the contractor until they have been settled.
  771
  (d)Various consultants' reports were prepared in the period leading to construction. Together with the borehole records from the ground investigation surveys, these reports can be inspected, by arrangement, at the Department's east midlands regional office in Nottingham.

  (e)Consulting engineers Scott Wilson Kirkpatrick and Partners took over the preparation of the scheme in 1981 following the disbandment of the Derbyshire county council sub unit of the midland road construction unit.

  Pre-construction ground investigations and consultants reports did identify the complex nature of the geology along the line of the bypass. Particularly localised areas of unexpected ground conditions were encountered during construction. These resulted in extra works or a change of design.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will establish an inquiry into the cost escalation on the contract for the A6 Chapel-en-le-Frith/Whaley Bridge bypass.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Procedures before and after the submission of the final account and the Government's normal accounting controls will ensure that the reasons for the overspend are examined and that any defects or deficiencies are identified.

  Traffic Speed (London)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give his estimate of average traffic speed in central London for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Surveys of average traffic speed in central London are conducted at three-yearly intervals. Available results since 1979 are as follows:

  Average traffic speed in central London kilometres per hour1

  Morning peak period

  1980

  19·4

  (12·1)

  1983

  18·9

  (11·8)

  1986

  18·4

  (11·5)

  Daytime off-peak period

  1980

  18·6

  (11·6)

  1983

  19·0

  (11·9)

  1986

  17·6

  (11·0)

  Evening peak period

  1980

  19·5

  (12·2)

  1983

  18·4

  (11·5)

  1986

  17·6

  (11·0)

  1 Figures in brackets refer to speed in miles per hour.

  Detailed results of the most recent survey are published in Department of Transport statistics bulletin (87)41. A copy is in the Library.

  Road Studies (London)
  Mr. Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he is proposing to make generally available to the public the consultants' reports on the four London road studies.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  As I said on 27 June, at column 122, copies of the consultants' working papers can be purchased from them. Free leaflets summarising the options are also available from the consultants.
  772
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the total cost of London road assessment studies from 1984 to date; and what is the projected further spending

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The total cost of stage 1 of the studies was about £3 million. It is estimated that stage 2, which began last December, will cost approximately £4 million to complete.

  Additionally there is the cost of answering the hon. Member's 31 questions.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish all representations made to his Department in respect of the London assessment studies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  No.

  It would not be practical to publish all representations made to the Department on the London assessment studies. Since the studies commenced in November 1984 we have received representations about various aspects of the studies from local authority associations, London planning advisory committee, individual boroughs, national and local groups and members of the public.

  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 21 July, at columns 792–93,about the most recent representations I have received from the Association of London Authorities.

  Lorry Ban (London)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many prosecutions have been made for violation of the London lorry ban in the last year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The London lorry ban is the responsibility of the London boroughs. The Department is not informed of prosecutions against violators of the ban.

  Gillespie and Isleton Road Sidings
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has been approached by British Rail for assent to dispose of Gillespie sidings and Isleton road sidings at Finsbury Park station; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  No. Our policy is for BR to dispose of all surplus land as rapidly as possible. These are commercial matters for BR, and no specific approvals are required from us.

  Toll Roads (London)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to approve schemes for toll roads in London; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  No.

  Some of the preliminary options developed by the consultants for the London assessment studies include ideas for toll roads. We will consider all their suggestions when the consultants have completed their work.

  We have also received a suggestion which we are considering from Costain for a tolled road tunnel under the Thames.

  British Rail
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last met the chairman of British Rail; and what issues were discussed.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last met the chairman of British Rail; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Portillo
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State last met the chairman of British Rail on 27 July. A variety of railway matters were discussed.

  Head Restraints
  Mr. Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will consider introducing legislation for the compulsory fitment of head restraints in all motor vehicles; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We will review whether head restraints should be a compulsory fitment in the light of current discussions on improvements in the present EC standard for restraints.

  It is important to secure these improvements first, because we are bound to permit restraints approved to EC or UN ECE standards.

  The main improvement we are seeking is to increase the height requirement of restraints. This would apply the benefits to a greater number of occupants. Under the present standard the benefits apply mainly only to shorter people.

  Singificant progress was made in June when our proposal to increase the height requirement was well supported by other European Governments. In the meantime I would urge manufacturers to provide restraints meeting our proposed new height requirement as soon as possible in order to maximise the benefits to road safety.

  Vehicle Clamping
  Mr. Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what further areas of London will be included in the clamping and towing away policy; what percentage of clamping is carried out on diplomatic cars; and whether any other cities are applying to use these restrictions.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Applications for further clamping areas have been received from a number of London boroughs and my right hon. Friend is considering them. No formal applications have been received from local authorities outside London.

  Police have powers to remove illegally parked vehicles from any road in Great Britain.

  Clamping of vehicles used by persons entitled to full diplomatic immunity would be in breach of the Vienna convention on diplomatic relations. Statistics on the clamping of diplomatic vehicles not protected by this convention are not readily available.

  Motorways (Direction Signs)
  Mr. Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will consider a programme of replacement of roadside motorway direction signs, with overhead gantry signs, at selected accident black spots; and if he will make a statement.
  774
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We are adding a number of gantry signs.

  The Department has published standard criteria for signs on gantries (Departmental standard TD 18/85). They include situations where such mounting is likely to improve safety. The circumstances at each site need to be carefully assessed, taking economic and environmental as well as safety considerations into account, to devise the best solution.

  The Department has commissioned further research into the question of sign obscuration and the current standard will be revised if the results so justify.

  Motorway Driving Tests
  Mr. Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he is considering the introduction of motorway driving tests in the light of the suggestion by the Institute of Advanced Motorists; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  I share with the institute the view that all motorists are well-advised to take lessons on motorway driving before venturing on to a motorway for the first time.

  Road Improvement Schemes
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to ensure that the continuation of the Government's programme of schemes to improve the motorway and trunk road network will be complemented by provision to catch up the maintenance backlog by 1992.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We regularly review our programme. We shall consider the implications of the rephasing of capital maintenance announced in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Hornchurch (Mr. Squire) on 20 June.

  Departmental Programmes
  Mr. George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been spent by his Department in each of the past five years on the evaluation of departmental programmes; and what proportion this constitutes of(a) the amount allocated for evaluation and (b) the Department's total budget.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  [holding answer 28 July 1988]: Responsibility for the evaluation of programmes is delegated to 70 programme managers, within central guidelines, and forms part of the work itself. It is not possible to identify separately the resources involved.

HEALTH

  Trent Regional Health Authority
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the difference in cash terms between Trent regional health authority's current percentage of resource allocation working party allocations and the full resource working party allocation.

  Mrs. Currie
  In 1988–89, Trent regional health authority's total revenue allocation (before additional funds were allocated for the review body pay awards) was

  775
  £1,061 million. This included a revenue RAWP allocation of £1,010 million, which was 2·7 per cent, of £28 million below the region's current RAWP target share of the available resources.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects the Trent regional health authority to receive 100 per cent, of its resource allocation working party allocation.

  Mrs. Currie
  The long term (10-year) resource assumptions issued to regions in 1983 were aimed at bringing all regions to around 100 per cent, of their RAWP targets by 1993–94. Considerable progress has already been made. Ministers will continue to give careful thought to the pace of change in deciding on Regions' annual allocation.

  The Government will also consider, within the context of the wider review of the National Health Service, the recent report from the National Health Service Management Board on the review of the RAWP formula, which recommends a number of changes in the calculation of regional targets.

  NHS Finance
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if his Department collects from regional health authorities information on any National Health Service reductions due to financial restraint on district health authorities.

  Mrs. Currie
  The Department is informed of all substantial proposed changes to services which require formal public consultation and via the new Körner information systems receives quarterly data on key items such as activity and available bed days.

  Cholesterol
  Mr. Bell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether his Department has at any time in the last 12 months investigated the likely number of people with blood cholesterol levels in excess of the 5·2 mmol/l European consensus recommended guidelines; and what plans he has for further similar investigations;

  (2) what measures his Department has taken to encourage screening for cholesterol both in hospitals and by general medical practitioners.

  Mrs. Currie
  A number of independent academic studies have been carried out, including a major blood cholesterol study of more than 12,000 men and women aged 25 to 59 in four British cities. This showed mean cholesterol concentrations of 5·9 and 5·8 mmol/l in men and women respectively. The Department has recently concluded a dietary and nutritional survey of adults, in conjunction with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, which included examination of blood cholesterol levels, and the data collected are now being examined; the Departments will be considering the need for further such surveys. It is now widely accepted that a high blood cholesterol level is an important risk factor in relation to heart disease. In my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Swindon (Mr. Coombs) on 26 July, I announced that the Standing Medical Advisory Committee has been invited to advise on the cost-effectiveness of cholesterol testing.

  Promotion Monitoring
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services by whom promotion board monitoring studies are being carried out; when such studies are expected to be completed; and whether he will then place a copy of such results in the Library.

  Mrs. Currie
  Two studies have been commissioned from the office of the Minister for the Civil Service into aspects of promotion procedures and monitoring.

  The reports are due shortly and will be considered then.

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how, where and when specific developmental training for women from HEO grade and above is provided.

  Mrs. Currie
  Training is provided in the social security regional organisation through the course "Women in management", held at various locations which is run regularly. Women working in other parts of the Department may attend the Civil Service college course "Management development for women" at Sunningdale.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services by whom review of the development of equal opportunity training is being carried out by his Department; when he expects that review to be completed; and whether he will then place a copy of the results of that review in the Library.

  Mrs. Currie
  I shall write to the hon. and learned Member.

  Physiotherapists
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many physiotherapists are currently employed by the National Health Service; and how many of these are members of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.

  Mrs. Currie
  At 30 September 1986, 11,260 physiotherapists were employed either full or part-time in the NHS in England. Information about membership of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists is not collected centrally by the Department and I would suggest that the hon. Member contact the society direct.

  Mortality Rates
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make it his policy to publish as a matter of routine figures for mortality rates(a) generally, and (b) in hospitals by regional health authority.

  Mrs. Currie
  The Office of Population Censuses and Surveys publishes routinely, through Her Majesty's Stationery Office, many tables giving mortality rates, for example(a) by cause, sex and age group for England and for Wales separately in "Mortality Statistics series DH1" table 13, and for England and Wales in "Mortality Statistics, cause series DH2" table 4., (b) by sex for all regional and district health authorities in "Key population and vital statistics: local and health authority areas" table 4·2, (c) by selected cause for infant deaths by regional

  777
  health authority in "Mortality Statistics childhood series DH3" table 17, (d) by social class, age of mother and parity for regional health authorities for stillbirths, perinatal deaths, neonatal deaths, post-neonatal deaths and infant deaths in "Mortality statistics perinatal and infant: social and biological factors series DH3" tables 7a, 7b and 7c. Copies of all of these publications are available in the Library.

  The content of published material is reviewed from time to time, and the OPCS makes available to customers data from unpublished tables. The OPCS can also provide, cost and resources permitting, special computer tabulations from its mortality data.

  The OPCS makes available to all regional health authorities extracts of mortality data on magnetic tape for their own region.

  There are currently no plans in the OPCS to publish mortality rates derived from the registration of deaths for deaths occurring in hospitals by regional health authority.

  Health Authorities
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans his Department has for changes in the present structure of health authorities.

  Mrs. Currie
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Erith and Crayford (Mr. Evennett) on 12 July at column 160

  Crown Immunity
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has any plans to remove Crown immunity from hospital incinerators and boiler plants.

  Mrs. Currie
  The National Health Service no longer has Crown immunity from the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 which includes provisions bearing on the operation of incinerators and boiler houses. New controls on incinerator emissions were proposed in the consultation paper "Air Pollution Control in Great Britain", issued in December 1986. A best practical means standard for the application of the controls to NHS incinerators is currently in preparation for inclusion in regulations which are expected to be made in 1989. We are not proposing that the National Health Service should have Crown immunity from these regulations.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of parliamentary questions to him tabled in the last complete parliamentary Session were not answered on the grounds of disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Scott
  Less than 2 per cent.

  Infant Mortality
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on infant mortality following the publication of the report by the working party established by the chief medical officer into the increase in infant mortality in 1986.

  Mrs. Currie
  Provisional figures for 1987 show a rate of infant mortality (the death rate for babies under 1 year) for England of 9·1 per thousand live births, which is the lowest ever recorded.
  778
  The figure for 1986, at 9·5 per thousand live births showed a slight increase compared to the previous year. Ministers asked the chief medical officer and the OPCS to inquire further with the assistance of expert advisers.

  The studies so far show that the increase in infant mortality occurred in the post-neonatal period (ie between 28 days and 1 year of age). It occurred across all social classes, ages, parity of mother and legitimacy. The increase was predominantly among male infants, with some bias towards children of parents in social class 1. It was probably associated with the unusually severe cold snap which occurred in February 1986.

  As regards cause of death, most of the increase was attributed to sudden infant death syndrome. An accompanying fall in the number of deaths ascribed to diseases of the respiratory system probably reflects a continued trend to report more of such deaths as sudden infant death syndrome. The detailed analysis of the 1986 figures is continuing. Other research work into the nature of sudden infant death syndrome is under way in universities and by voluntary organisations.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish a table showing infant mortality by sex broken down into the months of the year for the latest year available.

  Mrs. Currie
  The information is shown in the table.

  Infant mortality (deaths under one year of age) by month of occurrence, England and Wales 19861

  Month

  Sex

  Number of deaths

  January

  male

  352

  female

  260

  February

  male

  374

  female

  237

  March

  male

  336

  female

  264

  April

  male

  278

  female

  204

  May

  male

  311

  female

  224

  June

  male

  264

  female

  190

  July

  male

  261

  female

  199

  August

  male

  291

  female

  178

  September

  male

  281

  female

  192

  October

  male

  294

  female

  205

  November

  male

  322

  female

  197

  December

  male

  338

  female

  234

  Note:

  These will include deaths occurring in 1986 but registered up to the end of March 1987.

  1 Provisional.

  Pharmaceutical Inspectors
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the region covered by each pharmaceutical inspector; how many are currently in post; how many vacancies there are in the pharmaceutical inspectorate; what has been the total number of establishment posts by year from 1979 to 1987 and the number of staff in post by region; how many prosecutions have been taken out in each of these years and with what results; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  This information is not available in the Department. The hon. Member may wish to inquire of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain at 1 Lambeth high street London SE1 3JN.

  Child Abuse
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his Department's latest estimates of the incidence of child abuse, against males and females as a percentage of the age groups(a) under five, (b) five to 10 years, (c) 11 to 15 years and (d) over 15 years, in England and Wales; and what information he has on the social class of victims in each group.

  Mrs. Currie
  I understand that the NSPCC, from a sample covering areas including about 9 per cent, of the children in England and Wales, estimates that 25,670 children were added to child protection registers in England and Wales in 1987 because of child abuse.

  Child abuse statistics have not previously been collected centrally by the Department. We announced on 9 July 1987 that arrangements would be made for the annual collection of national statistics on child abuse. The Department is carrying out a survey for the year ending 31 March 1988. It is planned to publish some provisional results from the survey later this year.

  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many children were admitted to hospital in Cleveland between 1 May and 9 July 1987 on suspicion of sexual abuse; how many prosecutions have been brought or are pending in respect of these suspicions; what has been the outcome of the prosecutions heard to date; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) how many children removed between 1 May and 9 July 1987 from home under care orders have been returned home with no supervision order by the social services department in Cleveland; of those returned home with supervision orders, how many are voluntary and at the request of the parents; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  I regret that the information requested is not available centrally. Appendix D to the report of the inquiry into child abuse in Cleveland 1987 (Cm 412) contains some information which my hon. Friend may find helpful.

  Nursing
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will place a copy of the following reports in the Library:(a) nursing in London study, (b) regional health authority leavers survey (1 July to 30 September 1987), (c) nursing career development project report, (d) nursing retention and recruitment by Price Waterhouse and (e) the wastage rates in nurse training report.
  780
  Mrs. Currie
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Organ Donors
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if decisions have yet been reached on the allocation of funding for publicity to improve donor supply from the £250,000 central budget announced on 3 June.

  Mrs. Currie
  We anticipate that funds in 1988–89 will be allocated in roughly equal proportions between publicity directed towards the general public and material aimed at relevant hospital staff. Officials are consulting interested parties about the specific projects which should be funded; decisions have not yet been taken on all items of expenditure. The level of donated organs continues to run well above 1987 levels.

  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is ready to produce guidelines to regional health authorities for the identification of potential organ donors and the setting up of an audit of brain stem dead patients, as recommended by the Royal College of Physicians working party on donor supply.

  Mrs. Currie
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to him on 26 July.

  "Promoting Better Health"
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on his Department's progress to date in achieving the targets set out in the White Paper, "Promoting Better Health".

  Mrs. Currie
  Detailed discussions on implementing the improvements in primary health care set out in the White Paper "Promoting Better Health" are now well under way with representatives of the professions concerned. Announcements will be made in due course.

  Nurses' Homes
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many nurses' homes have been(a) closed and (b) sold in each regional health authority area in each year since 1979.

  Mrs. Currie
  Information specific to the closure and sale of nurses' homes is not routinely collected.

  Nurse Prescribing
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the remit, membership and timetable of his Department's working group on nurse prescribing; and what work it has carried out since its establishment.

  Mrs. Currie
  The group will advise the Secretary of State for Health, after consultation with the Standing Medical Advisory Committee, the Standing Nursing and Midwifery Advisory Committee and the Standing Pharmaceutical Advisory Committee, on the professional and ethical issues of prescribing by nurses. It is chaired by Dr. June M. Crown of Bloomsbury health authority and contains a representative of the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing and Midwifery and two representatives of each of the professional standing advisory committees mentioned above.
  781
  The group met for the first time on 19 July to discuss its terms of reference, methods of working and information needs. It will meet again on 7 September and thereafter at monthly intervals. It will report to my right hon. and learned Friend by 1 June 1989.

  Doctors (Generic Antibiotics)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on progress in encouraging doctors to prescribe generic antibiotics; and what guidance and training are available to doctors in this respect.

  Mrs. Currie
  We encourage doctors to prescribe all drugs generically. All doctors are taught to use generic names during their undergraduate training and professional and other independent publications normally refer to drugs by their generic title.

  Particular therapeutic categories are not singled out for special attention. Statistics derived from prescriptions of drugs dispensed by community pharmacists show that the percentage of all prescriptions written generically in England has risen from 20 per cent, in 1977 to 39 per cent, in 1987. Figures for antibiotics only are not readily available.

  Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many medical physicists are currently employed at the Royal Devon and Exeter hospital; how many were employed on 12 February; what are their grades; and to what extent this staffing complement complies with recommended norms.

  Mrs. Currie
  There are currently eight medical physicists employed at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, and eight were employed on 12 February 1988. The table shows their grades and areas of work.

  Area of work/Grade

  Top

  Principal

  Senior

  Basic

  Radiation Physics

  —

  1

  3

  —

  Medical Electronics

  —

  1

  1

  —

  Clinical Measurements

  1

  —

  1

  vacancy

  It is for the health authority to determine staffing levels in the light of local needs.

  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services under what exact circumstances the observation of side effects in patients receiving radiotherapy at the Royal Devon and Exeter hospital occurred.

  Mrs. Currie
  It is not unusual for some patients to develop side effects as a result of radiation treatment. A staff nurse, engaged in examining these patients at the Royal Devon and Exeter hospital, noticed that a small number had delayed healing of skin lesions.

  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, after a medical physicist has set a cobalt source such as that used for radiotherapy at the Royal Devon and Exeter hospital, it must be examined and checked by another medical physicist.

  Mrs. Currie
  As I said in answer to questions arising on this matter in the House on 25 July at columns 25–29,782
  current recommended procedures are set out in guidance on the use of ionising radiation. I have asked the Health and Safety Executive to check that the guidance is being followed and to advise me whether any further action is necessary.

  X-ray Equipment
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when the guidance on the use of X-ray equipment, to which the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member of Derbyshire, South (Mrs. Currie), referred on 25 July,Official Report, column 29, was sent out; and to whom it was sent.

  Mrs. Currie
  The guidance to which I referred was "Guidance Notes for the Protection of Persons Against Ionising Radiations Arising from Medical and Dental Use". The document replaced the "Code of Practice for the Protection of Persons Against Ionising Radiations arising from Medical and Dental Use", first published in 1957. The last revision of the code was in 1972, and guidance to similar effect was given in that publication.

  Copies of the guidance notes—the result of a joint initiative by the National Radiological Protection Board, the Health Departments and the Health and Safety Executive—were distributed to all regional medical officers and radiation protection advisers, as well as all general managers of regional health authorities, district health authorities, and special health authorities for the London postgraduate teaching hospitals on 5 May 1988. A copy is in the Library.

  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will be seeking any information on X-ray equipment inventories in the private health care sector beyond that to be made available to him under the Ionising Radiations (Protection of Persons Undergoing Medical Examination) Regulations to monitor the appropriateness of that equipment and the extent of the X-ray exposures which will result from the use.

  Mrs. Currie
  Inspectors of the Health and Safety Executive during the course of normal inspections will wish to satisfy themselves that X-ray equipment meets the requirements of regulation 33(1) of the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1985—namely, that it should be of such design and construction and so installed and maintained as to be capable of restricting, so far as reasonably practicable, the exposure to ionising radiations of any person undergoing a medical exposure to the extent that this is compatible with the clinical purpose in view.

  Inventories kept under regulations 9 of the Ionising Radiation (Protection of Persons Undergoing Medical Examination or Treatment) Regulations 1988 will assist in this matter.

  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what procedures he intends to adopt to monitor the appropriateness of X-ray equipment acquisition in the private health sector and to monitor the extent of X-ray exposures which result from that equipment;

  (2) if he intends to take any steps to discourage unnecessary proliferation of equipment for X-ray diagnosis in the private health care sector.

  Mrs. Currie
  Private health care organisations are independent bodies and may acquire what X-ray
  783
  equipment they require. All users of X-ray equipment are subject to the provisions of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and related legislation.

  District health authorities have a general responsibility to ensure that medical, surgical and nursing equipment in private nursing homes and hospitals is adequately maintained. As part of this responsibility, they must inspect each establishment at least twice a year.

  The Ionising Radiations Regulations 1985 put a duty on employers to appoint a radiation protection adviser whose functions include the monitoring of X-ray equipment. The Ionising Radiations (Protections of Persons undergoing Medical Examination or Treatment) Regulations 1988 require employers to keep records of such equipment.

  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the rate of replacement of obsolete X-ray equipment in the National Health Service.

  Mrs. Currie
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen) on 4 February 1988 at column 741.

  Scientists
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will revert to the pre-1980 practice of linking the salaries of National Health Service graduate scientists with scientists in the Civil Service; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  Negotiations in the National Health Service are based on the need to recruit and retain suitable staff at rates that can be afforded.

  Consultants
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many consultants are currently in receipt of merit awards; what has been the total cost of merit awards per year since 1979; and what are the criteria for awarding pensionable increases in salary levels as merit awards.

  Mrs. Currie
  The number of consultants and community physicians in receipt of distinction awards on 31 December 1987 in England and Wales was 5,604.

  The total cost of distinction awards authorised for each year since 1979 is as follows (figures are from 1 April in each year).

  £ million

  1979

  20

  1980

  29

  1981

  31·1

  1982

  33·5

  1983

  37·1

  1984

  40·8

  1985

  45·5

  1986

  50·8

  1987

  56·5

  The actual amount payable in each year is somewhat less, because part-time practitioners receive a proportion of the award only. In 1987, we estimated that some 86·3 per cent, of the authorised maximum payment was payable. Once awarded, distinction awards become part of salary and are therefore superannuable.

  Emergency Planning
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when he intends to publish the circular on emergency planning in the National Health Service in England.

  Mrs. Currie
  Revised civil defence planning guidance to the National Health Service in England was published as a Health Circular on 18 July 1988. It replaces the existing guidance issued in 1977 and takes account of changes in the Government's planning assumptions and in management and structure within the NHS. A copy is in the Library.

  Mentally Ill and Handicapped and Elderly Patients
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what assessment he has made of the number, in each region, of(a) mentally handicapped, (b) mentally ill and (c) elderly patients who could be discharged into the community if adequate facilities were available.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 26 July 1988]: The Department has not so far made an assessment of the number of such patients but will be seeking to do so from research findings and any assessments made by health authorities. It is likely to be several months before it is clear whether a useful national assessment can be made from these sources.

  National Health Service (Annual Report)
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services why the annual report of the National Health Service contains no accounts.

  (2) what were the total assets of the National Health Service at 31 March 1987;

  (3) what was the total value of the outputs of the National Health Service during the year ended 31 March 1987.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 12 February 1988: Summarised accounts of regional and district health authorities together with summarised accounts of family practitioner committees in England are audited by the National Audit Office, laid before Parliament and published annually as a House of Commons paper (House of Commons paper 20 of 1986–87 contains information for 1985–86). An equivalent publication for 1986–87 accounts was very recently published as House of Commons paper 606 of 1987–88.

  The accounts of health authorities and family practitioner committees record their annual capital expenditure and income but there is no record in a balance sheet of capital assets, nor any provision for depreciation of such assets in the revenue accounts. The outputs of the authorities and committees are not valued as such but are recorded as expenditure.

  Following is the information for England for 1986–87 included in House of Commons paper 606.

  Statement of working balances as at 31 March 1987

  Health Authorities1

  Family Practitioner Committees

  £000

  £000

  Current Assets

  Stocks

  212,649

  —

  Debtors

  278,130

  5,169

  785

  Health Authorities1

  Family Practitioner Committees

  £000

  £000

  Cash and Bank Balances

  (42,962)2

  215

  Total

  447,817

  5,384

  1Regional and district health authorities and the special health authorities for the London postgraduate teaching hospitals.

  2Cash book balances (ie reflecting the value of unpresented cheques as at 31 March 1987).

  Expenditure for the year ended 31 March 1987

  Health Authorities—Hospital and Community Health Services

  £000

  Capital Expenditure

  Hospital Services

  8,255,383

  Community Health Services

  1,054,580

  Other Services

  572,464

  Headquarters Administration

  434,739

  10,317,166

  Capital Expenditure

  936,291

  Total Expenditure

  11,253,457

  Family Practitioner Committees

  £000

  Family Practitioner Committees Administration

  Current Expenditure

  46,662

  Capital Expenditure

  3,109

  49,771

  Family Practitioner Services

  General Medical Services

  1,134,612

  Pharmaceutical Services

  1,696,073

  General Dental Services

  530,550

  General Ophthalmic Services

  130,725

  3,491,960

  Total Expenditure

  3,541,731

  Hospital Waiting Lists
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will estimate the number of patients included in the March 1987 waiting list figures, under returns SBH 203, who would have been excluded as self deferred cases under category KH07a;

  (2) if he will list those district health authorities thought to have included self-deferral figures on their returns to SBH 203 for March 1987;

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 5 May 1988]: The instructions for completing form SBH203 clearly stated that self deferred cases should be excluded. Despite this, it is possible that the figures from some consultants included deferred cases but the extent to which this occurred cannot be measured retrospectively.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) when he expects to be able to publish the waiting list figures for September 1987; and if he will give reason for the dealy;

  (2) if he will publish the waiting list for September 1987 for each regional health authority, district health authority, and special health authority including self-deferred cases (KH07a); and if he will break these down by specialty.
  786
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients are currently on waiting lists for in-patient treatment at National Health Service hospitals in the Tameside and Glossop district and in the north-west region.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answers 5 May and 16 June 1988]: The national waiting list figures were announced on 27 April and placed in the Library. The detailed district in-patient waiting list figures have now also been placed in the Library. There was a time gap between the two as the district statistical returns required careful checking.

  AIDS
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what additional funds he has made available to both statutory and non-statutory bodies in England and Wales, for each of the past three years, in relation to HIV and AIDS; what is the provisional allocation of funds for each year until 1989; and what are these figures for each statutory and non-statutory body.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 1 December 1987]: The information requested for England is shown in the table. The provision of funds to statutory and non-statutory bodies in Wales is the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Statutory and Non-Statutory Bodies

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88 (Estimated Outturn)

  1988–89 (Provisional)

  Regional Health Authorities

  All figures are in £000s and rounded to the nearest £1,000

  Northern

  15

  45

  206

  1,008

  Yorkshire

  —

  —

  83

  705

  Trent

  15

  45

  146

  1,258

  East Anglian

  —

  —

  48

  567

  N W Thames

  275

  1,093

  14,019

  30,035

  N E Thames

  290

  1,130

  6,163

  10,888

  S E Thames

  145

  565

  3,553

  5,185

  S W Thames

  —

  —

  96

  1,326

  Wessex

  —

  —

  80

  1,117

  South Western

  —

  —

  73

  275

  W Midlands

  —

  35

  176

  610

  Mersey

  —

  —

  89

  365

  North Western

  15

  72

  218

  1,238

  Oxford

  15

  45

  115

  1,002

  London Specialist

  Postgraduate Hospitals Special Health Authorities

  —

  —

  —

  500

  English National

  Board for Nursing

  —

  15

  35

  —

  Public Health

  Laboratory Service

  740

  740

  4,365

  6,429

  National Biological

  Standards Board

  60

  60

  300

  430

  Health Education

  Council/Health Education Authority

  68

  72

  4,470

  10,000

  Medical Research

  Council

  —

  112

  232

  950

  Other research projects

  1. Middlesex Hospital Medical School

  40

  30

  15

  —

  787

  Statutory and Non-Statutory Bodies

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88 (Estimated Outturn)

  1988–89 (Provisional)

  2. PHLS, Manchester

  7

  —

  —

  —

  3. PHLS, London

  83

  10

  26

  77

  4. University College Hospital

  —

  16

  27

  26

  5. University College, Cardiff

  —

  26

  35

  78

  6. Health Care Planning Service

  —

  2

  2

  10

  7. Manchester Blood Transfusion Centre

  —

  27

  —

  —

  8. Goldsmith's College, London

  —

  —

  65

  99

  9. Hull University

  —

  —

  7

  71

  10. University of Warwick

  —

  —

  —

  30

  11. University of Kent and Canterbury

  —

  —

  9

  17

  12. Institute for Social Studies in Medical Care

  —

  —

  —

  30

  13. University of Newcastle

  —

  —

  26

  51

  14. St. George's Hospital Medical School

  —

  —

  1

  —

  15. English National Board for Nursing

  —

  —

  11

  —

  16. Institute of Psychiatry

  —

  —

  1

  —

  17. Royal Sussex County Hospital

  —

  —

  14

  14

  18. National Heart and Chest Hospital

  —

  —

  —

  29

  19. Birkbeck College, London

  —

  —

  —

  23

  Not yet allocated to approved projects

  —

  —

  —

  400

  Other allocations:

  Special hospitals

  —

  —

  200

  —

  Youth treatment centres

  —

  —

  10

  —

  Section 64 grants:

  1. College of Health

  40

  —

  —

  —

  2. Terrence Higgins Trust

  35

  117

  300

  —

  3. Standing Conference on Drug Abuse

  3

  10

  27

  —

  4. Family Planning Association

  —

  11

  8

  —

  5. Brook Advisory Centres

  —

  4

  —

  —

  6. London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard

  —

  10

  3

  —

  7. Mutual AIDS Centre

  —

  86

  —

  —

  8. Immunity

  —

  —

  3

  —

  9. London Lighthouse

  —

  —

  1,350

  —

  10. Mildmay Mission Hospital

  —

  —

  200

  —

  11. National AIDS Trust

  —

  —

  540

  —

  788

  Statutory and Non-Statutory Bodies

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88 (Estimated Outturn)

  1988–89 (Provisional)

  12. National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux

  —

  —

  17

  —

  Not yet allocated to approved projects

  —

  —

  —

  1,800

  In relation to local authority services, £5 million was included in the Rate Support Grant Settlement for 1987–88 to provide for additional personal social services expenditure in relation to AIDS and drug abuse. £2 million joint finance is to be provided in 1988–89 to support expenditure on services for persons with AIDS in particular local authorities Provision for future years is under consideration.

  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Government will reaffirm their support for the principles and aims of the London declaration on AIDS prevention.

  Mrs. Currie
  The Government fully support the aims, objectives and principles set out in the London declaration, which was adopted by representatives of 148 states at the world summit of Health Ministers held in London in January 1988. The declaration emphasises information and education, aimed both at the general public and specific groups, as the most important component of national prevention strategies, and stresses the need to avoid discrimination against HIV-infected people and people with AIDS. These principles underlie the strategy that we have developed for fighting the spread of AIDS within the United Kingdom. The Government also have a firm commitment to playing a full part in the worldwide effort against AIDS and support the central role of the World Health Organisation in directing and co-ordinating that effort. The full text of the London declaration is as follows:

  AIDS
    World Summit of Ministers of Health

      London Declaration on AIDS Prevention 28 January 1988
      The World Summit of Ministers of Health on Programmes for AIDS Prevention, involving delegates from 148 countries representing the vast majority of the people of the world, makes the following declaration:
      1. Since AIDS is a global problem that poses a serious threat to humanity, urgent action by all governments and people the world over is needed to implement WHO's Global AIDS Strategy as defined by the Fortieth World Health Assembly and supported by the United Nations General Assembly.
      2. We shall do all in our power to ensure that our governments do indeed undertake such urgent action.
      3. We undertake to devise national programmes to prevent and contain the spread of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection as part of our countries' health systems. We shall involve to the fullest extent possible all governmental sectors and relevant nongovernmental organizations in the planning and implementation of such programmes in conformity with the Global AIDS Strategy.
      4. We recognize that, particularly in the absence at present of a vaccine or cure for AIDS, the single most important component of national AIDS programmes is information and education because HIV transmission can be prevented through informed and responsible behaviour. In this respect, individuals, governments, the media and other sectors all have major roles to play in preventing the spread of HIV infection.
      5. We consider that information and education programmes should be aimed at the general public and should take full account of social and cultural patterns, different lifestyles, and human and spiritual values. The same principles should apply equally to programmes directed towards specific groups, involving these groups as appropriate. These include groups such as:
      policy makers;

      health and social service workers at all levels;

      international travellers;

      persons whose practices may place them at increased risk of infection;

      the media;

      youth and those that work with them, especially teachers;

      community and religious leaders;

      potential blood donors; and those with HIV infections, their relatives and others concerned with their care, all of whom need appropriate counselling.

      6. We emphasize the need in AIDS prevention programmes to protect human rights and human dignity. Discrimination against, and stigmatization of, HIV-infected people and people with AIDS undermine public health and must be avoided.
      7. We urge the media to fulfil their important social responsibilities to provide factual and balanced information to the general public on AIDS and on ways of preventing its spread.
      8. We shall seek the involvement of all relevant governmental sectors and nongovernmental organizations in creating the supportive social environment needed to ensure the effective implementation of AIDS prevention programmes and humane care of affected individuals.
      9. We shall impress on our governments the importance for national health of ensuring the availability of the human and financial resources, including health and social services with well-trained personnel, needed to carry out our national AIDS programmes, and in order to support informed and responsible behaviour.
      10. In the spirit of United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/42/8, we appeal:

      to all appropriate organizations of the United Nations system, including the specialized agencies;

      to bilateral and multilateral agencies; and

      to nongovernmental and voluntary organizations to support the worldwide struggle against AIDS in conformity with WHO's global strategy.

      11. We appeal in particular to these bodies to provide well-coordinated support to developing countries in setting up and carrying out national AIDS programmes in the light of their needs. We recognize that these needs vary from country to country in the light of their epidemiological situation.
      12. We also appeal to those involved in dealing with drug abuse to intensify their efforts in the spirit of the International

      (a) Gross Expenditure (England) in £million (cash)

      National Health Service

      Hospital and Community Health Service

      Family Practitioner Services

      Central Health and Miscellaneous Services

      Other NHS Capital

      Personal Social Services

      Current

      Capital

      1974–75

      3,426

      2,353

      243

      697

      130

      3

      692

      1975–76

      4,511

      3,082

      327

      925

      172

      5

      927

      1976–77

      5,149

      3,518

      356

      1,078

      192

      5

      1,060

      11977–78

      5,689

      3,936

      315

      1,220

      212

      6

      1,160

      1978–79

      6,426

      4,422

      366

      1,473

      158

      7

      1,313

      1979–80

      7,640

      5,298

      405

      1,731

      194

      12

      1,601

      1980–81

      9,970

      6,989

      556

      2,173

      241

      12

      1,974

      1981–82

      11,182

      7,717

      671

      2,504

      268

      22

      2,176

      1982–83

      12,197

      8,284

      701

      2,894

      301

      18

      2,382

      1983–84

      12,921

      8,709

      725

      3,110

      350

      26

      2,577

      1984–85

      13,871

      9,205

      817

      3,419

      404

      27

      2,738

      1985–86

      14,678

      9,699

      888

      3,600

      451

      40

      2,906

      1986–87

      15,789

      10,421

      961

      3,871

      489

      45

      3,233

      (est.) 1987–88

      17,367

      11,477

      1,026

      4,296

      526

      42

      n/a

      (plan) 1988–89

      18,985

      12,629

      1,017

      4,743

      555

      41

      n/a

      Conference on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (Vienna, June 1987) with a view to contributing to the reduction in the spread of HIV infection.
      13. We call on the World Health Organization, through its Global Programme on AIDS, to continue to:

      (i) exercise its mandate to direct and coordinate the worldwide effort against AIDS;

      (ii) promote, encourage and support the worldwide collection and dissemination of accurate information on AIDS;

      (iii) develop and issue guidelines on the planning, implementation monitoring and evaluation of information and education programmes, including the related research and development, and ensure that these guidelines are updated and revised in the light of evolving experiences.

      (iv) support countries in monitoring and evaluating preventive programmes, including information and education activities, and encourage wide dissemination of the findings in order to help countries to learn from the experiences of others.

      14. Following from this Summit, 1988 shall be a Year of Communication about AIDS in which we shall:

      open fully the channels of communication in each society so as to inform and educate more widely, broadly and intensively;

      strengthen the exchange of information and experience among all countries; and

      forge, through information and education and social leadership, a spirit of social tolerance.

      15. We are convinced that, by promoting responsible behaviour and through international cooperation, we can and will begin now to slow the spread of HIV infection.

  Health Spending
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give for each year since 1974–75 (i) total National Health Service expenditure, (ii) current expenditure on hospital and community health service, (iii) capital expenditure on hospital and community health service, (iv) expenditure on family practitioner services, (v) expenditure on centrally funded National Health Service services and (vi) expenditure on personal social services; if he will give each(a) in cash terms, (b) adjusted using the relevant pay-prices index and (c) adjusted using the gross domestic product deflator; and if he will place in the Library details of the methods used to make these adjustments.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 18 February 1988]: The information requested is as follows.
  791

  (b) Gross Expenditure (England) in £ million (Purchasing power at 1987–88 prices)

  National Health Service

  Hospital and Community Health Service

  Family Practitioner Services

  Central Health and Miscellaneous Services3

  Other NHS Capital2

  Personal Social Services

  Current

  Capital

  1974–75

  14,444

  9,899

  898

  2,840

  —

  11

  2,472

  1975–76

  14,824

  10,066

  925

  2,937

  —

  14

  2750

  1976–77

  14,987

  10,097

  900

  3,081

  —

  13

  2,776

  1977–781

  15,122

  10,403

  696

  3,199

  —

  13

  2,771

  1978–79

  15,388

  10,661

  724

  3,417

  —

  14

  2,896

  1979–80

  15,297

  10,601

  664

  3,394

  —

  20

  2,995

  1980–81

  15,719

  10,924

  724

  3,483

  —

  16

  3,074

  1981–82

  16,174

  11,151

  847

  3,621

  —

  28

  3,014

  1982–83

  16,411

  11,241

  871

  3,869

  —

  22

  3,078

  1983–84

  16,557

  11,243

  883

  3,943

  —

  32

  3,162

  1984–85

  16,769

  11,230

  955

  4,055

  —

  32

  3,231

  1985–86

  16,850

  11,251

  980

  4,057

  —

  44

  3,246

  1986–87

  17,052

  11,307

  1,010

  4,154

  —

  47

  3,446

  1987–88(estimated)

  17,367

  11,477

  1,026

  4,296

  —

  42

  n/a

  1988–89(plan)

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  —

  n/a

  n/a

  (c) Gross expenditure (England) in £ million (real terms at 1987–88 prices)

  National Health Service

  Hospital and community health service

  Family practitioner services

  Central health and miscellaneous services

  Other NHS capital

  Personal social services

  Current

  Capital

  1974–75

  12,608

  8,659

  894

  2,565

  478

  11

  2,547

  1975–76

  13,213

  9,027

  958

  2,709

  504

  15

  2,715

  1976–77

  13,320

  9,101

  921

  2,789

  497

  13

  2,742

  11977–78

  12,925

  8,943

  716

  2,772

  482

  14

  2,636

  1978–79

  13,186

  9,074

  751

  3,023

  324

  14

  2,694

  1979–80

  13,416

  9,303

  711

  3,040

  341

  21

  2,811

  1980–81

  14,766

  10,350

  823

  3,218

  357

  18

  2,923

  1981–82

  15,073

  10,403

  905

  3,375

  361

  30

  2,933

  1982–83

  15,344

  10,421

  882

  3,641

  376

  23

  2,997

  1983–84

  15,518

  10,460

  871

  3,735

  422

  31

  3,095

  1984–85

  15,966

  10,595

  940

  3,935

  465

  31

  3,151

  1985–86

  15,940

  10,533

  964

  3,910

  489

  40

  3,156

  1986–87

  16,578

  10,942

  1,009

  4,065

  515

  47

  3,395

  41987–88

  17,367

  11,477

  1,026

  4,296

  526

  42

  n/a

  51988–89

  18,167

  12,085

  973

  4,539

  531

  39

  n/a

  Notes:

  n/a-Not available.

  1Figures for 1978–79 and later years are not directly comparable with figures for 1977–78 and earlier years because of differences in the composition of different programmes (e.g. the costs of FPS administration and of the PHLS are included in the CHMS programme prior to 1978–79; in subsequent years expenditure on these items is included in FPS and HCHS programmes respectively).

  2Service specific inflation factors are not available for earlier years; for consistency HCHS (Capital) factors have been used for all years.

  3Because of the variety and multiplicity of individual budgets it is not meaningful to derive a single inflation factor for CHMS expenditure.

  4Estimate.

  5Plan.

  Pay and Price inflation 1974–75 to 1987–88

  NHS total

  HCHS current

  HCHS capital

  FPS1current

  PSS2(current and capital)

  Year on Year per cent.

  Index (1987–88 base)

  Year on Year per cent.

  Index (1987–88 base)

  Year on Year per cent.

  Index (1987–88 base)

  Year on Year per cent.

  Index (1987–88 base)

  Year on Year per cent.

  Index (1987–88 base)

  1987–88

  8·0

  100·0

  8·5

  100·0

  5·1

  100·0

  7·3

  100·0

  6·6

  100·0

  1986·87

  6·3

  108·0

  6·9

  108·5

  5·0

  105·1

  5·0

  107·3

  4·8

  106·6

  1985–86

  5·3

  114·8

  5·2

  116·0

  5·9

  110·4

  5·3

  112·7

  5·6

  111·7

  1984–85

  6·0

  120·9

  5·8

  122·0

  4·2

  116·9

  6·9

  118·6

  4·0

  118·0

  1983–84

  5·0

  128·1

  5·1

  129·1

  2·0

  121·8

  5·4

  126·8

  5·3

  122·7

  1982–83

  7·5

  134·6

  6·5

  135·7

  1·6

  124·2

  8·2

  133·7

  7·2

  129·2

  1981–82

  9·0

  144·6

  8·2

  144·5

  3·2

  126·2

  10·8

  144·6

  12·4

  138·5

  1980–81

  27·0

  157·7

  28·0

  156·3

  25·9

  130·2

  22·4

  160·3

  20·2

  155·7

  1979–80

  19·6

  200·2

  20·5

  200·1

  20·7

  164·0

  18·3

  196·1

  17·9

  187·1

  1978–79

  11·0

  239·5

  9·6

  241·1

  11·7

  197·9

  13·0

  232·0

  8·3

  220·6

  1977–78

  9·5

  265·8

  8·6

  264·3

  14·3

  221·1

  9·0

  262·2

  9·6

  238·9

  1976–77

  12·9

  291·1

  13·8

  287·0

  12·0

  252·7

  11·1

  285·8

  13·3

  261·9

  1975–76

  28·3

  328·6

  28·8

  326·6

  30·6

  283·-0

  28·3

  317·5

  20·4

  296·7

  1974–75

  —

  421·6

  —

  420·7

  24·4

  369·6

  —

  407·4

  —

  357·2

  792 793
  1The figures for earlier years have been adjusted from those used on previous occasions to put them on a consistent basis.

  2For 1983–84 and later years the figures include both capital and revenue inflation. For 1982–83 and earlier years the figures reflect only PSS pay and price inflation in respect of revenue expenditure. Comparable information in respect of capital inflation for earlier years is not available but the difference is not thought to be significant.

  General inflation (June 1988) 1974–75 to 1987–88

  Year on year increase percentage

  Index (1987–88 base)

  1987–88

  5·03

  100·0

  1986–87

  3·38

  105·0

  1985–86

  5·97

  108·6

  1984–85

  4·42

  115·1

  1983–84

  4·70

  120·1

  1982–83

  7·12

  125·8

  1981–82

  9·90

  134·8

  1980–81

  18·57

  148·1

  1979–80

  16·87

  175·6

  1978–79

  10·70

  205·2

  1977–78

  13·89

  227·2

  1976–77

  13·19

  258·7

  1975–76

  25·66

  292·9

  1974–75

  368·0

  Source: Treasury (GDP deflators).

  Warrington District Health Authority
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the spending per head of population served by Warrington district health authority in the latest available year; and what is the figure per head, on the most nearly comparable basis, for the United Kingdom as a whole.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 24 February 1988]: Figures of spending per head of resident population for 1986–87 (the latest year available) are shown in the table:

  Revenue expenditure per head of resident population—Hospital and Community Health Services1

  £

  Warrington district health authority

  259

  England—average for all district health authorities

  214

  United Kingdom

  228

  1Includes ambulance, blood transfusion, mass radiography and other services.

  Sources:

  (a) 1986–87 annual accounts of district and regional health authorities in England and those of the analogous health authorities, boards and agencies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland—as submitted to the central health department in each country.

  (b) Mid-year estimates of populations—1986 (Office of Population Censuses and Surveys).

  Notes to the table:

  (1) Capital expenditure on Hospital and Community Health Services is excluded. Expenditure on family practitioner services (which cannot strictly be attributed to particular districts) and expenditure on personal social services (which in Northern Ireland is accounted for by Health and Social Services Boards) is also excluded.

  (2) Comparisons between the figures are influenced by a number of factors including:

  (a) people travel across district boundaries for treatment and resource allocations reflect the pattern of service provision locally;

  (b) the population figures used make no allowance for people resident in one district who receive treatment in another or for differences in morbidity and age/sex structure of particular populations.

  Medical Physicists and Biochemists
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether any difficulty is being experienced in retaining the services of National Health Service scientists, namely, medical physicists and biochemists in the National Health Service; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what steps he is taking to improve recruitment and the morale of medical physicists and biochemists in the National Health Service.

  Mrs. Currie
  There is at present no evidence of general difficulty in recruiting and retaining medical physicists and biochemists. The numbers employed in the NHS in England rose from 1,921 (whole-time equivalent) at 30 September 1985 to 1,943 (whole-time equivalent) at 30 September 1986. The management side of the Scientific and Professional Staffs Whitley Council has recently offered to increase pay rates by 5·5 per cent, and has agreed to undertake a reveiw of recruitment and retention in the light of service needs.

  Nurses' Pay
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether funds for health authorities to meet the additional costs of the nurses' pay awards are being allocated on the basis of nursing staff in post or on the basis of nursing establishments; and what year is being taken as a basis for the funding of the nurses' pay award;

  (2) whether he intends that resources to fund the additional costs of the nurses' pay award will be allocated by all regions on the same basis; and what guidance he has issued to regions on the allocation to districts of these resources.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 9 May 1988]: The cost of the review body awards was calculated from information derived from health authorities' pay bill estimates based on the number of staff in post at 31 March 1988. Account was also taken of the review bodies' estimates of the average percentage increase for each staff group.

  The additional funds provided to health authorities were to meet the cost of all review body awards: no sum was specifically earmarked for the nurses' pay award. The sum available to regional health authorities was allocated in proportion to their 1988–89 initial revenue cash limits. It is for each region to determine how to distribute those funds amongst its districts.

  The guidance issued has been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has about the problems that the Wirral health authority faces with regard to the nurses' pay award; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Morris) on 27 July.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list for 1979, 1984 and the most recent
  795
  year the numbers of staff by grade in the statistical divisions in his Department; if he will differentiate between staff in the statistical posts and staff in administrative posts; and if he will give separate figures for staff employed in the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys and in the Government Actuary's Department.

  Departmental staff in statistical divisions (1 April)

  1979

  1984

  1988

  Grade

  Administrative

  Statistical

  Administrative

  Statistical

  Administrative

  Statistical

  3

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  —

  1

  5

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  —

  7

  6

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  —

  1

  7

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1

  35

  Senior Assistant Statistician

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  —

  5

  Assistant Statistician

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  —

  7

  Senior Executive Officer

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  18

  —

  Higher Executive Officer

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  43

  —

  Executive Officer

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  69·5

  —

  Administrative Officer

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  89

  —

  Administrative Assistant

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  21

  —

  Personal Secretary

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  10

  —

  Total

  360

  41

  270

  45

  251·5

  56

  1Figures not available by grade.

  OPCS staff in2statistical divisions (1 April)

  1979

  1984

  1988

  Grade

  Administrative

  Statistical

  Administrative

  Statistical

  Administrative

  Statistical

  3

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  2

  5

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1

  3

  6

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  5

  2

  7

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  20

  13

  Senior Assistant Statistician

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  —

  2

  Assistant Statistician

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  —

  2

  Senior Executive Officer

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  30

  —

  Higher Executive Officer

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  60

  —

  Executive Officer

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  95

  —

  Administrative Officer

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  199

  —

  Administrative Assistant

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  65

  —

  Personal Secretary

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  18

  —

  Total

  574

  29

  483

  27

  493

  24

  1Figures not available by grade.

  2The figures in the White Paper "Government Statistical Services" (Cmnd. 8236) included some staff who worked in support of statistical divisions. These figures relate solely to staff in OPCS statistical divisions.

  Departmental Advertising
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the latest figure for the estimated spending in 1988–89 by the National Health Service on(a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 21 July 1988]: The information for regional and district health authorities and family practitioner committees in England is not collected in-year and their annual accounts identify advertising expenditure in total only. For 1986–87 (the latest year available) the annual accounts of health authorities and the special health authorities for the London postgraduate teaching hospitals record total expenditure on advertising as £14,089,000 while the accounts of FPCs show £78,000. These costs are predominantly for staff recruitment advertisements in newspapers and professional journals.

  The annual accounts of special health authorities and other bodies providing central services to the National Health Service (eg the central blood laboratories authority and the National Health Service training authority) do not
  796
  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 21 July 1988]: The information requested for the Department and for the Office of Population and Censuses is shown in the tables. The number of staff in statistical divisions of the Government Actuary's is a matter for my right hon. Friend Actuary's department is a matter my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

  separately identify expenditure on advertising, but given the size of their total expenditure, any such costs are not thought to be significant.

  The Health Education Authority (the successor to the Health Education Council) is currently expected to incur expenditure on health promotional advertising campaigns in 1988–89 as follows:

  £0001

  Television advertising

  Nil

  Radio advertising

  450

  Newspaper advertising

  3,850

  Other promotional material

  3,200

  1Estimated.

  Social Science Research
  Mr. George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how much has been spent by his Department in each of the past five years on social science research; what percentage this constitutes of total departmental expenditure and of the Department's research budget; and how
  797
  much of the research has been undertaken (a) within his Department, (b) by universities and polytechnics and (c) by independent research organisations.

  £ million

  Year

  Social Science R and D

  Percentage total expenditure

  Percentage total R and D expenditure

  Intramural

  Universities etc.

  Independent Research Organisations

  1982–83

  9·1

  0·02

  29·74

  0·6

  3·9

  1·0

  1983–84

  6·0

  0·01

  19·79

  0·3

  3·8

  1·0

  1984–85

  5·8

  0·01

  21·72

  0·3

  4·0

  1·0

  1985–86

  5·7

  0·01

  19·76

  0·2

  4·2

  0·9

  1986–87

  5·6

  0·01

  11·3

  1

  4·1

  1·0

  1Information not available

  Legionnaires' Disease
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if, in the light of the recent events at the BBC, he will introduce legislation to make it a criminal offence to be negligent in regard to the spreading of Legionnaires' disease; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  I am informed that up to now the Health and Safety Executive has taken the view that the general duties imposed under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 would be sufficient in this regard. Further consideration is, however, being given to the recommendations in the Employment Committee's report "Legionnaires' Disease in the Working Environment".

  Hospital Generators (Maintenance Checks)
  Mr. Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will issue guidelines to health authorities to ensure that proper maintenance checks are carried out on hospital generators that provide electricity for operating theatres.

  Mrs. Currie
  I shall write to my hon. Friend.

  Health Education Officers (North West RHA)
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many health education officers are employed by the North West regional health authority; and how many are assigned to the Bolton area.

  Mrs. Currie
  As at 30 September 1986, the latest date for which information is available centrally, the number of health education officers employed by North Western regional health authority and the number assigned to Bolton district health authority were as follows:

  Number

  North Western RHA

  143

  Bolton DHA

  0

  1Rounded to nearest whole time equivalents.

  My hon. Friend may wish to contact the chairman of North Western regional health authority for more recent information.

  Hospital and Health Centre Buildings
  Mr. Ken Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total amount paid in lieu of rates for hospital and health centre buildings by Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley district health authority for the years 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88 and 1988–89.
  798
  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 27 July 1988]: The readily available information is as follows. Totals include expenditure on research by non-departmental public bodies funded by the Department.

  Mrs. Currie
  The annual accounts of the Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley health authority record total expenditure on contributions in lieu of rates as follows:

  £

  1985–86

  549,647

  1986–87

  620,864

  11987–88

  457,555

  1Provisional (ie unaudited) figure.

  The reduced expenditure for 1987–88 largely reflects the transfer of administrative responsibility for the Brockhall hospital to the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale health authority from 1 April 1987

  For further information and expected expenditure in 1988–89 (which is not collected in-year) my hon. Friend may wish to contact the chairman of the Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley health authority.

  Health Care (Bolton)
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients in the Bolton area received health care initiated by the health authority but provided outside the National Health Service during 1986, 1987 and 1988 to date.

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

  Methadone
  Mr. Rathbone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money each regional health authority has spent in each of its districts for methadone treatment for each of the most recent five years for which figures are available.

  Mrs. Currie
  I regret that the information requested is not held centrally.

  Mr. Rathbone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what amount of methadone has been prescribed by general practitioners in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

  Mrs. Currie
  The number of prescriptions and the volumes of methadone dispensed by community pharmacists in England in each of the years 1983–1987 inclusive is as follows:
  799

  Methadone (thousands)

  England

  Quantities dispensed

  Year

  Number of prescriptions

  Tablets

  Mixture1(ml)

  Linctus2(ml)

  Injection (ampoules)

  1983

  105·9

  1,443·0

  10,064·9

  6,713·0

  502·6

  1984

  101·9

  1,217·9

  11,718·3

  6,775·2

  588·7

  1985

  128·6

  1,048·6

  17,328·8

  5,538·4

  398·1

  1986

  184·9

  1,740·0

  26,738·9

  4,863·4

  1,175·3

  1987

  243·5

  1,875·2

  50,408·3

  3,865·2

  1,525·8

  Note:

  These estimates are based on a sample of approximately 1 in 200 prescriptions dispensed in England by chemists and appliance contractors. Information on drugs dispensed in hospitals and by Dispensing doctors is not available.

  1The mixture is 1mg/ml.

  2The linctus is 2mg/5ml.

  Home Start Consultancy
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he intends to make a grant towards the administrative expenses of Home Start Consultancy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  Ministers recognise the good work done by Home Start and other voluntary agencies in supporting families with difficulties, and are anxious to assist. The Department is increasing its grant towards the headquarters expenses of Home Start Consultancy to £45,000 per annum in 1988–89, 1989–90 and 1990–91, an increase of 50 per cent, over its previous three-year grant of £30,000.

  This year Home Start Consultancy has been added to the list of national organisations giving small grants to local groups for under-fives and their families under the Department's small grants scheme. A total of £30,000 has been allocated to Home Start, of which up to £2,850 may be used towards administration costs.

  In addition, Home Start Consultancy received an allocation of £180,000 from the retail prices index error money which was announced by my hon. Friend in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Wells (Mr. Heathcoat-Amory) on 3 May at columns 422–24. Some of this money will be available to fund a new national inner cities officer post and to meet the related administrative expenditure.

  Registration Service
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made on the consultations on reforming the registration service announced by the Government on 3 December 1987,Official Report, House of Lords, column 1230.

  Mrs. Currie
  Those consultations have been completed and we now have the report of a working group set up by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys and the local authority associations, which has also taken the views of the staff associations and other interested parties and which has produced detailed recommendations for the modernisation of the service. Ministers accepted the working group's views as the basis for wider public consultation, and a consultative document based on them will be issued in the autumn.

  Mentally Ill Patients
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give figures for each local authority area,800
  for the number of patients suffering from mental illness that have, during the year 1986–87 been transferred from mental institutions to unregistered homes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  In 1986, the latest year for which figures are available, 1,080 people were discharged into the community after stays of over five years (excluding those who were merely transferred from one hospital to another). On other issues related to this matter I shall write to my hon. Friend.

  Supplementary Benefit
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a table using the low-income families statistics 1985 showing how many people fell below supplementary benefit level, were on supplementary benefit or up to 40 per cent, above supplementary benefit level, analysed according to both economic and family status together.

  Mr. Scott
  [holding answer 22 June 1988]: A note has been placed in the Library.

ENVIRONMENT

  House Building
  Mr. Forth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give, for every county, borough and metropolitan district in England, the number of new dwellings built for each year since 1980.

  Mr. Trippier
  Housebuilding figures for each local authority area and county appear in the tables "Housebuilding in England by local authority areas, 1980 to 1987" which have today been placed in the Library. These incorporate late returns from several authorities and some revisions of earlier returns, received since figures for these years were published in "Local Housing Statistics". The tables will be published shortly by the Department.

  Westminster City Council
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he proposes to take to ensure that the events recorded in investigation 493/Y/82 by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration into a complaint against Westminster city council do not recur.

  Mr. Trippier
  The reference quoted is one used by the Commission for Local Administration, not the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration, whose remit does not cover London borough councils. The report shows shortcomings in the administration of various statutory provisions relating to housing. Such shortcomings, and their remedy, are a matter for the local housing authority not the Department.

  Retail Prices Index
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what weight council house rents and mortgage interest payments have in the retail prices index; and if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the weight given to each in the index in each of the past 10 years, the annual increase in the price of each component and in the index as a whole, and the implied amount currently being spent under each heading.
  801
  Mr. Trippier
  A separate index for local authority rents is not published. The weights and movements of the rent and mortgage interest components of the retail prices index have been as follows:

  Weight (out of 1,000)

  Percentage increase in year to January

  Rents

  Mortgage interest

  Rents

  Mortgage interest

  R.P.I. (all items)

  1978

  32

  23

  —

  —

  —

  1979

  32

  31

  9·4

  38·8

  9·3

  1980

  28

  38

  11·2

  51·5

  18·4

  1981

  30

  42

  22·7

  15·1

  13·0

  1982

  36

  41

  36·8

  18·6

  12·0

  1983

  36

  30

  11·0

  -25·4

  4·9

  1984

  35

  39

  4·8

  2·8

  5·1

  1985

  31

  46

  7·2

  16·4

  5·0

  1986

  29

  54

  7·4

  18·4

  5·5

  1987

  134

  44

  5·9

  8·6

  3·9

  1988

  33

  42

  5·7

  -3·7

  3·3

  1Until 1987 the figures for rent were net of rebates.

  The implied amount being spent under the mortgage interest component is £8·13 per household per week. For rents the figure is £6·24. Both these figures represent an average (at January 1988 prices) taken over all households (both tenants and owner occupiers) covered by the RPI.

  Rates and Taxes
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the forecast revenue from rates in the current financial year, and the estimated revenue from a 1 per cent, levy on the current value of (a) residential property, (b) agricultural and horticultural land and premises, (c) factories, and so on, (d) shops, (e) offices and (f) other land and premises; and if he will include a figure for the yield of a 1 per cent, tax on all personal incomes.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The forecast yield of rates in the United Kingdom for 1988–89 is £19–2 billion. The revenue from a 1 per cent, levy on estimated end 1986 market values is as follows:

  £ billion

  Residential property

  6·9

  Agricultural land, buildings and forestry

  0·3

  Industrial buildings

  0·3

  Commercial buildings

  1·9

  Other buildings

  1·1

  The yield of a 1 percent, tax on total household income in 1986 is estimated to be £3·1 billion. More up-to-date estimates are not yet available.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what the homeless figures are for each of the last five years for (a) Doncaster and (b) England and Wales; how many of those are single homeless; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what is his estimate of the number of homeless single people for each of the last six years; what is his estimate of
  802
  the number of homeless single persons for whom no authority is statutorily responsible; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  The numbers of households for whom Doncaster borough council reported accepting responsibility for securing accommodation in the years 1983 to 1986 appear in a table placed in the Library in May 1987. In 1987, 285 households were accepted.

  Corresponding figures for England were included in the reply given to the hon. Member for Newcastle-upon-tyne, East (Mr. Brown) on 10 June, at columns 737–78. For Welsh figures I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  The numbers of single people among the households accepted as homeless are not reported by local authorities and my Department has no estimates.

  Recruitment and Promotion Policy
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures he has implemented to ensure that recruitment and promotion policy in his Department does not directly or indirectly discriminate against applicants who were mature students or women returning to work following a career break due to child care.

  Mr. Ridley
  My Department has a policy of fair and open competition in recruitment and promotion. The only upper age limit for new entrants recruited directly by the Department is that they need to be able to give five years' service before retirement. Staff are not normally selected for promotion within two years of retirement.

  Women are encouraged to return to work by arrangements for reinstatement and by the availability of part-time working, job sharing, and special leave for domestic reasons.

  Football Supporters
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the compulsory membership scheme for football supporters to be fully operational; how much the scheme will cost; and how it will be funded.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I shall write to my hon. Friend.

  Horsham District Council
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he received any application from councillors of Horsham district council for dispensation to vote on the proposal to transfer an empty council house to the Horsham Conservative Association;

  (2) what account he has taken of the decision of Horsham council to vote on the proposal to transfer an empty council house to the Horsham Conservative Association in drawing up proposals for a revised national code of conduct for local government.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Yes. The two applications for the Secretary of State's dispensation under section 97(1) of the Local Government Act 1972 were dealt with in accordance with the long-established policy contained in DOE circular 105/73. Where a member's declared interest is immediate the prohibition on speaking and voting is generally strictly maintained, unless at least half the council or relevant committee would otherwise be
  803
  disabled. In the cases in question, some 35 of the 43 members of the council were disabled, and dispensations to speak and vote were given.

  The White Paper on the "Conduct of Local Authority Business" (Cm. 433), published on 21 July, indicates that the Government will consult the local authority associations in drawing up a revised national code of local government conduct. We shall of course take account of all relevant information in doing so.

  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will call in the decision of Horsham district council to grant planning permission to the Horsham Conservative Association to use an empty council house for its office; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ridley
  [holding answer 26 July 1988]: No. This is not a matter of national or regional importance. I understand that the premises currently used by the Horsham Conservative Association are due to be demolished as part of the town centre redevelopment scheme, and that Horsham district council has given planning permission for two years for the use of premises, also affected by the town centre redevelopment scheme, as offices.

  Local Authority Finance
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish in the Official Report a table giving, for 1987–88 and a forecast for 1988–89, the information on local authority income given in table 16.18 of the 1988 edition of the "Annual Abstract of Statistics".

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The figures requested are not yet available.

  London City Airport
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department was consulted by the London Docklands development corporation over the application by London City airport to allow demonstration landings and take-offs by BAe 146 aircraft; and if any of his officials were present at the tests on 24 July.

  Mr. Trippier
  The London Docklands development corporation informed the Department that a planning application had been received and that planning permission has been granted allowing the London City airport to be used on three days for demonstration flights by British Aerospace 146 aircraft. No officials from my Department were present at the demonstration on 24 July.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to order a full public inquiry to consider any application for the scheduled use of London City airport by BAe 146 aircraft; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  In the event of an application being made to the London Docklands development corporation my right hon. Friend will consider carefully whether it should be called in for public inquiry.

  Lululla Arborea
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 25 July, what 804
  form of minutes of the consultations between representatives of the European Economic Community member states concerned the proposal to include Lululla arborea in appendix II of the Berne convention are available to his Department; and to what extent such records reveal the indentity of those countries which raised objections to the inclusion of that bird in that appendix.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  ; The consultation took place at a community co-ordination meeting in December 1987. The minutes of the proceedings of such meetings are normally confidential.

  County Hall, London
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to procure the publication by the London Residuary Body of(a) all the relevant papers on the disposal of the County Hall, Embankment, SE1, including advice from consultants on granting a bid already rejected by a public inquiry, (b) the details of the agreement reached between the London Residuary Body and the development group, especially the conditions placed on the bid by both parties and (c) full details including scale drawings of the developer's proposals.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  These matters are commercially confidential.

  Housing Action Trusts
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the management consultants commissioned to make recommendations on the setting up of housing action trusts; what is the total cost involved in those commissions; and when he expects their reports to be received.

  Mr. Trippier
  I shall write to the hon. Member shortly.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his current estimate of when the first housing action trusts will be set up; and which further local authority areas are currently being considered for future housing action trusts.

  Mr. Trippier
  Housing action trusts cannot be designated and established until the Housing Bill has received Royal Assent and the necessary orders have been approved by Parliament.

  We have no current plans for further housing action trusts beyond those announced by my hon. Friend the then Minister for Housing and Planning on 11 July.

  Homeless People
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to which bed-and-breakfast hotels in London will accept single homeless people without payment of rent in advance and as to what alternative accommodation is available to them.

  Mr. Trippier
  This information is not collected centrally. Single homeless people can approach their local authority for advice, or assistance, under part III of the Housing Act 1985.

  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he has any plans to provide additional funds to those organisations providing shelter for homeless people;
  805
  (2) when his Department will be able to provide an estimate of the numbers of single homeless people in London;

  (3) if he will provide an estimate of the numbers of single homeless people using direct access hostels each night.

  Mr. Trippier
  I shall write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Norman Hogg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will outline the estimated costs to public funds of(a) keeping homeless families in hotels and (b) building new council houses for those families.

  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 14 July 1988]: Estimates of the revenue costs in 1986–87 in Greater London and English non-metropolitan districts were given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning in reply to the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) on 21 January, at column 826.

  Corresponding estimates for English metropolitan districts are as follows:

  New build

  £3,200 per annum1

  Bed and breakfast

  £26 per day2

  1 Estimated average total first year costs to local authorities of a newly built dwelling, derived from information on costs (including land and fees) provided by authorities in housing subsidy. Costs vary widely between authorities and from year to year, reflecting differences in the mix of work and in land costs.

  2 Estimated average gross daily cost per household, based on returns to CIPFA from those authorities which reported both the number of household-days of bed and breakfast provided and the gross expenditure on it.

  Caravan Sites
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the total number of sites approved by his Department under the Caravan Sites Act 1968 for each year since 1979; and the amount of money available for each year since 1979 in consequence of the Act.

  Mr. Trippier
  I shall write to the hon. Member shortly.

  Local Government Superannuation Scheme
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider making the regulations necessary to allow part-time employees in local government to purchase back credits under the local government superannuation scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 11 July 1988, at column 43, to my hon. Friend the Member for Edmonton (Dr. Twinn).

  Water Quality
  Mr. Allan Roberts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will estimate the costs of support to local authority environmental health departments in undertaking their statutory duties to regulate drinking water quality and recreational water quality after privatisation of the water industry;

  (2) what arrangements are currently in hand to ensure independent auditing of drinking water quality after privatisation of the water industry;

  (3) if he will name those individuals outside his
  806
  Department presently advising the Department of the Environment on the regulation of drinking water quality after privatisation of the water industry;

  (4) what outside advice he will be receiving on the regulation of recreational water quality after privatisation of the water industry.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I shall write to the hon. Member shortly.

  National Rivers Authority
  Mr. Allan Roberts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will be accepting the recommendations of the regional water authorities of England and Wales that the proposed National Rivers Authority should have staffing levels approaching 6,000 persons.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The staffing levels of the National Rivers Authority will depend on final decisions on the schemes of organisation for the creation of their NRA units submitted by the water authorities.

  Mr. Allan Roberts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what will be the arrangements for ensuring access to independent analytical services on behalf of the National Rivers Authority; and if he will estimate the costs to public funds of such arrangements.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The National Rivers Authority advisory committee has emphasised the importance of the National Rivers Authority having adequate laboratory and analytical facilities within its own control. The precise arrangements for analytical services for the NRA and their costs must depend on final decisions on the schemes of organisation submitted by the water authorities.

  Tower Hamlets (Disposal Consents)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if, in respect of the application by the London borough of Tower Hamlets for disposal consent for Selby street, he will give the reasons for the delay between receipt by his Department of the application on 3 May and the request by the Department for additional information of 17 June; and if there is any necessary information which has still not been made available to the Department;

  (2) if, in relation to the application by the London borough of Tower Hamlets for disposal consent for Masthouse terrace, he will give the reasons for (a) the delay between receipt by his Department of the application on 7 December 1987 and the request by the Department for additional information of 13 April and (b) for two separate requests for additional information having been made by the Department on 13 April and 20 May; and if there is any necessary information which has still not been made available to the Department;

  (3) if, in relation to the application by the London borough of Tower Hamlets for disposal consent for the Hadrian estate, he will give the reasons for the delay between receipt by his Department of the application on 23 February and the request by the Department for additional information of 4 July; and if there is any necessary information which has still not been made available to the Department;

  (4) if, in relation to the application by the London borough of Tower Hamlets for disposal consent for

  807
  Glenaffric avenue, he will give the reasons for his Department not having responded to the application since the council provided on 4 February all outstanding information requested by the Department; and if there is any necessary information which has still not been made available to the Department;

  (5) pursuant to the answer of Monday 25 July to the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey, if he will list in relation to each of the outstanding applications for disposal consent from the London borough of Tower Hamlets (a) the names of all outside bodies from whom at any time since receipt of each application necessary information has not been available to his Department, (b) the items of necessary information which at any time since receipt of each application have not been available from outside bodies and (c) the dates on which outstanding necessary items of information have been provided by outside bodies to his Department.

  Mr. Trippier
  I shall write to the hon. Member.

  Bed-and-Breakfast Accommodation
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the number of people in bed-and-breakfast accommodation in England paid for by public funds at the latest date for which statistics are available.

  Mr. Trippier
  I shall write to the hon. Member.

  Sanitary Ware
  Dr. Blackburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will ensure that sanitary ware bearing the CE mark is not allowed in the United Kingdom market.

  Mr. Trippier
  I shall write to my hon. Friend shortly.

  Plumbing
  Dr. Blackburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will ensure that products used in the plumbing industry in the United Kingdom not bearing the British Standard and water authority approval fail on safety aspects as laid down by British Standards;

  (2) if he will ensure that the harmonisation of standards in 1992 in Europe takes into consideration the current low water plumbing pressures currently applicable in the United Kingdom;

  (3) if he has any plans to change the British Standards for low water pressure systems in plumbing;

  (4) what are the implications of the completion of the internal market for the legal status of water by laws and British Standards related to the plumbing industry; and if he will make a statement;

  (5) if the Government intend to impose a 7·5 litre flushing action in the plumbing industry;

  (6) when he expects to be able to establish acceptance by Europe of the United Kingdom low pressure domestic water system; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I shall write to my hon. Friend shortly.

  Former GLC Employees (Compensation)
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement regarding the 808
  non-payment of moneys owing for the year 1987–88 to former Greater London council employees who are beneficiaries of the Local Government Compensation Regulations 1986.

  Mr. Gummer
  I shall write to the hon. Member shortly.

  Crown Suppliers
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is yet in a position to say when the Crown Suppliers will be privatised; and what exclusive properties with particular reference to mailing lists they will retain.

  Mr. Chope
  I shall write to my hon. Friend shortly.

  Housing Associations
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many new homes were provided by housing associations during 1987; and how many of these were built or refurbished for sale as(a) leasehold flats for the elderly, (b) old properties refurbished with improvement grants; and (c) shared ownership schemes.

  Mr. Trippier
  I shall write to my hon. Friend shortly.

  Organisms (Releases)
  Mr. Wood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to strengthen his Department's ability to review the environmental implications of releases of non-indigenous and of genetically manipulated organisms.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  My right hon. Friend has decided to establish a committee of independent experts which will advise him on the ecological implications of releases of non-indigenous organisms and strengthen the Department's contribution to existing arrangements for evaluating the release of genetically manipulated organisms.

  Sir Kenneth Blaxter has agreed to be chairman of the new committee and its full membership will be announced shortly.

  The terms of reference of the committee are:
  a) on an interim basis, pending advice from the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution and the Government's response to this, to advise the Department, on request, on matters relating to the ecological implications of releasing novel organisms and viruses (other than those already covered by existing product based controls);
  b) to provide ecological advice to other Departments and Government agencies and advisory bodies at their request either through the Department or direct as appropriate and, in particular, to provide such advice to the Health and Safety Executive and the Advisory Committee on Genetic Manipulation on proposals for the planned release of genetically manipulated organisms into the environment

  Dartford (Planning Appeals)
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report the dates and details of each public inquiry held for planning appeals in the borough of Dartford since 1983; what length of time elapsed from the holding of each public inquiry to the issue of the decision; and how many planning appeals remain outstanding.

  Mr. Chope
  I shall write to my hon. Friend.

  Birtenshaw Farm
  Mr. Thumham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now announce his decision on Birtenshaw farm; and what account he has taken of the advice of the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities on the sufficiency of land available for housing in the Greater Manchester area and on pressure on green field sites.

  Mr. Chope
  I shall write to my hon. Friend.

  Rating Appeals
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the length of time it takes for rating assessment appeals to be heard in authorities in West Yorkshire, giving a breakdown for each authority; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 28 July 1988]: A number of factors determine the time taken for an appeal to reach a local valuation court hearing. These include the complexity of the case, the workload of each of the parties to the appeal and the workload of the local valuation panel. On average, an appeal in west Yorkshire is heard by the local valuation court within nine to 12 months of its receipt.

  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the details of rating valuation assessments appeals in the West Yorkshire area, giving information as to agreements reached with the valuation offices and appeals submitted to the valuation courts; and if he will give a breakdown for each local authority area.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 28 July 1988]: During the year 1987–88 in the west Yorkshire area, 19,906 proposals by the valuation office to alter rateable values were settled without objection. A further 449 proposals by the Valuation Office, to which objections were received, were settled within the statutory period and 2,038 such proposals were passed to the local valuation panel as appeals to the local valuation court. In the same period, 1,800 proposals by ratepayers were settled within the statutory period and 4,860 proposals were passed to the local valuation panel as appeals. It is not possible in the time available to give a breakdown of these figures by local authority area.

  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a list of the outstanding rating valuation appeals for the Yorkshire and Humberside region, giving details of the appeals outstanding for each local authority area, and a breakdown of domestic and industrial appeals.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 28 July 1988]: The number of appeals outstanding at 30 June 1988 in the local valuation panels in the Yorkshire and Humberside region is as follows:

  Appeals

  Humberside

  1,848

  North Yorkshire

  1,107

  South Yorkshire

  1,837

  West Yorkshire

  4,594

  810
  It is not possible, in the time available, to give a breakdown of these figures by local authority area or to provide a breakdown between domestic and non-domestic appeals.

  Derelict Land Grant
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, having regard to the derelict land programme and paragraph 39(vii) of circular 27/87, derelict land grant is payable for wildlife habitat creation projects in addition to industrial housing and commercial projects.

  Mr. Chope
  I shall write to my hon. Friend shortly.

  Sewers
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what provisions are to be made for communal sewers in gardens of properties to be included in the responsibilities of the water undertakers following privatisation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I refer the hon. Member to the announcement of the outcome of the water and sewerage law review on 11 May 1988, at column 132.

  River Thames
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is his policy towards greater use of the River Thames; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if the Government will make it their policy to promote and uphold the environment of the River Thames; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) what representations his Department has received requesting the Government to make greater use of the River Thames; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  [holding answer 28 July 1988]: I shall write to my hon. Friend.

  Departmental Programmes
  Mr. George
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much has been spent by his Department in each of the past five years on the evaluation of departmental programmes; and what proportion this constitutes of(a) the amount allocated for evaluation and (b) the Department's total budget.

  Mr. Ridley
  [holding answer 28 July 1988]: The process of evaluation of my Department's programmes is part of the work itself. It is therefore not possible to identify separately the resources involved.

  Local Authority Finance
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report, in the same format as his reply of 13 July Official Report, columns 231–34, an analysis of capital receipts on his programmes.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 28 July 1988]: The analysis is set out in the table.
  811

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  Housing

  Housing Corporation

  75

  112

  91

  102

  130

  112

  80

  80

  90

  Other Central Government (Homeloan)

  —

  —

  1

  2

  2

  4

  2

  —

  —

  Local authorities

  1,739

  1,761

  1,628

  1,617

  1,906

  2,200

  1,876

  1,920

  1,920

  New Towns

  63

  84

  88

  64

  98

  119

  110

  80

  70

  Total

  1,877

  1,958

  1,808

  1,785

  2,136

  2,435

  2,068

  2,080

  2,080

  Other environmental services

  New Towns

  72

  79

  83

  138

  171

  312

  311

  180

  150

  Local environmental services

  215

  235

  312

  330

  463

  745

  542

  540

  540

  Total

  287

  314

  395

  458

  534

  1,057

  853

  720

  690

  Figures: 1982–83 to 1986–87—outturn; 1987–88—provisional outturn; 1988–89 to 1990–91—planned expenditure.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report in the same format as his reply of 13 July, Official Report, columns 231–34, a detailed analysis by nature of charge and functional area for total DOE housing expenditure and for local environmental services and other local authority current expenditure.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 28 July 1988]: For DOE housing expenditure, no further breakdown is available beyond the figures given in my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's reply of 13 July. All the receipts for charges relate to local authorities' non-housing revenue account current expenditure.

  Figures for local environmental services and other local authority current expenditure are as follows:

  Other local authority current

  Local environmental services

  Local authority rate collection

  Records and registration of births, deaths and marriages

  £'000

  £'000

  £'000

  1982–83

  575,722

  2,713

  9,545

  1983–84

  572,089

  4,239

  3,557

  1984–85

  687,624

  4,569

  9,578

  1985–86

  746,249

  5,110

  10,033

  1986–87

  816,651

  5,061

  10,530

  1987–88

  771,148

  4,569

  4,525

  1988–89

  700,920

  4,848

  9,893

  1989–90

  782,151

  5,034

  10,548

  1990–91

  750,594

  5,197

  11,038

  £'000

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  Receipts in respect of running costs expendture:

  Royal palaces, royal parks and royal armouries

  —

  —

  —

  259

  511

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Historic buildings, ancient monuments and national heritage

  —

  —

  8

  —

  28

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Departmental administration

  28,309

  29,410

  29,138

  29,138

  33,316

  34,905

  35,149

  36,028

  36,928

  Total

  28,309

  29,410

  29,146

  29,397

  33,855

  34,905

  35,149

  36,028

  36,928

  Of which included in running costs of other Government Departments1

  Royal palaces, royal parks and royal armouries

  —

  —

  —

  251

  511

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Historic buildings, ancient monuments and national heritage

  —

  —

  8

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Departmental administration

  1,584

  1,699

  2,790

  3,756

  1,776

  3,151

  3,279

  3,361

  3,445

  Total

  1,584

  1,699

  2,798

  4,007

  2,282

  3,151

  3,279

  3,361

  3,445

  812
  Figures: 1982–83 to 1987–87—outturn; 1987–88—provisional outturn; 1988–89 to 1990–91—planned expenditure.

  Public Expenditure
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table in the Official Report, in the same format as his reply of 13 July, Official Report, columns 231–4, on receipts classified as charges in respect of his programme expenditure over the years 1982–83 to 1990–91, indicating the receipts in respect of running costs expenditure, together with a supplementary analysis indicating separately, the amount of receipts in respect of programme expenditure and of running costs expenditure estimated to have been met from other public expenditure programmes.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 28 July 1988]: The table gives information on charges made for the running costs of DOE (central). Equivalent information on programme expenditure was given in my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's answer of 13 July.
  813
  1 Information is available for charges falling on the running costs of other Departments, but not for those falling on other public expenditure programmes.

  Figures:

  1982–83 to 1986–87—outturn; 1987–88—provisional outturn; 1988–89 to 1990–91—planned expenditure.

  London Theatres (Listed Building Status)
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the theatres in London with listed building status.

  Mrs. Viginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 26 July 1988]: The following theatre buildings in London have been listed:

  Central London theatres

  Adelphi Theatre

  Albery Theatre

  Aldwych Theatre

  Ambassadors Theatre

  Apollo Theatre

  Bush Theatre (BBC Television Theatre)

  Camden Theatre

  The Coliseum

  Comedy Theatre

  Criterion Theatre

  Domnar Warehouse

  Duke of York's Theatre

  Garrick Theatre

  Globe Theatre

  Golders Green Hippodrome

  Her Majesty's Theatre

  Jeanette Cochrane Theatre

  London Palladium

  Lyceum Theatre

  Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue

  New Victoria

  Old Vic

  Palace Theatre

  Phoenix Theatre

  Playhouse Theatre

  Queens Theatre

  The Round House

  Royal Court Theatre

  Royal Opera House

  Sadlers Wells

  St. Martins Theatre

  Savoy Theatre

  Shaftesbury Theatre

  Strand Theatre

  Theatre Royal, Drury Lane

  Theatre Royal, Haymarket

  Vaudeville Theatre

  Victoria Palace

  Wyndhams

  Outside Central London

  Grand Theatre, Wandsworth

  Hackney Empire

  Hoxton Hall

  Richmond Theatre

  Theatre Royal, Stratford East

  Wiltons Music Hall, Tower Hamlets

  Wimbledon Theatre

  Housing Association Tenants (Transfer Discounts)
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to enable housing association tenants of pre-HAG properties to benefit from HOTCHA transfer discounts.

  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 28 July 1988]: Section 45 of the Housing Associations Act 1985 limits the HOTCHA scheme to tenants of houses or flats provided with the help of housing association grant.

  Housing Associations (Share Purchase Schemes)
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to encourage housing associations to provide share purchase schemes for existing and future tenants.

  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 28 July 1988]: In 1987–88 the Housing Corporation approved shared ownership schemes providing 776 new homes. The corporation's development programme for 1988–89 will allow expansion of shared ownership and other forms of provision for low cost home ownership by housing associations. My noble Friend the Minister for Housing has written to my hon. Friend.

  Sewage Discharges
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he has reviewed the consents given to the Anglian water authority in December 1986 to discharge sewage into the estuary after 31 December 1987, in terms of the permission given; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what recent advice he has had from the Thames water authority about the quality of bathing water in Southend-on-Sea; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) if he will review his decision of December 1986 about the treatment of sewage by the Anglian water authority in the Southend area; and if he will make a statement;

  (4) what advice he has had from the Anglian water authority about the delays in the construction to the extended outfall in Southend-on-Sea; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  [holding answer 28 July 1988]: I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what measures he will take to ensure that all sewage treatment works meet the requisite effluent discharge standards; what proposals he has to encourage water authorities to make the necessary financial investment; whether the Government will relax controls on water authority capital expenditure in order to stimulate the necessary investment; and whether he will impose a deadline on discharge standards being met;

  (2) if he will list for each year since 1974, by water authority, the percentage of sewage treatment works that have failed to meet their effluent discharge standards;

  (3) if he will state the number of occasions on which he has reviewed the effluent discharge standards laid upon specific water authority sewage treatment works; and for how many works the effluent discharge standards were relaxed following review;

  (4) if he will, by water authority region, list the names of those water authority sewage treatment works that failed to meet their effluent discharge standards in 1987, the measures that are proposed for each of these works to bring them up to standard, and the year by which it is anticipated that they will have been brought up to standard.
  815
  Mr. Moynihan
  [holding answer 28 July 1988]: I shall write to the hon. Member.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is now the total number of council houses which have been sold under the right to buy provisions of the Housing Act 1980 to sitting tenants; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 28 July 1988]: 709,000 dwellings in England have been sold by local authorities and new towns under the right-to-buy legislation up to March 1988.

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report a list of the number of council houses which have been sold under the Housing Act 1980 to sitting tenants of each local authority since 1982.

  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 28 July 1988]: I shall write to my hon. Friend.

  Slurry and Silage Facilities
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether the regulations to be made under section 31(4) of the Control of Pollution Act 1974, controlling the construction of slurry and silage facilities, will cover existing as well as new and extended facilities;

  (2) when he proposes to introduce regulations under section 31(4) of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 to control the construction of new or extended silage and slurry facilities, as outlined in paragraph 3.11 of "Observations by the Government on the Third Report of the Environment Committee on the Pollution of Rivers and Estuaries".

  Mr. Moynihan
  [holding answer 28 July 1988]: I shall write to the hon. Member.

  £ million

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  Total research and development1

  39·0

  36·9

  41·0

  48·8

  63·5

  Total social science and humanities

  1·2

  1·5

  1·9

  1·9

  2·6

  Social science and humanities as a percentage of total research and development

  3·1 per cent.

  4·1 per cent.

  4·6 per cent.

  3·9 per cent.

  4·1 per cent.

  Research and development for social science by universities and higher education

  0·4

  0·3

  0·4

  0·3

  0·3

  Research and development for social science by independent research organisations

  0·1

  0·03

  0·01

  0·0

  0·08

  1 Total research and development for science and technology and social science and humanities

  The figures above relate to the available information for gross expenditure on research and development by DOE, including that performed elsewhere in central Government, for research and development in total and for social science and humanities.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Household Incomes
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide a breakdown of the rise in real household incomes by household type between 1979 and 1985 for the bottom 10 per cent, and top 10 per cent.

  Rating; Reform
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what would be the average total community charge payable in 1988–89, with the community charge fully operational, and using 1988–89 figures for local authority total expenditure and population, by the following categories of income units:(a) all income units in England and Wales on income support, (b) all income units in the United Kingdom on income support, (c) all income units consisting of a single person with or without dependent children, who is not cohabiting and is on income support, (d) all income units consisting of a married or cohabiting couple, with or without dependent children, who are on income support, and (e) all income units on income support where the claimant is aged less than 25 years, giving the averages for each category for each region.

  Mr. Cummer
  [holding answer 28 July 1988]: The information requested is not available. I shall write to the hon. Member.

  Social Science Research
  Mr. George
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much has been spent by his Department in each of the past five years on social science research; what percentage this constitutes of total departmental expenditure and of the Department's research budget; and how much of the research has been undertaken(a) within his Department, (b) by universities and polytechnics and (c) by independent research organisations.

  Mr. Ridley
  [holding answer 28 July 1988]: The figures for expenditure on research for 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1985–86 and 1986–87 are as follows:

  of individuals in the manner of his answer to the hon. Member for Liverpool, West Derby (Mr. Wareing), 16 June, Official Report, column 279.

  Mr. Scott
  The information requested is set out in the table:

  Increases in real average incomes of individuals in households 1979 to 1985

  (Adjusted for family size and composition, before housing costs)

  Family type

  Below 10 per cent.

  Above 90 per cent.

  Married pensioner

  2

  16

  Single pensioner

  5

  11

  Married with children

  13

  17

  Married without children

  4

  20

  Single with children

  5

  21

  817

  Family type

  Below 10 per cent.

  Above 90 per cent.

  Single without children

  15

  16

  All family types

  6

  18

  Notes to table

  1. Further details on methods and assumptions can be found in "Households Below Average Income: A Statistical Analysis, 1981–85", copies of which are in the Library. Also relevant is "Low Income Statistics—Report Of A Technical Review", May 1985, which is also in the Library.

  2. Household income is defined after the payment of any income tax and national insurance and the receipt of any social security benefits. Individuals within households have been ranked by their (equivalent) household income.

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table showing the increase in real income between (i) 1981 and 1983 and (ii) 1983 and 1985 for tables A1,3; C1,3; D1,3 and F1,3 from "Households Below Average Income: A Statistical Analysis".

  Mr. Scott
  [holding reply 22 June 1988]: A note has been placed in the Library.

  Benefits
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have lost housing benefit as a result of the replacement of free milk and free school dinners by a cash payment which is then reckoned as income for the purpose of calculating housing benefit(a) in Preston and (b) nationally.

  Mr. Scott
  Compensation is provided in the basic rates of family credit for the loss of entitlement to free school meals and free welfare milk. We estimate that 160,000 people nationally saw a reduction in their housing benefit as a result of this; but this reduction will have been more than outweighed by the increase in family credit. Information is not available other than on a national basis.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the amount by which child benefit could be increased on a revenue neutral basis, if taxable, the gross and net cost to the Exchequer of raising the benefit to £20 for the first child and £15 for subsequent children, the estimated saving to public authorities as a result of the consequential reduction in other benefits, the tax saving from the abolition of the additional allowance for income tax purposes, and the estimated distribution of individual child benefits by range of income and tax status of their parents or guardians;

  (2) how many adult male and female workers have been unemployed for one, two and three complete years, respectively; and whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the cost of paying each person a bonus of four weeks' benefit for each complete year of unemployment;

  (3) how many children are being helped by payments from social security under the various headings and at what cost to the national insurance fund; how many would still need help if child benefit were raised to £20 taxable for the first and £15 taxable for subsequent children; and at what cost to the national insurance fund;

  (4) how many unemployed adult males and females of working age have exhausted their entitlement to
  818
  unemployment benefit; what is his estimate of the gross cost of removing the time limit in the case of (a) males and (b) females; and what would be the saving in each case in (i) other benefits and (ii) increased tax.

  Mr. Scott
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many working days, on average, his Department's offices take to deal with supplementary benefit claims(a) nationally and (b) in Doncaster.

  Mr. Scott
  Supplementary benefit was replaced by income support from 11 April 1988. The average clearance times for claims to income support between 11 April to 30 June is as follows:

  Days

  National

  5·8

  Doncaster East local office

  3·0

  Doncaster West local office

  6·5

  Source: Internal Management Statistics. This information is provisional and subject to amendment).

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table showing the value of(a) child benefit and (b) invalidity benefit for a married couple as a proportion of average net earnings for all males and all manually employed males for each year between November 1978 and the latest date available.

  Mr. Scott
  I shall write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which types of accommodation currently qualify for funding under schedule 5 to the Supplementary Benefits Act 1976.

  Mr. Scott
  Schedule 5 to the Supplementary Benefits Act 1976, as amended, lays a duty on the Secretary of State to provide and maintain resettlement units at which persons without a settled way of life are afforded temporary board and lodging with a view to influencing them to lead a more settled life. That duty may be discharged by the actual provision of units, or by funding local authorities or voluntary organisations to do so, provided the purpose of these facilities is similar to that of resettlement units. My right hon. Friend the Member for Braintree (Mr. Newton) announced in February 1985 that we intended to move towards the closure of the directly administered units and use the money saved to finance further facilities to be set up and run by local authorities and voluntary organisations.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he will now place further advertisements in national and regional newspapers advising pensioners how to apply for transitional payments in respect of housing benefit increases.

  Mr. Scott
  Yes. A two-week advertising campaign in national newspapers began on Thursday 28 July.

  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if there is a final date for applications for the transitional additions payable in respect of people who lost as a result of the introduction of the new housing benefit system.
  819
  Mr. Scott
  No cut-off date for applications has yet been announced.

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimated administrative cost per successful application for housing benefit transitional payments made by the Glasgow unit.

  Mr. Scott
  It will not be possible to provide the information requested until we know more about the number of successful applications and the final cost of setting up the transitional payments unit.

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total planned expenditure for advertising the availability of housing benefit transitional protection.

  Mr. Scott
  The first stage of an advertising campaign publicising changes to housing benefit capital rules and transitional payments appeared in the national press at the end of May at a cost of £263,000. The second stage of this campaign began on Thursday 28 July and will cost £248,000. This is the total planned expenditure on advertising the changes to date.

  Family Credit
  Mr. Heddle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will investigate why Mrs. V. Brady of 51 The Uplands, Great Haywood, Staffordshire, has not received her family credit since 24 May last; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will state the number and proportion of claimants of family credit whose income is currently above(a) the national insurance threshold, and (b) the tax threshold.

  Chantry Integrated Local Office, Chantry House

  Grade

  Complement 1988–89

  Permanent staff in post 1 July 1988

  Temporary staff' in post 1 July 1988

  Turnover

  Principal

  1

  1

  —

  —

  Senior Executive Officer

  1

  1

  —

  1

  Higher Executive Officer

  8

  8

  —

  2

  Local Officer 1

  51

  51·5

  —

  4

  Local Officer 2

  79

  89·5

  —

  10

  Administrative Assistant

  27

  29·5

  3

  5

  Typist

  4

  4

  —

  1

  Messenger

  3

  3

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  174

  187·5

  3

  23

  On 21 July 1988 there were no staff members being trained or engaged in training.

  Mountergate Integrated Local Office, Baltic House

  Grade

  Complement 1988–89

  Permanent staff in post 1 July 1988

  Temporary staff in post I July 1988

  Turnover

  Principal

  1

  1

  —

  —

  Senior Executive Officer

  1

  1

  —

  —

  Higher Executive Officer

  9

  9

  —

  —

  Local Officer 1

  59

  55·5

  —

  2·5

  Local Officer 2

  89

  100

  —

  14

  Administrative Assistant

  31

  31

  2

  6·5

  Typist

  4

  3·5

  05

  —

  Messenger

  2

  2

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  196

  203

  2·5

  23

  820
  Mr. Scott
  This information is not available in respect of the people actually receiving family credit. However, on the same basis as the estimates in "Impact of the reformed structure of income-related benefits: October 1987", but using the 1988–89 thresholds, the breakdown is as follows:

  Number

  Proportion per cent.

  (a) Family credit recipients with incomes above the national insurance threshold

  435,000

  98

  (b) Family credit recipients with incomes above the tax threshold

  350,000

  78

  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average time between claiming family credit and a payment order book being dispatched to the claimant.

  Mr. Scott
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Sunderland, North (Mr. Clay) on 7 July at column 725.

  Departmental Offices (Norwich)
  Mr. John Garrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in respect of the local offices of his Department at Chantry house and Baltic house, Norwich, broken down by staffing grades(a) what is the current staffing complement, (b) how many permanent staff are currently in post, (c) how many temporary staff are currently in post, (d) how many staff members are currently being trained, (e) how many qualified officers are engaged in training staff and (f) what is the annual turnover of permanent staff.

  Mr. Scott
  The information requested is as follows:
  821
  On 21 July 1988 there were five Local Officer 2s being trained and one Local Officer 1 engaged in training.

  The information regarding turnover relates to the period 1 April 1987 to 31 March 1988.

  Family Income Supplement
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will state the number and proportion of claimants of family income supplement whose income was above(a) the national insurance threshold and (b) the tax threshold for each year since 1978.

  Mr. Scott
  This information could be provided only at disproportionate expense.

  Job Sharing
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many job sharing and part-time working is encouraged in his Department; by whom and where it is publicised; and with what results.

  Mr. Scott
  The provisions for job sharing and part-time working are published in departmental circulars which are drawn to the attention of all staff. The Department's house journal, "Window", has also included occasional articles on part-time working. At 31 March 1988, the latest date for which figures are available, 596 women and 12 men were job sharing and 4,844 women and 109 men were working part-time.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what information he has on the take-up of loans and grants from the social fund; what were the projected take-up levels for the period from the introduction of the social fund to the present time; what has been the actual take-up shown by the latest available data; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) how much he anticipated would be allocated by officers of his Department by way of community care grants to date; how much has been allocated; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  As my hon. Friend announced in his reply to the hon. Member for Derby, South (Mrs. Beckett) on 6 May, at column 656, monthly information on the operation of the social fund in individual local offices, including figures for both applications and awards, is available in the Library. The national model profile of expected expenditure was contained in my hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Derby, South on 11 July, at column 61. This was based on the established pattern of seasonal variation in expenditure for single payments. Provisional figures show that in the period up to the end of June, £17 million was awarded for loans (60 per cent, of expected expenditure) and £4 million was awarded for community care grants (29 per cent, of expected expenditure).

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the total number of(a) loans and (b) grants made under the social fund for April, May and June of this current year for each London social security office; and what are the projected payments for the financial year 1988–89.
  822
  Mr. Scott
  Information on the operation of the social fund and on allocations for 1988–89 is in the Library.

  Earnings-related Supplement
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the cost to the national insurance fund in the current financial year of restoring the earnings-related supplement on the basis which applied before the Social Security (No. 2) Act 1980 for unemployed people only, what would be the saving in tax and other benefits; and how many males and females would benefit.

  Mr. Scott
  Information on which to base estimates is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Over-80s (Pensions)
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much it would cost, net of income support, to uprate the over-80s pension to the level of the basic retirement pension; and how many pensioners would be affected.

  Mr. Scott
  I regret that the information requested is not available.

  Social Security Budget
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing in terms of 1985 prices expenditure under the social security budget under the principal heads in 1986–87 and 1987–88; and if he will include his estimate for 1988–89.

  Mr. Scott
  The information requested is set out in the table. The figures are based on the cash provision shown in the public expenditure White Paper published in January 1988.

  Expenditure1 in 1985–86 prices2 divided by broad groups of beneficiary Great Britain

  £ million

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  Elderly people

  20,370

  20,490

  20,400

  Sick and disabled people

  6,020

  6,330

  6,500

  Unemployed people

  6,690

  5,980

  5,800

  Widows and orphans

  1,090

  1,040

  1,000

  Family benefits3

  6,960

  6,910

  7,000

  Administration

  1,880

  2,060

  2,100

  Total

  43,010

  42,810

  42,800

  Notes:

  1 Analysis covers all public expenditure on the social security programme.

  2 Converted to 1985–86 prices using the GDP deflator.

  3 Includes housing benefit paid to people in work.

  Benefit Payments Errors
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the percentage rate of benefit payments errors at his Department's offices(a) as a national average and (b) in Doncaster.

  Mr. Scott
  In the period 11 April 1988 to 30 June 1988 the average error rates, nationally and for the two Doncaster offices, were as follows:
  823

  National

  Doncaster East

  Doncaster West

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  Contributory benefits

  4·6

  2·2

  5·2

  Income support and Supplementary benefit

  11·4

  4·2

  7·7

  Departmental Recruitment and Promotion Policy
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what measures he has implemented to ensure that recruitment and promotion policy in his Department does not directly or indirectly discriminate against applicants who were mature students or women returning to work following a career break due to child care.

  Mr. Scott
  The Department operates an equal opportunities policy aimed at avoiding discrimination. All those involved in recruitment and promotion selection are issued with guidance on how to avoid unfair and unjustifiable discrimination. Chairmen of recruitment and promotion boards are required to ensure that no discrimination of any kind, direct or indirect, is allowed to prejudice the assessment and selection of candidates. Boards' decisions and the reasons for them, which are required to be recorded, must be impartial and restricted to matters relevant to the job and a candidate's ability for it.

  Unclaimed Benefits
  Mr. David Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total sum of unclaimed social security benefits in the latest convenient 12-month period.

  Mr. Scott
  I refer my hon. Friend to paragraphs 21 to 25 and table 15.17 on pages 272 to 273 of Cm. 288, the 1988 public expenditure White Paper.

  Income Support
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list for each of his Department's local offices in London postal districts(a) the numbers of income support recipients at each London office in the week beginning 11 April, (b) the numbers of income support recipients in receipt of transitional additions in the week beginning 11 April, at each London office, and (c) the numbers of income support recipients with the transitional addition who are pensioners, families with two parents, single parents, recipients of disability premium and other categories of claimants.

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

  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people transferred from supplementary benefit to income support were, on 11 April, receiving a transitional protection payment under the income support regulations, for each of his Department's local offices of Redcar, Middlesbrough, Eston, Hartlepool and Stockton.

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

  Pensioners (Benefits)
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will detail at what level income support is paid to those persons of pensionable age who are(a) single and (b) married; what additional expenditure on the part of the claimant is taken into account for this purpose; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will detail the criteria laid down for determining the level of benefit paid to (a) single pensioners and (b) married pensioners; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  Assuming that the pensioner is not responsible for a child or young person and has no eligible housing costs, the information is as follows:

  (a)

  (b)

  Premium Entitlement

  Single

  Couple

  £

  £

  Pensioner premium

  44·05

  67·70

  Higher Pensioner Premium

  46·45

  70·05

  Higher Pensioner Premium and severe

  194·80

  disability premium

  71·70

  2119·55

  1 One qualifies.

  2 Both qualify.

  The criteria for entitlement to the premiums are set out in schedule 2 to the Income support (General) Regulations 1987, (SI 1987 No. 1967).

  The personal allowances take account of the average additional expenditure arising from the claimant's responsibility, from April, for 20 per cent, of his general rates, and water rates.

  In setting the rates for personal allowances and premiums, the available resources were directed at those groups most in need, including pensioners. This more effective targetting is a central objective of the social security reforms.

  Community Care Grants
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security on what assumption the social fund community care grants budget for 1989–90 will be set.

  Mr. Scott
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Monklands, West (Mr. Clarke) on 8 July at column 787.

  Supplementary Benefit
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many people were(a) in receipt of supplementary benefit on 1 April, and (b) in receipt of income support on 1 May for each of his Department's local offices of Redcar, Middlesbrough, Eston, Hartlepool and Stockton;

  (2) if he will give the number of, or estimates of, people who were, in November 1987 (a) in receipt of supplementary benefit and (b) dependent upon supplementary benefit, in respect of his Department's offices of Redcar, Middlesbrough, Eston, Hartlepool and Stockton.

  Mr. Scott
  The numbers of people in receipt of supplementary benefit and income support in November 1987 and May 1988, the closest dates available, are as follows:
  825

  Local Offices

  Redear

  Middlesbrough

  Eston

  Hartlepool

  Stockton

  Number of people in receipt of supplementary benefit at 17 November 1987

  9,492

  23,141

  8,445

  12,365

  20,321

  Number of people in receipt of income support at 31 May 1988

  8,528

  20,714

  7,572

  11,083

  17,597

  Source: 100 per cent, of cases in action which includes a small number of cases not actually in receipt of benefit. These figures may, however, overstate the number of people receiving supplementary benefit. The footnote to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Hyndburn (Mr. Hargreaves) on 31 March 1988, at columns 660–61, refers.

  Note: This information is provisional and subject to amendment.

  I regret that information on the number of people dependent upon supplementary benefit is not available at local level.

  Form AG1
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what actions have been taken by his Department in respect of incomplete or false declarations on form AG1; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  Generally, incomplete claim forms AG1 are returned to the claimant drawing attention to the omissions. Such claims are given priority when they are resubmitted. If a deliberately false declaration were to be detected or suspected further investigation would be carried out and appropriate action taken.

  National Insurance Retirement Pension
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of how many people over pensionable age are receiving national insurance retirement pension, either basic, additional or graduated, of less than £1 per week.

  Mr. Scott
  The information is not available in the exact form requested. However, at 28 June 1988, a total of 143,642 pensioners had entitlement to small amounts of additional pension or graduated retirement benefit of £2 a week or less.

  Benefit Claimants
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his latest information regarding the number of claimants who as a result of delays in the processing of(a) the new family credit benefits and (b) the reimbursement of housing benefit losses resulting from the changes in April have incurred debt.

  Mr. Scott
  I shall write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. David Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what it the total aggregated sum of unclaimed social security benefits; whether he will make arrangements for such sums to be held and accounted separately; and whether he will now make plans to distribute these sums in the form of capital sums to appropriate recipients.

  Mr. Lester
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table showing the number of people claiming(a) supplementary benefit-income support, (b) rent rebates-allowances, (c) rate rebates and (d) family income supplement-family credit, in each year since 1975, including estimates for 1988, distinguishing between pensioners and those of working age and between certificated and standard housing benefit.
  826
  Mr. Scott
  I shall write to my hon. Friends.

  Transitional Protection Unit, Glasgow
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many staff are employed by the transitional protection unit at Glasgow; and what is the estimated annual pay bill.

  Mr. Scott
  On 28 July, there were 505 staff in post in the transitional payments unit. This number will reduce quickly as applications are assessed and payments are made. The manpower cost is estimated as follows:

  £000

  1988–89

  3,000

  1989–90

  1,500

  1990–91

  900

  1991–92

  600

  Norcross Office, Blackpool
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is the average waiting time before a matter referred to his Department's office at Norcross, Blackpool, is cleared up;

  (2) what is the policy of his Department's office at Norcross, Blackpool, on acknowledging correspondence from the general public; and how long on average that takes.

  Mr. Scott
  I shall write to my hon. Friend.

  Disabled Pensioners (RPI Error)
  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to pay additional compensation to severely disabled war and industrially injured pensioners who lost significantly more than £8 as a result of the error in the calculation of the retail prices index.

  Mr. Scott
  I explained to the House on 18 December that we would be paying additional compensation to severely disabled war and industrially injured pensioners who have lost significantly more than £8—the amount of the special payment made in February. Losses over £8 incurred by these two groups range from nothing at all to some £60 over the full two years affected by the error—April 1987 to April 1989.

  We have decided to make additional special payments to everyone in these two groups whose loss exceeds £8 by £10 or more: that is, by more than about 10p a week over the full two years affected. The ranges of loss in excess of £8, the weekly benefit entitlements to which they relate and the amounts of additional payments are shown in the table. The relationship between loss and weekly benefit

  827
  entitlement is not the same for both groups; this is because war pensioners can receive several additions to benefit which were not affected by the error.

  We expect to start making these additional payments in September.

  £s

  War pensioners (weekly entitlement)

  Industrially injured pensioners (weekly entitlement)

  Loss exceeds £8 by between

  Amount of additional payment

  Over 230

  —

  50–60

  55

  Between 190–230

  Over 170 Between

  40–50

  45

  Between

  150–190

  130–170

  30–40

  35

  130–150

  115–130

  20–30

  25

  100–130

  100–115

  10–20

  15

  Community Charge Rebate Regulations
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he is taking to introduce community charge rebates regulations to have effect in Scotland in 1989–90.

  Mr. Scott
  Before rebate regulations can be laid, the Social Security Act 1986 has to be modified to provide the necessary statutory powers. It is our intention to lay the modification regulations as soon as possible after the Local Government Finance Bill receives Royal Assent. These regulations, which will be made under section 24 of the Abolition of Domestic Rates (Etc.) Scotland Act 1987, will provide for the introduction of Housing Benefit (Community Charge Rebate) Regulations. Once the modification regulations have been made, formal consultation with the local authority associations will begin on the draft community charge rebate regulations. In the meantime, Scottish local authorities have already received a substantial part of the draft regulations and we shall be issuing a complete draft to them shortly.

  Relocation
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Gow) of 23 June,Official Report, columns 723–24, he will now make a statement on the relocation of work in his Department from London.

  Mr. Scott
  We have decided to go ahead with relocating some work from local offices in London broadly on the scale recommended in the report, "The Business of Service", which was published on 24 June. Consideration is still being given to the possibility of relocating some headquarters work.

  Child Benefit
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give the number of families in receipt of child benefit and the average percentage of family income for 1979 and 1988–89 derived from child benefit for the(a) bottom 10 per cent., (b) bottom 30 per cent., (c) bottom 50 per cent, and (d) top 50 per cent, of families.

  Mr. Scott
  [holding answer 14 July 1988]: The information is as follows:
  828

  Percentage contribution of child benefit to the incomes of households with children below various percentiles of the whole population

  Percentile of the income distribution

  Below 10

  Below 30

  Below 50

  Above 50

  per cent.

  per cent.

  per cent.

  per cent.

  1979

  19

  13

  10

  5

  1985

  18

  14

  11

  4

  Notes to table

  1. The income measure used is the same in all respects as that used in "Households Below Average Income: A Statistical Analysis, 1981–85" and is before housing costs.

  2. The percentile points in the table are for the whole population, but the analysis is for households with children only A corresponding analysis demonstrating the percentage contribution of child benefit to the incomes of all individuals below the percentile points shown can be found in HBA1, table G on page 24 of the tables.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the latest estimated distribution of children qualifying for child benefit by parental status and by range of parental income.

  Mr. Scott
  [holding answer 27 July 1988]: Information about the incomes of families receiving child benefit is not routinely collected. The following estimates of the distribution of children by gross parental income in 1988–89 are therefore made on the basis of sample survey data which are subject to normal sampling and response variation. "Parental status" has been interpreted to mean economic status.

  Number of children by gross family income

  Thousands

  Parental (economic) status

  Band of gross family income

  Full-lime work1

  Unemployed2

  Other3

  Total

  Under £5,000

  30

  210

  540

  780

  £5–10,000

  1,600

  870

  880

  3,350

  £10–15,000

  3,140

  —4

  60

  3,210

  £15–20,000

  2,250

  —4

  —4

  2,280

  £20–25,000

  1,140

  —4

  —4

  1,150

  £25,000–50,000

  1,170

  —4

  —4

  1,180

  Above £50,000

  180

  —4

  —4

  180

  9,510

  1,100

  1,501

  12,120

  Notes:

  (1) With the additions noted below, this answer is provided on the same basis as set out in my reply of 7 June to my hon. Friend the Member for Pembroke (Mr. Bennett) at columns 371–72.

  (2) Economic status categories are based on the FES:

  1 Full-time work: either head or spouse in full-time work (over 24 hours per week).

  2 Unemployed: either head or spouse unemployed and neither in full-time work. The definition of unemployment is self-reported in the FES and does not correspond to receipt of an unemployment related benefit.

  3 Other: includes part-time workers, economically inactive/one-parents, sick and disabled and early retired.

  4 sample numbers are too small to provide a detailed breakdown.

  Resettlement Units
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which schemes of alternative provision for his Department's resettlement units have been approved; how much in each case has been provided for capital and revenue spending; and how much per head on capital and revenue this is for each scheme.
  829
  Mr. Scott
  [holding answer 19 July 1988]: Schemes for alternative provision for resettlement units approved to date, and the sums to be provided by the Department, are as follows:

  Scheme

  Approved capital cost

  Average capital cost per bedspace

  Approved revenue cost (PA)

  Average revenue cost per bedspace

  £ million

  £

  £

  £

  Camberwell

  4·46

  20,400

  1,420,000

  1,500

  Brighton

  1·130

  15,300

  143,000

  1,900

  South West

  1·5

  10,500

  223,000

  1,600

  Liverpool

  0·76

  21,500

  224,000

  6,200

  York

  —

  —

  81,000

  4,500

  Southampton

  2·436

  14,100

  313,000

  1,800

  Derby

  2·0

  17,500

  356,000

  3,100

  Humberside

  0·43

  13,900

  194,000

  6,300

  North Staffordshire

  0·42

  14,000

  130,000

  4,300

  Manchester

  1·88

  12,000

  463,000

  3,000

  Notes:

  All figures are at 1987–88 prices.

  Each approved scheme includes a number of separate projects of different sizes and catering for a variety of needs. Accordingly the planned cost of individual projects varies. In addition, some projects will be eligible for Hostel Deficit grant from DOE; funds from other sources eg local authorities and voluntary organisations may also be available.

  For these reasons it is not possible to make direct comparisons between the relative costs of schemes as shown in the table.

  Spending Power
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish tables using the data and assumptions in his answer to the hon. Member for Bradford, West (Mr. Madden) on 22 June,Official Report, columns 575–80, but using expenditure and benefit figures appropriate for similar families in Newcastle upon Tyne together with a column showing the extent of the differences that would have resulted from the April benefit changes.

  Mr. Nicholas Scott
  [holding answer 11 July 1988]: I have today placed the appropriate tables in the Library.

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish tables using the data and assumptions in his answer to the hon. Member for Bradford, West (Mr. Madden) on 22 June,Official Report, columns 575–80, but using expenditure and benefit figures appropriate for similar families in (a) Wear Valley district council, (b) Derwentside district council and (c) Durham county together with a column showing the extent of the differences that would have resulted from the April benefit changes.

  Mr. Scott
  [holding answer 25 July 1988]: The information requested for Wear Valley district council and Derwentside district council has been placed in the Library. I regret that similar tables cannot however, be prepared for Durham county.

  Transitional Payments
  Mr. McKelvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants have applied for transitional payment benefit in(a) Kilmarnock; (b) Ayrshire and (c) Scotland as a whole; how many in these classifications have had their benefit calculated; and how many are in receipt of the benefit.

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in the constituency of Strathkelvin and Bearsden have applied for housing
  830
  benefit transitional payments; and what is his estimate of the number who will qualify and when he expects them to be paid.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is the average waiting time for claimants receiving transitional payments in his Department's Dundee, East and Dundee, West offices;

  (2) how many applications for transitional payments have been made at his Department's Dundee, East and Dundee, West offices; how many of these have been processed; and how many payments have been paid.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have applied for transitional payment benefit in(a) Greenock and Port Glasgow, (b) the Strathclyde region and (c) Scotland as a whole; how many in these have had their benefit assessed; and how many are now in receipt of such benefit.

  Mr. Scott
  [holding answers 14 July, 18 July and 20 July 1988]: Information in the form requested is not available. In due course, statistics will be collected within the transitional payments unit to determine the number of applications received, the number of payments made and the time taken to process applications on a national basis, but they are unlikely to be available on either a constituency or district basis. It is not possible to estimate in advance the number of cases in which payments will be made as applications are still being received. Except for urgent cases, they are being processed in the order in which they were received and the date of payment will therefore depend upon the date of receipt at the transitional payments unit.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications have now been received by his Department's unit in Glasgow regarding transitional payments; how many have been duly processed and payments made; and when he expects the remainder of the applications to be processed and payment made.

  Mr. Scott
  [holding answer 22 July 1988]: As planned, the transitional payments unit became fully operational

  831
  this month, making the first housing benefit transitional payments on Thursday 14 July. Up to 25 July, the unit had received 41,024 written inquiries, 20,951 telephone inquiries and 119,143 applications for transitional payments. Already, 47,580 inquiry forms, to obtain the information necessary to assess eligibility for payment, have been sent out to local authorities. In the 7,839 cases where they have been returned, 3,296 assessments have been made. 1,624 applicants were found to be ineligible for payment and in the other 1,604 cases, applicants have been notified of their award and 68 payments have been made. In addition, regular payments are being made in respect of income support transitional payments. Depending upon the rate and volume of applications received we expect all applications to be processed by October.

EMPLOYMENT

  Training and Work Experience
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many voluntary or charitable organisations operate training and work experience programmes for the single homeless and unemployed persons; and if he would provide an estimate of the Government funds provided to each.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information required is not available.

  Consultants
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the cost to the Manpower Services Commission of employing management or computer consultants for each year from 1983 to 1987.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Manpower Services Commission, now the Training Commission, spent the following amounts on management and computer consultancy in the financial years 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87 and 1987–88.

  Year

  £ thousands

  1984–85

  847

  1985–86

  994

  1986–87

  1,422

  1987–88 MSC

  1,279

  ES

  1373

  1 It should be noted that the figures provided relate to the organisation of the MSC prior to reorganisation on 26 October 1987 and therefore include spend appropriate to the employment service. The 1987–88 figures have been split to show the amounts appropriate to MSC and ES.

  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the cost to his Department of employing management or computer consultants for each year from 1983 to 1987.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Expenditure in the Department of Employment Group, excluding the Training Commission and employment service in each year from 1983 to 1987 on management and computer consultancy was as follows:

  £ thousands

  1983

  307

  1984

  346

  1985

  407

  1986

  671

  1987

  1,007

  832
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list each management or computer consultancy contract extant in his Department as at 1 January 1987, giving in each case the name of the consultancy firm and the subject of the assignment.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The following firms had consultancy contracts extant in the Department of Employment group, excluding the Manpower Services Commission, at 1 January 1987:

  Firm

  Subject of Assignment

  CMG Ltd.

  Study into Electronic Mail

  EDP Ltd.

  Support for financial payments systems

  Logica

  Support for personnel records system

  PA Consultants

  Advice on Office Automation systems appraisal

  Portfolio Systems

  Support for DE Unemployment Benefit Service administrative and staff training systems development

  Segal, Quince and Wicksteed

  Encouraging Small Business start-up and growth

  Ms. Jeanette Taylor

  Human Resource Development

  Mr. M. Willmer (Manchester Business School)

  Enterprise—DE Contribution

  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list each management or computer consultancy contract extant in the Manpower Services Commission as at 1 January 1987, giving in each case the name of the consultancy firm and the subject of the assignment.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The list of management and computer consultancy contracts extant as at 1 January 1987 is as follows:

  Management consultancy projects: 1 January 1987

  Consultants

  Subject of assignment

  Jones, Iang, Wootton

  Feasibility study on untying MSC from Property Services Agency

  Central Unit of Purchasing (Her Majesty's Treasury consultant)

  Provide advice about purchasing arrangements within MSC

  PIEDA

  To improve Local Labour Market operations in Scotland

  Centre for Urban and Regional Industrial Development (University of Manchester)

  Manchester Labour Market Consultancy Project

  2. Computer consultancy projects

  Consultants

  Subject of assignment

  1. P. E. Consulting Services

  to study current and future needs of Sheltered Employment Branch

  2. C. J. Makeson

  a study to examine MSC's proposals for, and design of a Network Terminal Protocol

  3. COMSHARE

  to provide MSC Senior Management with on line access to screen based reports of corporate information

  4. Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency (CCTA)

  to examine the PLECTRUM computer system, evaluate errors and security procedures

  833

  Consultants

  Subject of assignment

  5. A. J. Aykroyd

  a consultant to assist with the development of the "Master Modeller" software package

  6. Coopers and Lybrand

  to advise the Director of the MSC on the levels of investment the Commission should make in Information Technology

  7. P. A. Computer and Telecommunications

  to assist MSC in the introduction of Office Technology in Head Office

  8. Arthur Young

  to assist MSC in deciding whether data sharing is applicable in the MSC environment

  9. P. E. Consulting Services

  to produce options and recommendations for stand alone Office Technology systems

  10. Hoskyns Group

  to study the options for the continuing support of the TOPS and SPECTRUM systems

  11. Mr. Boothroyd

  to monitor the progress of the introduction of Office Technology for senior management and Special Measures Division

  12. Concurrent Computer Corporation Ltd.

  to test the workload capacity of the SUPERVACS system

  13. Arthur Young

  a consultant to provide technical support in information engineering concepts and methods

  14. CCTA Consultant

  a feasibility study into the expansion of the BACIE database

  15. CCTA Consultant

  to examine MSC's use of automated software development tools and to make recommendations for future use

  16. Mr. Harrison

  to produce a distance learning package for SUPERVACS operators

  17. Mr. Boothroyd

  to provide advice to Head of Computing on proposed Office Technology development

  18. CCTA

  to establish the effectiveness of control, management and working methods employed on the FMAS project

  19. CCTA

  to establish the user requirements, system specification and business case for Central Research Information System

  20. Mr. Humphries

  a consultant to provide advice about the Training Access Point project

  21. ICL

  a consultant to provide advice about the implementation of a free text multi user database

  22. CAP Industry Ltd.

  to provide quality assurance for the SUPERVACS project

  23. CCTA

  to provide contingency plans to support the SUPERVACS system

  834

  Consultants

  Subject of assignment

  24. Compsoft

  a consultant to provide advice about computerisation of the Staff Deployment Survey

  25. South Yorkshire Micro-systems Centre

  to develop a database and provide training for the RESTART project

  26. Comshare

  additional development work on providing information to MSC senior management

  27. P. A. Consultants

  a consultancy to provide a training course for the implementation of the Office Technology Systems

  28. CCTA

  to carry out further work on the Central Research Information System

  29. CCTA Consultant

  to carry out a Post Implementation Review of the 'VETG' reorganisation project

  30. Xentec

  to assist in the running of the SPECTRUM system

  31. J. Westgate (Consultants) Ltd.

  to assist with the implementation of Network Terminal Protocol

  32. CAP

  to look into the feasibility on implementing a Terminal Protocol on an Open Systems interconnection conforming network

  33. Xentec

  to assist in the maintenance of the SPECTRUM system

  34. C. Makemson

  to provide Quality Assurance for the various outputs from MSC's Virtual Terminal Protocol Project

  35. Sherringtom Software Ltd.

  to provide programmers for work on the TOPS MINIS Project

  36. CCTA Consultant

  to establish the requirements for the display of vacancies on ORACLE

  Training Schemes
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will state, when potential training managers in employment training are given their review of training arrangements prior to receiving ATO status, how many of their work experience placements will be visited and assessed for their quality and health and safety arrangements by Training Commission officials; what length and type of training these Training Commission officials will have had in identifying health and safety hazards; what steps he is taking to ensure that all the work placements used by ET are properly registered with the Health and Safety Executive Factory Inspectorate; whether the Training Commission will publish ET health and safety incident statistics; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The number of locations to be visited by Training Commission staff and assessed for their quality
  835
  and health and safety arrangements will be determined by the size of a training manager's employment training operation. The minimum sampling levels will be:

  Number of training locations used by a Training Manager

  Minimum number of locations to be visited

  12 or less

  3

  13–24

  4

  25–50

  5

  51–100

  8

  101–150

  10

  151–200

  12

  more than 200

  5 per cent. (subject to a minimum of 12)

  Each sample will include a cross-section of directed training locations and practical training locations.

  Every Training Commission area office will have staff who have been specially trained to help them identify the more obvious health and safety hazards and their training will be given by staff who are affiliate members of the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health and who have wide experience in dealing with health and safety issues on YTS.

  In addition every Training Commission region has a part-time professional safety adviser to provide expert advice on the more complex health and safety issues.

  The Training Commission will be entering into a contractual agreement with every training agent and training manager which will require written assurances that their premises and those of their subcontractors will be registered with the appropriate enforcing authority. Training managers themselves will also be expected to monitor health and safety on all of the training provision that they will be responsible for.

  The Training Commission will be recording and publishing employment training accident statistics in exactly the same way as for YTS.

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if his Department's adjudication officers will be required to impose benefit penalties on ET trainees for making themselves voluntarily unemployed if(a) they chose to terminate their training before the end of their agreed training plan because they are dissatisfied with their training or work experience placement, (b) they are dismissed from their training scheme for absenteeism or lateness and (c) they are dismissed from their training scheme for misconduct; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  Participation in Employment Training will be voluntary and leaving the programme early for any one of the reasons mentioned will not in itself provide grounds for refusal of benefit.

  Benefit Advisers
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many claimant advisers are in post; how many interviews with claimants they have carried out in each year since 1986; what has been the outcome of those interviews; how many claimants have been referred to the Department of Health and Social Security for advice on other benefits or to adjudication officers because of doubts about their availability for work; how many have been 836
  encouraged to apply for the job start allowance; if he will give the costs of the claimant adviser service; and if he will make a statement about their current priorities.

  Mr. Cope
  At the end of June 1988, there were 796 claimant advisers in post; estimated costs for the 1988–89 financial year are approximately £14 million.

  The number of interviews conducted and the outcome of those interviews for each financial year is shown in the table.

  The priority of the claimant adviser service is to provide advice and guidance to claimants to help them move out of unemployment. In accordance with the priorities of the employment service, they concentrate their advice on those who have been unemployed for six months or more.

  Claimant Adviser Performance

  November 86

  April 87

  April 88

  March 87

  April 88

  June 88

  Number of Interviews1

  65,000

  620,000

  192,000

  Referrals to DHSS2

  7,600

  63,500

  16,400

  Referrals to AO3

  2,500

  26,100

  5,800

  Outcomes

  —found work or placed in a programme

  2,600

  100,000

  36,500

  —alternative benefit

  5,400

  56,500

  15,600

  —other4

  10,000

  88,000

  26,000

  1 This figure relates to the number of interviews, rather than the number of claimants interviewed, as claimants may have more than one interview.

  2 It is only possible to provide figures for the total number of referrals made to DHSS for all reasons.

  3 Figures are for total referrals to adjudication officers for all doubts arising.

  4 Figures are not available for those who have encouraged to apply for jobstart allowance.

  Local Employer Networks
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest information on the number of local employer networks that have been established.

  Mr. Cope
  There are plans for 107 networks by the end of July. A further 12 networks are under negotiation. We expect that by October about 130 networks will have been established, with at least one in every local education authority area.

  Part-time Workers
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any plans to seek to improve the rights of part-time workers to paid holidays and pensions.

  Mr. Nicholls
  No. Terms and conditions of employment are a matter for employers and employees or their representatives to determine. Pension rights are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security.

  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any plans to seek to improve the pay levels of part-time workers.

  Mr. Nicholls
  No. Pay is a matter for employers and employees or their representatives to determine.
  837
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any plans to seek to improve the protection of part-time workers against unfair dismissal.

  Mr. Nicholls
  No.

  Training
  Mr. Couchman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to encourage industry to train those over 25 years of age for the jobs of the future; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The falling number of young people entering the labour market means that employers will need to invest more in the training of adults to provide the skills they need to compete. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has taken and is planning a number of steps to support and encourage increased efforts by employers to train and retrain the adult work force, including those over 25 years old, through working life.

  The £1·5 billion employment training programme will provide, from September, an opportunity for employers to equip up to 600,000 adult unemployed people a year with the skills needed to fill the job vacancies our economy is creating: 25 to 50-year-olds unemployed for two years or more enjoy a special priority under the programme.

  The Training Commission is reviewing its current range of measures to support firms, especially smaller firms; investment in the training of their employees, to improve access and encourage greater responsiveness to new skill needs.

  The Training Commission has joined with the National Economic Development Office in a campaign to encourage employers to upgrade training and retraining of adults in response to the prospective fall in the supply of young people. Industry training organisations are being encouraged to promote a similar response.

  Employment Training Scheme
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are employed under the new employment training scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Employment training will be launched on 5 September 1988 and will provide around 300,000 training places when fully operational. Participants in employment training will be trainees and not employees. Excellent progress has already been made, and the Training Commission has reached agreement with prospective providers for the provision of some 270,000 of the 300,000 places needed. I am confident that contracts for the remaining 30,000 places will be agreed before 5 September.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report a breakdown of (a) the percentage of places for which bids have been received and (b) the percentage of places provisionally allocated nationally for the local education authority maintained further education sector and other agencies which are directly controlled by county or metropolitan authorities under the new employment training scheme.
  838
  Mr. Nicholls
  The Training Commission has received bids to provide over 700,000 training places, more than twice the 300,000 places needed for employment training. No breakdown of these bids is available.

  On 12 July, the latest date for which detailed information is available, about 24 per cent, of places had been provisionally allocated to local authorities.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has received any representations from the Transport and General Workers Union concerning the employment training programme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has had no formal representation from the Transport and General Workers Union about employment training. I am aware, however, that a compaign of opposition and protest has been organised by the union in some parts of the country in an attempt to disrupt the implementation of the programme in September. I am pleased to say that this campaign has had no effect on the process of contracting, which is now well advanced. Employment training will be launched exactly as planned on 5 September.

  Job Creation
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many new jobs have been created in Great Britain since 1983; what are the comparable figures for the other member states of the European Economic Community; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  I shall write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Strikes
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many working days were lost due to strikes in(a) February 1979 and (b) February 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible and will place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Service Jobs
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the variations in the rate of increase of the number of jobs created in the services in the regions of the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The following table shows the net increases and the percentage increases in the number of employees in employment in service industries between March 1987 and March 1988 in each region and in the United Kingdom.

  Employees in employment Service industries1

  Change March 1987-March 1988 (thousands)

  Change March 1987-March 1988 (per cent.)

  South East

  +183

  +3·00

  East Anglia

  +33

  +7·00

  South West

  +19

  +2·00

  West Midlands

  +43

  +4·00

  East Midlands

  +27

  +3·00

  839

  Change March 1987-March 1988 (thousands)

  Change March 1987-March 1988 (per cent.)

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  +40

  +4·00

  North West

  +20

  +1·00

  North

  +20

  +3·00

  Wales

  +11

  +2·00

  Scotland

  +17

  +1·00

  Northern Ireland

  +4

  +1·00

  United Kingdom

  +418

  +3·00

  1 Divisions 6 to 9 of Standard Industrial Classification 1980.

  EC Job Creation
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he next expects to meet his European Economic Community opposite numbers to discuss new job creation in the Community.

  Mr. Cope
  An informal meeting of Community Labour and Social Affairs Ministers will be held on 19–20 September. The agenda has not yet been decided, but we will be continuing our efforts to ensure that market-led employment growth is a Community priority and that the Community takes full advantage of the potential of the single market.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will consider the publication of a quarterly figure of unemployment based on the quarterly supplements to the labour force survey.

  Mr. Lee
  The quarterly results are (because of the small sample on which they are based) insufficiently reliable for it to be appropriate to publish actual quarterly estimates of unemployment. They can, however, support valid quarterly indications of the trend in such variables.

  Officials are considering the quality of the quarterly data and of trend indicators which might be derived from them. Decisions about publication will be taken when that consideration has been completed.

  Single Market
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what research is being undertaken by his Department into the employment implications of the completion of the European Community internal market in 1992 for the regions of the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Cope
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Dr. Thomas) on 5 July 1988, at columns 188–89.

  Recruitment and Promotion Policy
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what measures he has implemented to ensure that recruitment and promotion policy in his Department does not directly or indirectly discriminate against applicants who were mature students or women returning to work following a career-break due to child care.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Recruitment to and promotion within my Department is conducted within the general guidance 840
  applying across the Civil Service. As an equal opportunities employer, the Department of Employment recruits and promotes staff solely on merit and implements policies that do not disadvantage any group. I am satisfied that no additional measures are needed to safeguard the position of mature students or women returning to work after a career break.

  Training Programme (Disabled People)
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has made a decision on the Training Commission's proposal for continuous part-time participation for disabled and other groups of people in the new training programme.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has decided that part-time training opportunities will be available for people whose disabilities or domestic responsibilities restrict their ability to train full-time.

  Dock Labour Scheme
  Mr. Woodcock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will estimate the financial effect on British industry of retention of the registered dock labour scheme after 1992.

  Mr. Nicholls
  No.

  Manchester Ship Canal (Dock Labour Scheme)
  Mr. Woodcock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will estimate the continuing extra cost of retention of the registered dock labour scheme on users of the Manchester ship canal.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I have not made any estimate of the costs of using this canal. It would not be possible to make any such meaningful assessment.

  Community Programme
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many bids under the new employment training scheme have been accepted from existing community programme projects run by APEX; and what proportion this represents of bids received from APEX community programme schemes.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Detailed information about bids for employment training places is not available centrally. APEX currently has some 1,348 filled places on the community programme and it and some other organisations with whom it plans to associate in the new programme have been offered some 4,300 employment training places.

  Unfair Dismissal
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of the work force have statutory protection against unfair dismissal.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Data from the spring 1986 labour force survey indicate that in March 1986 approximately 70 per cent, of the work force were covered by the unfair dismissal provisions of the Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978.

  Manpower Services Commission
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will state the number of Manpower Services Commission staff employed for each year since 1978 and their total cost to public funds.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information requested is as follows:

  Number of Manpower Services Commission staff

  Total cost of Manpower Services Commission staff to public funds (£000s)

  At:

  1 April 1978

  25,332

  1978–79

  209,996

  1 April 1979

  26,289

  1979–80

  246,238

  1 April 1980

  25,868

  1980–81

  300,269

  1 April 1981

  24,225

  1981–82

  316,192

  1 April 1982

  24,250

  1982–83

  329,629

  1 April 1983

  22,687

  1983–84

  333,666

  1 April 1984

  21,929

  1984–85

  331,311

  1 April 1985

  20,803

  1985–86

  363,491

  1 April 1986

  21,075

  1986–87

  412,808

  1 April 1987

  23,953

  1987–88

  348,700

  1 April 1988

  12,520·5

  1988–89

  237,532

  Notes:

  (1). The 1988–89 figures is an estimate.

  (2). On the passage of the Employment Act 1988 the Manpower Services Commission was renamed the Training Commission.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the estimated expenditure of the Manpower Services Commission and his Department in Scotland in each of the years 1988–89, 1989–90 and 1990–91.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The estimated expenditure of the Training Commission (formerly the Manpower Services Commission) in Scotland in 1988–89 is £210,082,000. Estimates of expenditure for the years 1989–90 and 1990–91 will only be made when the Supply Estimates for these years are prepared.

  No estimate is made of the territorial distribution of expenditure in the rest of the Department of Employment group.

  £000s

  Training Commission

  Community Programme

  Community Industry

  Sheltered Employment

  Total

  1979–80

  394,395

  50,966

  16,952

  41,954

  504,267

  1980–81

  479,177

  45,736

  18,994

  54,940

  598,847

  1981–82

  646,527

  92,741

  23,376

  58,888

  821,532

  1982–83

  783,697

  154,796

  23,601

  66,772

  1,028,866

  1983–84

  970,378

  401,542

  23,637

  72,691

  1,468,248

  1984–85

  1,087,049

  532,702

  24,125

  63,783

  1,707,659

  1985–86

  1,210,916

  683,224

  24,447

  67,185

  1,985,772

  1986–87

  1,444,492

  1,007,031

  25,309

  56,801

  2,533,633

  Training (Expenditure)
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give an estimate of the percentage of gross domestic product spent on training in each of the years 1979 to 1987, inclusive; and if he will provide such comparative statistics as are available to him for each of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries over the same period.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information requested is not available.
  842
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the total expenditure of the Manpower Services Commission and his Department in Scotland in each of the years 1979 to 1987, inclusive.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Manpower Services Commission (named the Training Commission from May 1988) keeps records on the basis of the standard financial year for accounting for Government expenditure. The year runs from 1 April to 31 March.

  The proportion of the commission's costs that can be specifically indentified with services in Scotland is financed by a contribution to the commission's grant-in-aid from the Industry Department for Scotland.

  The figures for this contribution are published in the annual Appropriation Accounts and are as follows:

  £

  1979–80

  53,244

  1980–81

  73,552

  1981–82

  92,211

  1982–83

  107,414

  1983–84

  118,541

  1984–85

  127,400

  1985–86

  133,896

  1986–87

  162,077

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the total expenditure on the Manpower Services Commission's programme for the unemployed in each of the years 1979 to 1987, inclusive.

  Mr. Nicholls
  All Training Commission (formerly Manpower Services Commission) programmes are concerned to some extent with the problems of unemployment, and expenditure on those specifically for the unemployed is not identified separately. Figures for the commission's total programme expenditure, and expenditure on programmes which it manages on behalf of the Department of Employment are shown by financial year in the table.

  European Social Fund (Women's Training Places)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many women's training places have been approved by his Department under the European social fund for each year since 1983.

  Mr. Cope
  My Department does not approve training places for projects supported by the European social fund; this is a matter solely for the European Commission to decide.

  For each of the years since 1983 the European Commission approved the following number of training places in the United Kingdom under the European social

  843
  fund guideline strictly reserved for women returning to the labour market for occupations in which they are under-represented.

  Training places approved by European Commission under European social fund guideline for women

  Year

  Number

  1983

  1,466

  1984

  3,377

  1985

  6,206

  1986

  8,200

  11987

  16,007

  11988

  20,435

  1 Provisional.

  In addition, 955,729 United Kingdom training places for women were approved by the European Commission under other social fund guidelines for the period 1984 to 1986. Figures prior to 1984 were not divided by gender and those for 1987 and 1988 are not yet available.

  Youth Unemployment
  Mr. Silverman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what have been the levels of youth unemployment in percentage terms for(a) 16 to 18-year-olds and (b) 18 to 25-year-olds in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The available information is published in table 2.15 of the Employment Gazette. Summarised are the figures for April of each year from 1980 to 1988, taken from this publication. Direct comparisons of unemployment by age since 1980 are not possible because of changes in the coverage of the count.

  Table A. Rates by age.

  Unemployed registrants

  April

  Under 18 Per cent.

  18–19 Per cent.

  20–24 Per cent.

  1980

  13·3

  11·0

  9·3

  1981

  17·8

  18·7

  15·6

  1982

  22·4

  22·8

  17·9

  Table B. Rates by age.

  Unemployed claimants

  April

  Under 18 Per cent.

  18–19 Per cent.

  20–24 Per cent.

  1983

  24·0

  23·6

  17·1

  1984

  18·9

  24·6

  17·1

  1985

  18·8

  23·3

  17·5

  11986

  21·5

  21·8

  17·2

  1987

  13·8

  20·6

  15·7

  1988

  11·5

  15·4

  12·4

  1Because of a change in the compilation of the unemployment statistics, unadjusted figures from April 1986 are not directly comparable with earlier figures.

  YTS
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what has been the average cost of the YTS per entrant, in each of the years since the scheme's inception;

  (2) how many young people, having completed YTS, go into (a) further or higher education, (b) jobs, (c) unemployment and (d) other destinations, in percentage terms, in each of the years since the scheme's inception;
  844
  (3) how many places have been available on the YTS in each year since its inception; and how many in each year have been taken up;

  (4) what has been the annual cost of the YTS since its inception to the most recent date available at constant prices.

  Mr. Cope
  I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and will place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Coal Industry (Accidents)
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the accident rate and the percentage change in fatal and major injury accidents in(a) private licensed mines and (b) British Coal operated mines between the period 1985–86 and 1986–87; and what is the latest trend in these figures.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The table gives the available information for the years 1985–86 and 1986–87, based on a rate per 1,000 employed. It is not possible to indicate any trend as licensed mines employment figures are not available for 1987–88.

  Year

  Fatal rate

  Percentage change

  Major injury rate

  Percentage change

  Licensed mines

  1985–86

  0·75

  +214

  12·82

  +76

  11986–87

  2·26

  22·6

  British Coal mines

  1985–86

  0·18

  -33

  4·62

  +64

  11986–87

  0·12

  7·59

  Figures for licensed mines are based on workforce figures supplied by British Coal.

  1 The introduction of RIDDOR Regulations on 1 April 1986 widened the coverage of serious accident categories. The figures for 1986–87 are not directly comparable with earlier years.

  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if, in the light of the increase in the rate of fatal and major injury accidents in private licensed mines, he will make it his policy not to lift the safety restrictions on small private mines.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Mines and Quarries Act 1954 and associated legislation is currently being reviewed and the provisions relating to licensed mines will be included in the exercise. The review is subject to full consultation with both sides of the industry.

  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the number of fatal accidents in private licensed mines since April 1988, giving a comparable rate of fatalities per 1,000 people employed for(a) such mines and (b) mines operated by British Coal.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Since April 1988, there have been two fatalities at licensed coal mines and six fatalities at British Coal mines. It is not possible to give a comparable rate as the current figures for people employed at licensed mines is not available.

  Channel Tunnel (Registered Docks)
  Mr. Woodcock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps will be taken to ensure registered docks will be in a position to compete fairly with the Channel tunnel; and if he will make a statement.
  845
  Mr. Portiilo
  I have been asked to reply.

  The tunnel does not enjoy favoured treatment over ports. There is no public funding or guarantee, and the Government are committed to even-handedness, for example, of infrastructure and frontier control measures. As regards ports in the dock labour scheme, we have no present plans to change their position.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Mortgage Interest Relief
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for those with and those without investment income in 1986–87 the numbers in each income band up to a lower limit of £100,000 benefiting from mortgage interest relief divided as between single persons and one and two-earner married couples; and if he will provide an estimate for 1987–88;

  (2) whether he will publish in the Official Report tables showing the estimated number of tax units under age 65 years in each income band up to a lower limit of £100,000 in receipt of mortgage interest relief in the current financial year and the percentage with investment income; and if he will also distinguish between single persons, one-earner and two-earner married couples.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 27 July 1988]: The available information is in the tables. Following the introduction of MIRAS in April 1983, it is no longer possible to estimate the distribution of mortgage interest relief from Inland Revenue records. The estimates in the table are based on projections of data from the family expenditure survey but, as the sample size for the FES is relatively small, it is not possible to provide reliable estimates in all the detail requested nor to provide separate figures for non-aged tax units. Estimates are subject to revision.
  846

  Tax units1 receiving mortgage interest relief by range of total income 1986–87

  Thousands

  Range of total income

  With no investment income

  With investment income

  Total

  Up to £5,000

  340

  410

  750

  £5,000 to £10,000

  570

  1,330

  1,900

  £10,000 to £15,000

  560

  1,970

  2,530

  £15,000 to £20,000

  260

  1,360

  1,620

  £20,000 to £30,000

  100

  900

  1,000

  £30,000 plus

  20

  380

  400

  Total

  1,850

  6,350

  8,200

  1 Single people and married couples.

  Tax units1 receiving mortgage interest relief by range of total income 1987–88

  Thousands

  Range of total income

  With no investment income

  With investment income

  Total

  Up to £5,000

  330

  390

  720

  £5,000 to £10,000

  470

  1,150

  1,620

  £10,000 to £15,000

  600

  1,900

  2,500

  £15,000 to £20,000

  300

  1,470

  1,770

  £20,000 to £30,000

  130

  1,140

  1,270

  £30,000 plus

  20

  500

  520

  Total

  1,850

  6,550

  8,400

  1 Single people and married couples.

  Tax units1 receiving mortgage interest relief by range of total income 1988–89

  Range of total income

  Number (thousands)

  Percentage with investment income

  Up to £5,000

  690

  54

  £5,000 to £10,000

  1,300

  70

  £10,000 to £15,000

  2,440

  77

  £15,000 to £20,000

  1,890

  83

  £20,000 to £30,000

  1,580

  89

  £30,000 plus

  700

  93

  Total

  8,600

  79

  1 Single people and married couples.

  ERITREA AND VIETNAM: FAMINE RELIEF
  ERITREA AND VIETNAM: FAMINE RELIEF
  INSTITUTE OF OCEANOGRAPHIC SCIENCES
  INSTITUTE OF OCEANOGRAPHIC SCIENCES
  ELIZABETH GARRETT ANDERSON HOSPITAL
  ELIZABETH GARRETT ANDERSON HOSPITAL
  CARE ATTENDANTS FROM THE EC
  CARE ATTENDANTS FROM THE EC
  FOOD FROM BRITAIN: FUNDING
  FOOD FROM BRITAIN: FUNDING
  NOVEL ORGANISMS: RELEASE IMPLICATIONS
  NOVEL ORGANISMS: RELEASE IMPLICATIONS
  HOUSING ASSOCIATION TENANTS: GUARANTEE
  HOUSING ASSOCIATION TENANTS: GUARANTEE
  BUILT-UP LAND IN SOUTH-EAST ENGLAND
  BUILT-UP LAND IN SOUTH-EAST ENGLAND
  CHAIRMEN OF PUBLIC BODIES: REMUNERATION
  CHAIRMEN OF PUBLIC BODIES: REMUNERATION
  AVEBURY
  AVEBURY
  STORM DAMAGE TO TREES
  STORM DAMAGE TO TREES
  STORM DAMAGE TO NON-WOODLAND TREES
  STORM DAMAGE TO NON-WOODLAND TREES
  COMMUNITY CHARGE: ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS
  COMMUNITY CHARGE: ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS
  COMMUNITY CHARGE: REGISTRATION
  COMMUNITY CHARGE: REGISTRATION
  POP VIDEOS: CLASSIFICATION CERTIFICATES
  POP VIDEOS: CLASSIFICATION CERTIFICATES
  LOCAL AUTHORITY GRANTS
  LOCAL AUTHORITY GRANTS
  FALSE AND MALICIOUS ALLEGATIONS AGAINST PRISON OFFICERS
  FALSE AND MALICIOUS ALLEGATIONS AGAINST PRISON OFFICERS
  PRISON OFFICERS IN TRAINING
  PRISON OFFICERS IN TRAINING