Written Answers of 16 June 1988

ENERGY

  Nuclear Accidents (Notification)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the agreements he has with each country in the European Community and the Nordic countries for the notification of nuclear accidents in(a) their countries and (b) the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The United Kingdom is a signatory to the IAEA convention on early notification and is a party to the European Community arrangements for the exchange of information in the event of a nuclear accident.

  Bilateral agreements with Norway and Denmark were concluded last year and there is a similar agreement with France dating from 1983.

  Plutonium
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) whether the conditions permitting the export of plutonium from Sellafield to Japan have been met in full; and what total quantity of plutonium is expected to be involved in the contract;

  (2) whether the agreement to export plutonium to Japan from Sellafield will be reviewed in the event of Japan's fast breeder reactor programme being cut back.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Central (Mr. Darling) on 14 June 1988.

  Civil Defence
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will identify(a) liaison arrangements between his Department and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation civil emergency planning boards and committees, concerning civil emergency and home defence planning, and (b) the extent of collaborative work carried out with these bodies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  The Home Office represents my Department's interests at NATO civil emergency planning boards and conducts liaison arrangements through the senior civil emergency planning committee. My Department is directly represented on the NATO petroleum planning committee and its working group, which meets regularly. The Department participates in relevant NATO exercises.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will identify the terms of reference of work on(a) civil emergencies and (b) home defence planning carried out in his Department, the number of staff involved and the annual budgets for 1985–86, 1986–87 and 1987–88; and if he will make a statement.
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  Mr. Peter Morrison
  My Department, in conjunction with the energy industries, is required to prepare and has plans, including those for home defence, to meet any civil emergency arising in the production, supply and distribution of energy fuels in the United Kingdom as covered by the Energy Act 1976. The total number of departmental staff, including part-time staff, engaged on this work is 30. The annual budgets for the years listed were £240,000; £295,000 and £317,500 respectively.

  Oil and Pipelines Agency
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he intends to review the role of the Oil and Pipelines Agency: and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  The Oil and Pipelines Agency (OPA) is responsible for collecting royalty in kind, for maintaining the arrangements for state participation in oil production in the United Kingdom continental shelf and for managing the Government pipeline and storage system (GPSS). Following review, the Government have decided to cease taking royalty in kind Notice is being given to the companies concerned that the final chargeable period for royalty in kind will run from 1 July to 31 December 1988, and that from 1 January 1989 all royalty will be taken in cash. With the ending of the trading activities of OPA, it will be my intention to phase out the participation arrangements with the oil companies. We shall be discussing with OPA and the industry the best means of achieving this. Discussions are taking place with my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces, with a view to the GPSS being transferred to his Department.

  Nuclear Technology
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, further to his answer of 16 May,Official Report, columns 300–1, which countries have been the destination of transfers of nuclear technology, reprocessing and waste management which have been subject to Government approval.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  [holding answer 24 May 1988]To date, one such transfer, to Japan, has been approved.

PRIME MINISTER

  Port of Leith
  Mr. Ron Brown
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will pay an official visit to the port of Leith.

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

  Mr. Charles Powell
  Mr Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister what procedures are required to be followed by civil servants when they are approached with requests to give interviews or pose for photographs for use in press articles; how those procedures were followed in relation to the photograph of Mr. Charles Powell which appeared in the Illustrated London News of April 1988; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  Such requests would be judged on their merits. No interview was sought or given in the case referred to in the question.

  Financial Management Initiative
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Prime Minister whether she will make a statement on the implementation of the Government's financial management initiative throughout Departments since its introduction.

  The Prime Minister
  In the Treasury minute (Cm. 236) in response to the 13th report from the Committee of Public Accounts, the Government noted that it shared the Controller and Auditor General's broad conclusions that real progress was being made in the development of suitable systems and that there were no serious shortcomings in the Departments examined by the National Audit Office in 1986. We shall shortly be making available a report on the progress being made with budgeting in Departments which covers the key system elements of the financial management initiative. As I announced on 18 February 1988, at column 1149, we have accepted the main recommendations in the efficiency unit's report "Improving Management in Government: the Next Steps". The implementation of these recommendations will further reinforce the principles of the FMI and demonstrate clearly the Government's commitment to maintaining the momentum of our overal programme to improve value for money.

  Dr. Sergio Ramirez
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Prime Minister why she is unable to receive Dr. Sergio Ramirez, Vice-President of Nicaragua, on his forthcoming visit to Europe; when was the last time she received an invitation to meet the Vice-President; what was her response; when she last met the Vice-President of Nicaragua; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  The Nicaraguan ambassador informed us that Dr. Ramirez, whom I last met in February 1985, wished to visit the United Kingdom on 11 and 12 July during a tour of European capitals. I did not intend to receive him on this occasion, but my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs agreed to do so. I now understand, however, that Dr. Ramirez has decided not to include the United Kingdom in his tour.

  Ministerial Responsibilities
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list those Ministers, other than the Secretary of State for Employment, who answer parliamentary questions about the establishment and activities of the Health and Safety Commission and the Health and Safety Executive and their subordinate agencies; and if, for each Minister, she will list the precise aspects for which he is responsible.

  The Prime Minister
  The Secretary of State for Employment is responsible for all matters concerned with the staffing and establishment of the Health and Safety Commission and Executive which do not fall to myself as arising from the position of HSE staff as civil servants. He is also responsible for all the aspects of the commission's and the executive's work which concern primarily the protection of workers, and the protection of the public from the generality of hazards.

  Any Secretary of State may, having consulted the Secretary of State for Employment, direct or ask the
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  commission to do work on particular matters. The commission may also submit proposals for regulations or approved codes of practice to any Minister responsible for provisions which are relevant statutory provisions for the purposes of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

  Secretaries of State with responsibilities which currently involve the commission and the executive, for whose activities they may answer in Parliament, are principally the Secretary of State for Energy, who has ministerial responsibility for nuclear safety in England and Wales; the Secretary of State for Scotland, who has a like responsibility there; the Home Secretary, who is responsible for the security of explosives; the Secretary of State for Transport, who has general responsibility for the protection of the public from hazards connected with transportation and harbours; the Secretary of State for Social Services who, in exercising certain of his responsibilities for public health, and the health and safety of NHS staff, relies on the advice of the commission; and the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, particularly in relation to part III of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 and its associated regulations.

  The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry is extensively supported by the commission and the executive in relation to the negotiations of European directives and standards of a harmonising character, many of which have implications for safety and health, and his responsibilities for consumer safety at some points impinge on the commission's work.

  The Health and Safety Executive also exercises many functions which impinge on the responsibilities of the Secretaries of State for the Environment and for Wales. Questions wholly or partly directed to the executive's activities could fall to be answered by those Ministers.

  Medical and Dental Officers (Armed Forces)
  Mr. Whitney
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a statement about the pay of medical and dental officers in the armed forces.

  The Prime Minister
  The Armed Forces Pay Review Body has submitted to me a supplementary report on the pay of medical and dental officers in the armed forces which recommends increases of between 4 and 7·6 per cent. with effect from 1 April 1988. These awards are derived from those to civilian doctors and dentists which I announced in the House on 21 April 1988, and the Government have decided to accept them in full. The report has been published as Cm. 396 and copies are available in the Vote Office.

  Civil Defence
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Prime Minister whether she will identify(a) liaison arrangements between the Cabinet Office and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation civil emergency planning boards and committees, concerning civil emergency and home defence planning, and (b) the extent of collaborative work carried out with these bodies; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  The Cabinet Office is not represented on any NATO civil emergency planning board or committee, but it is kept informed of the work of these bodies, is consulted as appropriate by the relevant United
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  Kingdom representative and is involved in the formation of the United Kingdom's policy on issues that arise within them.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Prime Minister whether she will identify the terms of reference of work on(a) civil emergencies and (b) home defence planning carried out in the Cabinet Office, the number of staff involved and the annual budgets for such work in 1985–86, 1986–87 and 1987–88; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  The Cabinet Office is responsible for the co-ordination of the Government's civil emergency and home defence planning. Nine staff are primarily engaged on this work. The annual budget for such work in the last three financial years is as follows:

  Year

  £ million

  1985–86

  0·27

  1986–87

  0·35

  1987–88

  0·35

  Office Costs
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Prime Minister what has been the percentage increase or decrease in the cost of running her office at 10 Downing street and Chequers since 1979.

  The Prime Minister
  Since 1979 there have been several developments which have affected how the costs of running my office are assessed, including:

  Introduction of charging for aircraft by the Ministry of Defence in 1981–82;

  Abolition of the CPRS in 1983, and the absorption of some of its staff within the No. 10 Policy Unit;

  Introduction of charging for buildings and services by the PSA in 1983–84;

  Introduction of charging for service personnel at Chequers by the MOD in 1984–85;

  Changes in the allocation of charges for the Government Car Service in 1984–85; and

  Inclusion of costs of office services from 1986–87.

  When the effects of these developments are excluded (as far as it is possible to do so) and the result expressed in constant price terms, the cost of running 10 Downing street and Chequers has decreased by 1·61 per cent. between 1979–80 and 1987–88.

  Engagements
  Mrs. Virgina Bottomley
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 16 June.

  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 16 June.

  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 16 June.

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 16 June.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 16 June.

  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 16 June.

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

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Nursery Education
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science by what date he expects to achieve the target figures for provision of part-time nursery education, set out in the 1972 White Paper "A Framework for Expansion", of 50 per cent. of three-year-olds and 90 per cent. of four-year-olds.

  Mr. Dunn
  Taking account of all forms of provision, we are not far short of the levels of participation the White Paper recommended: virtually all rising-fives, three quarters of other four-year-olds and one third of three-year-olds are in school, and over half the three-to-four-year-old population attend playgroups.

  Mathematics
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received from industry about the mathematical ability of school leavers.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  My right hon. Friend has received no direct representations from industry about the mathematical ability of school leavers. However, there is evidence that standards of mathematical achievement in England and Wales, particularly standards achieved by less able pupils, are lower than they should be. Our proposals for a national curriculum, with clearly prescribed attainment targets and programmes of study for mathematics, backed up by national assessment and testing, will help to raise standards.

  Truancy
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to require education authorities to make periodic returns to his Department of the percentage of truancy by 14 and 15-year-old children; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Staffordshire (Mr. Heddle) on 26 November, at column 275.

  Open University
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he last met officials of the Open University to discuss funding; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  My right hon. Friend is advised on all matters relating to the Open University, including funding, by an independent visiting committee. This year the committee has met the university on two occasions, most recently on 7 June.

  Exporters (Training)
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to the answer of 13 May,Official Report, column 259, what plans he has to extend the provision for training to exporters for the Japanese market.

  Mr. Jackson
  As I said in my reply of 13 May, the network of language export training centres is capable of
  185
  providing training to exporters for the Japanese market. The network has been established under the local collaborative projects scheme, which is jointly funded through the Department's professional, industrial and commercial updating programme and the Training Commission. The network is currently being extended to give full nationwide coverage. The centres will also have the potential to use open learning techniques, thereby increasing the opportunities for access by business. The Department of Education and Science is in consultation with the Department of Trade and Industry on how to expand the demand for the network's Japanese services as well as other possible ways of enhancing Japanese language training for exporters.

  Polytechnics and Colleges
  Dr. Hampson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will now authorise the release to the Association of Polytechnic Teachers and the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education copies of the consultative document on articles of government which he has been discussing with directors of polytechnics and principals of colleges.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Government intend to circulate at an early date draft guidance on articles of government for the polytechnics and colleges for consultation with interested bodies, including these associations.

  GCSE
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what money has been allocated nationally for the provision of school library facilities with regard to the introduction and running of the general certificate of secondary education examination system; what figure has been allocated to each local education authority; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Government's spending plans for 1988–89 include an extra £10 million for secondary school libraries in recognition of the heightened pressure for improvements resulting from the introduction of the GCSE. In addition to the above, over £100 million has been allowed in the plans for GCSE-related expenditure, of which £10 million is supported by specific grant for books and equipment. It is, however, for local authorities themselves to decide individually on the priority that they wish to give to secondary school library provision from the resources available to them.

  Education Buildings
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what bids were submitted by local education authorities for the additional funding made available by his Department for the improvement of educational buildings in inner city areas; what allocations have been made; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dunn
  Forty authorities which cover an urban programme area submitted supplementary plans totalling £89 million. Those are currently under consideration and we expect to announce additional allocations to some authorities shortly.

  Teachers (Safeguarding Payments)
  Mr. Ashdown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information is available to him regarding the present annual cost of safeguarding payments to teachers(a) nationally and (b) for a typical local education authority that has recently undertaken a major redeployment exercise; whether his draft circular on local financial delegation permits continued safeguarding outside allocated school budgets; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dunn
  The information requested is not available. However, the cost of safeguarding nationally will have diminished greatly from October 1987, when the restructuring of teachers' pay led to many formerly safeguarded teachers becoming entitled to an incentive allowance in their present post. The draft circular on financial delegation states that in exceptional cases LEAs might wish to offer compensation outside the delegated budget for the additional costs to a school of taking on a teacher with a safeguarded incentive allowance. My right hon. Friend would expect this item to be limited in extent.

  Teachers (Salaries)
  Mr. Ashdown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information is available to him as to the number and proportion of schools that have staff in post at a total salary cost greater than the pro rata amount of the local authority's salary budget for schools apportioned between schools according to pupil numbers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dunn
  Such information could be extracted from the Department's administrative records only at disproportionate cost.

  Schools (Financial Delegation)
  Mr. Ashdown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make it his policy that any scheme of financial delegation to schools should provide sufficient funds in every case to enable the continued employment of the present teaching staff on the assumption that the number of pupils remains constant; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dunn
  The Government do not intend to impose a single model scheme of financial delegation. Subject to the passage of the Education Reform Bill, it will be for each local education authority to prepare and submit its own scheme for approval. My right hon. Friend has issued for comment a draft consultative document which envisages that the budget of each school under a scheme of financial delegation should be based primarily on pupil numbers, weighted for differences in age. It will be for the governing body to determine the staffing required to meet the current and changing educational needs and priorities of the school within its delegated budget.

  Teachers (Pay and Conditions)
  Mr. Dickens
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when the "School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document 1988" will be published.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The "School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document 1988" was published this morning.
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  I have now made an order which will give effect to the provisions in this document. It provides for the implementation of the recommendations on pay rates of the interim advisory committee on school teachers' pay and conditions. A circular has also been sent today to each local education authority. Copies of the 1988 document and the circular have been placed in the Vote Office.

  Full-time students from outside the United Kingdom in Scottish Universities

  Academic year beginning

  1978

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Undergraduates

  Aberdeen

  254

  256

  253

  175

  165

  168

  266

  438

  567

  Dundee

  212

  187

  190

  205

  187

  157

  147

  133

  143

  Edinburgh

  519

  455

  476

  434

  387

  419

  373

  509

  499

  Glasgow

  321

  413

  414

  366

  422

  521

  602

  683

  745

  Heriot-Walt

  335

  316

  305

  260

  273

  354

  375

  445

  410

  St. Andrews

  243

  266

  206

  203

  180

  236

  271

  358

  414

  Stirling

  205

  218

  207

  157

  102

  104

  105

  122

  226

  Strathclyde

  386

  386

  368

  419

  441

  508

  570

  614

  597

  Total

  2,475

  2,497

  2,419

  2,219

  2,157

  2,467

  2,709

  3,302

  3,601

  Postgraduates

  Aberdeen

  222

  188

  164

  148

  143

  146

  149

  164

  199

  Dundee

  202

  160

  165

  157

  94

  90

  110

  108

  136

  Edinburgh

  523

  426

  370

  365

  401

  369

  354

  424

  494

  Glasgow

  241

  288

  235

  228

  260

  293

  353

  540

  615

  Heriot-Watt

  120

  121

  113

  114

  148

  131

  157

  183

  229

  St. Andrews

  86

  85

  77

  80

  72

  67

  72

  89

  111

  Stirling

  68

  40

  51

  61

  81

  101

  137

  144

  202

  Strathclyde

  479

  471

  433

  422

  451

  539

  569

  632

  699

  Total

  1,941

  1,779

  1,608

  1,575

  1,650

  1,736

  1,901

  2,284

  2,685

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many(a) undergraduate students and (b) postgraduate students were studying at each Scottish university, by parental socio-economic class, as defined by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, in each academic year since 1978–79.

  Mr. Jackson
  Information on the parental socioeconomic class for students at individual universities is not available.

  Mature new entrants to individual Scottish universities

  Undergraduates (Aged 21 + )

  Academic year beginning

  1978

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Aberdeen

  86

  61

  62

  33

  50

  52

  113

  196

  174

  Dundee

  44

  31

  37

  41

  33

  18

  28

  31

  39

  Edinburgh

  110

  68

  80

  73

  78

  99

  64

  144

  123

  Glasgow

  89

  99

  70

  74

  112

  199

  141

  218

  189

  Heriot-Watt

  97

  47

  63

  64

  91

  140

  118

  147

  96

  St. Andrews

  53

  76

  44

  39

  45

  65

  66

  72

  79

  Stirling

  56

  43

  42

  34

  11

  30

  44

  50

  103

  Strathclyde

  107

  138

  114

  160

  139

  192

  231

  194

  190

  Total

  642

  563

  512

  518

  559

  797

  805

  1,052

  993

  Postgraduates (Aged 25 + )l

  Total

  536

  516

  611

  558

  586

  637

  691

  731

  818

  1 Excludes students domiciled outside the United Kingdom. Breakdown between universities is not available.

  Civil Defence
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will identify(a) liaison arrangements between his Department and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation civil emergency planning

  Scottish Universities
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many(a) undergraduate students and (b) postgraduate students in each of the Scottish universities came from outside the United Kingdom in each academic year from 1978–79.

  Mr. Jackson
  The information is shown in the following table.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many(a) undergraduate mature students and (b) postgraduate mature students there have been in each Scottish university since the academic year 1978–79.

  Mr. Jackson
  The available information is given in the table.

  boards and committees, concerning civil emergency and home defence planning, and (b) the extent of collaborative work carried out with these bodies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  My Department has no arrangements for liaison with the bodies mentioned.
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  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will identify the terms of reference of work on(a) civil emergencies and (b) home defence planning carried out in his Department, and the number of staff involved and the annual budgets for 1985–86 and 1987–88; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  My Department has no formal terms of reference for these activities. No staff were employed on them and there was no budget for the years in question.

  Education Authorities (Expenditure)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take into account rates of truancy when considering the expenditure requirements of inner city education authorities.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The needs of inner city authorities for spending on education are assessed as part of the assessment of grant-related expenditure for rate support grant purposes. There is an additional educational needs allowance based on socio-economic factors, but we do not believe that it would be desirable to include in the assessment a direct measure of truancy.

HOME DEPARTMENT Prisoners (Home Leave)

  Prisoners (Home Leave))
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements cover financial assistance for prisoners on home leave where the householder qualifies for income support; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  All prisoners on home leave receive travelling expenses and subsistence for the journey. Householders who are in receipt of income support may apply for financial assistance under paragraph 6304 of the social fund manual, but the operation of these arrangements is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services.

  Violence (Town Centres)
  Sir Dudley Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of the level of violence in town centres of England and Wales, other than large inner city areas, and what steps are being taken to counteract such violence.

  Mr. John Patten
  My right hon. Friend has referred in a number of recent speeches, including that to the Police Federation last month, to our concern at this serious problem. We have also received the report of the survey into the extent of the problem recently carried out by the Association of Chief Police Officers in consultation with the Home Office. Officials and representatives of the association are now examining together the problems faced by the police in tackling this sort of disorder and how best to overcome them.

  We have already taken a number of steps to increase police powers and capacity to tackle violent crime and disorder. We have strengthened the powers available to the police to deal with public disorder and have brought before Parliament proposals to prohibit the sale of
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  specified offensive weapons and to make it an offence to be in possession of a knife in a public place without good reason.

  Since 1979 we have approved 4,327 additional posts for provincial forces, and police strength in these forces has increased by 6,808. The link between misuse of alcohol and this type of disorder is clear, and that is one reason why in the Licensing Act 1988 the law against under-age drinking has been strengthened.

  Prison Officer Peter Shaw
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has received any representations regarding the transfer application of Prison Officer Peter Shaw, of Her Majesty's prison, Grendon.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Apart from the correspondence with Mr. Shaw himself about his request for transfer, one letter has been received in the Department in support of his application.

  Mr. G. Bacon
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to why the home of Mr. George Bacon, at 7 Herbert road, Manor Park, London E.12, was raided on 30 March; and what were the results.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that a warrant was sought and obtained in order to search Mr. Bacon's house for stolen electrical equipment and household items. No stolen property was found.

  Police Federation
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what financial support is given by Her Majesty's Government to the Police Federation or its officers; and for what purposes.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  A contribution of 85 per cent. is made through the common police services arrangements to the salaries of the chairman, secretary, and treasurer of the Police Federation's joint central committee, the remainder being met by the federation itself. The travelling and subsistence expenses of joint central committee members attending certain meetings are also reimbursed by the same means. A small sum is also payable for the secretarial expenses incurred by the Police Federation on behalf of the staff side of the Police Negotiating Board. The size of these contributions amounted to about £72,000 in 1987–88. These payments are made mainly in pursuance of the recommendations of the Edmund-Davies committee report on the "Structure and Role of Police Staff Associations" (1979, Cmnd. 7633).

  In addition, police authorities provide locally for office facilities, time off for part-time officers, the salaries of full-time officers, and travelling expenses for meetings and conference expenses. Fifty one per cent. of these costs are met through the police specific grant paid by the Government.

  Adult Education (London)
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to develop links
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  between the chief education officer at the Home Office and the separate London boroughs, which have to establish their individual adult education departments on the abolition of the Inner London education authority.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The draft guidance issued by the Department of Education and Science to inner London boroughs states that the arrangements for education in Prison Department establishments will be the subject of discussion between the DES, the Home Office, ILEA and the councils concerned.

  Arrangements for these discussions will be made as soon as possible.

  Prisoners (Education)
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are currently receiving adult education services from the Inner London education authority community education department.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  On the most recent date for which information is readily available, the total attendances for day and evening classes in the five prison establishments within the Inner London education authority area was 771

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to promote arrangements by individual boroughs to ensure continuing adult education for prisoners when they return to the community after serving their sentence, subsequent to the abolition of the Inner London education authority.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend has no powers to ensure that the LEAs provide continuing adult education for prisoners when they are returned to the community after serving their sentences. Each LEA has to balance priorities in the light of an assessment of needs and of available resources.

  Discussions will be held between the Department of Education and Science, the Home Office, ILEA and those councils which will be concerned with delivery in the five London prisons and this will provide an opportunity to review provision in the community. The Home Office will encourage all London boroughs to make provision as appropriate.

  Members' Correspondence
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South, sent to him on 18 April, about an alleged miscarriage of justice.

  Mr. Hurd
  I wrote to the right hon. Member on 9 June.

  Michael Ryan
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Thames Valley police as to how many(a) persons who made written statements to police officers and (b) solicitors representing persons who made written statements to police officers, concerning matters leading up to the shootings by the late Michael Ryan in Hungerford, have requested copies of their written statements to police officers from the chief constable; what were the dates of such requests; whether copies have been
  192
  given or sent to those persons or their solicitors; and when the chief constable intends to deal with those requests to which he has not as yet given an answer.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand from the chief constable of the Thames Valley police that no such requests have been received

  Prison Building
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if there are any plans to build a new prison on the site of New Hall hospital, Scarisbrick, near Southport; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  There are no plans to build a prison on this site.

  Police and Military Joint Tactical Doctrine
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the nature and purpose of the recently developed police and military joint tactical doctrine.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The primary responsibility for the internal security of the United Kingdom rests with the police, whether in peacetime or in war. Under common law the armed forces are required to make their best endeavours to come to the aid of the police if requested to do so. The joint tactical doctrine reaffirms those general principles in relation to planning and operational liaison between the police and the military during times of crisis and war.

  Courts (Staff Shortages)
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many court hearings have been cancelled within the past year because of staff shortages.

  Mr. John Patten
  The information is not available centrally and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many court hearings in Yorkshire and Humberside have been cancelled within the last year because of staff shortages.

  Mr. John Patten
  I regret that this information is not available.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the reasons for the current shortage of justices clerks.

  Mr. John Patten
  There is no shortage of justices clerks. Concern has been expressed that rates of pay are not sufficient to recruit and retain court clerks, especially those qualified as barrister or solicitor. Rates of pay and conditions of service for magistrates courts staff in England and Wales, other than in inner London, are set by the joint negotiating committee (JNC) for magistrates courts staff. I understand that the JNC is collecting information on recruitment and retention of staff and the reasons for any shortages, and will consider this when discussing a pay settlement for 1988. I shall give careful consideration to the settlement proposed.
  193
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many justices clerks in the Yorkshire and Humberside region have within the last year left posts in magistrates courts to take up positions with the Crown Prosecution Service.

  Mr. John Patten
  I understand that no justices clerks have left in this way. Information about court clerks is not readily available. I shall be writing to the hon. Member.

  Forensic Science Service
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what quantitative and qualitative 194
  effects upon the casework for the forensic science service he expects to flow from his recent proposals for the staffing of that service and his intention to maintain the allocation of resources to the service at their present levels.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The current proposals for the staffing of the Home Office forensic science service are intended to enhance its ability to meet the demands on it, by increasing the total number of officers reporting cases to the courts, and enabling the service to recruit and retain the staff needed for this work. The total resources available to the service will be maintained at their present level, but we will keep under review the case for increasing them.

  Life Sentences
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of recommendations of the Parole Board for release of people serving non-mandatory life sentences have been overturned by him.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  During 1987, the most recent year for which figures are available, my right hon. Friend was unable to accept five of 29 recommendations for release made by the Parole Board during 1987 in respect of prisoners serving non-mandatory life sentences.

  Ticket Touting
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to introduce legislation to make ticket touting at sporting or other events a criminal offence; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  We have no plans for such legislation.

  Immigration
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were granted temporary admission in each of the years from 1982 to 1986, 1987 and in 1988 up to the present time; and how many such persons still remain.

  Mr. Renton
  The total numbers of persons granted temporary admission to the United Kingdom in the years 1982, 1983 and 1984 were 6,584, 7,292 and 8,527 respectively. The information available for 1985 onwards was given in reply to a question from the hon. Member on 22 April, at column 594. Information on the numbers of such persons granted temporary admission who still remain in the United Kingdom is not available.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons who arrived in Britain as visitors and who have subsequently married persons settled in Britain (i) are awaiting interview and (ii) have been interviewed and await a decision.

  Mr. Renton
  The information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Charities (Street Collections)
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek powers to standardise the procedure and forms involved in applications to make cash collections in the street for approved charities.

  Mr. John Patten
  Most licensing authorities have adopted street collection regulations which follow closely the model contained in the schedule to the Charitable Collections (Transitional Provisions) Order 1974. All street collection regulations require my right hon. Friend's confirmation before coming into force. Following a recommendation of the Woodfield report on the supervision of charities, we are reviewing the law relating to public collections, including these arrangements.

  Union Flag
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to ban the disfiguring with words and slogans of the Union flag.
  196
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  No.

  Football Matches (Policing)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the charges to each professional football club in London for police services in the season 1987–88; and what amount each club has paid.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the information is as follows:

  Club

  Season 1987–88

  Charged

  Paid

  £

  £

  Arsenal

  161,875·96

  156,065·68

  Brentford

  34,078·68

  34,078·68

  Charlton

  49,273·65

  49,273·65

  Chelsea

  168,257·86

  147,740·45

  Crystal Palace

  37,173·59

  34,393·90

  Fulham

  26,526·79

  26,526·79

  Leyton Orient

  17,509·17

  16,958·86

  Millwall

  57,693·28

  57,693·28

  Queen's Park Rangers

  129,564·28

  129,564·28

  Tottenham Hotspur

  153,785·36

  141,372·30

  West Ham United

  176,303·08

  176,303·08

  Wimbledon

  81,354·26

  81,354·26

  TOTAL

  1,093,395·96

  1,051,325·21

  Sex Discrimination Act 1975
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received regarding amendment of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 to bring private clubs, with both female and male members, within the scope of the Act; and what action he is taking.

  Mr. John Patten
  A number of right hon. and hon. Members have made representations recently about the call which the organisation "Women in Golf" has made for a change in the law. In its recent report "Equal Treatment for Men and Women" the Equal Opportunities Commission included a proposal to bring private clubs with both female and male members within the scope of the Sex Discrimination Act. I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to her questions on this on 14 March.

  Police (Assaults)
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received about assaults on police officers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We are aware of the concern of the police service over the increasing frequency of assaults. My right hon. Friend has therefore asked Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary to collect from forces in England and Wales the figures of assaults on police officers and to publish them in his annual report. This will enable the problem to be more accurately assessed.

  Firearms Certificates
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Council of Ministers will be
  197
  considering the European Economic Community proposal for the mutual recognition of firearms certificates; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The position remains as described by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in reply to my hon. Friend's question of 14 January, at column 352.

  Risley Remand Centre
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the future of the Risley remand centre.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The future of Risley remand centre is linked with the longer-term strategic plans for local prison accommodation in the north-west. Liverpool and Preston prisons are planned to become local prisons in 1989. We intend that Risley will adopt the role of a local prison as soon as possible thereafter. In the meantime, building work at the establishment will proceed on two fronts. A rolling programe of refurbishment of existing living accommodation has begun and will be completed in autumn 1990. A larger programme of expansion and redevelopment at the establishment is scheduled to start by summer 1989. This will provide new inmate living accommodation with integral sanitation in the cells and better facilities for staff, inmates and visitors. The work is due to be completed in stages between 1991 and 1994.

  Civil Defence
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will identify(a) liaison arrangements between his Department and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation civil emergency planning boards and committees, concerning civil emergency and home defence planning, and (b) the extent of collaborative work carried out with these bodies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  Home Office officials represent the United Kingdom on the NATO senior civil emergency planning committee, which undertakes the direction of policy and general co-ordination of civil emergency planning, and on the civil defence committee and working group, which comprises senior officials of NATO countries meeting on a regular basis to consider national plans for all aspects of the protection of the public in an emergency. The NATO group of experts on warning and detection reports to the civil defence committee; it is chaired by the director of the United Kingdom warning and monitoring organisation and co-ordinates research and development of warning and detection systems, including an annual international exercise. Home Office officials also represent the United Kingdom on the NATO civil communications planning committee and working groups, which are concerned with the maintenance of civil communications in an emergency.

  Mr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will identify the terms of reference of work on(a) civil emergencies and (b) home defence planning carried out in his Department, the number of staff involved and the annual budgets for 1985–86, 1986–87 and 1987–88; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  The Civil Defence Act 1948 provides the statutory basis for civil defence activity. The objective 198
  of civil defence planning in the Home Office is to give effect to the civil defence functions of Ministers, which are set out in the 1948 Act. These include the formulation of policy and issue of guidance to the local authorities and the police and fire services, payment of grant, the provision of training and equipment, development of communications, scientific research and the maintenance of warning and monitoring arrangements.

  The Civil Protection in Peacetime Act 1986 enables local authorities to use civil defence resources in the response to a peacetime emergency. The Home Office issues guidance on this subject in consultation with other Government Departments.

  The information requested on Home Office expenditure and manpower is as follows:

  Year

  Expenditure

  Manpower

  £ million

  1985–86

  46·30

  171

  1986–87

  48·40

  177

  1987–88

  55·30

  178

  1 Estimate.

  Abortion (Inquest)
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the reasons for his conclusion that the public interest would not be served by an inquest into the case involving the abortion which took place at the City general infirmary, Carlisle, in July 1987; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  This conclusion was reached after careful consideration of all the information provided by the coroner.

  Security Services (Report)
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will be receiving the first report from the counsellor to the security services.

  Mr. Hurd
  As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced in reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Wycombe (Mr. Whitney) on 2 November 1987, at column 512, the staff counsellor, who was appointed in November 1987, will report not less frequently than once a year to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary and myself.

  DNA Testing
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the reason for the delay in the publication of the feasibility study, jointly undertaken with the Foreign Office, into DNA testing involving those applying to settle in the United Kingdom; whether he is going to make arrangements to fund the introduction of any DNA testing scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  Some of the practical and policy considerations revealed by the DNA pilot trial have proved difficult to resolve, but the results should be available shortly.

  Community Education (London)
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to continue the work of the community education department of the Inner London education authority.

  Mr. Dunn
  I have been asked to reply.

  The community education and careers branch of ILEA is responsible for adult education, the youth service and the careers service in inner London. Under our proposals the boroughs will become responsible for these services in their area. They will have to set out their intentions for them in their development plans. Discussions will be held with the boroughs, ILEA and others on the future arrangements for particular aspects of these services.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Sunday Trading
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Attorney-General what representations he has received from the Association of District Councils regarding Sunday trading laws.

  The Attorney-General
  The Association of District Councils wrote to my predecessor about the enforcement of the Sunday trading provisions of the Shops Act 1950 in the course of 1986. He received no further representations from the association and I have received none. As I mentioned in a reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Orpington (Mr. Stanbrook) on 18 April last, at column 297, I recently asked the association for information concerning the scale of the enforcement effort being made in pursuance of the responsibility placed upon local authorities by the Act.

  Statistics on the number of judges, 5, 10, 20 and 30 years ago

  Circuit judges

  High Court judges

  Court of Appeal

  House of Lords

  As at 1 June 1988

  405

  80

  27

  9

  5 years ago

  346

  77

  18

  9

  10 years ago

  290

  72

  16

  9

  County court judges

  High Court judges

  Court of Appeal

  House of Lords

  20 years ago

  89

  61

  11

  9

  30 years ago

  69

  42

  8

  9

  Rowntree plc
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Attorney-General who requested him to make contact with the Rowntree Charitable Trust to request written confirmation that it was mindful of its charitable responsibilities in respect to the proposed takeover of Rowntree plc.

  The Attorney-General
  The request for information to the trustees of the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust was made on my behalf by an official in the Treasury Solicitor's Department, after consultation with my Department, following a report in The Daily Telegraph on 2 June.

  Birmingham Pub Bombings
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Attorney-General what action the Director of Public Prosecutions proposes to take following the completion of an investigation by the City of London police into contacts between the two principal Crown witnesses at the appeal hearing of the men convicted of the Birmingham pub bombings; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  The investigation by the City of London police into contacts between Dr. Skuse and Mr. Reade, who were both Crown witnesses at the appeal hearing of six men convicted of the Birmingham pub bombings, has been completed.

  The investigation did not reveal any evidence of criminal conduct by any person and the Director of Public Prosecutions has therefore decided to take no further action in the matter.

  Judges
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Attorney-General how many judges there were at the latest date for which statistics are available; what were the figures five, 10, 20, and 30 years ago; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  The number of judges in post at the relevant dates is set out in the tables. It should be noted that the post of circuit judge was not brought into being until the enactment of the Courts Act 1971. The second table, therefore, which deals with number in post in 1968 and 1958, gives the number of county court judges who were in post at the relevant time.

  In addition to the county court judges in post at that time there were a small number of full-time judges in the quarter sessions. As at 1 January 1969 there were 25 such posts, but the exact numbers in post 20 and 30 years ago respectively cannot be ascertained without the expenditure of disproportionate resources.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Nicaragua
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why the Overseas Development Agency refused the request from the Nicaraguan Government for the provision of beans and vegetable oil to offset the effects of the recent drought in Nicaragua.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  The European Community has recently approved a request from the Nicaraguans for substantial food aid, including beans and vegetable oil.
  201
  The United Kingdom supported this request and will be contributing over 17 per cent. towards the cost of the allocation.

SCOTLAND

  Caravan Parks
  Sir Eldon Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to publish model standards for caravan touring parks, along the lines of those already issued for residential and holiday caravan parks.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  A consultation paper seeking comments on draft model standards for caravan touring parks in Scotland will be issued by the the Scottish Development Department before the end of June. Views will be sought from a variety of sources, including local authorities and organisations representing caravanning interests.

  Scottish TUC
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for

  Number1 of doctors employed by health board: 30 September 1987

  Health board

  Consultants

  General practitioners

  Other grades

  Argyll and Clyde

  112·3

  301

  218·5

  Ayrshire and Arran

  93·5

  238

  160·0

  Borders

  25·5

  70

  29·7

  Dumfries and Galloway

  48·2

  109

  74·0

  Fife

  81·0

  195

  148·8

  Forth Valley

  79·0

  184

  123·3

  Grampian

  178·5

  301

  373·0

  Greater Glasgow

  541·2

  638

  1,138·4

  Highland

  69·8

  159

  114·6

  Lanarkshire

  155·5

  305

  268·7

  Lothian

  353·3

  504

  761·0

  Orkney

  1·0

  22

  4·3

  Shetland

  2·0

  17

  6·0

  Tayside

  172·4

  247

  343·2

  Western Isles

  5·5

  28

  6·1

  1 Consultants and other grades are shown as whole-time equivalents and general practitioners as number. General practitioner data are provisional.

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if his Department will be contributing to the Office of Fair Trading's inquiry into the competitive position of doctors; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Director General of Fair Trading has now referred the question of restrictions on doctors' advertising to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. I understand that officials of the Scottish Home and Health Department will be invited to give evidence to the commission.

  Nurses
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give, for each year since 1970, the number of qualified nurses employed by each health board.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The numbers of qualified nurses, expressed as whole-time equivalents, employed by health boards at 30 September in each year from 1974, when health boards were established, to 1986 are published in 202
  Strathkelvin and Bearsden of 27 May, Official Report, column 363, how many meetings there were between the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Services and the Scottish Trades Union Congress; and whether a formal or informal record was kept of the meetings.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I assume the hon. Member is referring to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State with responsibility for health. For such meetings only informal notes for use within the Department are taken.

  Doctors
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give, for each health board, the numbers of(a) consultants, (b) general practitioners and (c) other grades of doctors employed in each year since 1970.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information requested is not available for the years 1970 to 1973 as health boards were not created until 1974. For the period 1974 to 1986 the data are published in "Scottish Health Statistics", copies of which are available in the Library. The information for 1987 is set out in the table.

  "Scottish Health Statistics", copies of which are held in the Library. The latest available figures for 30 September 1987, not yet published, are as follows:

  Qualified nurses by health board: 30 September 1987

  Health Board

  Whole-time equivalent

  Argyll and Clyde

  2,443·3

  Ayrshire and Arran

  1,916·9

  Borders

  612·9

  Dumfries and Galloway

  1,088·0

  Fife

  2,059·7

  Forth Valley

  1,753·8

  Grampian

  3,370·1

  Greater Glasgow

  8,111·8

  Highland

  1,462·1

  Lanarkshire

  3,294·3

  Lothian

  5,052·5

  Orkney

  138·5

  Shetland

  148·5

  Tayside

  3,417·1

  Western Isles

  208·7

  TOTAL

  35,078·2

  Scottish Information Office
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the rules governing relations between officials of the Scottish Information Office and former employees of that office.

  Mr. Rifkind
  The officials concerned are bound by the rules which apply to the conduct of all civil servants; the practical effect in this area is that no assistance would be given to former civil servants which would not in principle be given to other bona fide contacts.

  Playgrounds
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has on the average cost of replacing the concrete or tarmac surfaces in children's playgrounds.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Costs vary greatly depending on the contractor's charges and the type of surface used, ranging from relatively cheap surfaces such as sand, to expensive wetpore surfaces which can cost in excess of £100 per square metre.

  Dental Services
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people aged up to 16 years have used dental services paid in full or in part by the National Health Service for each year since 1975.

  Mr. Michael Foryth
  The only available information is as shown:

  Patients aged 0 to 15 treated by the General Dental Services

  Year

  Number

  1985

  544,677

  1986

  551,384

  Patient aged 0 to 14 treated by the Community Dental Services

  Year

  Number

  1980

  188,723

  1981

  185,010

  1982

  185,531

  1983

  191,774

  1984

  189,438

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many people between the age of 16 and 21 years have used dental facilities paid in full or in part by the National Health Service, for each year since 1975;

  (2) how many people over the age of 21 years have used dental services paid in full or in part by the National Health Service for each year since 1975;

  (3) what is the cost to the National Health Service in 1988 terms, for each year since 1975, of dental services given to people (a) aged up to 16 years, (b) between the age of 16 to 21 years and (c) over the age of 21 years.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This information is not held centrally.

  Cervical Cancer
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many Scottish health boards have suspended or diminished cervical cancer screening tests during the current year; and if he will make a statement.
  204
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  None. The number of cervical smear tests undertaken continues to rise. The provisional total for 1987 is 420,361 compared with 361,626 in 1986, an increase of 16 per cent.

  Dry Sow Stalls
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of pig farmers in Scotland are estimated still to employ dry sow stalls; how this proportion compares with 10 years ago; and what action he plans to take to ensure the phasing out of such stalls.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The precise information requested is not held centrally, but present indications are that some 60 to 65 per cent. of sows are currently housed in the stalls concerned.

  The Farm Animal Welfare Council has recently completed a review of pig production systems. The council's report makes a number of recommendations which could influence future housing arrangements. Interested parties are currently being consulted and their comments will be fully considered.

  Water Supplies (Aluminium)
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has about alleged links between the existence of aluminium in water supplies and the incidence of Alzheimer's disease; if he will list those Scottish water authorities which add aluminium to their water supply; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I understand that research about Alzheimer's disease is being undertaken at the Medical Research Council's environmental epidemiology unit at Southampton, but that its results have not yet been published. The research will be assessed by medical advisers and appropriate action will be taken if it is needed. The Government have adopted the standard for aluminium set by the EC drinking water directive. Most water supplies comply, and where they do not water undertakers have programmes of remedial action. Aluminium compounds are widely used as an aid to coagulation in the treatment of drinking water. Most, if not all, Scottish water authorities use them at some of their treatment works.

  Fish Farms
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he has any plans to review the extant planning procedures relating to the siting or expansion of fish farms; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what recent representations he has received concerning the planning and siting of salmonid fish farms and other fish farms; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. and learned Friend has received a number of representations arguing for or against changes in the procedures currently operated by the Crown Estate commissioners in relation to the establishment of offshore fish farms. He is currently reviewing the operation of these procedures, and the representations are being taken into account. The results of the review will be announced in due course. The Government have no plans to review the current planning procedures relating to fish farms in inland waters.

  Corntonvale Prison
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to amend the vocational guidance given to prisoners shortly before their release from Corntonvale prison; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  A comprehensive programme of training and guidance is given to prisoners before their release from Corntonvale. The programme is regularly reviewed as to its relevance and content. If the hon. Member wishes to raise a particular aspect, perhaps he would write to me.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the educational and training programmes available to prisoners in Corntonvale prison; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The programme of education and training available to prisoners and young offenders at Corntonvale prison is as follows:

  Education

  Certificated Courses:

  Higher and 'O' grades in:

  —Arithmetic

  —English

  —Modern Studies

  —Food and nutrition

  Non-Certificated Courses:

  Social Skills

  Art and Craft

  Cookery

  Current Affairs

  Office Studies

  Methods:

  Direct teaching, correspondence courses and practical guidance.

  Training:

  City and Guilds and SCOTVEC (modular) courses are available in:

  Sewing and garment making

  Gardening

  Catering

  Courses are being planned in:

  Hairdressing

  Manicuring

  Beauticulture

  Health Boards (Members' Interests)
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if his Department maintains any record of the shareholdings of health board members; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  No. Chairmen and members of health boards are required to declare any interests in matters being considered by their boards in terms of the National Health Service (Health Boards: Membership, Procedure and Payment of Subscriptions) (Scotland) Regulations 1975.

  Health Authorities (Report)
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he received the report on the Scottish health authorities review of priorities for the eighties and nineties; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  On 16 May my right hon. and learned Friend received a copy of the SHARPEN report from the Scottish Health Service Planning Council 206
  together with advice, in the form of a foreword to the report, endorsing the priorities identified by the working party and indicating a number of reservations about the recommendations made. Copies of the planning council's advice have been placed in the Library. Close consideration will be given to the report's recommendations and to the planning council's advice. I envisage that the report will be published in due course, together with the council chairman's foreword and an indication of the Government's response.

  Voluntary Bodies (Grants)
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement concerning the amount of grant-aid being made available under the special grants (environmental) programme in 1988–89 to voluntary bodies in Scotland working in the environmental field.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I am pleased to announce that grant-aid totalling £200,000 has been offered to the following voluntary bodies in the financial year 1988–89, to assist them in carrying out environmental conservation, improvement or education Scotland:

  £

  Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland

  5,000

  Association of Community Technical Aid Centres

  10,000

  Buchan Countryside Group

  5,000

  Central Scotland Countryside Trust

  9,900

  Council for Scottish Archaeology

  9,000

  Environment Centre

  5,700

  Royal Society for the Protection of Birds

  10,000

  Royal Zoological Society

  5,750

  Scottish Community Woods Campaign

  7,750

  Scottish Conservation Projects Trust

  30,000

  Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations

  6,300

  Scottish Environmental Education Council

  15,000

  Scottish Field School of Archeology

  2,400

  Scottish Field Studies Association

  10,000

  Scottish Historic Buildings Trust

  13,700

  Scottish Rights of Way Society Limited

  5,000

  Scottish Wildlife and Countryside Link

  7,500

  Scottish Wildlife Trust

  30,000

  Strathclyde Building Preservation Trust

  7,000

  Woodland Trust

  5,000

  Greenland White-fronted Geese
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what measures have been taken to prevent the killing of Greenland white-fronted geese during their return to breeding grounds or during the period of preparation for their migration;

  (2) what was the date on which licences to shoot Greenland white-fronted geese were withdrawn; what was the reason for their withdrawal; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  All licences to shoot Greenland white-fronted geese on Islay were withdrawn on 16 March 1988 to avoid stress to the birds during the period of preparation for return migration to their breeding grounds. The timing of the withdrawal of licences was determined on the basis of advice received from the Nature Conservancy Council. From that date the prohibition on the killing of white-fronted geese has been fully restored and there is no evidence to suggest that any further shooting has taken place.

  Civil Defence
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will identify the terms of reference of work on(a) civil emergencies and (b) home defence planning carried out in his Department, the number of staff involved and the annual budgets for 1985–86, 1986–87 and 1987–88; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. and learned Friend is empowered by the Civil Defence Act 1948 to take such steps as he considers necessary for the purposes of civil defence; to make regulations about the civil defence functions of local authorities and to make grants towards expenses incurred in the discharge of those functions. Regulations made under the Act include the Civil Defence (Local Authority Functions) (Scotland) Regulations 1983, which prescribe the functions of local authorities in relation to civil defence. The Civil Protection in Peacetime Act 1986 enables local authorities to use civil defence resources in responding to a peacetime emergency.

  Information on expenditure and manpower is as follows:

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  Expenditure (£ million) (including grants paid to local authorities and payments to NHS)

  5·40

  5·40

  7·30

  Civil service manpower

  48

  48

  43

  Civil Defence
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will identify(a) liaison arrangements between his Department and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation civil emergency planning boards and committees, concerning civil emergency and home defence planning, and (b) the extent of collaborative work carried out with these bodies; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  There is no direct liaison or collaborative work between NATO boards and committees and the Scottish Office, whose interests are covered by representatives of other Departments on a United Kingdom basis.

  School Closures
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has reached a decision on the school closure proposals referred to him by Strathclyde regional council; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Rifkind
  Last month Strathclyde region submitted to me 34 proposals for the closure, rezoning or change of site of schools which require my consent under section 22B of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980. I have given my consent to the following:

  Castlehead High School, Paisley—extension of delineated area.

  St. Margarets Primary School, New Cumnock—closure.

  Daer and Powtrail Primary School, Ianark Division—closure.

  Donaldson Street School, Kirkintilloch—relocation.

  Girvan Primary School, Girvan—extension of delineated area to include part of delineated area of Assel Primary School which is to close.

  208
  I have refused consent to the following:

  Paisley Grammar School—closure.

  Notre Dame High School, Glasgow—closure.

  Decisions on the other cases will be notified to the education authority as soon as possible.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects o be able to provide further details of the new discount scheme for public sector tenants wishing to buy their council houses; and when he now expects the new provisions to take effect.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 14 June 1988]: Details of the items to be contained in the determination covering the revised discount provisions are currently under consideration, but it is expected that the new scheme including the cost floor provisions, will be commenced two months after the Housing Bill receives Royal Assent.

  The framework of the new provisions will be broadly in line with that which applies at present in England and Wales.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Inner-city Initiative
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a further statement on the progress of his Department's inner-city initiative.

  Mr. Atkins
  The inner city task forces are a central part of the Government's action for cities. They were set up in February 1986 as small local teams charged with experimenting with policies and projects to tackle the problems of small inner city areas with big problems. They remain very closely involved in local economic regeneration. They are meeting their objectives of securing more jobs for local people and improving their employability, encouraging and facilitating local enterprise and supporting environmental and crime prevention initiatives.

  Over 600 projects have been supported by the task forces, covering a broad spread of activity from which important lessons are being learnt and the results disseminated, for example, about

  targeted training

  developing schools-industry links

  helping small businesses start and grow through advice and better access to finance

  encouraging local purchasing initiatives.

  In all these areas, and others, we are learning, above all, how to encourage and develop the contribution of the local business world in each city to action for cities so that all residents of our cities can benefit from increased national prosperity.

  In addition to my Department's task force initiative, my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster carries responsibility under the Prime Minister for co-ordinating the Government's action for cities, which involves a number of Departments. I am glad to say that there has been a most positive response from business to join us in tackling the problems of our inner cities following the breakfast presentations that my colleagues and myself have been making around the country.

  Mr. Peter Luff
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the annual amount paid by his Department to the employers of his special adviser, Mr. Peter Luff, in compensation for their loss of his services; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butcher
  £21,933 per annum plus VAT.

  Civil Defence
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will identify(a) liaison arrangements between his Department and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation civil emergency planning boards and committees, concerning civil emergency and home defence planning, and (b) the extent of collaborative work carried out with these bodies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butcher
  The DTI represents the United Kingdom on the NATO industrial planning committee, which meets twice a year at plenary level and four times at working group level. This committee, together with the food and agriculture planning committee, is responsible for planning and exercising the Central Supplies Agency, a NATO civil wartime agency. The Central Supplies Agency would be responsible for ensuring the continued availability and equitable distribution of both civil and military purposes of food, agricultural and industrial supplies. The committee also exchanges information on the wartime industrial plans of member countries and studies on a selective basis their capability to produce essential industrial supplies during wartime.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will identify the terms of reference of work on(a) civil emergencies and (b) home defence planning carried out in his Department, the number of staff involved and the annual budgets for 1985–86, 1986–87 and 1987–88; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butcher
  Civil emergency and home defence planning in the DTI is aimed at ensuring that those industries for which the Department is responsible would be able to meet any essential demands placed upon them during an emergency. Six members of staff are currently engaged full time on the work, with assistance from other staff as necessary. Annual expenditure has been as follows:

  £000 's

  1985–86

  125

  1986–87

  130

  1987–88

  135

  Space Industry
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he last met representatives of the space industry; and what subjects were discussed.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Industry met the United Kingdom industry space committee on 26 May. There was a wide-ranging discussion of recent developments and future prospects, including the question of the commercialisation of space activities.

  House of Fraser plc
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has yet received the report of the investigation into the circumstances in which House of Fraser plc was taken over; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  No. The investigation into House of Fraser Holdings plc continues and I am unable to say when a report will be received.

  TechAlert
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will place in the Library a copy of the TechAlert report by Charles Miley; and if the will make a statement.

  Mr. Butcher
  No. The report was prepared as part of a review of TechAlert currently being undertaken by the Department and it contains commercially sensitive information.

  Airbus Industrie
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on what proposals there are for the restructuring of the management and finances of Airbus Industrie.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The proposals for restructuring the management and finances of Airbus Industrie are contained in the report of the four independent advisers, known as the wise men, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House.

  At our last meeting, in Hanover on 5 May, the Aerospace Ministers of the four Airbus partners' Governments noted with satisfaction that the Airbus partners and Airbus Industrie had responded promptly in studying the wise men's recommendations and reaching agreement in principle to their proposals. We asked the industrialists to start to implement the restructuring without delay with a view to establishing the structure of the new organisation by autumn, with full implementation from the end of 1988 at the latest.

  GEC-Plessey (Merger)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the outcome of the negotiations which he asked the Director General of Fair Trading to have with GEC on the proposed merger between GEC and Plessey.

  Mr. Maude
  My right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State announced on 25 March this year that he had agreed to a variation of the undertakings given by GEC following publication of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on the proposed merger between GEC and Plessey in August 1986. The variation is to allow the establishment of a joint venture company to handle the telecommunications interest of both companies. This decision was in accordance with the recommendation of the Director General of Fair Trading.

  Internal Market Council
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the Internal Market Council held on 7 June.
  211
  Mr. Maude
  The Council, at which my hon. Friend the Minister for Trade and I represented the United Kingdom, discussed proposed directives on the mutual recognition of higher education diplomas and right of residence throughout the Community for EC nationals not already covered by the treaty of Rome; proposals for a Community patent convention; and a regulation to establish a Community trade mark system.

  The Council adopted directives on consumer protection in the indication of the prices of foodstuffs and non-food products; on member states' arrangements for the inspection of laboratories to verify compliance with good laboratory practice; on the rules governing the classification, packaging and labelling requirements for dangerous preparations; and establishing a mandatory range of quantities in which spirit drinks and sparkling wines must be sold.

  The Council also agreed on a directive relating to the publication of annual accounting documents of branches of banks whose head office is outside that member state; a proposal to develop a Communitywide market for information services; and a resolution on small and medium-sized enterprises and deregulation.

  Post Office (Counter Services)
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what proposals he has for alterations in the Post Office's arrangements for contracts for counter services; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what representations he has received since 1 January concerning contracts for Post Office counter services; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butcher
  I have received many representations about changes to some sub-postmasters' contracts with the Post Office, particularly the introduction of community offices. However, this is primarily a matter for the Post Office and I have no proposals to intervene to change these arrangements.

  Rowntree plc
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many representations were received by the Office of Fair Trading about the Nestlé bid for Rowntree; and how many of these supported the reference of this bid to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 14 June 1988]: I understand that the Office of Fair Trading has received many representations, most of which express opposition to the proposed merger.

  Voluntary Restraint
  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his answer of 7 June to the hon. Member for Darlington,Official Report, column 429, whether, in the case of the non-vehicle voluntary restraint arrangements with Japan, he is satisfied that the net cost to the economy does not outweigh the benefits to the industries concerned.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  [holding answer 13 June 1988]: I am satisfied that the continuation of the inter-industry restraint arrangements to which my hon. Friend refers is justified for a limited period. 1 am keeping the need for them under close review.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Dc Lorean Motor Cars Ltd.
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to recover the outstanding moneys owing to Her Majesty's Government arising out of their investment in De Lorean Motor Cars Ltd.

  Mr. Viggers
  Claims have been lodged by the Department of Economic Development with the liquidators of the Northern Ireland company, De Lorean Motor Cars Ltd. and the trustee in bankruptcy of the American parent company, De Lorean Motor Company, both of whom have instituted legal actions for the benefit of creditors, including actions against the De Lorean auditors, Arthur Andersen and Co.

  Legal proceedings claiming substantial damages have also been taken out in the United States by the Department of Economic Development alleging a number of offences, including negligence and breach of contract against Arthur Andersen and Co.

  The joint receivers appointed by the Government in 1982 are also involved in legal proceedings for the recovery of funds. These actions are in London against Lotus Cars Limited, the estate of the late Mr. A. C. B. Chapman, Mr. F. R. Bushell and Mr. J. Z. De Lorean for the recovery of funds believed to have been misappropriated and in Switzerland to recover funds known to be held in Swiss bank accounts. In the United States the joint receivers have lodged claims with the trustee in bankruptcy of the American parent company.

  Livewire Scheme
  Sir John Biggs-Davison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the Livewire scheme.

  Mr. Viggers
  Livewire is a United Kingdom-wide scheme which helps 16 to 25-year-olds develop their ideas for self-employment. The scheme's principal sponsor is Shell UK and in Northern Ireland the main local sponsor is the Belfast Telegraph; the scheme is administered locally by the action resource centre. This year 266 young people entered the competition in Northern Ireland, representing 8 per cent. of the United Kingdom total.

  Northern Ireland participants have traditionally performed well in the United Kingdom competition; this year's grand final takes place on 28 June 1988.

  I believe that Livewire is an excellent scheme which is highly valued in Northern Ireland and I congratulate the organisers. By helping young people obtain skilled advice and support the scheme encourages their interest in self-employment and provides an important focus for the development of tomorrow's entrepreneurs and small businesses.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make it his policy that housing benefit in respect of any household be deducted proportionally from all occupants in the household in receipt of benefit, and that the tenant named on the rent book could be held responsible for a proportioned amount of rent and rates charged by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive,

  Mr. Needham
  No.

  Civil Defence
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for northern Ireland whether he will identify(a) liaison arrangements between his Department and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation civil emergency planning boards and committees, concerning civil emergency and home defence planning, and (b) the extent of collaborative work carried out with these bodies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stanley
  Neither the Northern Ireland Office nor the Northern Ireland Departments have any direct involvement with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation civil emergency planning boards and committees concerning civil emergency and home defence planning, but their interests are fully represented on the appropriate NATO bodies by relevant central Government Departments.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will identify the terms of reference of work on(a) civil emergencies and (b) home defence planning carried out in his Department, the number of staff involved and the annual budgets for 1985–86, 1986–87 and 1987–88; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stanley
  The Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments have a remit to prepare and review contingency plans to deal with those peacetime civil emergencies which fall within their main areas of responsibility. Civil Defence planning in Northern Ireland is carried out under the authority of the Civil Defence Act (Northern Ireland) 1950 and is in line with current arrangements throughout the United Kingdom.

  The number of staff involved was 12 for 1985–86 and 1986–87 and is currently 11.

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  Totals

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  1. Capital grants to district councils1

  6,303,001

  4,925,815

  3,829,751

  2,359,192

  1,750,616

  19,168,375

  2. Capital grants to voluntary sports clubs

  1,150,459

  1,407,567

  759,604

  348,156

  290,650

  3,956,436

  3. Sports councils for Northern Ireland

  905,641

  980,156

  1,118,212

  1,146,199

  1,219,124

  5,369,332

  4. Sports sponsorship incentive scheme

  nil

  140,534

  76,899

  103,698

  70,328

  391,459

  Totals

  8,359,101

  7,454,072

  5,784,466

  3,957,245

  3,330,718

  28,885,602

  1 Includes grants for the provision of community facilities which cannot be given separately.

  AIDS
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to how many deaths AIDS was a contributory factor during May.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 14 June 1988]: No such deaths were attributed to Northern Ireland during May.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Chile
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information, pursuant to his answer of 8 June,Official Report, columns 821–23, he has on the electoral registration arrangements, including the requirements for identity cards, at the forthcoming plebiscite in Chile.

  Mr. Eggar
  The number of Chileans registering to vote in the forthcoming plebiscite is encouraging. By 10 June,
  214
  The annual budgets were:

  £

  (i) 1985–86

  1,539,000

  (ii) 1986–87

  930,000

  (iii) 1987–88

  1,706,000

  Sentencing Policy
  Sir John Biggs-Davison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what new arrangements he has made for the review of life and indeterminate sentences; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stanley
  My right hon. Friend announced a review of the cases of each special category prisoner serving a sentence of life imprisonment or detention at the Secretary of State's pleasure in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr. Hamilton) on 7 June, at column 464. As far as other Secretary of State pleasure cases are concerned, I refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend's replies to the hon. Members for Sunderland, South (Mr. Mullin) and Denton and Reddish (Mr. Bennett) on 26 May, at columns 499–501.

  Sport
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will provide figures for the last five years for the amount spent by his Department on sport; and if he will give a breakdown of such figures into convenient categories.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding reply 14 June 1988]: The information requested is as follows:

  6·2 million people had registered out of a total electorate of about 8 million. Registration is continuing at about 400,000 per month. Voters require identity cards to enable them to register. At the end of May, just over 7·5 million new identity cards had been issued.

  Military Expenditure
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has as to which countries are proposing to increase their military spending in 1988–89 by the greatest percentage (i) in real terms and (ii) in absolute terms in(a) the developed world and (b) the Third world.

  Mr. Mellor
  This information is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards proposals that the United States of America and its Western allies should seek a
  215
  pledge by developing countries to cut military spending as part of a consensus on disarmament at the special session of the United Nations General Assembly; what account is proposed to be taken in seeking such a pledge of the projected level of arms exports by Western developed countries in the coming years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  We are not aware of any specific proposals for developing countries to pledge a cut in their military spending, but believe that all states should be encouraged to undertake measures of arms control consistent with their security interests. Arms control is not the exclusive preserve of the superpowers. We believe this approach is consistent with our policy of meeting the legitimate defence interests of certain countries in accordance with their right to self defence as embodied in article 51 of the United Nations charter.

  Foreign Affairs Council
  Sir Peter Blaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Foreign Affairs Council held on 13 and 14 June.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  I attended the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg on 13 and 14 June, accompanied by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, and my hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development. On 13 June I also took part in a discussion of European political co-operation issues.

  Much of our work concerned relations with Eastern Europe. In the framework of political co-operation, we issued a statement on East-West relations welcoming recent encouraging developments and urging East European countries to approach the final phase of the CSCE negotiations in Vienna in a constructive spirit.

  In the Council we agreed to the signature on 25 June of an EEC-CMEA joint declaration, which provides a framework for co-operation in appropriate fields. The Council also discussed the Community's negotiations with Hungary for a trade and co-operation agreement, and agreed on a new compromise proposal, suggested by the United Kingdom, on the timing of abolition of quantitative restrictions. I hope that this will lead to the early conclusion of the agreement.

  In the framework of political co-operation we discussed the middle east, Afghanistan, Latin America and South Africa. We issued a statement of support for Lebanon, where presidential elections due this summer will be of great importance for the future of the country, and a brief statement reiterating our concern about the fate of the Sharpeville Six. Copies of the statements will be placed in the Library of the House. On Afghanistan, we agreed that both the European Community and the member states individually should make a significant aid contribution to help the return of refugees and the reconstruction of an independent. non-aligned Afghanistan. We agreed that there was cause for concern at the loss of momentum in the Central American peace process, but reaffirmed our full support for it and for democratisation in Latin America.

  In the Council we had a useful first discussion of the forthcoming renegotiation of the EEC/ACP (Lomé) convention. The Council agreed that the next elections to the European Parliament should take place between 15 and 18 June 1989. It also considered the jurisdiction and
  216
  composition of the court of first instance, and Ministers, meeting as a conference of representatives of the member states, discussed the nomination of judges and advocates-general to the European Court of Justice. Both questions were remitted for further work. The Irish Foreign Minister and I briefed the Council on a proposal for an EC contribution to the International Fund for Ireland. This important initiative was welcomed by the other Foreign Ministers.

  Finally, the Council reached agreement on the legal texts implementing the conclusions of the Brussels European Council on the future financing of the Community. These texts will be formally adopted once the European Parliament has given its opinion.

  We are thus now close to completing the key task of translating the major political agreements reached in February into the binding legal form on which the United Kingdom has insisted throughout these lengthy and successful negotiations.

  Immigration
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current waiting time for interviews for applicants who are (i) fiancées, (ii) spouses and (iii) dependants in(a) Bombay, (b) New Delhi, (c) Islamabad, (d) Karachi and (e) Nairobi.

  Mr. Eggar
  Waiting times for interviews are currently as follows:

  Months

  Spouses and dependants (Q2)

  Fiancées (Q3)

  Bombay

  6

  9

  New Delhi

  5

  8

  Islamabad

  12

  20

  Karachi

  6

  11

  Nairobi

  3

  3

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the average length of time it takes for an applicant who is refused entry clearance for(a) notification of refusal following interview, (b) dispatch of ECO's statement to the Home Office, (c) dispatch of Home Office papers to immigration appeals tribunal and (d) listing of case by the immigration appeals tribunal.

  Mr. Eggar
  The time taken from interview to decision on an application for entry clearance depends entirely on what further inquiries (including the applicant being asked to produce further documentary evidence) the entry clearance office (ECO) deems necessary to satisfy himself that the applicant qualifies for admission under the immigration rules.

  The dispatch of ECO's explanatory statements direct to the appellate authority varies from post to post and can currently take from one week, in the case of smaller less busy posts, to up to six months in the case of larger posts in the Indian sub-continent processing in excess of 45,000 entry clearance applications per year.

  Statistics about the time taken to complete individual appeals are not available, but I understand from my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General that the following time scale is currently likely;

  (i) from receipt in London of the ECO's explanatory statement to despatch to both parties: up to four weeks;

  217

  (ii) from receipt of papers by both parties to issue by each party of a certificate of readiness to proceed: this is in the hands of the parties and times vary from a few weeks to many months;

  (iii) from certificate of readiness to proceed to hearing date: up to two months, but longer where parties request adjournments;

  (iv) from hearing date to issue of appeal decision: about two weeks.

  Central America
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why Her Majesty's Government did not support the United Nations General Assembly resolution 42/231: special plan of economic co-operation for Central America; what information he has on the response by the United Kingdom's EEC partners; what information he has as to which other countries declined to sign resolution 42/231; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  United Nations resolution 42/231 on the United Nations special plan of economic co-operation for Central America was adopted by consensus, which the United Kingdom joined, together with all our EEC partners.

  We did not co-sponsor the resolution because we wished to make an explanation of vote on it. I understand that several other countries, including a number of Commonwealth countries, also decided not to co-sponsor.

  Kuwait
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 8 June,Official Report, column 612, if he will now state what future measures he proposes to take to improve relations with Kuwait; why the information was not contained in the previous answer; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  As I explained to my hon. Friend on 8 June, our relations with Kuwait are long established and very good. They will continue to be reinforced by frequent visits in both directions by senior members of our two Governments, who exchange views on matters of mutual interest.

  Panama
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his reply of 31 March, what advice is now being given to British visitors intending to travel to Panama and how many have contacted the United Kingdom embassy in Panama following that reply.

  Mr. Eggar
  Our current advice is that the situation in Panama is still unsettled and prospective visitors should travel only if on urgent business. They should bring international credit cards and sufficient cash in US dollars in small denominations to cover other expenses. They should contact the British embassy on arrival. Fewer than a dozen visitors have contacted the British embassy since 31 March.

  Civil Defence
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will identify (i)218
  liaison arrangements between his Department and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation civil emergency planning boards and committees, concerning civil emergency and home defence planning, and (ii) the extent of collaborative work carried out with these bodies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has no direct liaison arrangements with NATO on civil emergency and home defence planning, on which the Home Office takes the lead in respect of the United Kingdom, consulting us as necessary. The United Kingdom representative on NATO's senior civil emergency planning committee is a Ministry of Defence official, a member of staff of the United Kingdom delegation to NATO. The United Kingdom representative at plenary meetings of the committee is a senior Home Office official.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will identify the terms of reference of work on(a) civil emergencies and (b) home defence planning carried out in his Department, the number of staff involved and the annual budgets for 1985–86, 1986–87 and 1987–88; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is not directly involved in civil emergency or home defence planning, which is co-ordinated by the Home Office in respect of the United Kingdom. However, we are consulted as necessary by the Home Office and by other Whitehall Departments in the process of such planning.

  Regional Languages and Cultures
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when, and by what means, Her Majesty's Government intend to give effect to the provisions of the European Community charter relating to regional languages and cultures, established by resolution of the European Parliament on 16 October 1981.

  Mr. Eggar
  European Parliament resolutions do not bind member states. The question of implementation by the Governments of EC member states does not therefore arise.

  Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when, and by what means, Her Majesty's Government intend to implement part I, articles 1 (1) and (3), of the international covenant on economic, social and cultural rights, to which the United Kingdom is a signatory.

  Mr. Eggar
  We fully uphold our obligations under article 1 of the international covenant on economic, social and cultural rights. The measures taken in respect of our obligations under this covenant and under the international covenant on civil and political rights, which contains an identical article 1, are explained in the reports we have presented to the United Nations economic and social council and to the human rights committee respectively. Copies of these reports are available in the Library of the House.

DEFENCE

  RAF Upper Heyford
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement as to the reasons why the flight paths have been changed at RAF Upper Heyford.

  Mr. Freeman
  The fine-weather take-off patterns employed at RAF Upper Heyford until 1 June this year aimed to minimise the disturbance to the surrounding population caused by aircraft noise. These patterns were unique in military aircraft operations in the United Kingdom, in that they required aircraft to bank and turn immediately after take-off. The poor weather take-offs do not involve this banking procedure. Although the F-111 has a very good safety record, a number of modifications have been made to the aircraft during its life which have reduced its thrust-to-weight ratio. The take-off patterns at Upper Heyford, like all flying operations, are kept under continual review and recent operational experience indicated the need to introduce new fine weather take-off patterns, in line with standard procedures elsewhere, to ensure that the high safety standards of the United States Air Force are maintained. In fine weather the aircraft now depart in a straight line from the airfield as they have always done in poor weather.

  Rainfall
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the rainfall levels for each meteorological reading station for 2 and 3 May 1986.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The hon. Member's question would require the extraction from archives of daily rainfall figures recorded at about 4,400 meteorological reporting stations in the United Kingdom alone. The transcription and checking of almost 9,000 sets of figures would involve disproportionate effort and expense.

  Exercise Tristar
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) for what theatre of operations forces will be training during Exercise Tristar;

  (2) on what date local media organisations were informed about Exercise Tristar;

  (3) on what date advance notice of Exercise Tristar was given to hon. Members in constituencies to be affected by the exercise.

  Mr. Stewart
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley (Mr. Foulkes) on 13 June.

  It is not our normal practice to inform hon. Members about routine training exercises as small as Exercise Tristar 88 which are unlikely to cause any disruption to members of the public, nor to inform the media that such exercises are taking place.

  Tornado
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current shortfall of trained tornado air defence aircrews in the RAF.

  Mr. Freeman
  There is no shortfall of trained Tornado air defence aircrews in the RAF.

  Military Helicopter (Incident)
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in the investigation of the incident involving a military helicopter and a civilian car in the Tyndrome-Dalmally area on 5 May.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he is now in a position to make a statement on the investigation of the incident involving a military helicopter and a civilian car in the Dalmally area on 5 May.

  Mr. Freeman
  RAF police investigations into this incident are very thorough and have not yet been completed, although the complainant in her statement to the RAF police has indicated that she thought the helicopter concerned was civilian rather than military.

  Air Interceptions
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Cunninghame, North of 3 May,Official Report, column 384, if interceptions of a single Soviet aircraft sorties by several different Royal Air Force aircraft are counted as one interception or as several.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  A single penetration of the United Kingdom air defence region by Soviet military aircraft may result in more than one interception by Royal Air Force aircraft. Such interceptions are recorded individually. Equally, however, where an aircraft, or a flight of RAF aircraft, intercepts two or more Soviet aircraft flying together this would be recorded as a single interception.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Cunninghame, North of 3 May,Official Report, column 384, if any change has taken place in the average number of interceptions by the Royal Air Force of Soviet aircraft per week since 1987.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  It would not be appropriate to comment on Soviet aircraft activity over periods shorter than one year.

  TA Exercise, Newbury
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Territorial Army exercise at Crookham court school, Newbury; and what representations he has received from local residents thereon.

  Mr. Freeman
  A training exercise for Army cadets from the school was held on 12 May at Crookham court school. There have been no representations from local residents.

  Stainmore Common
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement outlining his Department's plans for the use of Stainmore common by the Army.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Stainmore land is to be used by the Army for dry training by up to 150 men at any time, although training for up to 300 men may take place on a maximum of 22 days a year. Exceptionally, training up to battalion level may be conducted with the prior consent of the local planning authority. No live firing will take place in this area.

  Combat Talon II Aircraft
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the United States of America has approached Her Majesty's Government about deployment in the United Kingdom of Special Operations Forces Combat Talon II aircraft, due to enter service in 1989.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  No.

  RAF Molesworth
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of proposals he has for future uses of RAF Molesworth.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  I have nothing to add to the answer I gave the hon. Member on 20 January, at column 764.

  Chemical Weapons
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if, following the United States contingency deployment plan for chemical weapons, the United States has approached Her Majesty's Government about the contingency deployment of chemical weapons in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  I have nothing to add to the reply of my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces to the hon. Member on 24 July 1986, at column 490.

  Exercise Excalibur
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many aircraft took part in Exercise Excalibur in April.

  Mr. Freeman
  Forty two.

  Exercise Flintlock
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if facilities at Royal Air Force Woodbridge have been used in support of Exercise Flintlock in the current year.

  Mr. Freeman
  Elements of the 21st Special Operations Squadron based at RAF Woodbridge deployed to take part in Exercise Flintlock.

  Steeple Aston (Noise)
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement on the recent noise testing carried out by the Royal Air Force Institute of Community Health at Dr. Ratcliffe's school, Steeple Aston; and if he will publish the results in the Official Report;

  (2) if, in the light of the results of the recent noise testing carried out at Dr. Ratcliffe's school, Steeple Aston, he will issue instructions to prevent airplanes from Royal Air Force, Upper Heyford taking off directly over Steeple Aston.

  Mr. Freeman
  Unsuitable wind conditions have so far prevented the completion of the noise survey at Dr. Ratcliffe's school, Steeple Aston. I will reply when the information is available.

  Buccaneer (Anniversary)
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many serving or former South African 222
  military personnel were present at RAF Lossiemouth on 29 and 30 April for the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Buccaneer aircraft.

  Mr. Freeman
  The celebrations held at RAF Lossiemouth on 29 and 30 April commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Buccaneer aircraft were primarily social in nature and the majority of those involved were United Kingdom service men from the Royal Navy and RAF. No South African or indeed other foreign military personnel were specifically invited, and, so far as I am aware, no South African military personnel were present. The celebrations were advertised widely in the international aviation press and a message of congratulation was received from the South African Air Force, which also operates Buccaneers.

  Winston Barracks, Ianarkshire
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current status of the proposal to establish a United States Navy contingency hospital at Winston barracks, Ianarkshire, how many United States personnel are currently stationed there; and what is the cost to the United Kingdom Exchequer of establishing and maintaining this facility.

  Mr. Stewart
  We have agreed to make available to the United States Navy a site at RAF Lanark (formerly Winston barracks) for the establishment of a wartime contingency hospital. The costs of establishing and running this facility will be met entirely by the United States, but there will be no permanent presence at the site of United States military personnel in peacetime.

  Maritime Exercise (Sutherland)
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement of the nature and purposes of the air activities to be carried out in north-west Sutherland and Wester Ross during the maritime exercise on 17 and 18 June.

  Mr. Freeman
  The exercise will involve a small-scale amphibious landing using helicopters. Shore-based aircraft will simulate opposition to the landing, for which air defence will be provided by a mix of shore-based and carrier-borne aircraft.

  Irish Regiments
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which of the four Irish regiments in the Regular Army have served in Northern Ireland during the past two years.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  None of the so-called "Irish-named" regiments of the Army have served in Northern Ireland during the past two years.

  Army Equipment Exhibition
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to invite from foreign countries only official Government organisations to attend the British Army equipment exhibition as potential buyers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The majority of overseas visitors to the British Army equipment exhibition are from official
  223
  Government organisations. We do, however, invite some overseas senior industrialists at the request of companies participating in the exhibition. I see no reason to alter this practice.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy not to invite British based private arms traders to attend the British Army equipment exhibition as potential buyers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We do not invite British-based private arms traders to the British Army equipment exhibition.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will meet villagers of Penyllordd, Hope and Caergerle regarding the impact of low-flying military aircraft flights upon the quality of life in these and neighbouring areas; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  I would be happy to meet the hon. Member to discuss any problems his constituents may have regarding the impact of low-level military aircraft flights near their homes.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what geographical area, expressed(a) by county and (b) by parliamentary constituency, is covered by low-flying area 7.

  Mr. Freeman
  Low-flying area 7 covers(a) the counties of Clwyd, Dyfed, Mid Glamorgan, South Glamorgan, West Glamorgan, Gwent, Gwynedd and Powys and (b) the parliamentary constituencies of Ynys Môn, Conwy, Clwyd, North-West, Delyn, Caernarfon, Meirionnydd Nant Conwy, Clwyd, South-West, Ceredigion and Pembroke, North, Montgomery, Pembroke, Carmarthen, Brecon and Radnor, Llanelli, Gower, Swansea, East, Swansea, West, Neath, Aberavon, Cynon Valley, Rhondda, Ogmore, Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, Pontypridd, Vale of Glamorgan, Cardiff, Central, Cardiff, North, Cardiff, South and Penarth, Cardiff, West, Caerphilly, Blaenau Gwent, Islwyn, Newport, East, Newport, West, Torfaen and Monmouth and part of the parliamentary constituencies of Alyn and Deeside, Shropshire, North, and Wrexham.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what geographical area, expressed(a) by county and (b) by parliamentary constituency, is covered by low-flying area 10.

  Mr. Freeman
  Low flying area 10 no longer exists.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what geographical area, expressed(a) by county and (b) by parliamentary constituency, is covered by low-flying area 12.

  Mr. Freeman
  Low flying area 12 covers(a) the counties of Cleveland and Tyne and Wear and parts of the counties of Durham, Northumberland and North Yorkshire and (b) the parliamentary constituencies of Wansbeck, Blyth Valley, Tynemouth, South Shields, Jarrow, Sunderland, North, Sunderland, South, Newcastle upon Tyne, North, Wallsend, Newcastle upon Tyne, Central, Newcastle upon Tyne, East, Tyne Bridge,
  224
  Gateshead, East, Houghton and Washington, Blaydon, Durham, North, Easington, Hartlepool, Stockton, North, Stockton, South, Redcar, Middlesbrough, and part of the parliamentary constituencies of Hexham, Durham, North-West, City of Durham, Bishop Auckland, Darlington, Sedgefield, Richmond (Yorks.), Iangbaurgh, Berwick-upon-Tweed and Roxburgh and Berwickshire.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many low-flying sorties were flown over the United Kingdom in the period 1 January to 31 May.

  Mr. Freeman
  Between 1 January and 31 March 1988 a total of 40,952 such sorties were flown over the United Kingdom. Figures for April and May 1988 are not yet available.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total number of complaints received about low flying over the United Kingdom in the period 1 January to 31 May.

  Mr. Freeman
  Between 1 January and 30 April 1988 the Ministry of Defence received 1,267 complaints and inquiries about military low flying. Figures for May are not yet available.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the Royal Air Force's expenditure on public relations, in constant prices, in each year since 1979; and what increase in resources is currently being provided for the Royal Air Force's public relations campaign on low flying.

  Mr. Freeman
  The last year for which comprehensive figures are available is 1987–88. Total spending on public relations for the Royal Air Force from 1983 was as follows:

  £ million

  1983–84

  0·2

  1984–85

  0·3

  1985–86

  0·5

  1986–87

  0·6

  1987–88

  0·7

  Details of total expenditure for the years 1979–80 to 1982–83 could not be obtained without disproportionate effort. The figures provided include annual staffing costs together with expenditure on films, exhibitions, publications, equipment and so on. No increase in resources has been allocated to PR activity on low flying.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy on 20 January,Official Report, column 764, if the figure for the number of complaints received about low flying includes complaints made to local Royal Air Force and United States Air Force air bases and other military installations.

  Mr. Freeman
  Yes, although queries which had been answered by the local Royal Air Force station or United States Air Force air base would not necessarily have been forwarded to the Ministry of Defence for inclusion in central statistics.

  Civil Defence
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will identify the terms of reference of work on
  225
  (a) civil emergencies and (b) home defence planning carried out in his Department, the number of staff involved and the annual budgets for 1985–86, 1986–87 and 1987–88; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The terms of reference of work on civil emergencies and home defence planning are classified. The other information sought is not available in the form requested.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will identify(a) liaison arrangements between his Department and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation civil emergency planning boards and committees, concerning civil emergency and home defence planning, and (b) the extent of collaborative work carried out with the bodies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The Ministry of Defence has no formal links with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation civil emergency planning boards and committees. However, MOD officials are consulted as necessary by the relevant lead Department on matters which are of interest to the MOD. The scale of MOD involvement varies and it is not possible to quantify this without disproportionate time and effort.

  Regular Forces

  UDR

  Civilians

  1974

  16,991

  7,816

  1not available

  1975

  15,732

  7,676

  not available

  1976

  15,627

  7,793

  not available

  1977

  15,427

  7,616

  not available

  1978

  15,287

  7,812

  23,364

  1979

  13,704

  7,761

  3,305

  1980

  13,389

  7,425

  3,231

  1981

  12,143

  7,431

  3,087

  1982

  11,799

  7,350

  2,947

  1983

  11,357

  7,026

  2,825

  1984

  10,260

  6,929

  2,761

  1985

  10,222

  6,468

  2,709

  1986

  10,090

  6,508

  2,693

  1987

  11,158

  6,535

  2,621

  1988

  10,887

  6,364

  2,618

  1 Civilian numbers prior to 1978 are not readily available and could only be produced at disproportionate cost.

  2 Civilian numbers in 1978 are at 1 April.

  Information on costs is not available in the form requested. However, the following information is available on the extra costs of military operations in Northern Ireland:

  Financial year

  Extra costs1 at outturn prices

  £ million

  1981–82

  149

  1982–83

  143

  1983–84

  141

  1984–85

  121

  1985–86

  135

  1986–87

  144

  1987–88

  168

  1 These costs are derived from an annual assessment of the resources which MOD requires to fulfil those tasks which relate directly to the campaign against terrorism in Northern Ireland.

  RAF (Flying Training)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the percentage increase in the provision for Royal Air Force flying training activity in 1987–88 over 1986–87; and what changes in provision are being implemented in 1988–89.

  Mr. Freeman
  Royal Air Force flying training activity decreased by 9 per cent. from 1986–87 to 1987–88; a further decrease of 6 per cent. for 1987–88 to 1988–89 is being implemented.

  Northern Ireland
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish a table showing the number of troops deployed in Northern Ireland, the number of his Department's civil servants stationed there, and the total cost to public funds of each in each year since 1974.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  [holding answer 13 June 1988]: The information available on the armed forces and MOD civilian numbers in Northern Ireland on 1 January of each year since 1974 is as follows:

  Reconnaissance Force
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the role and composition of the military reaction or reconnaissance force in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  [holding answer 13 June 1988]: There is no such unit.

  Sub-machine Guns
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which models of the Sterling and Ingram sub-machine gun have been issued to the Army in Northern Ireland from 1973 to the current date.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  [holding answer 13 June 1988]: The Sterling model L2A3 sub-machine gun and the Ingram model 10 sub-machine gun have been issued to the Army in Northern Ireland.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Pesticides
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with union representatives concerning the safe use of pesticides; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Trade unions are represented on the three specialist panels established to give assistance to the independent advisory committee on pesticides. These panels, the medical and toxicological panel, the application technology panel and the labelling and container design panel, make an important contribution to ensuring the safe use of pesticides. Since October 1986 there have been a total of eight meetings, and trade union representatives have attended four of them.

  Trade unions were consulted on the drafting of the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986. They were also consulted on the first draft of a statutory code of practice on use of pesticides in agriculture and will be able to comment on the revised draft which was published for use on a trial basis in February 1988.

  No pesticide product is approved for use unless Ministers, on the advice of the advisory committee on pesticides, are satisfied that it can be used safely. From time to time new information becomes available. Trade unions are consulted whenever the withdrawal of approval for a product for safety reasons is to be considered by the ACP.

  In addition to direct contacts with individual trade unions and the TUC, my Department is kept in touch with trade union views on the safe use of pesticides through tripartite bodies organised by the Health and Safety Executive. The Health and Safety Commission, which is itself a tripartite body, has to approve any advisory code of practice on safe use of pesticides drafted by the HSE.

  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give details of the number of prosecutions of persons for breach of the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986, for each year since 1986.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  My Department has conducted two, successful, prosecutions since the regulations were brought into effect in October 1986. One prosecution was in 1987, the other this year. Both were for misuse of pesticides. My Department may also prosecute offenders who misuse pesticides under other legislation. In 1987 there were two such prosecutions under the Protection of Animals Act 1911. The other agricultural departments are responsible for similar prosecutions in respect of their own areas.

  Since 29 June 1987 the Health and Safety Executive has been the enforcing authority for the regulations for the premises for which they are responsible under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. These premises include farms and holdings, and pesticide manufacturers in Great Britain. Figures for prosecution should be available shortly.

  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he takes to ensure that workers in the agriculture industry are fully aware of the dangers to their health from exposure to pesticides.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  No pesticide product is approved for use unless Ministers, on the advice of the 228
  independent advisory committee on pesticides, are satisfied that it can be used safely. The product label is the principal way in which information on the safe use of a particular pesticide product is conveyed to the user. Any statements about operator protection or requirement for operator training have the force of law.

  No workers in the agriculture industry may use a pesticide in the course of their work unless they have been given adequate instruction and guidance in the safe use of pesticides and are competent for the duties they are called upon to perform. And in using the pesticide they are required to take all reasonable precautions to protect the health of human beings.

  In order to ensure that young people and those offering a commercial service are fully aware of all their obligations under the Control of Pesticide Regulations 1986, as from 1 January 1989 they will not be allowed to apply professional agricultural pesticides unless they hold an appropriate recognised certificate of competence.

  Sheep Dipping
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has on the hazards to health of farm workers involved in the process of sheep dipping; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Operators exposed to sheep dips containing organophosphorus compounds may experience some adverse reaction. All approved products carry safety warnings which advise on the appropriate precautions which should be taken to minimise exposure.

  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what guidance his Department has given to the agriculture industry concerning precautions in the process of dipping sheep.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Advisory leaflets are available to farmers which set out the precautions operators should take when dipping sheep. It is also a requirement that safety precautions are included on the labels of all licensed sheep dips.

  Chernobyl
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Daventry (Mr. Boswell) of 7 June,Official Report, column 493, if he will. list the numbers and types of equipment and materials purchased for analytical purposes and for monitoring as a result of the Chernobyl accident.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The following additional major items of analytical and monitoring equipment have been purchased:

  1 Gamma Spectrometry Assembly

  1 Automatic Sample Changer for above

  2 Liquid Scintillation Counters

  25 Single Channel Analysers coupled with a 1¾ inch sodium-iodide detector

  3 Single Channel Analysers coupled with a 2 inch sodium-iodide detector

  8 Double Channel Analysers coupled with a 1¾ inch sodium-iodide detector

  In addition, a large number of containers and other minor items have been purchased.

  Plant Variety Testing
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the number of job losses as a consequence of the implementation of the review into plant variety testing and seed certification; and where such job losses will occur.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 14 June 1988]: A report on the plant variety testing and seed certification systems in the United Kingdom was published on 14 April 1988. All interested parties have been invited to comment by 15 July 1988. No decisions will be taken on the implementation of the report's recommendations until after comments have been received and given full consideration. It is premature, therefore, to estimate whether any job losses will occur.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list in the Official Report the number of visits made by those responsible for the review of plant variety testing and seed certification to locations in Scotland, the places visited, the number of individuals consulted in each location and the length of time of each interview.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 14 June 1988]: Three visits were made by the review team to Scotland, where the following meetings were held:

  Date

  Organisation

  Location

  Number of individuals

  27 May 1987

  Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland

  Edinburgh

  9

  28 May 1987

  Representatives of the industry in Scotland

  Edinburgh

  15

  27 July 1987

  Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland

  Edinburgh

  4

  27 July 1987

  Representatives of the Scottish Agricultural Colleges and the Scottish Agricultural Statistics Service

  Perth

  11

  28 July 1987

  Representatives of the Scottish Crop Research Institute and Caithness Potato Breeders Ltd

  Dundee

  10

  27 January 1988

  Representatives of the Scottish Office Trade Union Side

  Edinburgh

  9

  The number of individuals shown excludes members of the review team, but includes officials of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland. Each meeting lasted approximately half a day, except for a shorter meeting with the Scottish Office trade union side.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish in the Official Report a list of those individuals and organisations who have made representations on the potential effects of the implementation of the recommendations of the recent review on plant variety testing and seed indentification.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 14 June 1988]Individuals and organisations have until 15 July 1988 to comment on the report on the plant variety testing and seed certification systems in the United Kingdom. Up until 10 June 1988, written representations were received from the following persons and organizations:230

  The British Association of Seed Analysts.

  The Hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. David Clark) on behalf of Ms. D. M. Davidson.

  The Institution of Professional Civil Servants—Scottish Branch Section O.

  Nickerson Seed Investments Ltd.

  The Scots Timothy Seed Growers' Association.

  Mr. B. Snoad—John Powling Seeds.

  The United Kingdom Agricultural Supply Trade Association Ltd. (Scottish Council).

  Civil Defence
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will identify(a) liaison arrangements between his Department and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation civil emergency planning boards and committees, concerning civil emergency and home defence planning, and (b) the extent of collaborative work carried out with these bodies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  My Department liaises with the NATO food and agricultural planning committee by attending the twice-yearly meetings of this body and its working group, and by participating in exercises which take place annually and training sessions held every other year. Representation is at United Kingdom Civil Service grade 7 level; in addition at present a MAFF grade 5 official chairs the committee. The work of the committee consists of exchanging information about civil emergency planning, within its field, in the member nations, identifying any action required by NATO and planning to carry this through. The work forms an essential part of the United Kingdom contribution to NATO and is a valuable aid to United Kingdom national civil emergency planning.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will indentify the terms of reference of work on(a) civil emergencies and (b) home defence planning carried out in his Department, the number of staff involved and the annual budgets for 1985–86, 1986–87 and 1987–88; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Most of the work on these items by my Department is carried out under programme 52 of the ministerial information in MAFF (MINIM), and the relevant information can be found in the published MINIM report, a copy of which is available in the House Library.

  For this programme, the details are:

  1. To maintain contingency plans to safeguard supplies of essential foods during civil emergencies; implement plans and respond to the needs of food and agriculture during emergency.

  2. To plan, in conjunction with other Departments and interests in the UK and within the NATO Alliance, to feed the population in times of crisis, conventional war and recovery after nuclear attack in the light of planning assumptions laid down centrally by Ministers.

  3. To maintain in good condition a strategic food stockpile of a size, composition and distribution determined in accordance with central government policy.

  The number of man-years involved on civil emergencies in 1985–86, 1986–87 and 1987–88 was 19, 18 and 20 respectively, and the budgets costs were £0·3 million, £0·3 million and £0·4 million.

  The number of man-years involved on defence planning in 1985–86, 1986–87 and 1987–88 was 64, 61 and 63 respectively, the budget costs were £13·1 million, £13·4 million and £13·4 million. In addition, the cost of accommodating the strategic food stockpile is in the region of £10 million per year.
  231
  Other work, on civil accidents, is carried out under programme 35, where the terms of reference are
  "To review and update national and international procedures for food safety in the event of a nuclear or non-nuclear accident."

  Information on the numbers of staff and budgets for this work is not separately available.

  American Waste
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what assessment he has made of the danger of an outbreak of Colorado beetle infestation from the importation and dumping of American domestic waste in the United Kingdom;

  (2) what assessment he has made of the danger of an outbreak of swine fever from the importation and dumping of American domestic waste in the United Kingdom;

  (3) what assessment he has made of the danger of an outbreak of foot and mouth disease from the importation and dumping of American domestic waste in the United Kingdom;

  (4) what assessment he has made of the danger of rabies from the importation and dumping of American domestic waste in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  My officials are assessing the implications of importing American domestic waste in relation to both plant and animal health. The possible introduction of the Colorado beetle is one of the plant health risks being investigated. We are aware of no recent outbreaks of either swine fever or foot and mouth disease in the United States of America, but we are considering whether there might be any risk of those diseases being introduced if the waste included waste food originating outside the United States of America. We are satisfied that there would be no risk of introducing rabies.

  Badgers (Tuberculosis)
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a live vaccine for use against tuberculosis in badgers was first isolated.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  There is no live vaccine suitable for use against tuberculosis in badgers. Laboratory trials using a killed strain of the bacillus mycobacterium vaccae are in progress.

WALES

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the percentage of(a) female and (b) male unemployment in 1985, 1986 and 1987 in Wales.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The seasonally adjusted number of unemployed claimants, expressed as a percentage of the working population, is as follows:

  Percentage of unemployed—Wales (annual averages)

  1985

  1986

  1987

  Male

  16·5

  16·5

  15·5

  Female

  10·6

  10·9

  9·2

  Source: Department of Employment.
  232
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the latest figure for the percentage change in unemployment in (i) Wales and (ii) Clwyd since May 1979; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  [holding answer 13 June 1988]: On a consistent seasonally adjusted basis, the number of unemployed claimants in Wales in May 1979 was 73,100 and in May 1988 132,200, an increase of 80·8 per cent. Comparable figures for the same period for Clwyd are not available.

  Unadjusted unemployment claimant figures, which are affected by changes in coverage, are available for Clwyd since June 1983. These show a decrease of 24·5 per cent. over the period to May 1988. Comparable figures for Wales show a fall of 18·1 per cent. I am pleased that unemployment in Wales has now gone down every month for the last 24 months.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the numbers of part-time workers in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  [holding answer 13 June 1988]: The most recent estimates of the total number of part-time workers in Wales is provided by the 1984 census of employment. This indicates that in September 1984 there were 192,000 part-time workers.

  Welsh Development Agency Factories
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report, for each of the last five years, the number of Welsh Development Agency factories, together with their area in square feet sited in Wales, disaggregated by (i) county area; (ii) district council area and (iii) parliamentary constituency area; and if he will give the corresponding statistics for the percentage of the factory space that remained unoccupied.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  I shall write to the hon. Gentleman and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.

  WDA (Driving Instructors)
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information his Department holds on the number of approved driving instructors that the Welsh Development Agency has financially assisted in setting up in business during each of the past five years; and at what level of geographic disaggregation this information is available.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The Welsh Development Agency has no record of ever providing financial assistance to an approved driving instructor in Wales.

  Gipsy Site, Felindre
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what date he will announce his decision on the reference to him by Lliw Valley borough council under section 8 of the Caravan Sites Act 1968 on the proposal by West Glamorgan county council to seek deemed planning permission for an official gipsy site at Brynwhilach Farm, Felindre, Swansea.

  Mr. Grist
  My right hon. Friend expects to be in a position to announce his decision by the end of July.

  Farm Workers
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many farm workers were employed in each county of Wales at the latest convenient date.

  Regular Family Workers

  Regular Hired Workers

  Total Regular Workers

  Seasonal Casual Workers

  Total Workers

  Clwyd

  768

  1,020

  1,788

  1,138

  2,926

  Dyfed

  1,931

  1,625

  3,556

  3,339

  6,895

  Gwent

  453

  464

  917

  646

  1,563

  Gwynedd

  793

  716

  1,509

  1,021

  2,530

  Mid Glamorgan

  179

  145

  324

  373

  697

  Powys

  1,072

  959

  2,031

  1,611

  3,642

  South Glamorgan

  119

  252

  371

  181

  552

  West Glamorgan

  163

  124

  287

  416

  703

  Wales

  5,478

  5,305

  10,783

  8,725

  19,508

  Notes:

  1. Figures relate to main holdings only.

  2. Regular workers includes those working full-time and part-time.

  Ethnic Monitoring
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he is proposing to carry out a monitoring exercise in compliance with the code of the Commission for Racial Equality.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him on 24 May 1988. A survey to provide information on the ethnic origin of staff in the Welsh Office was recently completed as part of a phased programme of ethnic surveys across the Civil Service.

  Hedgerows
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if there are any estimates of the amount of hedgerows grubbed up in Wales in the last year.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The information requested is not available.

  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if there are any guidelines issued to prevent the loss of hedgerows in the Welsh countryside;

  (2) what action he proposes to take to combat the loss of the natural fauna and flora found in hedgerows.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The Government are anxious to prevent the loss of hedgerows and, as such, grant-aid for their removal was completely withdrawn in 1983. At the same time higher rates of grant were introduced for the provision, replacement and improvement of hedges. The Agricultural Development Advisory Service has produced a number of leaflets giving guidance on hedgerow management and can advise on their value both for agriculture and conservation purposes. The Department also gives guidance to highway authorities on methods of managing roadside hedges which are sympathetic to the needs of the resident flora and fauna.

  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action he proposes to take to combat the accelerated erosion of soil surrounding hedgerows which have been grubbed up.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  I am not aware of any particular problems in Wales of accelerated erosion of soil surrounding hedgerows which have been grubbed up. I understand this is a problem mainly associated with the arable areas of East Anglia.
  234
  Mr. Peter Walker
  The numbers of farm workers employed in each county, in June 1987 are given in the following table:

  Environmental Conservation
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action he proposes to take to combat the destruction of the physical character of the countryside.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The Government are firmly committed to the conservation of the countryside. There are a number of statutory designations which serve to protect it, including national parks, areas of outstanding natural beauty, sites of special scientific interest and national nature reserves. A recent initiative is the designation of environmentally sensitive areas, and on 1 January 1988 I established the second such area in Wales in the Lleyn peninsula. In addition the Countryside Commission, which is my right hon. Friend's statutory adviser on countryside conservation matters, the national parks and the Welsh Office agriculture department can make grants available towards the management of important landscape features.

  Water Supplies
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has received from Welsh water on the increased levels of acidification of Welsh rivers and its effects on the concentration of aluminium in domestic water supplies.

  Mr. Grist
  No information has been received of any connection between increased acidification of surface waters and the concentration of aluminium in domestic water supplies. Compliance with the requirements of directive 80/778/EEC which includes a maximum limit on the aluminium concentration, is discussed in the water quality report published annually by Welsh water authority.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the supply outlets of domestic water in Wales that(a) are currently being treated with aluminium sulphate,(b) have aluminium concentration in excess of the European Commission guidelines and (c) are subject to derogations for these and other reasons.

  Mr. Grist
  In respect of directive 80/778/EEC Welsh water authority's sources of supply which are subject to derogations or delay for aluminium are as follows:
  235

  Derogations

  Delays

  Nantmor

  Nantybwch

  Llan Penmachno

  Capel Dewi

  Cwmsymlog

  Strata Florida

  Afon Cwm-y-Llan

  Bontgoch

  Rhyd

  Georgetown (Tredegar)

  Alwen

  Cynwyd

  Meifod

  Bettws-y-Coed

  Carno

  Portis

  Ponsticill

  Llandello Graban

  Llanwrtyd Wells

  Other derogations and delays apply to sources as follows:

  1 = Colour; 6=pH unit;

  33 = Iron; 34 = Manganese

  Source

  Derogated Parameter

  Delayed Parameter

  Nantybwch

  34

  33

  Garw Levels

  33

  33

  Preseli

  33

  Strata Florida

  34

  Ystradfelltre

  34

  Lovesgrove Borehole

  34

  Nantymoel

  34

  Ffynnon Rhys

  33

  Wern Ddu

  6

  Penygoyallt

  6

  Llanfynydd

  6, 34

  33

  Georgetown

  6, 34

  33

  Alwen

  1,34

  33

  Cynwyd

  34

  33

  Bettws-y-Coed

  34

  Garreglwyd

  33, 34

  Bryn Goch

  33

  Maenllwyd

  33

  Nantmore

  34

  Rhyd-Ddu

  34

  Talwaenydd

  33

  Carno

  34

  33

  Talybont

  33

  Portis

  34

  33

  Penyfan

  33

  Upper Wenallt Springs

  33

  Cwm Cegr Springs

  33

  Llanbedr Springs

  33

  Llanwrtyd Wells

  33

  Barmouth Junction

  33

  Bolton Hill

  33

  Caerau

  34

  Llan Penmachno

  34

  Crai Reservoir

  34

  Croesor

  34

  Rhyd

  33,34

  Rhydyronnen

  33

  Tir-Cawen

  33

  Details of the number of supplies treated with aluminium sulphate and the concentration of aluminium in supply are not held centrally.

  Cancer Treatment
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will undertake to meet a joint conference of the Clwyd area health authority, the Alyn-Deeside district council and the county and town councils of Deeside to discuss his plans to enhance cancer treatment for north 236
  Wales patients in north Wales, as outlined in his letter to the hon. Member for Alyn and Deeside on 10 May; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  Proposals for a comprehensive study of cancer treatment services for north Wales patients have already been the subject of consultation with appropriate health authorities and further discussion would unduly delay commencement of the study.

  Datamagnetics, Clwyd
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the amount of funds given so far by(a) Investors in Industry, (b) the Welsh Development Agency and (c) the European Economic Community to Datamagnetics, Clwyd; and what new funds are proposed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  For information on the Welsh Development Agency's input I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him on 9 May 1988.

  EC resources in the form of European regional development fund grants are not passed directly to individual companies. When an investment proceeds as planned, ERDF is retained centrally as partial reimbursement for United Kingdom regional aid assistance already awarded.

  As regards the financial involvement of Investors in Industry, I suggest that the hon. Gentleman seeks the information required from the company itself.

  The receiver remains optimistic that Datamagnetics can be sold as a going concern.

  Deeside and Vale of Clwyd Mind Association
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will meet members of Deeside and Vale of Clwyd Mind Association to discuss the possible closing down of their projects under the unified training programme for the unemployed employment training;

  (2) what special measures he will take to assist Deeside and Vale of Clwyd Mind Association to continue the currently effective community programme providing work for disadvantaged groups when employment training is fully operative;

  (3) how many places Deeside and Vale of Clwyd Mind Association provide in the current year under the community programme;

  (4) if he will enable Deeside and Vale of Clwyd Mind Association to become a training manager in its own right; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The Deeside and Vale of Clwyd Mind Association provided 39 places under the Training Commission's community programme scheme between 1 April and 31 May 1988. Decisions about the association's participation in employment training are for the Training Commission, and I understand that none has yet been made. I have no plans to meet members of the association.

  Welsh Language
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the members and their appropriate qualifications of the committee advising him on the Welsh language.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The eight members of the working group chaired by my hon. Friend the Minister of State are:
  237

  Alun Daniel—Executive Director, Welsh Development Agency

  Prys Edwards—Chairman Wales Tourist Board

  John Elfed Jones—Chairman Welsh Water Authority

  Tom Jones—North Wales Regional Officer T&GWU

  Winston Roddick QC—Barrister

  D. Hugh Thomas—Clerk and Chief Executive, Mid Glamorgan Council Council

  Euryn Ogwen Williams—Deputy Director, S4C

  Elfed Roberts—Regional Director, Midland Bank.

  Civil Defence
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will identify the terms of reference of work on(a) civil emergencies and (b) home defence planning carried out in his Department, the number of staff involved and the annual budgets for 1985–86, 1986–87 and 1987–88; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  My Department has plans for various civil emergencies, and encourages and co-ordinates contingency planning by other public bodies with executive responsibilities. Home defence planning is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department, and my Department participates in and contributes to planning in respect of Wales. Three members of staff are devoted full time to this work, and others participate from time to time as necessary.

  My Department's budgets, in cash terms, for the last three years were as follows:

  £ thousands

  1985–86

  103

  1986–87

  187

  1987–88

  413

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will identify(a) liaison arrangements between his Department and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation civil emergency planning boards and committees, concerning civil emergency and home defence planning and (b) the extent of collaborative work carried out with these bodies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Liaison between the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the United Kingdom Government in areas of Welsh Office responsibility is conducted through the Home Office.

  Waste Imports
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will seek powers to prohibit the importation of contaminated soil and other waste from the continent to Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  The Government believe that the provision of waste disposal services is a legitimate and proper element of international trade provided that adequate safeguards are in existence to ensure that there is no danger to public health or the environment.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much domestic waste, contaminated soil and 238
  other waste has been imported in 1986, 1987 and 1988 from (a) the continent, (b) Holland and (c) other sources into (i) Wales and (ii) Clwyd; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  This information is not available centrally.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has of the impact upon human, animal and plant life consequent upon the disposal of contaminated soil from Holland at a site near Gresford, Clwyd; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the answer given on 3 December 1987. I was fully satisfied before the consignment was allowed to be imported from Holland that there would be no adverse impact upon human, animal or plant life and I was assured by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution, on advice from Wrexham Maelor borough council, that the disposal site in question was appropriately licensed to receive the waste.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the substances that contaminated the soil exported from Holland to Gresford, Clwyd, via Mostyn docks; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  The soil contained very low levels of copper, lead, zinc, cadmium, nickel, chromium, arsenic, antimony and mercury.

  Gateway Network
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the progress of the small business gateway network in Wales.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  On Wednesday 15 June I announced in Cardiff that the high street banks in Wales had joined the gateway network. This adds the commitment of an important sector of private enterprise to our major framework of support for small businesses in the Principality and will add considerably to its success and impact.

THE ARTS

  Items in Lieu of Tax
  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Minister for the Arts whether he will list the objects and property accepted in satisfaction of capital transfer tax and inheritance tax during the financial year ended 31 March; if, in listing them, he will specify(a) the amount of tax satisfied in each case, (b) whether any offers of objects carried conditions as to destination, (c) the dates in each case of the recommendations received by him from the Museums and Galleries Commission for the acceptance of objects, (d) the total for the financial year of the tax thus satisfied and (e) the means by which that total has been covered in the public accounts; and whether a press notice will be issued from the Office of Arts and Libraries comprising the information given in his reply.

  Mr. Luce
  The information the hon. Member requests is as follows:
  239

  Item Offered

  Amount of Tax Satisfied (£)

  Condition as to Destination

  Date of receipt of MGC's recommendations

  Two paintings by Belloto

  412,500

  None

  24 February 1987

  Archives of Lord Clark of Saltwood

  144,870

  None

  13 March 1988

  Chattels at Hagley Hall

  34,100

  To remain in situ

  Residue of offer first recommended 11 October 1985

  Picasso's "Weeping Woman"

  1,200,000

  Offer conditional on allocation to Tate Gallery

  11 May 1987

  Derby Commemorative Jug

  13,750

  None

  11 May 1987

  Raeburn Portrait

  96,250

  None

  MGC Recommendation went to Secretary of State for Scotland on 21 May 1987

  Twenty Vignettes by Turner

  233,750

  Offer conditional on allocation to Scottish National Galleries

  MGC Recommendations went to Secretary of State for Scotland on 22 July 1987

  Ten Portrait Miniatures

  200,344

  None

  11 May 1987

  Henry Moore Drawings

  153,456

  Offer conditional on allocation to the British Museum

  1 September 1987

  Constable's "Stratford Mill"

  5,500,000

  None

  4 March 1987

  Gainsborough's "Captain Wade"

  638,444

  Offer conditional on allocation to Bath City Council

  15 January 1988

  Total Tax Satisfied

  8,627,464

  The total amount of tax satisfied in 1987–88 was £8,627,464 and a call on the Reserve of £7,388,444 was made, of which £6,627,464 was spent. A press notice is being issued in conjunction with this reply.

  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Minister for the Arts whether he will state the total amounts of tax satisfied consequential on the acceptance of objects and property in lieu of capital transfer tax and inheritance tax which have been covered in the public accounts by means of resort to the Reserve for contingencies in each of the three completed financial years since the written answer on 26 July 1985 made on behalf of the then Minister for the Arts,Official Report, column 777.

  Mr. Luce
  The amount of tax satisfied by means of resort to the Reserve in the last three financial years is listed in the table. Due to underspends in each financial year on the annual vote of £2 million provided for the acceptance-in-lieu of objects and property the amount actually spent from the Reserve was less than the original call. I list the actual money spent from the Reserve for the hon. Member's information.

  Year

  Amount of tax Satisfied/Call on the Reserve

  Amount actually spent from the Reserve

  £

  £

  1985–86

  520,000

  366,707

  1986–87

  1,165,000

  947,842

  1987–88

  7,338,444

  6,627,464

  Total

  9,023,444

  7,942,013

CIVIL SERVICE

  Civil Servants (Secondment)
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will give, by region, the number of temporary 240
  appointments of civil servants made on secondment to companies in the private sector and of individuals in the private sector to Civil Service Departments, by region.

  Mr. Luce
  Information is not held centrally showing the regional distribution of secondees between Government Departments and outside organisations, and could be collected only at disproportionate cost.

ENVIRONMENT

  East End Trust
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what financial contribution is being made by the London Docklands Development Corporation to the East End trust; what proportion of its current income this represents; and to what purposes its funds are being devoted.

  Mr. Trippier
  London Docklands Development Corporation has approved contributions to the East End community trust totalling £186,500. These are for revenue support, a wildlife habitat study in Docklands, and to provide a legal advice service to local groups. The trust is developing its sources of funding. London Docklands Development Corporation is currently a major contributor.

  Rents
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing the average level of fair rents registered in Greater London in each year from 1979 to the latest available date for(a) private unfurnished tenancies, (b) private furnished tenancies and (c) housing association tenancies, distinguishing, in each case, between the rent on first registration and that on re-registration and including figures for the percentage increase on an annual and cumulative basis and for the movement of the retail price index over the same period.
  241
  Mrs. Roe
  The figures on average rents registered by rent officers for private unfurnished, private furnished and housing association tenancies and for movements in the retail prices index up to 1987 are as follows:

  Average Fair rents registered by Rent Officers in Greater London (£ per annum)

  Unfurnished tenancies

  Furnished tenancies

  Housing Association tenancies

  First Registration

  Re-registration

  First Registration

  Re-registration

  First Registration

  Re-registration

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  1979

  691

  664

  897

  1,016

  609

  543

  1980

  778

  761

  1,059

  1,169

  669

  649

  1981

  728

  861

  1,295

  1,165

  778

  755

  1982

  895

  967

  1,301

  1,297

  890

  821

  1983

  1,048

  970

  1,433

  1,537

  974

  912

  1984

  1,080

  1,123

  1,554

  1,605

  1,107

  999

  1985

  1,240

  1,128

  1,771

  1,755

  1,196

  1,069

  1986

  1,272

  1,305

  1,900

  1,873

  1,250

  1,150

  1987

  1,345

  1,315

  2,057

  2,012

  1,462

  1,266

  Notes:

  Service charges, if any, are included in fair rents.

  The percentage movement of the retail prices index on an annual and cumulative basis since 1979 is as follows:

  Retail Prices Index (UK) Annual

  Percentage increase over year since 1979

  1980

  18

  18

  1981

  12

  32

  1982

  9

  43

  1983

  5

  50

  1984

  5

  57

  1985

  6

  67

  1986

  3

  73

  1987

  4

  80

  Unfurnished tenancies Percentage increase

  Furnished tenancies Percentage increase

  Housing association tenancies Percentage increase

  in period

  annualised

  in period

  annualised

  in period

  annualised

  1979–82

  44

  13

  40

  11

  46

  13

  1982–84

  19

  9

  18

  8

  19

  9

  1984–86

  17

  8

  17

  8

  16

  8

  1985–87

  20

  9

  17

  8

  16

  8

  London Docklands (Refurbishments)
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much expenditure his Department has allowed the London Docklands Development Corporation to incur on the internal refurbishment of dwellings in the urban development area.

  Mr. Trippier
  Expenditure of £90,000 has been approved exceptionally for the internal refurbishment of three dwellings owned by the London borough of Tower Hamlets. The corporation is considering what further contribution it might make for this purpose for discussion with the Department.

  Storm Damage
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what account he proposes to take of the level of expenditure incurred by(a) central Government and (b) Ealing council in respect of the severe flooding in the Greenford and Hanwell area in 1977 and of the number of people who received payments, and of the (i) highest payment, (ii) lowest payment and (iii) the average
  242
  The mix of properties for which rents are registered varies from year to year for a number of reasons: for example, extension of decontrol in 1981; the reduction from three to two years in the minimum period for re-registration which led to re-registrations in 1983 of rents previously registered in 1980 and 1981. Therefore, comparisons of averages for consecutive years do not properly reflect rent movements. Better estimates of rent movements are derived from previous and new registered rents for tenancies where there has been no material change in terms or in the physical condition. For properties with rents fixed during 1979, 1982, 1984, 1986 and 1987 the estimated increases in Greater London are:

  payment made, in deciding whether to make any financial assistance available following the recent flooding in the same area; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  All requests for financial assistance are considered on their merits. The treatment of Ealing's request for financial assistance in 1977 would not therefore be relevant to any request in respect of the flooding in 1988. Any representations Ealing borough council may make will, of course, be considered carefully; none has been made so far. I would refer the hon. Gentlemen to the answer I gave him on 23 May 1988, at column 79.

  Playgrounds
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce urgent legislation to make compulsory the replacement of concrete or tarmac surfaces of children's playgrounds and the use of safe soft materials in such playgrounds.

  Mr. Moynihan
  No. The Health and Safety at Work etc, Act 1974 already applies and requires local authorities and other playground operators to take reasonable measures to ensure safety at playgrounds which are under their control. Duties under this Act are enforceable by the
  243
  Health and Safety Executive. Additionally, the Department issued guidance to local authorities on safety in children's playgrounds in 1978; part of this guidance was consolidated in British Standard 5696. A new British Standard on playground surface safety is currently being drawn up and should be completed by the end of this year.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many children suffered accidents resulting in death or major injuries as the result of playing in playgrounds with concrete or tarmac surfaces for each year since 1975; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I am consulting the Health and Safety Executive, to which accidents are reported under the provisions of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. I shall write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities have playgrounds with concrete or tarmac surfaces.

  Mr. Moynihan
  This information is not held centrally. I understand, however that a joint working group comprising the national children's play and recreation unit, the Institute of Leisure and Amenities Management and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, is conducting a comprehensive survey of local authority provision. The results of the survey should be available later this year.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the average cost of replacing the concrete or tarmac surfaces in children's playgrounds.

  Mr. Moynihan
  It is not possible to assess a meaningful average cost. Costs vary greatly depending on the contractors' price and the type of surface used—ranging from relatively cheap surfaces such as sand to expensive wet pore surfaces.

  England v. Scotland Football Match
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with the football authorities about crowd behaviour at the recent England v Scotland match at Wembley.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I have not discussed the England v. Scotland match directly with the football authorities. Immediately following the match the Football Association launched an internal inquiry into the incidents which occurred both in and around the stadium. Evidence will be taken from all relevant bodies. I have asked to see a copy of the report of the inquiry as soon as it is available. I will be discussing progress on anti-hooliganism measures with the football authorities on 5 July.

  Disabled Athletes
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made on the Ten Events Initiative to highlight the ability of many top sportsmen and women with disabilities; and whether he intends to visit the Paralympics in Seoul.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Following the successful launch of the Ten Events Initiative with the slalom challenge during the 244
  British ski championships, I have completed the bowls event, participating in 100 ends in a day, and the first leg of the Milk Race. Sponsorship from these events will go towards helping to send a Great Britain squad to the Paralympics in Seoul. I shall be participating in several events this summer, including 100 holes of golf in a day, a Docklands decathlon and watersports events.

  Waste Disposal
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the. Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations he has received about safety of waste disposal sites; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I have received a number of representations about the safety of waste disposal sites. Waste disposal facilities are licensed by the waste disposal authorities to ensure that the operations do not endanger public health or the water supply.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps will be taken to ensure that the import and dumping of American domestic waste in the United Kingdom conforms with European Community policy to preserve, protect and improve the quality of the environment and to contribute to protecting human health.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Disposal of all controlled waste is subject to licensing by waste disposal authorities and must take place in accordance with the conditions imposed by the authority on the disposal licence, which are intended to protect health, the water supply and local amenity.

  Asbestos
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what investigations have been made by the fire research station into the consequences of fires in buildings containing asbestos materials and the subsequent distribution of asbestos particles; what conclusions were reached on the consequential risks to firemen or residents from inflamable asbestos fibres; and if he will make a statement on the steps being taken to reduce this.

  Mr. Moynihan
  At the beginning of 1986 the fire research station carried out a small-scale investigation of the effect of heat on the principal types of asbestos materials used in buildings, and undertook preliminary modelling studies of the dispersal of fibres in the fire plume. It was concluded from these studies that further work was necessary before the risks to firemen or residents from asbestos in fires could be fully assessed. This further work is continuing.

  Brook House, London
  Mr. Heddle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his inspector's decision with regard to the discontinuing of office use of Brook house, Park lane, London W1, and of other such properties after 1990.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Following the report of an inspector who held a local inquiry into an appeal by MEPC plc, against the decision of Westminster city council to refuse planning permission for the continued use for offices purposes of Brook house beyond 1990, my right hon.
  245
  Friend the Secretary of State issued his decision to dismiss the appeal. His reasons for the decision are fully documented in his decision letter dated 17 May 1988. The Secretary of State has no further jurisdiction in the matter.

  Decisions relating to other such properties are a matter for Westminster city council. In so far as individual cases may come before the Secretary of State, for example on appeal, they will be dealt with on their merits.

  Planning Appeals
  Mr. Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to introduce new statutory rules of procedure governing planning applications and appeals which go to public inquiry.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Following consultation with the Council on Tribunals, two sets of rules, made by my right hon. Friend the Lord Chancellor, have been laid before both Houses.

  They are the Town and Country Planning (Inquiries Procedure) Rules 1988—in respect of decisions taken by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State or by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales; and the Town and Country Planning Appeals (Determination by Inspectors) (Inquiries Procedure) Rules 1988—in respect of decisions taken by planning inspectors appointed by either of my right hon. Friends.

  The revised rules are intended to make the planning inquiry process as efficient and effective as possible, while not impairing the fairness and impartiality of inquiry proceedings, or the ability of participants to make representations which are relevant to the decision. In particular, the new rules provide for a fuller exchange of information among the various interested parties about their respective cases before an inquiry opens, and introduce a more detailed timetable for the steps to be taken before an inquiry opens. Other new features are that they regulate pre-inquiry meetings and the procedure to be followed if a decision is quashed by the courts.

  Also issued today are an explanatory circular to local authorities and two non-statutory codes of practice. The first is on preparing for major inquiries and the second governs the conduct of hearings, which are held as an alternative to inquiries in suitable cases.

  I hope that applicants or appellants, local planning authorities, and other parties to planning cases will co-operate fully in implementing the new arrangements so that the benefits, for all parties involved, of smoother procedures and quicker decisions can be fully achieved.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has yet received the report from Price Waterhouse on the costs to local authorities associated with(a) the setting up and (b) administration of the poll tax.

  Mr. Howard
  Yes.

  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment by what date he expects the majority of revaluations for the unified business rate to be completed and notified to ratepayers.

  Mr. Howard
  Drafts of the new valuation lists which will come into force on 1 April 1990 are required to be 246
  deposited for public inspection no later than 31 December 1989. We hope to have sample information on which to base decisions on the transitional arrangements for business rates by the autumn of this year.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give revised figures to exemplify the effect in 1987–88 on the overall illustrative community charge levels of applying to them the decision to grant student status to student nurses, in particular in the London boroughs of Camden, Lambeth and Southwark.

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 14 June 1988]: It is not possible, at this stage, to estimate the effect on the community charge in particular areas of treating student nurses (of which there are at present about 60,000) as students for the purposes of the community charge. We intend that the cost to individual local authority areas of all exemptions from the charge, and student reliefs, will be allowed for in ensuring that each area can levy the same personal community charge if it spends in accordance with the Government's assessment of need. To do this we shall need to know the number of exempt individuals and students (including, if appropriate, student nurses) living in each area. This information is not available at present.

  Leeds Urban Development Corporation
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, following the laying before Parliament of the order to establish the Leeds urban development corporation in May, a detailed map of the site can now be published.

  Mr. Trippier
  Copies of the 1:10,000 map referred to in the order are available for inspection in the Library and at the offices of my Department and of Leeds city council.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations have taken place, following the laying before Parliament of the order to establish the Leeds urban development corporation in May, with Leeds city council; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  Prior to the order being laid I kept both the City council and local Members of Parliament informed at each stage of the process; and I invited the city council to comment on the proposed boundaries. The next step is for Parliament to debate the order.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) following the laying before Parliament of the order to establish the Leeds urban development corporation in May, whether the board will include representatives from groups and bodies within the local community in whose area the urban development corporation lies;

  (2) whether the board of the Leeds urban development corporation has now been appointed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  The board cannot be appointed until Parliament has approved the order and the corporation has been established. My right hon. Friend has announced Mr. Peter Hartley as chairman-designate; other members will include people with special knowledge of the locality and people with appropriate business or professional experience. He is currently consulting Leeds city council about his intention to appoint local authority members to the board.
  247
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, following the laying before Parliament of the order to establish the Leeds urban development corporation in May, the commissioned consultative report on the urban development corporation potential can now be published.

  Mr. Trippier
  The report has now been published. I have placed copies in the Library and sent copies to Members with constituencies in the area.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made to date with establishing the Leeds urban development corporation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  Excellent progress has been made. I hope Parliament will approve the orders and the corporation will be established in the next few weeks.

  Civil Defence
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will identify the terms of reference of work on(a) civil emergencies and (b) home defence planning carried out in his Department, the number of staff involved and the annual budgets for 1985–86, 1986–87 and 1987–88; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ridley
  My Department's work on civil emergencies and home defence planning involves the development and operation of contingency measures for dealing with emergencies in peace-time, particularly in relation to water supply and the release of radioactive substances. The Property Services Agency provides works and estate management services to enable client departments to fulfil their operational requirements in any emergency.

  The number of staff and annual budgets are as follows:

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  Number of staff

  8

  17

  19

  Annual budget (inc. Capital £000s expenditure)

  175

  418

  473

  These figures do not include any staff who may do work related to civil emergencies and home defence planning incidental to their normal duties.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will identify(a) liaison arrangements between his Department and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation civil emergency planning boards and committees, concerning civil emergency and home defence planning, and (b) the extent of collaborative work carried out with these bodies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ridley
  My Department does not have any direct liaison arrangement with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation civil emergency planning boards and committees.

  Government Departments (Planning)
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those Government Departments from which his inspectors have received representations about planning matters since 12 June 1987.
  248
  Mr. Waldegrave
  The information requested is not readily available, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  National Front
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what evidence of British National Front, or other extreme Right-wing organisational involvement he has collected following recent incidents including British citizens attending the European football championships in West Germany; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I have received no evidence that extreme Right-wing groups are funding or organising the incidents in West Germany, though I have seen newspaper reports about the insignia they have been wearing and their chants. I deplore all incidents or hooliganism, however those involved are dressed.

  Private Housing Schemes
  Mr. Tracey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will consider permitting local authorities to give the same level of assistance to privately let housing schemes as the Housing Corporation is able to give to mixed-funding schemes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Local authorities wishing to provide assistance for privately let housing schemes may do so only with the Secretary of State's consent under section 25 of the Local Government Act 1988. Hitherto, that consent has not normally been given if the aggregate public sector assistance to the scheme in question would exceed 30 per cent. As from today that limit has been raised to match the higher limits for housing association grant from the Housing Corporation to mixed-funding schemes, announced on 3 March 1988, namely, in the range 50 to 75 per cent. according to area. These higher limits should help unlock more private finance for housing that can be let at rents within the means of the prospective tenants.

  Housing Co-operatives
  Mr. Heddle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to carry out a review of housing co-operatives; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  It is the Government's policy to encourage the formation of co-operatives in order to broaden opportunities for tenants to play a greater part in the management of their homes. I have visited a number of co-ops recently and have been greatly impressed by their ability to build and strengthen local communities.

  I am aware, however, that there are concerns, not least from within the co-op movement itself, that the present arrangements for supporting and promoting co-ops may not provide a suitable basis for the expansion in numbers which I am keen to secure. I am, therefore, commissioning a wide-ranging review of the arrangements to promote, develop and support co-ops, with the following terms of reference;

  a. To consider the administrative, financial and legislative framework necessary for the promotion, development and support of housing co-operatives on a local and national scale, both generally and in the context of tenants' choice;

  b. To consider the role of secondary housing co-operatives as promotional and servicing agencies; and

  249

  c. To make recommendations.

  I have set up a review team which will be led by my Department to consider these matters. We are writing to the organisations most closely involved, but I invite all interested parties to write to the review team at my Department with their views on what is needed for co-ops, or similar forms of tenant involvement in the control of rented housing, to succeed. I have asked the review team to report by the end of the year.

  Environmental Assessment Directive
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now lay before Parliament regulations implementing the European directive on environmental assessment (85/337/EEC) for projects subject to planning controls.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Yesterday I laid before Parliament the draft Town and Country Planning (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1988. They require to be approved by resolution of each House before they can be made. I hope that both Houses will approve the drafts so that they may be made before 3 July. Copies of these draft regulations have been placed in the Library and will be available for sale at Her Majesty's Stationery Office from 20 June. Drafts of further regulations relating to projects which are not subject to planning control, and equivalent Scottish regulations, are also being laid before Parliament.

  Nuclear Waste
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research has been done into the feasibility of building dry store facilities for nuclear waste at each of the locations where the waste is produced.

  Mr. Moynihan
  [holding answer 14 June 1988]: Following the recommendations in March 1986 of the House of Commons Select Committee on the Environment, the generating boards (CEGB and SSEB) each conducted a full analysis of the arrangements for storing and disposing of spent nuclear fuel from their Magnox power stations. The Department of the Environment then commissioned an independent review of the two reports by a firm of consulting engineers.

  The reports and the review confirmed that reprocessing of spent Magnox fuel remains preferable to direct disposal and that the building of dry stores at the respective power stations would not be justified at this late stage in their lives. Copies of the reports are in the Library of the House.

  Asset Sales and Purchases
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will tabulate(a) the asset sales and (b) the purchases of his Department and the Commission for New Towns for 1987–88 and the planned net receipts for 1988–89, giving separate figures for sales and receipts by local authorities.

  Mrs. Roe
  [holding answer 14 June 1988]: The sums raised from the sale of assets by the Commission for the New Towns in 1987–88 amounted to £210·6 million. The commission's planned receipts for 1988–89 are confidential at this stage. I am unable to answer the remaining aspects of the hon. Member's question without more precise details of the information he requires.

  Toxic Waste (Pontypool)
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what special measures his Department is taking to monitor the disposal, at the ReChem international plant at Pontypool, of the toxic waste which will be imported from Switzerland in the next few weeks.

  Mr. Grist
  I have been asked to reply.

  Any wastes entering the United Kingdom from other countries are subject to the same controls as home-produced wastes. Operations at the ReChem plant, Pontypool are regulated by the Health and Safety Executive, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution, Torfaen borough council and the Welsh water authority.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Scottish Grand Committee
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will list in the Official Report the dates and subjects debated by the Scottish Grand Committee in the Scottish Assembly building, Old Royal High School, in Edinburgh since 1979.

  Mr. Wakeham
  Since 1979 the Scottish Grand Committee has met on 17 occasions in the former Royal High School buildings in Edinburgh. The dates of these meetings and the subjects discussed were:

  Date

  Subject

  15 February 1982

  Matter Day debate on youth employment and training.

  24 May 1982

  Matter Day debate on law and order.

  5 July 1982

  Estimates Debate on industry and the economy.

  22 November 1982

  Second Reading of Divorce, Jurisdiction, Court Fees and Legal Aid (Scotland) Bill.

  7 February 1983

  Matter Day debate on education for 16 to 18 year olds.

  12 December 1983

  Matter Day debate on the National Health Service.

  30 April 1984

  Matter Day debate on the effect of European Community policy in Scotland.

  25 June 1984

  Estimates debate on industry and the economy in Scotland.

  10 December 1984

  Second Reading of Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Bill.

  25 March 1985

  Public expenditure plans to 1987–88 in relation to the Scotland programme.

  8 July 1985

  Estimates debate on employment and the economy.

  20 January 1986

  Matter Day debate on higher education.

  28 April 1986

  Matter Day debate on rating reform.

  30 June 1986

  Matter Day debate on the administration of Scotland.

  19 January 1987

  Matter Day debate on Scottish Agriculture and Fisheries.

  251

  Date

  Subject

  23 March 1987

  Second Reading of Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill.

  21 March 1988

  Matter Day debate on Education in Scotland.

TRANSPORT

  Vehicle Excise Duty
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will seek to increase the road fund tax on a 53-seat coach from £85 to £850.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  No. Decisions on all excise duty rates are matters for the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for 3Transport (1) how many unlicensed vehicles in the London borough of Newham have been detected in each of his Department's campaigns against motor tax evaders;

  (2) how many unlicensed road vehicles have been detected in the current campaign in London being undertaken by his Department in conjuction with the Metropolitan and City police forces;

  (3) how many prosecutions involving unlicensed vehicles arose out of his Department's campaign in London in May 1987.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  During the 1988 London campaign 62 unlicensed vehicles were reported within the borough of Newham. Figures for individual boroughs are not available for earlier years. In London as a whole 4,055 offence reports have been received in the course of the 1988 campaign. The comparable figure for 1987 was 2,900 and the number of resulting prosecutions in 1987 was in the region of 1,000.

  Bypasses
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many bypasses have been begun in each of the last 30 years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Eleven bypasses were started in 1986–87 and 14 in 1987–88.

  For earlier years, the information is not available in the form requested. Figures for the numbers of bypasses completed since 1974 are as follows. It can be assumed that in most cases construction started approximately two years before.

  Year

  Number of completed bypasses

  1974–75

  13

  1975–76

  21

  1976–77

  17

  1977–78

  9

  1978–79

  7

  1979–80

  4

  1980–81

  3

  1981–82

  8

  1982–83

  12

  1983–84

  7

  1984–85

  8

  1985–86

  11

  1986–87

  14

  1987–88

  14

  252
  No information is available for years before 1974. Other schemes, although not designated bypasses, also have a bypassing effect.

  Heathrow (Passengers' Hand Baggage)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the X-ray machines used to examine passengers' hand baggage at Heathrow and marked safe for film up to 1,000 ASA are safe for film rated at(a) 1,000 ASA; (b) 1,600 ASA; and (c) 3,500 ASA; and how many complaints have been received about the fogging of such film.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The United Kingdom aviation security programme, which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State administers, provides for passengers who fear that any article they are carrying might be damaged if passed through the X-ray machine at an airport to be afforded the alternative of having the article examined physically by a member of the security staff. Any arrangements made to indicate to passengers that particular X-ray machines are safe for particular kinds of film are entirely the responsibility of the airport authority concerned. So. too, are any complaints about the fogging of film which has been passed through the machines.

  Motorways
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of new motorway he anticipates being opened in 1988, 1989 and 1990.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We expect to open 16 miles in 1989 and 50 miles in 1990. We expect to complete 12 miles of widening this year and 13 miles in 1989. No new motorway will open this year.

  Heavy Goods Vehicles (Weight Restrictions)
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to reduce the maximum level of weight restrictions on heavy goods vehicles; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  There are no such proposals. The House will be debating on 16 June the European Commission's current proposals on lorry weights and dimensions.

  Civil Defence
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will identify (a) liason arrangements between his Department and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation civil emergency planning boards and committees, concerning civil emergency and home defence planning, and (b) the extent of collaborative work carried out with these bodies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  Officials from my Department participate fully in the work of the following civil NATO planning boards and committees concerned with transport:

  Planning Board for Ocean Shipping

  Planning Board for European Inland Surface Transport

  Civil Aviation Planning Committee and various sub-committees and working groups of these bodies.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will identify the terms of reference of
  253
  work on (a) civil emergencies and (b) home defence planning carried out in his Department, the number of staff involved and the annual budgets for 1985–86, 1986–87 and 1987–88; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  The work carried out by the Department on civil emergencies encompasses the preparation, co-ordination and implementation of plans for the maintenance of essential services in an emergency. Home defence planning involves the preparation of similar plans for use in a time of tension and war, and the provision of certain support to the armed services.

  The numbers of staff involved and the annual budgets in recent years have been as follows:

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  Staff

  62

  62

  62

  Annual Budget

  £4·5 million

  £5·3 million

  £4·9 million

  These figures do not allow for staff who may do a limited amount of work on civil emergencies incidental to their normal duties.

  Trees
  Mr. Forth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many trees have been planted by his Department in England since 1979.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Since 1979 we have planted 12·25 million trees and shrubs alongside our motorways and other trunk roads in England. The Secretary of State is the most prolific planter of trees for amenity purposes in the country.

  London Taxi Fares
  Mr. Bendall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will make a statement about London taxi fares.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  The Secretary of State has made an order increasing London taxi fares by about 6·5 per cent. on average with effect from Saturday 25 June 1988. The new tariff will incorporate a minimum fare of £1 (including an unchanged hire charge of 40p) for the first 1,305 yards or 4 minutes 21 seconds. The rate will then be 20p for every 435 yards or 1 minute 27 seconds up to six miles and 20p for each 290 yards or 58 seconds thereafter.

  Rail Electrification
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the estimated cost of electrifying the London to Leicester east midlands line; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  The layout of the midland main line, with a high proportion of curves, junctions and stations, means that without a major reconstruction significant improvements in speed are impracticable. For these reasons the existing HSTs cannot be used to their full potential because of these limitations. Electrification might reduce journey times by a few minutes, but I understand from BR that it is clear from preliminary studies that the benefits to the passenger would be small compared to the cost, which would have to be recouped through fares. In these circumstances BR has made no recent or detailed estimates of cost.

  Commercial Vehicles
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to require all commercial vehicles to display the name, address and telephone number of the owners; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Certain vehicles, for example those carrying food, are required to display the user's name and address. Extending the requirement to all commercial vehicles would not be justified, particularly as the user of a vehicle may not by the owner. Many vehicles are leased or hired for short periods.

  Ferry Safety
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last met the chairman of P and O to discuss ferry safety.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  On 7 March.

  Blackwall Tunnel
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received concerning traffic delays at the Blackwall tunnel; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The Metropolitan police recently requested an extension of the hours of tidal flow working, which allows northbound traffic to use three of the four available lanes in the morning peak hours. This request was refused after consultation with other interested bodies. It would have shifted congestion from the south to the north of the river.

  East London River Crossing
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the decision of the east London river crossing public inquiry to be announced.

  Mr. Channon
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Woolwich (Mr. Cartwright) on Monday 13 June at column 72.

  Speed Governors
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will now implement speed governors for heavy goods vehicles as well as public service coaches; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hornchurch (Mr. Squira) on 7 March, at column 97.

  Motorways
  Mr. Forth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give the expenditure by his Department on temporary markings on motorway roadworks for(a) temporary white lines, (b) temporary studs, (c) lane directional arrows and (d) blacking out, for the latest three years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
  255
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the traffic density on British motorways; and what are the comparable figures in Germany, France and Italy.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The latest available estimates are:

  Country

  Year

  Average Daily Flow of Vehicles per 24 hours on Motorways (thousands)

  Great Britain

  1985

  36·4

  Great Britain

  1987

  40·8

  Germany

  1985

  31·3

  France

  1985

  15·7

  France

  1987

  18·2

  Comparable data are not available for Italy.

  Road Schemes (Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire)
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list his Department's proposed road improvements or new road schemes costing £100,000 or more which are planned to start in Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire within the next five years.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The information is set out in the table. Schemes are liable to delay for a number of reasons. The lists are subject to change.

  Roads

  Improvements and schemes

  Cambridgeshire

  M1-A1 link

  Thrapston-Brampton1

  A1

  Brampton realignment junction improvement

  A1

  Glatton grade separated junction

  A1

  Continuous programme of gap closures

  A11

  Four Wentways junction improvement

  A11

  Four Wentways-Newmarket dualling

  A11

  Newmarket-Red Lodge dualling

  A11-A45

  Newmarket bypass—safety fence installation

  A45

  Barford road, St. Neots junction improvement

  A47

  Castor and Ailsworth bypass

  A47

  Eye bypass

  A47

  Guyhirn diversion

  A47

  Thorney bypass

  A47

  Westwood-Paston interchange—safety fence installation

  Northamptonshire

  M1-A1 link

  M1-Rothwell

  M1-A1 link

  Kettering southern bypass

  M1-A1 link

  Kettering-Thrapston

  M1-A1 link

  Rothwell-Kettering

  A5

  Kilsby diversion

  A6

  Black Lodge improvement

  A6

  Burton Latimer bypass

  A6

  Finedon bypass

  A6

  Rushden-Higham Ferrers bypass

  A43

  Blisworth bypass

  A43

  Green Man Inn improvement

  A43

  Hulcote turn-Tiffield turn

  A43

  Kettering northern bypass

  A43

  Moulton-Overstone improvement

  A43

  Radstone lane improvement

  A43

  Silverstone bypass

  A43

  Whitfield turn—Brackley Hatch dualling

  A43-A6116

  Roundabout

  A47

  Eastern Hornstocks bends

  1 Also runs through part of Northamptonshire.

  Nuclear Materials
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if any consignment of radioactive materials, including medical radio-isotopes, natural uranium, uranium hexafluoride, enriched uranium, plutonium and low, intermediate or high-level nuclear wastes has ever been lost in transit within the jurisdiction of United Kingdom regulatory and safety authorities in any year since 1979.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  [holding answer 14 June 1988]: The information is not available for the years 1979 to 1982. I understand that since then industrial or medical isotopes have been lost on six occasions. No other radioactilve materials have been lost in transit.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the annual tonnage for each year since 1979, of spent nuclear fuel licensed for(a) export and (b) import through the ports of Felixstowe, Harwich, Dover, Folkestone, Newhaven, Southampton, Immingham and Barrow, respectively.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  [holding answer 14 June 1988]: This Department does not collect details of the kind requested.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Company Profitability
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the rise in non-North sea company profitability in 1987.

  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the rise in non-North sea company profitability in 1987.

  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the rise in non-North sea company profitability in 1987.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The net rate of return on capital employed by non-North sea industrial and commercial companies increased by 1½ percentage points in 1987 to 10½ per cent.—the highest level for about 20 years.

  Balance of Payments
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement regarding the effect of the recent appreciation of the value of the pound on the current account of the United Kingdom balance of payments.

  Mr. Lilley
  The outcome for the current account depends on many more factors than just the exchange rate. Much more important for competitiveness is the need to control unit costs.

  Mr. Ernie Ross
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement regarding the effect of the recent appreciation of the value of the pound on the current account of the United Kingdom balance of payments.

  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement regarding the effect
  257
  of the recent appreciation of the value of the pound on the current account of the United Kingdom balance of payments.

  Mr. Major
  I refer the hon. Members to the answer given earlier today by my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary to the hon. Member for Western Isles (Mr. Macdonald).

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the balance of payments for 1988–89.

  Mr. Major
  At Budget time my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer forecast a current account deficit of £4 billion for 1988. A new forecast will be published at the time of the Autumn Statement.

  Benefit Withdrawals
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what weight he gives to the effect of benefit withdrawals when assessing marginal tax rates.

  Mr. Major
  The Government's policy is to reduce marginal rates of tax. Only about 3 per cent. of the working population face high rates of benefit withdrawal and the Budget reduced their number by 30,000.

  Sub-Saharan African Debt
  Mr. Wells
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he next expects to discuss with other Finance Ministers his proposals on sub-Saharan African debt.

  Mr. Lawson
  I shall be meeting the Finance Ministers of the other six major industrial nations in Toronto at the economic summit early next week. One of the United Kingdom's main objectives for the summit will be to agree a specific set of measures to implement my initiative to help the poorest most heavily indebted countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cost of administering and collecting income tax expressed as a percentage of the revenue raised; and what information he has on the comparable figure in the United States of America.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Precise comparisons across all taxes are difficult. Cost incurred by United States taxpayers are higher, but the United States Government's administrative costs are lower. Research in 1986 suggested that the cost-yield ratios were broadly similar when taxpayers' costs are taken into account.

  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the number of people who will gain as a result of the abolition of the highest rates of income tax.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Nine hundred and thirty thousand single people and married couples will benefit as a result of the top rate of income tax being set at 40 per cent. for 1988–89.

  World Debt
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he next intends to meet other Finance Ministers to discuss world debt; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lilley
  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer will be meeting other Finance Ministers at the economic summit in Toronto on Sunday.

  Top Incomes
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average post-tax income now received by the wealthiest 2 per cent. of taxpayers.

  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average post-tax income now received by the wealthiest 2 per cent. of taxpayers.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The average post-tax income in 1988–89 of the top 2 per cent. of income tax payers is expected to be about £46,000.

  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what will be the gain to a man earning £1 million a year who also inherits £1 million in the 1988–89 tax year as a result of the changes made in the Finance (No. 2) Bill.

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what will be the gain to a man earning £1 million a year who also inherits £1 million in the 1988–89 tax year as a result of the changes introduced in the Finance (No. 2) Bill.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what will be the gain to a man earning £1 million a year who also inherits £1 million in the 1988–89 tax year, as a result of the changes proposed in the Finance (No. 2) Bill.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  A married man with earnings of £1 million and no other income in 1988–89 who claims no allowances or reliefs other than the married man's allowance would be liable to £193,914 less income tax as a result of the proposals in the Finance (No. 2) Bill. The inheritance tax liability on a £1 million legacy would normally be borne by the testator's residuary estate and not by the beneficiary.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average share of post-tax income now received by the wealthiest 1 per cent. of tax payers.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average share of post-tax income now received by the wealthiest 1 per cent. of taxpayers.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The top 1 per cent. of income tax payers will receive about 5 per cent. of income tax payers' total income after tax in 1988–89.

  Inflation
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the current rate of inflation.

  Mr. Lilley
  The retail prices index rose by 3·9 per cent. in the year to April.

  Labour Market (North of England)
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect on the labour market in the north of recent economic trends.

  Mr. Major
  Strong economic performance has benefited the labour market in all regions, especially the north, north-west and the west midlands, which have enjoyed the largest reductions in unemployment rates.

  Family Income
  Mr. Arbuthnot
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the effect of the income tax cuts since 1979 on the living standards of a married man on half average earnings with two children.

  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the effect of the income tax cuts since 1979 on the living standard of a married man on half average earnings with two children.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Real take home pay is likely to have increased by 21½ per cent. between 1978–79 and 1988–89 for a married man, with two children on half average earnings. Income tax cuts have contributed to this, both directly and through their contribution to economic growth.

  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the effect of the income tax cuts since 1979 on the living standard of a married man on average earnings, with two children.

  Mr. Summerson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the effect of the income tax cuts since 1979 on the living standard of a married man on average earnings, with two children.

  Mr. Andy Stewart
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the effect of the income tax cuts since 1979 on the living standard of a married man on average earnings, with two children.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Real take home pay will have increased 27½ per cent. between 1978–79 and 1988–89 for a married man, with two children on average earnings. Income tax cuts have contributed considerably to this, both directly and through their contribution to economic growth.

  Departmental Manpower
  Mr. Turner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many officials of his Department are responsible for monitoring(a) the social security budget, and (b) other Department of Health and Social Security services.

  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many officials of his Department are responsible for monitoring(a) the social security budget, and (b) other expenditure by the Department of Health and Social Services.

  Mr. Major
  I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Durham, North-West (Ms. Armstrong).

  VAT (Hospital Radio Broadcasting Equipment)
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received seeking 260
  zero rating for value added tax for hospital radio broadcasting equipment; what response he has made; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lilley
  My right hon. Friend has received no further representations since the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Antrim, East (Mr. Beggs) on 7 June, at column 528.

  Poverty
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the impact on the extent of poverty in the United Kingdom of public expenditure decisions taken by the Government since 1979.

  Mr. Major
  A reduction in the share of national income devoted to public expenditure is an important element of the Government's medium-term financial strategy, which has created conditions for steady economic growth and increasing employment, producing benefits for all sections of the community.

  Tax and National Insurance
  Mr. Clelland
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the share of the income taken in tax and national insurance from a single man earning(a) £100,000 a year and (b) £10,000 a year.

  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the share of income taken in tax and national insurance from a single man earning(a) £100,000 a year and (b) £10,000 a year.

  Mr. Ted Garrett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the share of income taken in tax and national insurance from a single man earning(a) £100,000 a year, and (b) £10,000 a year.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  A single man with no allowances or reliefs other than his personal allowance earning £100,000 a year in 1988–89 will pay 37·5 per cent. of his earnings in income tax and national insurance. A similar person earning £10,000 a year will pay 27·5 per cent.

  Exchange Rate
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what mechanisms are available to him to affect alterations in the exchange rate.

  Mr. Lilley
  I refer the hon. Member to the Prime Minister's statement on 17 May at columns 794–98.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Burnley on Tuesday 7 June, his Department discriminates for any purposes between inquiries from different sectors of industry on the exchange rate; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lilley
  No.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement regarding the rise in the deutschemark-pound sterling exchange rate since the beginning of 1988 and its effects on British industry.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement regarding the rise in the deutschemark-pound sterling exchange rate since the beginning of 1988 and its effects on British industry.
  261
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement regarding the economic effects of further appreciation of the pound against the deutschemark.

  Mr. Lilley
  I refer the hon. Members to the reply given earlier today by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor to the hon. Member for Carlisle (Mr. Martlew).

  Tax and Prices Index
  Mr. Brandon-Bravo
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the rise in the tax and prices index in the 12 months to April.

  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the rise in the tax and prices index in the 12 months to April 1988.

  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the rise in the tax and prices index in the 12 months to April 1988.

  Mr. Lilley
  The tax and prices index rose by 1·7 per cent. in the 12 months to April.

  Manufactures
  Mr. Wood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current United Kingdom volume share of world trade in manufactures.

  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current United Kingdom volume share of world trade in manufactures.

  Mr. Major
  In 1987 the estimated United Kingdom volume share of total world trade in manufactures was about 7½ per cent. As chart 3·5 in the FSBR shows, this share has been broadly stable since 1981, following previous decades of decline.

  Budget (Redistributive Effects)
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to publish at the time of his Budget Statement a full study of the redistributive effects of the taxation changes he is introducing.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to publish at the time of his Budget Statement a full study of the redistributive effects of the taxation changes he is introducing.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 10 June to the hon. Member for Motherwell, North (Dr. Reid), at column 701.

  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on the redistributive impact of his Budget changes.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on the redistributive impact of his Budget changes.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on the redistributive impact of his Budget changes.
  262
  Mr. Norman Lamont
  My right hon. Friend has received a number.

  Budget Surplus
  Mr. Butterfill
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest forecast of the Budget surplus for 1988–89.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest forecast of the Budget surplus for 1988–89.

  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest forecast of the Budget surplus for 1988–89.

  Mr. Major
  The latest forecast for the PSBR in 1988–89 is for a net repayment of about £3 billion, ¾ per cent. of GDP, as published in the 1988–89 Financial Statement and Budget Report.

  Business Investment
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest forecast for business investment in 1988.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest forecast for business investment in 1988.

  Mr. Major
  Business investment is forecast to grow by 9 per cent. in 1988, as shown in chapter 3 of the Financial Statement and Budget Report.

  Regional Manufacturing Industry
  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of successive Budget changes on investment in manufacturing industry in the regions.

  Mr. Major
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Stafford (Mr. Cash) on 7 June 1988, at column 601.

  Public Expenditure Allocations
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of public expenditure was devoted to(a) housing, (b) education and (c) health in 1979 and in 1987.

  Mr. Major
  The table shows, for the financial years 1979–80 and 1987–88, public expenditure (net of receipts) on housing, education and science and health as a percentage of the public expenditure planning total, excluding privatisation proceeds and, for 1987–88 only, the adjustment made to bring the sum of individual estimated outturns in line with the Treasury's view of the likely overall outturn.

  Percentages

  1979–80

  1987–88

  outturn

  estimated outturn

  Housing

  7·3

  2·4

  Education and Science

  14·0

  13·8

  Health1

  12·0

  13·6

  1 Excludes personal social services.

  Source: Table 5·11, The Government's Expenditure Plans, 1988–89 to 1990–91, Cm 288-I.

  Manufacturing Productivity
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the growth of manufacturing productivity in the United Kingdom economy since 1980.

  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the growth of manufacturing productivity in the United Kingdom economy since 1980.

  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the growth of manufacturing productivity in the United Kingdom economy since 1980.

  Mr. Major
  Since 1980, output per head in the manufacturing sector has grown at an average rate of 5·1 per cent. per year—faster than in any other major industrialised country.

  Job Creation
  Mr. Charles Wardle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many new jobs have been created in the economy since 1983.

  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many new jobs have been created in the economy since 1983.

  Mr. Major
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Derbyshire, West (Mr. McLoughlin).

  Pound Sterling
  Mr. Ron Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current value of the 1979 pound; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lilley
  In real terms the sterling index averaged 90 in 1979 and is estimated to have been 100·3 in May 1988.

  Productivity
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the annual growth of productivity for the whole economy since 1980.

  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the annual growth of productivity for the whole economy since 1980.

  Mr. Major
  Since 1980 output per head in the whole economy has grown at an average rate of 2·7 per cent. per year, about the same as Japan and faster than any other major industrialised country.

  Personal Disposable Income
  Mr. Sackville
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the growth of real personal disposable income in 1987.

  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the growth of real disposable income in 1987.

  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the growth of real personal disposable income in 1987.
  264
  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Real personal disposable income was some 3 per cent. higher in 1987 than in 1986.

  Manufacturing Investment
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the level of investment by United Kingdom manufacturing industry in 1987–88.

  Mr. Major
  Investment by manufacturing industry (including leased assets) in 1987–88 was £7,595 million at 1980 prices.

  Retail Price Inflation
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the average level of retail price inflation over the past five years.

  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the average level of retail price inflation over the past five years.

  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the average level of retail price inflation over the past five years.

  Mr. Lilley
  Retail price inflation has averaged 4·7 per cent. over the five years to April 1988.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the fall in adult unemployment over the past 12 months.

  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the fall in adult unemployment over the past 12 months.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the fall in adult unemployment over the past 12 months.

  Mr. Major
  Adult unemployment in the United Kingdom has fallen by 535,000 over the past year.

  Mr. Woodcock
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the fall in long-term unemployment in the year to January 1988.

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the fall in long-term unemployment in the year to January 1988.

  Mr. Major
  I refer my hon. Friends to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Sevenoaks (Mr. Wolfson).

  EC (Harmonisation)
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a further statement on progress within the European Community with regard to the harmonisation of value added tax and excise duties.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a further statement on progress within the European Community with regard to the harmonisation of value added tax and excise duties.
  265
  Mr. Lilley
  The Economic and Finance Council discussed the Commission's proposals at its informal meeting in May. My right hon. Friend reiterated the United Kingdom's view that tax approximation is unnecessary for the completion of the single market. Most other member states also expressed reservations.

  Dr. Moonie
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he next expects the harmonisation of value added tax and excise duties to be discussed at the Council of Ministers.

  Mr. Lilley
  The Council of Ministers meets from time to time to discuss a variety of matters.

  Economic Trends (Labour Market)
  Mr. Stevens
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect on the labour market in the regions of recent economic trends.

  Mr. Major
  The recent favourable performance of the United Kingdom economy has benefited the labour market in all regions. Unemployment has fallen significantly in all regions over the past year.

  Wage Inflation
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the current level of wage inflation.

  Mr. Lilley
  Average earnings for the whole economy are currently increasing at an underlying rate of 8½ per cent. a year.

  Income and Wealth Distribution
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his policy on income and wealth distribution in the light of the Church of Scotland study entitled "Just Sharing", a copy of which has been sent to him.

  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his policy on income and wealth distribution in the light of the Church of Scotland study entitled "Just Sharing", a copy of which has been sent to him.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I refer the hon. Members to the reply my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Monklands, West (Mr. Clarke).

  Interest Rates
  Mr. Duffy
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the current level of interest rates.

  Mr. Lilley
  Bank base rates are 8½ per cent.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the recent reductions in United Kingdom interest rates.

  Mr. Lilley
  Bank base rates were reduced from 9 per cent. to 8½ per cent. on 18 March, from 8½ per cent. to 8 per cent. on 11 April, and from 8 per cent. to 7½ per cent. on 18 May. Bank base rates were increased to 8 per cent. on 3 June and to 8½ per cent. on 7 June.

  Bank of England
  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met the governor of the Bank of England; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Lilley
  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor meets the governor from time to time to discuss a variety of matters.

  National Economic Development Council
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last attended the National Economic Development Council; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Major
  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor last attended and chaired the National Economic Development Council on Wednesday 13 January. The Council discussed the outlook for the economy; a report by the knitting industry; and international competitiveness, research and development, and action by economic development committees.

  Business Activity
  Mr. McCrindle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will indicate the rate at which business activity is currently expanding in the United Kingdom; and if he has any evidence of developing bottlenecks.

  Mr. Major
  The output measure of GDP is provisionally estimated by the Central Statistical Office to have increased by 4½ per cent. in the year to the first quarter of 1988. The CBI's latest quarterly industrial trends survey shows little evidence of capacity constraints, with the vast majority of firms (86 per cent.) reporting capacity at least adequate to meet expected demand over the next 12 months.

  Government Revenue
  Mr. Chapman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of total Government revenue in 1988–89; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Major
  The latest estimate of total general Government receipts in 1988–89 is £185 billion, as published in the 1988–89 Financial Statement and Budget Report.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the fall in long-term unemployment in the year to January 1988.

  Mr. Major
  Long term unemployment fell by 234,000 in the year to January 1988, and by a further 71,000 between January and April.

  Allowances
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish figures showing, for 1988–89, the level of the single person's tax allowance, the married man's allowance, the single age allowance and the married age allowance, their percentage increase since 1978–79 and the level of each allowance had they been updated in line with the percentage increase in the single person's allowance since 1978–79.
  267
  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The information is in the table.

  Personal Tax Allowances in 1978–79 and 1988–89

  Allowance

  1978–79

  1988–89

  Increase since 1978–79

  Real1 increase since 1978–79

  If increased in-line with single allowance

  £

  £

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  £

  Single person (and wife's earned income)

  985

  2,605

  164

  27

  2,605

  Married man

  1,535

  4,095

  167

  28

  4,065

  Single aged 65–79

  1,300

  3,180

  145

  17

  3,440

  Single aged 80 and over

  3,310

  155

  22

  Married aged 65–79

  2,075

  5,035

  143

  16

  5,495

  Married aged 80 and over

  5,205

  151

  20

  1 Using the RPI for financial years.

  Civil Servants (Northern Ireland)
  Mr. McCusker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Upper Bann of 7 June, from the Chancellor of the Exchequer, he will indicate who employs those civil servants in Northern Ireland who work for the Inland Revenue and Her Majesty's Customs and Excise.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Most of the civil servants who work for the Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise in Northern Ireland are employed by the Board of Inland Revenue and the Board of Customs and Excise. There are, however, a few officials who are members of the Northern Ireland Civil Service and who are on secondment to the Inland Revenue.

  Placement Students
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) when the ceiling for tax exemption on earnings of placement students for periods spent on courses was first set at £5,000;

  (2) what will he the level of maximum earnings exempt from tax for placement students during periods on courses for the tax year 1988–89.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  In accordance with the Inland Revenue's statement of practice 4/86—a copy of which I am placing in the Library—payments by employers to employees who are released to attend a full-time further education course are not regarded as taxable if the rate of payment does not exceed the higher of £5,000 a year or the amount payable to someone in similar personal circumstances by a public research body. The 1988–89 rate of £5,000 was introduced with effect from 1983–84; it remains well above the amount which would generally be payable to a single person living away from home by a public research body.

  Departmental Staff
  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the number of staff in post in central Government Departments at 1 April.

  Mr. Major
  On 1 April 1988 there were 579,627 staff in post in central Government Departments. Of these 506,565 were non-industrials and 73,062 were industrials.

  The Government's declared target for this date has therefore been met. Staff in post figures will continue to be reported on a quarterly basis, although the move to running cost controls in place of manpower ceilings will
  268
  give departments more freedom to adjust between manpower and other running cost expenditure in the pursuit of best value for money.

  Business Expansion Scheme
  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he proposes to make any changes to the Inland Revenue guidelines for approval of business expansion scheme funds.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  We have decided to remove the requirement that a fund must offer participants a spread of investment in companies carrying on different trades. From now on, an approved BES fund will be able to invest in companies specialising in a particular activity. We are also reviewing the rest of the guidelines to take account of the introduction of the Financial Services Act and the experience to date of the use of approved BES funds.

  Gaming Machines
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much licence duty has been collected by Her Majesty's Government from gaming machines in the following financial years(a) 1985–86, (b) 1986–87 and (c) 1987–88 to date.

  Mr. Lilley
  The amounts of gaming machine licence duty collected were as follows:

  £ million

  1985–86

  86·0

  1986–87

  74·7

  1987–88

  194·2

  1 Provisional.

  Bingo
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much bingo duty was paid or estimated to be paid by unlicensed clubs registered to play bingo in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Lilley
  The amounts of bingo duty paid by unlicensed clubs registered to play bingo are not separately recorded. Estimates of the amounts paid are as follows:

  £ million

  1985–86

  2·7

  1986–87

  3·0

  1987–88

  3·2

  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost of enforcement,
  269
  supervision and collection of bingo duty from unlicensed clubs registered to play bingo in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Lilley
  The costs of collecting bingo duty are not recorded separately. They are thought to be comparable with the costs for collecting the betting and gaming duties generally, which are under 1 per cent. of the duty yield.

  EEC (Contribution)
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the United Kingdom's net contribution to the European Economic Community in the year 1987; what were the comparable totals for 1986 and 1985; and what is his estimate for 1988.

  Mr. Brooke
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Northampton, North (Mr. Marlow) on 7 June 1988, at columns 540–41. An estimate of the United Kingdom's net contribution to the Community budget for 1988 will be contained in the annual statement on the Community budget, which will be published as soon as possible.

  Taxpaying unit by marginal rate

  Thousands

  As a percentage of all taxpaying units

  Region

  30 per cent.

  40 per cent.

  45 per cent.

  50 per cent.

  55 per cent.

  60 per cent.

  30 per cent.

  40 per cent.

  45 per cent.

  50 per cent.

  55 per cent.

  60 per cent.

  North

  1,000

  11

  6

  5

  (2)

  (3)

  97·2

  1·1

  0·6

  0·5

  0·2

  0·3

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  1,570

  24

  13

  8

  3

  5

  96·8

  1·5

  0·8

  0·5

  0·2

  0·3

  North West

  2,070

  36

  21

  10

  4

  5

  96·5

  1·7

  1·0

  0·5

  0·2

  0·2

  East Midlands

  1,310

  16

  11

  6

  (4)

  4

  96·9

  1·2

  0·8

  0·5

  0·3

  0·3

  West Midlands

  1,700

  19

  (18)

  (11)

  6

  4

  96·8

  1·1

  1·0

  0·6

  0·2

  0·3

  East Anglia

  660

  (12)

  8

  5

  (3)

  (5)

  95·3

  1·8

  1·2

  0·7

  0·4

  0·7

  South East

  6,200

  190

  119

  75

  38

  60

  92·8

  2·8

  1·8

  1·1

  0·6

  0·9

  South West

  1,490

  31

  14

  13

  5

  (7)

  95·6

  2·0

  0·9

  0·8

  0·3

  0·4

  Wales

  800

  13

  7

  3

  (3)

  2

  96·6

  1·5

  0·8

  0·4

  0·4

  0·2

  Scotland

  1,690

  36

  18

  11

  4

  6

  95·7

  2·0

  1·0

  0·6

  0·2

  0·3

  Great Britain

  18,500

  388

  235

  148

  70

  101

  95·1

  2·0

  1·2

  0·8

  0·4

  0·5

  Northern Ireland

  430

  7

  (6)

  (2)

  (1)

  (1)

  96·0

  1·6

  1·4

  0·5

  0·2

  0·2

  The estimated tax liability in 1985–86 for these tax units was:—

  Tax Liability in 1985–86

  £ million

  Region

  30 per cent.

  40 per cent.

  45 per cent.

  50 per cent.

  55 per cent.

  60 per cent.

  North

  1,540

  60

  39

  51

  33

  85

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  2,300

  133

  90

  86

  49

  151

  North West

  2,980

  199

  134

  103

  55

  159

  East Midlands

  1,990

  86

  79

  67

  60

  154

  West Midlands

  2,380

  106

  129

  97

  56

  174

  East Anglia

  991

  66

  59

  52

  41

  126

  South East

  9,970

  1,060

  852

  758

  567

  2,070

  South West

  2,130

  171

  95

  128

  62

  205

  Wales

  1,130

  66

  47

  33

  (49)

  63

  Scotland

  2,610

  195

  131

  113

  59

  206

  Great Britain

  28,000

  2,150

  1,660

  1,490

  1,030

  3,340

  Northern Ireland

  593

  41

  46

  25

  14

  32

  In 1988–89, the index of retail prices is expected to be about 12 per cent. higher than in 1985–86.

  The provisional estimate of the number of tax units in 1988–89 for the United Kingdom is 32·6 million, of which about 11·7 million are expected not to be liable to income tax.

  Taxation
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish figures showing, for each region and for Great Britain, the number and percentage of taxpayers paying tax at their top marginal rate for each tax band; their total tax liability expressed in 1988 prices; and the number and percentage of non-taxpaying households; using the most recent available figures.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 10 June 1988]: The latest information available by region relates to 1985–86 and is limited to taxpaying units only. In the tables, married couples are counted as one unit, members of Her Majesty's forces and the Merchant Navy are included only in the national totals, and tax liability is measured before allowing for mortgage interest relief given at source. Estimates relating to tax rates of 40 per cent. or higher, whilst shown to the nearest thousand or £1 million, are in many cases based on small samples: where this means that the actual number or amount may be more than about one third higher or lower than shown in the table, the figures are shown in brackets. The corresponding percentages should also be treated with particular caution.

  Taxation
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the percentage share of tax paid by the top 1 per cent. and 5 per cent. of taxpayers from 1970–71 to 1988–89.
  271
  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 10 June 1988]The information is given in the table.

  Percentage of total income tax liability paid by top I per cent, and top 5 per cent, of income tax payers1

  Year

  Top 1 per cent.

  Top 5 per cent.

  1973–74

  15·6

  28·6

  1974–75

  13·9

  26·9

  1975–76

  11·9

  24·7

  1976–77

  11·4

  24·6

  1977–78

  11·9

  24·9

  1978–79

  11·2

  24·0

  1979–80

  10·4

  23·4

  1980–81

  10·9

  24·4

  1981–82

  11·3

  24·8

  1982–83

  11·7

  25·4

  1983–84

  11·4

  25·4

  1984–85

  11·8

  26·4

  1985–86

  13·8

  28·3

  1986–872

  14·0

  29·0

  1987–882

  15·0

  30·0

  1988–892

  13·0

  28·0

  1 Counting married couples as one and combining their incomes.

  2 Estimates are based on a projection of the 1985–86 Survey of Personal Incomes and are rounded to the nearest 0·5 per cent. Estimates are provisional.

  I regret that information for earlier years is not available.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update the information in his reply of 17 May,Official Report, column 424–30, for 1988–89, on the basis of the community charge replacing domestic rates.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 7 June 1988]: Information on the level of community charge equivalent to domestic rates in 1988–89 is not yet available. Information of the kind requested would be of doubtful value because patterns of spending by local authorities and by individuals are likely to change when the community charge is introduced.

  VAT
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what representations he has received from disability organisations concerning proposals from the Commission of the European Communities to impose 14 to 20 per cent. value added tax on talking books for blind and disabled people, wireless sets for blind people and on aids equipment for disabled people; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what representations he has received from charities concerning proposals from the Commission of the European Communities to impose 14 to 20 per cent. value added tax on charities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lawson
  [holding answer 10 June 1988]: Ministerial colleagues and I have received a number of such representations.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Chancellor of' the Exchequer if he will tabulate in the Official Report those commodities formerly, or currently, subject to zero value-added tax rating, including all those in groups 1 to 17 listed in his note to the Select Committee on the Treasury and Civil
  272
  Service and published by it on page 8 of its third report of Session 1987–88, (HC 248), in five separate tables to show items that: (a) were zero rated by Her Majesty's Government, but have subsequently had their zero rated status changed by virtue of actions taken, or requests made, by either the Court or the Commission of the European Economic Communities, (b) items currently the subject of infraction proceedings before the court of the European Economic Communities, (c) items currently zero rated which have been the subject of specific pledges from Ministers concerning their continued zero rated status. (d) other items of zero rating subject to current proposals from the Commission of the European Communities and (e) other zero rated items not in categories (a) to (d), showing for each item in each table (a) to (d) the rate or band of rates applied, or proposed to be applied, together with the approximate annual revenue, or range of revenue, which has accrued or is likely to accrue to Her Majesty's Government, at 1988 prices for each category, with totals for each table and grand total, and in respect of table (c) footnote references to the respective principal pledge made.

  Mr. Lilley
  [pursuant to his reply, 24 March 1988, c. 195–96]: I regret that the first two figures in column (iii) of table (d) were mistaken. The correct figures are:

  Sewerage services other than supplies to industry: £175 million—£250 million.

  Water other than supplies to industry: £25 million—£75 million.

  Personal Incomes
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the (i) average and (ii) median income of(a) married couples and (b) single people. whether liable to income tax or not, for 1988–89; and if he will give the percentage of married couples and single people falling below the average for their group.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 14 June 1988]: The latest information on the distribution of income relates to 1984–85 and was published in the November 1987 edition of Economic Trends. The mean income of all married couples and single people in 1984–85 was £7,520 a year and the median income was £5,480. Some 65 per cent. of incomes were below the mean income of £7,520. Separate estimates for married couples and single people are not available.

  Barlow Clowes
  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Inland Revenue first became aware of the claim by the investment company Barlow Clowes, that the income from funds invested by it in Gibraltar could be paid to investors tax-free; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 14 June 1988]: The Inland Revnue's obligations of confidentiality prevent the disclosure of any information concerning a particular taxpayer's affairs.

  Exchequer Revenues
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update the answer to the hon. Member for Copeland (Dr. Cunningham) of 7 July 1987,Official Report, column 84, regarding Exchequer revenues to

  273
  (a) include 1988–89, (b) give the table at constant 1988–89 prices, and (c) break down customs and excise duties into (i) excise duties, (ii) customs duties, and (iii) agricultural levies.

  £ billion 1988–89 prices4

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–882

  1988–893

  Income tax

  38·6

  38·3

  41·1

  40·0

  39·8

  40·0

  40·7

  42·3

  43·4

  42·1

  Value added tax

  15·0

  17·0

  16·7

  18·1

  19·1

  22·3

  21·9

  23·5

  25·2

  26·2

  Excise duties

  15·3

  14·6

  16·4

  16·2

  17·7

  17·7

  17·9

  19·0

  18·6

  18·8

  Customs duties

  1·7

  1·3

  1·4

  1·3

  1·4

  1·6

  1·4

  1·4

  1·5

  1·6

  Agricultural levies

  0·4

  0·4

  0·3

  0·3

  0·3

  0·2

  0·2

  0·3

  0·2

  0·1

  Other Central Government taxes and royalties

  27·7

  25·1

  28·5

  28·7

  28·3

  30·4

  32·1

  28·4

  31·7

  33·4

  Other Central Government receipts1

  28·5

  30·2

  29·9

  35·1

  35·1

  36·4

  38·9

  40·9

  41·4

  42·4

  Total Central Government receipts

  127·3

  126·8

  134·2

  139·8

  141·7

  148·5

  153·1

  155·7

  162·0

  164·6

  Local authority rates

  12·7

  13·5

  15·4

  16·0

  15·4

  15·5

  15·6

  17·1

  17·7

  19·0

  Public sector borrowing

  18·4

  19·6

  12·1

  11·6

  12·2

  12·2

  6·5

  3·7

  -3·2

  -3·2

  1 Including National Insurance contributions and accruals adjustments.

  2 Outturn as estimated in the 1988 Financial Statement and Budget Report.

  3 Forecast from 1988 Financial Statement and Budget Report.

  4 Revalued using the GDP deflator.

  Manufactured Goods
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what change in the level of United Kingdom exports of manufactured goods to the EEC he forecasts as a result of the completion of the internal market; and on what basis he has made such estimates.

  Mr. Major
  I would expect completion of the internal market significantly to boost exports to other member states of the Community, but have made no detailed estimates.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the deficit in United Kingdom trade with the EEC in manufactures in 1987; and what estimate he has made of the effects of the completion of the internal market on this figure.

  Mr. Major
  The deficit on direct trade in manufactured goods with other member states in 1987 is at present estimated to have been £10·2 billion. I expect completion of the internal market to boost both our exports to and imports from other member states, but I have made no estimates of the magnitude.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his forecast of the increase in United Kingdom exports of manufactured goods to the EEC as a result of the completion of the internal market; and if he will provide a similar forecast for the increase in exports.

  Expenditure on fixed assets in the United Kingdom by nationalised industries

  £ million

  1978–79 outturn (Cmnd. 7841)

  Percentage of capital requirements financed internally

  1989–90 plans (Cm. 288)

  Cash

  Real terms1 (base year 1988–89)

  Cash

  Real terms1 (base year 1988–89)

  British Aerospace

  26

  55

  54·3

  —

  —

  British Airports Authority

  33

  70

  100·0

  —

  —

  British Airways Board

  219

  464

  67·6

  —

  —

  British Coal

  495

  1,049

  0·0

  649

  627

  British Gas Corporation

  280

  593

  100·0

  —

  —

  British National Oil Corporation

  243

  515

  6·3

  —

  —

  British Railways Board

  349

  740

  0·0

  655

  633

  British Shipbuilders

  27

  57

  0·0

  8

  8

  British Steel Corporation

  334

  708

  0·0

  274

  265

  British Transport Docks Board

  9

  19

  100·0

  —

  —

  274
  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 14 June 1988]: Following is the information.

  Mr. Major
  I expect completion of the internal market to boost trade with the other member states of the Community. No detailed estimates have been made.

  Nationalised Industries (Fixed Assets)
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide a table showing the expenditure on fixed assets in the United Kingdom by nationalised industries for 1978–79 and 1989–90 plans, at constant 1988–89 prices and cash prices broken down in the form of table 4.4 of Cm. 288–1, giving the percentage of the industries capital requirements financed or expected to be financed internally.

  Mr. Major
  [holding answer 10 June 1988]: The table shows the expenditure on fixed assets in the United Kingdom by nationalised industries for 1978–79 (consistent with table 3.2 of Cmnd. 7841 and table 3.2 of Cmnd. 9143) and 1989–90 plans (consistent with table 4.4 of Cmnd. 288) at cash prices and in real terms (base year 1988–89). Also included are the percentages of the industries' capital requirements financed internally for 1978–79. For reasons of commercial confidentiality the Government do not publish estimates of internal resources or external finance by industry for the later years in the public expenditure plans. But the current plans imply that, taken together, the industries' capital requirements for 1989–90 can be met entirely by internal resources.
  275

  1978–79 outturn (Cmnd. 7841)

  Percentage of capital requirements financed internally

  1989–90 plans (Cm. 288)

  Cash

  Real terms1 (base year 1988–89)

  Cash

  Real terms1 (base year 1988–89)

  British Waterways Board

  2

  4

  0·0

  9

  9

  Civil Aviation Authority (a)

  34

  33

  Electricity (England and Wales)

  715

  1,515

  100·0

  1,727

  1,669

  Girobank (b)

  14

  14

  London Regional Transport (c)

  348

  336

  National Bus Company

  54

  114

  0·0

  —

  —

  National Freight Company Ltd.

  36

  76

  9·4

  —

  —

  North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board

  48

  102

  30·7

  82

  79

  Post Office (d)

  1,040

  2,204

  100·0

  165

  159

  Scottish Transport Group

  17

  36

  16·7

  17

  16

  South of Scotland Electricity Board

  53

  112

  100·0

  129

  125

  Water (England and Wales) (e)

  1,255

  1,213

  TOTAL

  3,980

  8,436

  54·7

  5,365

  5,184

  1 Real terms figures are the cash outturns or plans adjusted to 1988–89 price levels by excluding the effect of general inflation as measured by the GDP deflators.

  Notes

  (a) Civil Aviation Authority was not a Nationalised Industry in 1978–792.

  (b) The figure for Girobank was included in that for Post Office for 1978–792.

  (c) London Regional Transport was not a Nationalised Industry in 1978–79.

  (d) The figure for Post Office included those for British Telecom and Girobank in 1978–792.

  (e) Water (England and Wales) was not a Nationalised Industry in 1978–792.

  2 Figures for 1978–79 were allocated retrospectively, and the details (from Table 3.2 in Cmnd. 9143-II) are as follows:

  1978–79 outturn (Cmnd 9143)

  Cash

  Real terms1

  Per cent.2

  £ million

  £ million

  British Telecom

  993

  2,105

  100·0

  Civil Aviation Authority

  23

  49

  0·0

  Giro Bank

  5

  11

  0·0

  Post Office

  43

  91

  100·0

  Water (England and Wales)

  555

  1,176

  43·3

  1 Base year 1988–89.

  2 Percentage of capital requirements financed internally.

SOCIAL. SERVICES

  Personal Incomes
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the average increase in income of the poorest 5 per cent. of people in the United Kingdom since 1979; and what has been the average increase in income of the wealthiest 5 per cent.

  Mr. Portillo
  Estimates of real household income changes, adjusted for family size and composition, are only available for individuals expressed in 10 per cent. bands. Between 1979 and 1985 the incomes of the bottom 10 per cent. of individuals in Great Britain (expressed net of tax and national insurance, after the receipt of any social security benefits and before payment of any housing costs) rose by an average of 6 per cent. in real terms. The real incomes of the top 10 per cent. rose by 18 per cent.

  Macclesfield Health Authority
  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will tabulate the revenue cash limit figures of the Macclesfield health authority at 31 March in each year since 1979 and the projected cash limit for 1988–89.

  Mrs. Currie
  Determination of the cash limits for individual district health authorities is the responsibility of regional health authorities. Following is the information 276
  requested, together with figures of total revenue expenditure for the Macclesfield health authority since its establishment on 1 April 1982. Prior to that date the authority's predecessor health district formed part of the Cheshire area health authority and district-based figures are not available.

  Financial Year

  Final Revenue Cash Limit1 £000

  Total Revenue Expenditure2 £000

  1982–83

  26,949

  26,664

  1983–84

  29,142

  28,799

  1984–85

  30,306

  30,594

  1985–86

  31,521

  32,327

  1986–87

  33,211

  333,617

  1987–88

  37,187

  —

  1988–89

  438,355

  —

  Sources

  1 Information provided by the Mersey regional health authority.

  2 Annual financial accounts submitted to the Department by the Macclesfield health authority.

  3 Latest available figure.

  4 Provisional figure.

  Notes

  1. Capital cash limits and capital expenditure is excluded.

  2. Cash drawings against revenue cash limit represent the main source of funds for health authorities in meeting their revenue expenditure but these drawings are supplemented by local income (not included in cash limits).

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many pensioners will receive transitional protection in respect of losses in excess of £2·50 a week arising from the new housing benefit scheme; and if he will estimate the average amount of the weekly additional transitional payment.

  Mr. Portillo
  We estimate that some 350,000 people ca n benefit from the transitional payments scheme. Approximately one half of these are pensioners. The data are not reliable enough for us to estimate the average payment for a particular client group.
  277
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his latest estimate of the number of housing benefit claimants who are likely still to be losers after transitional protection payments are made.

  Mr. Portillo
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Members for Leeds, Central (Mr. Fatchett), for Western Isles (Mr. Macdonald) and for Heywood and Middleton (Mr. Callaghan) on 14 June.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services which categories of claimants whose housing benefit have been reduced or withdrawn will not benefit from the transitional arrangements; if he will list those so involved; and if he will give the total numbers involved.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 3 May 1988]: Payments will not be made to anyone who does not fall into one of the following groups:

  Families with children (including lone parents).

  Pensioners (over 60).

  The long term sick and disabled (that is those to whom the disability or severe disability premium applies in the housing benefit calculation).

  People in receipt of an industrial injuries benefit, a war disablement pension, a widow's pension or a war widow's pension.

  The scheme is not designed for claimants of income support at the beginning of April as they will have been receiving maximum housing benefit. No accurate estimate exists of the numbers not covered.

  Resource Management Initiative
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the progress of the resource management initiative.

  Mr. Newton
  Progress on the acute resource management projects has been encouraging and a new pilot site, south Lincolnshire, was announced in April. An evaluation report on the acute projects is scheduled for later this year. It is hoped that this will point the way to a phased extension to other districts from 1989.

  The community projects are second generation sites and are making good progress in advancing their project plans and building on the work undertaken at the two first generation sites.

  Social Workers
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what moneys are being made available for the training of social workers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  The Department's contribution to funding for social work training is about £20 million in this financial year. This sum includes £7 million to grant-aid the new £10 million training support programme for local authority social services staff working with elderly people, and about £11·6 million to the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work. The latter figure includes £7·6 million for direct student support and up to £1 million for improvements to present training arrangements.

  AIDS
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has about the efficacy 278
  of the treatment of AIDS patients by means of hyperoxygenating blood with ozone as carried out by Dr. Horst Keif and others in Munich.

  Mr. Newton
  I am aware that there have been some claims that hyperoxygenating blood with ozone might be beneficial in relation to AIDS. The Department has no direct knowledge of Dr. Keifs work, but I understand that the idea involved is known to the Medical Research Council.

  Meningitis
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will issue a circular on the notification of meningitis.

  Mrs. Currie
  The Department's chief medical officer, Sir Donald Acheson, wrote to all doctors in England about meningitis on 3 February, emphasising that it is a statutory requirement under the Public Health (Control of Diseases) Act 1984 for cases of meningitis to be notified to the proper officer, usually the medical officer for environmental health. A copy of the letter is in the Library.

  Income Support
  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether under the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987, he is empowered to direct that payments of income support related to accommodation charges be made to the organisation providing the accommodation in cases where such charges have been incurred but the claimant has moved on between the date of claim and the first pay day; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  Direct payment may be made to another person to protect the claimant's interests. This power is used in exceptional circumstances where, for example, there is clear evidence that the claimant is failing to maintain his family.

  The independent adjudicating authorities may also consider direct payment where the claimant has failed to budget for an accommodation charge. Direct payment may be made automatically to a hostel run by a voluntary organisation which provides facilities for alcoholics or drug addicts or which is akin to a resettlement unit.

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the number of supplementary benefit claimants who had 19-year-old children in full-time education or training courses, for whom they were receiving additional dependants' benefit, who have since lost their entitlement because income support is available only for dependent children aged under 19 years; if he will estimate how much benefit they have lost; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  No family receiving supplementary benefit including an addition for a 19-year-old dependant lost benefit as a result of the change to income support, because transitional protection ensures that they suffer no loss of income.

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the number of disabled and mentally handicapped/disturbed claimants who were previously paid direct by order book who have been
  279
  notified of the change to income support which now requires them to be available for, work or claim sickness benefit; how many have (a)subsequently made claims as available for work, (b)been disqualified as not capable of, or available for work and (c) claimed modified income support as referred to in Department of Employment circular 109/279, 17 March; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  The estimates requested are not available. One of the basic conditions for receiving income support is that claimants must be available for work unless specifically exempted. Anyone who is incapable of work because of disease or mental or physical disability is exempt and should also claim the appropriate incapacity benefit.

  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether directions have been issued to his Department's local offices to ensure that women who have moved out of the matrimonial home because of a violent partner, and have sought refuge in a women's refuge, are not denied income support because they are owners or joint owners of the home they have fled.

  Mr. Portillo
  Yes; and amending legislation came into force on 30 May.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of people claiming supplementary benefit from his Department's local offices in Kensington in 1979; and what is the current number of income support claimants from those offices.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 10 June 1988]: The total number of people in receipt of supplementary benefit on 15 May 1979 from the Department's office at Kensington was 9,1071. The total number of people in receipt of income support on 31 May 1988 at the same office was 8,454, although these figures are provisional and subject to amendment.

  Source: 100 per cent. count of cases in action.

  1 This figure may, however, overstate the number of people receiving supplementary benefit. The footnote to the

  Old benefit system at hypothetical rates April 1988

  Leicester L.A.

  Married couple with two children aged four and six

  Earnings head

  Tax

  NI

  FIS

  Child benefit

  Rent

  Rent rebate

  Rates

  Rate rebate

  Fares to work

  Free school meals

  Free welfare milk

  Net weekly spending power

  60·00

  0·00

  3·00

  28·70

  14·50

  21·44

  18·28

  8·46

  5·86

  5·85

  2·55

  1·83

  92·97

  70·00

  0·00

  4·90

  23·70

  14·50

  21·44

  17·03

  8·46

  5·46

  5·85

  2·55

  1·83

  94·42

  80·00

  1·22

  5·60

  18·70

  14·50

  21·44

  15·78

  8·46

  5·06

  5·85

  2·55

  1·83

  95·85

  90·00

  3·92

  6·30

  13·70

  14·50

  21·44

  14·53

  8·46

  4·66

  5·85

  2·55

  1·83

  95·80

  100·00

  6·62

  7·00

  8·70

  14·50

  21·44

  13·28

  8·46

  4·26

  5·85

  2·55

  1·83

  95·75

  110·00

  9·32

  9·90

  3·70

  14·50

  21·44

  11·76

  8·46

  3·69

  5·85

  2·55

  1·83

  93·06

  120·00

  12·02

  10·80

  0·00

  14·50

  21·44

  9·68

  8·46

  2·87

  5·85

  2·55

  0·00

  91·03

  130·00

  14·72

  11·70

  0·00

  14·50

  21·44

  6·38

  8·46

  1·57

  5·86

  2·55

  0·00

  92·83

  140·00

  17·42

  12·60

  0·00

  14·50

  21·44

  3·08

  8·46

  0·00

  5·85

  2·55

  0·00

  94·36

  150·00

  20·12

  13·50

  0·00

  14·50

  21·44

  0·00

  8·46

  0·00

  5·85

  0·00

  0·00

  95·13

  160·00

  22·82

  14·40

  0·00

  14·50

  21·44

  0·00

  8·46

  0·00

  5·85

  0·00

  0·00

  101·53

  170·00

  25·52

  15·30

  0·00

  14·50

  21·44

  0·00

  8·46

  0·00

  5·85

  0·00

  0·00

  107·93

  280
  reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Hyndburn (Mr. Hargreaves), on 31 March 1988, at columns 660–61, refers.

  Nottingham District Medical Staff Committee Report
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will obtain for his Department's library a copy of the Nottingham district medical staff committee's report entitled "The Financial Situation and its Impact on Clinical Services."

  Mrs. Currie
  I understand that the report is regarded by the health authority as being confidential to it and it is For the authority to decide whether it should be made publicly available.

  Spending Power
  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish tables using the assumptions in his answer of 4 February,Official Report, columns 737 to 742 using expenditure and benefit figures appropriate for families in Leicester for which he h as sufficient data, and with an additional column showing the extent of the differences that will result from the changes in benefits in April.

  Mr. Scott
  The information requested is set out in the tables. It should be noted that the results are essentially hypothetical. They compare the post-reform position in April 1988, not with the actual pre-reform cash situation but with a hypothetical position which they might have been in had the previous structure continued and been uprated on the assumptions in "Impact of the Reformed Structure of Income Related Benefits" (October 1987).

  Secondly" the comparisons are based on average local authority housing charges in Leicester, but do not reflect the wide variety of rents and domestic rates that people actually pay.

  Finally, the comparisons do not take account of the transitional cash protection arrangements announced on 27 April.
  281

  New benefit system from April 1988

  Leicester L.A.

  Married couple with 2 children aged 4 and 6

  Earnings head

  Tax

  NI

  Family credit

  Child benefit

  Rent

  Rent rebate

  Rates

  Rate rebate

  Fares to work

  Net weekly spending power

  Difference between systems

  60·00

  0·00

  3·00

  40·32

  14·50

  21·44

  6·68

  8·46

  0·96

  5·85

  83·71

  -9·26

  70·00

  0·00

  4·90

  34·65

  14·50

  21·44

  5·10

  8·46

  0·00

  5·85

  83·60

  -10·82

  80·00

  1·22

  5·60

  28·99

  14·50

  21·44

  3·52

  8·46

  0·00

  5·85

  84·44

  -11·41

  90·00

  3·92

  6·30

  24·37

  14·50

  21·44

  2·23

  8·46

  0·00

  5·85

  85·13

  10·67

  100·00

  6·62

  7·00

  19·75

  14·50

  21·44

  0·95

  8·46

  0·00

  5·85

  85·83

  -9·92

  110·00

  9·32

  9·90

  16·67

  14·50

  21·44

  0·00

  8·46

  0·00

  5·85

  86·20

  -6·86

  120·00

  12·02

  10·80

  12·19

  14·50

  21·44

  0·00

  8·46

  0·00

  5·85

  88·12

  -2·91

  130·00

  14·72

  11·70

  7·71

  14·50

  21·44

  0·00

  8·46

  0·00

  5·85

  90·04

  -2·79

  140·00

  17·42

  12·60

  3·23

  14·50

  21·44

  0·00

  8·46

  0·00

  5·85

  91·96

  -2·40

  150·00

  20·12

  13·50

  0·00

  14·50

  21·44

  0·00

  8·46

  0·00

  5·85

  95·13

  0·00

  160·00

  22·82

  14·40

  0·00

  14·50

  21·44

  0·00

  8·46

  0·00

  5·85

  101·53

  0·00

  170·00

  25·52

  15·30

  0·00

  14·50

  21·44

  0·00

  8·46

  0·00

  5·85

  107·93

  0·00

  Old benefit system at hypothetical rales April 1988

  Leicester L.A.

  Married couple with 3 children aged 3, 8 and 11

  Earnings head

  Tax

  NI

  FIS

  Child benefit

  Rent

  Rent rebate

  Rates

  Rate rebate

  Fares to work

  Free school meals

  Free welfare milk

  Net weekly spending power

  60·00

  0·00

  3·00

  32·90

  21·75

  21·44

  19·31

  8·46

  6·19

  5·85

  5·10

  1·83

  108·33

  70·00

  0·00

  4·90

  30·50

  21·75

  21·44

  17·41

  8·46

  5·58

  5·85

  5·10

  1·83

  111·52

  80·00

  1·22

  5·60

  25·50

  21·75

  21·44

  16·16

  8·46

  5·18

  5·85

  5·10

  1·83

  112·95

  90·00

  3·92

  6·30

  20·50

  21·75

  21·44

  14·91

  8·46

  4·78

  5·85

  5·10

  1·83

  112·90

  100·00

  6·62

  7·00

  15·50

  21·75

  21·44

  13·66

  8·46

  4·38

  5·85

  5·10

  1·83

  112·85

  110·00

  9·32

  9·90

  10·50

  21·75

  21·44

  12·27

  8·46

  3·89

  5·85

  5·10

  1·83

  110·37

  120·00

  12·02

  10·80

  5·50

  21·75

  21·44

  10·62

  8·46

  3·24

  5·85

  5·10

  1·83

  109·47

  130·00

  14·72

  11·70

  0·50

  21·75

  21·44

  8·97

  8·46

  2·59

  5·85

  5·10

  1·83

  108·57

  140·00

  17·42

  12·60

  0·00

  21·75

  21·44

  5·84

  8·46

  1·36

  5·85

  5·10

  0·00

  108·28

  150·00

  20·12

  13·50

  0·00

  21·75

  21·44

  2·54

  8·46

  0·00

  5·85

  5·10

  0·00

  110·02

  160·00

  22·82

  14·40

  0·00

  21·75

  21·44

  0·00

  8·46

  0·00

  5·85

  5·10

  0·00

  113·88

  170·00

  25·52

  15·30

  0·00

  21·75

  21·44

  0·00

  8·46

  0·00

  5·85

  0·00

  0·00

  115·18

  New benefit system from April 1988

  Leicester L.A.

  Married couple with 3 children aged 3, 8 and 11

  Earnings head

  Tax

  NI

  Family credit

  Child benefit

  Rent

  Rent rebate

  Rates

  Rate rebate

  Fares to work

  Net weekly spending power

  Difference between systems

  60·00

  0·00

  3·00

  51·72

  21·75

  21·44

  5·02

  8·46

  0·00

  5·85

  99·74

  -8·59

  70·00

  0·00

  4·90

  46·05

  21·75

  21·44

  3·44

  8·46

  0·00

  5·85

  100·59

  ·10·93

  80·00

  1·22

  5·60

  40·39

  21·75

  21·44

  1·86

  8·46

  0·00

  5·85

  101·43

  -11·52

  90·00

  3·92

  6·30

  35·77

  21·75

  21·44

  0·58

  8·46

  0·00

  5·85

  102·13

  -10·77

  100·00

  6·62

  7·00

  31·15

  21·75

  21·44

  0·00

  8·46

  0·00

  5·85

  103·53

  -9·32

  110·00

  9·32

  9·90

  28·07

  21·75

  21·44

  0·00

  8·46

  0·00

  5·85

  104·85

  -5·52

  120·00

  12·02

  10·80

  23·59

  21·75

  21·44

  0·00

  8·46

  0·00

  5·85

  106·77

  -2·70

  130·00

  14·72

  11·70

  19·11

  21·75

  21·44

  0·00

  8·46

  0·00

  5·85

  108·69

  -0·12

  140·00

  17·42

  12·60

  14·63

  21·75

  21·44

  0·00

  8·46

  0·00

  5·85

  110·61

  +2·33

  150·00

  20·12

  13·50

  10·15

  21·75

  21·44

  0·00

  8·46

  0·00

  5·85

  112·53

  +2·51

  160·00

  22·82

  14·40

  5·67

  21·75

  21·44

  0·00

  8·46

  0·00

  5·85

  114·45

  +0·57

  170·00

  25·52

  15·30

  1·19

  21·75

  21·44

  0·00

  8·46

  0·00

  5·85

  116·37

  +1·19

  Old benefit system at hypothetical rates April 1988

  Leicester L.A.

  Single Person with 2 children aged 4 and 6

  Earnings head

  Tax

  NI

  FIS

  Child benefit

  Rent

  Rent rebate

  Rates

  Rate rebate

  Fares to work

  Free school meals

  Free welfare milk

  Net weekly spending power

  60·00

  0·00

  3·00

  28·70

  19·40

  21·44

  17·05

  8·46

  5·47

  5·85

  2·55

  1·83

  96·25

  70·00

  0·00

  4·90

  23·70

  19·40

  21·44

  15·80

  8·46

  5·07

  5·85

  2·55

  1·83

  97·70

  80·00

  1·22

  5·60

  18·70

  19·40

  21·44

  14·55

  8·46

  4·67

  5·85

  2·55

  1·83

  99·13

  90·00

  3·92

  6·30

  13·70

  19·40

  21·44

  13·30

  8·46

  4·27

  5·85

  2·55

  1·83

  99·08

  100·00

  6·62

  7·00

  8·70

  19·40

  21·44

  11·79

  8·46

  3·71

  5·85

  2·55

  1·83

  98·61

  110·00

  9·32

  9·90

  3·70

  19·40

  21·44

  10·14

  8·46

  3·06

  5·85

  2·55

  1·83

  95·71

  120·00

  12·02

  10·80

  0·00

  19·40

  21·44

  8·06

  8·46

  2·24

  5·85

  2·55

  0·00

  93·68

  282 283

  New benefit system from April 1988

  Leicester L.A.

  Single person with 2 children aged 4 and 6

  Earnings head

  Tax

  NI

  Family credit

  Child benefit

  Rent

  Rent rebate

  Rates

  Rate rebate

  Fares to work

  Net weekly spending power

  Difference between systems

  60·00

  0·00

  3·00

  40·32

  19·40

  21·44

  0·60

  8·46

  0·00

  5·85

  81·57

  -14·68

  70·00

  0·00

  4·90

  34·65

  19·40

  21·44

  0·00

  8·46

  0·00

  5·85

  83·40

  -14·30

  80·00

  1·22

  5·60

  28·99

  19·40

  21·44

  0·00

  8·46

  0·00

  5·85

  85·82

  -13·31

  90·00

  3·92

  6·30

  24·37

  19·40

  21·44

  0·00

  8·46

  0·00

  5·85

  87·80

  -11·28

  100·00

  6·62

  7·00

  19·75

  19·40

  21·44

  0·00

  8·46

  0·00

  5·85

  89·78

  -8·83

  110·00

  9·32

  9·90

  16·67

  19·40

  21·44

  0·00

  8·46

  0·00

  5·85

  91·10

  -4·61

  120·00

  12·02

  10·80

  12·19

  19·40

  21·44

  0·00

  8·46

  0·00

  5·85

  93·02

  -0·66

  Old tax and benefit system—assuming average local authority rent and rates for Leicester and a simple rescaling of April 1987 benefits to April 1988.

  Lone mother with 2 children aged 4 and 6.

  a. Not working-after one year on benefit

  b. Working part-lime earning £20

  c. Working part-time earning £40

  Supplementary Benefit

  45·93

  30·89

  14·35

  Earnings

  —

  20·00

  40·00

  Tax

  —

  0·00

  0·00

  Nat. insurance

  —

  0·00

  2·00

  Fares to work

  —

  2·92

  2·92

  Rent

  21·44

  21·44

  21·44

  Rates

  8·46

  8·46

  8·46

  Housing benefit

  28·32

  28·32

  28·32

  CHB

  19·40

  19·40

  19·40

  FSM

  2·55

  2·55

  2·55

  FWM

  1·83

  1·83

  1·83

  Net weekly spending power

  68·13

  70·17

  71·63

  (a) Not working after one year on benefit

  Benefit system from April 1988

  Assumptions as in "Impact of reformed structure of income related benefits" October 1987

  Average rent and rates for Leicester local authority Lone mother with two children aged 4 and 6

  £

  Income support

  45·35

  Rent

  21·44

  Rates

  8·46

  Housing benefit

  26·94

  CHB

  19·40

  FSM

  2·55

  FWM

  1·83

  Net weekly spending power

  66·17

  Difference between systems

  -1·96

  b. Working part time—earning £20

  c. Working part lime—earning £40

  Income Support

  40·35

  20·35

  Earnings

  20·00

  40·00

  Tax

  0·00

  0·00

  NI

  0·00

  0·00

  Fares to work

  2·92

  2·92

  Rent

  21·44

  21·44

  Rates

  8·46

  4·86

  Housing Benefit

  26·94

  26·94

  CHB

  19·40

  19·40

  FSM

  2·55

  2·55

  FWM

  1·83

  1·83

  Net weekly spending power

  78·25

  78·25

  Difference between systems

  +8·08

  +8·08

  Supplementary Benefit
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how far(a) the fall in the numbers of persons living below supplementary benefit level and below 40 per cent. of supplementary benefit level and (b) the rise in the number of persons living on supplementary benefit is accounted for by changes in the real value of supplementary benefit scale rate between 1983 and 1985.

  Mr. Portillo
  Changes in the real value of the scale rates between these dates were insufficient to allow reliable estimates to be made, but any effect would be minor.

  Sheepdips
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many complaints have been received by his Department about allergic reactions caused by the use of sheepdips containing organophosphorus pesticide in each of the last five years.

  Mrs. Currie
  ; We received one complaint in 1987 involving two people. None was received in the previous four years.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he is taking to investigate the possible link between allergic reactions and the use of sheepdips containing organophosphorus pesticides; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I have been asked to reply.

  Organophosphorus sheepdips are subject to the licensing requirements of the Medicines Act 1968. A licence is issued only after the licensing authority is satisfied as to the safety, efficacy and quality of the product concerned. Safety includes the safety of operators handling the product. In licensing veterinary medicines, the licensing authority is advised by the veterinary products committee, a statutory body of independent experts in human and animal health.

  All organophosphorus sheepdips contain warnings on the labels and accompanying literature to ensure that operators are aware of the dangers and take appropriate precautions.

  Suspect adverse reactions to organophosphorus sheepdips should be reported to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and to the Health and Safety Executive. All such reports are investigated.

  As with many other types of chemical compounds, there are some people who are allergic to organophosphorus compounds. Anyone who is known to be allergic to organophosphorus sheepdips is advised to use alternative licensed products.

  Leicester Night Shelter
  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received about the decision by staff of his Department's Leicester offices to discontinue their practice of visiting the Leicester night shelter to take fresh claims; what reason has been given for this decision; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  A number of representations have been received about this decision, which took effect in October 1987.

  The decision to discontinue the visits—a system which worked soley on the voluntary co-operation of local office staff was taken as a result of a physical assault on a member of staff outside the night shelter.

  Family Credit
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what action is being taken to reduce the delays in assessing family credit.

  Mr. Portillo
  Clearance rates should improve as staff become more proficient and as more experienced staff are released from work on family income supplement now that the latter has come to an end. In the meantime, overtime is being worked and casual staff are being taken on to allow more of the permanent staff to concentrate on assessment work. In addition, further computer enhancements are due to come into effect shortly, which should improve administration, and consideration is being given to procedural changes which could speed up the action on cases which are most at risk of difficulties arising out of delays.

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many times he has exercised his discretion under the Social Security (Payments on Account, Overpayments and Recovery) Regulations, part 11, paragraph 2(i); and how many times this was in respect of family credit.

  Mr. Portillo
  Information is not available about the making of interim payments of benefits generally and could be collected only at disproportionate cost. However, the discretion to make an interim payment on account of family credit has not been exercised.

  Cervical Cancer
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many health authorities have suspended or diminished cervical cancer screening tests during the current year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  By April of this year all district health authorities in England had implemented computerised call and recall systems for cervical cancer screening. Health authorities are not required to report temporary suspension or reduction of the screening programme to the Department. However, we know that a small number of DHAs have taken action of this kind when problems have arisen in their laboratories. Those of which we are aware are:

  Winchester DHA and Basingstoke DHA—routine call and recall suspended because of shortage of laboratory staff in Winchester. Every effort is being made to find a laboratory to examine smears on a temporary basis until more staff can be recruited. Basingstoke expects to restore full service shortly.
  286

  Bassetlaw DHA—reduced rate of call at present to allow clearance of laboratory backlog.

  East Dorset DHA—suspended call and recall during April but now restarted.

  Single Payments
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how much was paid in single payments to social security applicants in Tameside in the last complete financial year; and how much has been allocated under the social fund for the current year.

  Mr. Portillo
  The metropolitan borough of Tameside is served by the Department's local offices at Ashton, Hyde and Openshaw. The boundaries of the areas covered by these offices are not conterminous with those of the borough. The amount paid in single payments of supplementary benefit in the year 10 April 1987 to 8 April 1988 is shown in the table. The figures are provisional and subject to amendment.

  £

  Ashton

  385,725

  Hyde

  562,320

  Openshaw

  582,242

  Total

  1,530,287

  Information on the social fund allocations to local offices for 1988–89 was contained in the reply of my hon. Friend the Minister for Social Security and the Disabled to my hon. Friend the Member for Wells (Mr. Heathcoat-Amory) on 4 November 1987, at columns 774–81.

  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has as to the backlog in single payment claims, made before 11 April, at his Department's offices in(a) Coventry and (b) nationally; and what instruction he has issued to managers as to the time limits for clearing the backlog.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Department has two local offices in Coventry, Coventry, east and west. On 31 May there were 5,125 cases awaiting action on single payment requests in Coventry, east office and 2,124 cases at Coventry, west. On 29 April the national total was 349,827 cases. These figures are provisional and subject to amendment. All claims are examined on receipt and priority was given to urgent cases.

  No national instructions on clearance times have been issued. Every local office manager is, however, aware of the importance of clearing the arrears as a matter of urgency, and in many offices the task has already been completed. In both Coventry, east and west additional manpower resources are being used to clear the backlog as quickly as possible.

  Additional Payments
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current backlog of claims for additional payments at each of the offices of his Department in the metropolitan borough of Tameside; what is the estimated time needed to clear them, given the present staffing levels; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  The metropolitan borough of Tameside is served by the Department's local offices at Ashton, Hyde
  287
  and Openshaw. The boundaries of the areas covered by these offices are not conterminous with those of the borough. On 13 June there were no cases at Ashton or Openshaw awaiting action on claims for single payments of supplementary benefit. At Hyde there were fewer than 10 cases. These will be cleared as soon as the claimants concerned provide further information to allow their claims to be determined.

  Research Trials
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any plans for the central registration of research trials; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  We have no plans for the central registration of research trials.

  Disabled Persons
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what consideration his Department has given to the publication, funded by the Greater London Association for Disabled People, entitled "How Do We Get To Hospital"; if there is any action he will be taking; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  The publication has only just been received by the Department. We have not yet had time to consider it.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current waiting list of visits by occupational therapists to disabled persons in the county of Leicestershire.

  Mr. Newton
  This information is not collected centrally. The hon. Member may care to write to the chairman of Leicestershire health authority for the information he seeks.

  Royal Homoeopathic Hospitals
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will list the date or dates of visits made by Ministers in his Department to any of the royal homoeopathic hospitals since June 1979; and what further visits are planned.

  Mrs. Currie
  There is only one royal homoeopathic hospital, the Royal London homoeopathic hospital, which is at Great Ormond street, WC1. No ministerial visits have been made since June 1979 and none is planned.

  Benefits
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what will be the position of patients in community care living in village community schemes established in hospital grounds under the current legislation for income support payments and other benefit payments.

  Mr. Portillo
  A patient's entitlement to income support and other benefit payments will depend on individual circumstances. These include whether the person has been discharged from hospital, or is still an in-patient, whether he is in paid employment and whether he has any other resources.

  Low-income Families
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report a table
  288
  showing the number of persons in low-income families in Wales (i) on supplementary benefit, (ii) below 100 per cent. of supplementary benefit and (iii) below 140 per cent. of supplementary benefit, for each of the years 1979. 1981, 1983 and 1985.

  Mr. Portillo
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Livingston (Mr. Cook) on 27 May 1988 at columns 413–14.

  Leicestershire Health District (Cleaners)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many cleaners were employed by the Leicestershire health district in (i) 1980, (ii) 1984, (iii) 1987 and (iv) the present day.

  Mr. Newton
  The latest available figures to this level of detail are for 1986. The information is given in the following table.

  Cleaners12—ancillary staff in post in Leicestershire district health authority

  At 30 September

  Whole time equivalents3

  41980

  1,050

  1984

  980

  1986

  720

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

  1 Includes mechanical scrubbing machine operators and cleaner-domestic assistants. Excludes domestic supervisors and window cleaners.

  2 Part of the reduction since 1984 may be attributable to the effects of competitive tendering.

  3 Figures are rounded to nearest ten (10) whole time equivalents.

  4 Figures related to Leicestershire area health authority.

  Foetal Tissue (Committee of Inquiry)
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his reply of 7 June,Official Report, column 557, what account was taken in his selection of candidates for membership of the committee of inquiry into the use of foetal tissue for transplant surgery of their publicised views on abortion; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  The members of the committee to review the report of the advisory group on the use of foetuses and foetal material for research were selected because of their expertise in their respective fields, which are relevant to the issues involved.

  "Doctors and their Careers"
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether organisations representing women as consumers of the National Health Service, appropriate trade unions, and the Equal Opportunities Commission will be attending the two seminars which he is holding to discuss the Policy Studies Institute report, "Doctors and their Careers".

  Mr. Newton
  Those invited include representatives of the royal colleges and faculties, health authorities, the British Medical Association, medical schools and universities, women doctors' groups, and the Equal Opportunities Commission.

  Departmental Premises (Bradford)
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what property in Easby road, Bradford his Department has purchased recently; what was the purchase price; and for what purpose the property was bought.

  Mrs. Currie
  Neither this Department nor the Property Services Agency which acts on behalf of Government Departments in this regard, has purchased any property recently in Easby road. I understand, however, that 48 Ash grove, Bradford, which stands on the corner of Ash grove and Easby road and is owned by Bradford metropolitan district council is about to be leased to Bradford health authority for use as a mental health resource centre. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman of Bradford health authority for any further details he may be seeking.

  Dental Treatment
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any plans to change current arrangements for patient referrals to the dental reference service at the request of general dental practitioners.

  Mrs. Currie
  We have no such plans. However, as mentioned in the White Paper "Promoting Better Health", we are consulting about the possible introduction of dental practice advisers in some family practitioner committees. It is expected that examination of patients at the request of their dentists would be one of the functions undertaken by dental practice advisers. Decisions about the introduction of dental practice advisers will be announced in due course.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many cases have been referred to family practitioner committees for possible service committee proceedings by the Dental Estimates Board in each of the last 10 years in respect of treatment carried out and treatment proposed.

  Mrs. Currie
  The number of cases taken up with family practitioner committees in England and Wales by the Dental Estimates Board as recorded in the board's annual reports, is set out in the table. Information about the numbers which concerned proposed or completed treatment is not available.

  Year

  Number of treatments

  1977

  55

  1978

  77

  1979

  30

  1980

  139

  1981

  259

  1982

  176

  1983

  491

  1984

  384

  1985

  186

  19862

  421

  1986–87

  2141

  1 The period of the board's annual report was changed from calendar to financial year, beginning in 1986–87.

  2 January to March.

  Clinical Thermometers
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the 290
  European Economic Community proposals for the harmonisation of standards on clinical thermometers; which problems the directive is designed to overcome; and what assessment he has made of the benefits which will accrue from this to the United Kingdom.

  Mrs. Currie
  Directive 76/764/EEC relates to clinical mercury-in-glass maximum reading thermometers designed to measure the internal temperature of humans or animals. The directive describes instruments eligible to bear the EEC mark and thus assist the removal of a hindrance to trade. An amending directive is designed to ensure that such instruments which bear the EEC mark and sign to indicate conformity with pattern approval and initial verification do so conform. No assessment of the benefits to the United Kingdom has been made, but it is expected that British manufacturers will find it easier to sell their products to EC member states. Regulations will be laid to give effect to the requirements of the directives.

  Publicity Budget
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if, pursuant to his answer of 10 June,Official Report, column 725, he will itemise the £14 million social security publicity budget.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Department's planned spending for 1988–89 on publicising social security is as follows:

  £ million

  Press and television advertising:

  Pensions, Housing benefit, Family credit

  5·00

  Literature:

  Leaflets and posters

  8·70

  Services:

  Regional information services, radio and television fillers, Prestel etc.

  0·30

  Residential Homes
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement on the guidance given by his Department to local authority social service departments about the standards relating to the size of rooms and staffing arrangements which they should require from private residential homes under the Registered Homes Act 1984; and how he intends that those standards should relate to those obtaining in the local authority's own homes.

  Mrs. Currie
  Private residential homes have to comply with the requirements of the Residential Care Home Regulations 1984. These regulations require suitable and sufficient accommodation and staffing but do not lay down room sizes or staffing levels. The regulations are complemented by "Home Life: a Code of Practice for Residential Care", published by the Centre for Policy on Aging in 1984, a copy of which is in the Library. "Home Life" gives guidance on staffing levels. Local Authority Building Note No. 2, "Residential Accommodation for Elderly People" gives guidance on room sizes. Circular LAC(86)1 explained to registration authorities how this note should be applied to private and voluntary homes (copies of both are also in the Library). In circular LAC(86)6 we advised registration authorities not to expect higher standards in private and voluntary homes than those achieved in their own homes.

  Babies (Deaths)
  Dr. Moonie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the numbers and rates for stillbirths,

  Numbers and rates for stillbirths, infant, perinatal, early neonatal, late neonatal deaths in England and Wales 1985–87

  Year

  England

  Wales

  England and Wales

  Number

  Rate

  Number

  Rate

  Number

  Rate

  Stillbirths1

  1985

  3,426

  5·50

  214

  5·79

  3,645

  5·52

  1986

  3,337

  5·32

  209

  5·61

  3,549

  5·34

  19876

  3,224

  4·99

  196

  5·16

  3,423

  5·00

  1985–876

  9,987

  5·27

  619

  5·51

  10,617

  5·28

  Perinatal mortality1

  1985

  6,100

  9·80

  378

  10·22

  6,498

  9·84

  1986

  5,977

  9·53

  384

  10·31

  6,372

  9·59

  19876

  5,742

  8·88

  351

  9·23

  6,107

  8·92

  1985–876

  17,819

  9·40

  1,113

  9·92

  18,977

  9·44

  Infant mortality3

  1985

  5,716

  9·23

  362

  9·84

  6,141

  9·36

  1986

  5,917

  9·49

  352

  9·50

  6,313

  9·55

  19876

  5,845

  9·09

  359

  9·49

  6,272

  9·20

  1985–876

  17,478

  9·27

  1,073

  9·61

  18,726

  9·37

  Early neonatal mortality4

  1985

  2,674

  4·32

  164

  4·46

  2,853

  4·35

  1986

  2,640

  4·23

  175

  4·72

  2,823

  4·27

  19876

  2,518

  3·91

  155

  4·10

  2,684

  3·94

  1985–876

  7,832

  4·15

  494

  4·43

  8,360

  4·18

  Late neonatal mortality5

  1985

  621

  1·00

  51

  1·39

  678

  1·03

  1986

  630

  1·01

  32

  0·86

  666

  1·01

  19876

  722

  1·12

  35

  0·93

  764

  1·12

  1985–876

  1,973

  1·05

  118

  1·06

  2,108

  1·05

  1Stillbirths: Late fetal deaths after 28 weeks of gestation.

  2Perinatal deaths: Stillbirths plus 0·6 days of life.

  3Infant mortality: Deaths at ages under one year.

  4Early neonatal deaths: At ages 0·6 days of life.

  5Late neonatal deaths: Deaths at ages 7·28 days of life.

  1, 2 Rates per thousand live and still births.

  3, 4, 5Rates per thousand live births.

  6Provisional.

  England: Deaths registered in England and Wales to usual residents of England.

  Wales: Deaths registered in England and Wales to usual residents of Wales.

  England and Wales: Deaths registered in England and Wales (includes residents for outside England and Wales).

  Civil Defence
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will identify(a) liaison arrangements between his Department and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation civil emergency planning boards and committees, concerning civil emergency and home defence planning, and (b) the extent of collaborative work carried out with these bodies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  The Department provides the United Kingdom civilian medical member of the NATO joint civil military medical group. The other United Kingdom member is a military doctor representing the Ministry of Defence.

  The group, which meets twice a year, advises and reports to the NATO civil defence committee on matters involving joint civil/military planning and co-operation in peace and war and conducts a number of relevant studies. Members maintain liaison outside the formal meetings by acting as national points of postal contact.

  The Department also takes an appropriate advisory and playing part in NATO exercises from time to time.
  292
  infant, perinatal, early neonatal and late neonatal deaths in England and Wales, jointly and separately for the years 1985 to 1987 inclusive.

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

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will identify the terms of reference of work on(a) civil emergencies and (b) home defence planning carried out in his Department, the number of staff involved and the annual budgets for 1985–86, 1986–87 and 1987–88; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  There are no terms of reference specific to this Department for work on civil emergencies and home defence planning. However, in concert with other Government Departments, we are committed to planning for peacetime emergencies and the effects of warfare, whether conventional or nuclear; plans for these are kept under constant review.

  In this Department 5·5 whole-time equivalent staff are engaged in the work of civil and home defence planning.

  Departmental costs for the last three years are as follows:

  £ million

  1985–86

  1·36 outturn

  1986–87

  1·12 outturn

  1987–88

  1·64 estimate

  293
  These costs are attributable largely to storage of medical supplies and equipment. In addition, approximately £200,000 per annum is spent on staff costs.

  The Department issues specific guidance to the National Health Service on several aspects of emergency planning. We expect shortly to issue a new circular on civil defence planning in the NHS which also includes revised guidance in response to nuclear accidents.

  Health Care
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of gross domestic product each member of the European Community devoted to health care in 1987.

  Mr. Newton
  International comparisons of expenditure on health care are not available for 1987. Comparative data for 1985, the latest year for which comprehensive data are available from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, are as follows:

  Expenditure on Health Care as a Percentage of GDP, 1985

  Country

  Public

  Private

  Total

  Belgium

  5·5

  1·7

  7·2

  France

  6·7

  1·7

  8·4

  Denmark

  5·2

  1·0

  6·2

  Germany

  6·4

  1·8

  8·2

  Greece

  4·1

  0·1

  4·2

  Ireland

  6·9

  1·6

  8·0

  Italy

  5·4

  1·3

  6·7

  Netherlands

  6·5

  1·8

  8·3

  Portugal

  4·1

  1·6

  5·7

  Spain

  4·3

  1·7

  6·0

  United Kingdom

  5·2

  0·8

  6·0

  Source: OECD.

  Note: Luxemburg is excluded from the table because of inconsistencies in the national health accounts.

  Hospital Closures
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list all hospitals where he has been notified of(a) total closure and (b) partial closure in the areas covered by the following health authorities: North West Thames, South West Thames, North East Thames, South East Thames, Basingstoke, Winchester, Portsmouth, Southampton, Isle of Wight, Milton Keynes, Aylesbury, Wycombe, East Berkshire, West Berkshire and Oxfordshire.

  Mrs. Currie
  It is important to note that closures may be offset or balanced by openings or reprovision elsewhere. The hospitals or units approved for total or partial closure from 1979 to end 1986 in the specified regional and district health authorities are in the table.

  The following districts have not approved any closures in the period:—

  Southampton and South West Hampshire

  Milton Keynes

  Wycombe

  North West Thames

  Hospital

  District

  Type

  Year

  Soho Hospital for Women

  Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster

  pc

  1979

  St. Mary's Harrow Road

  Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster

  pc

  1979

  St. Charles

  Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster

  pc

  1979

  294

  Hospital

  District

  Type

  Year

  St. Helena's Recovery Home

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow

  tc

  1979

  Paddington Green Childrens

  Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster

  tc

  1979

  St. Elizabeth's

  Barnet

  tc

  1979

  Orme Lodge

  Barnet

  tc

  1979

  Stanmore Cottage

  Barnet

  tc

  1979

  West Middlesex

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow

  pc

  1980

  Luton and Dunstable childrens annexe

  Bedfordshire

  tc

  1980

  Tolmers Park

  Hertfordshire

  tc

  1980

  St. Columba's

  Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster

  tc

  1980

  St. Mary's Harrow Road renal unit

  Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster

  pc

  1981

  Gordon

  Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster

  pc

  1981

  West Middlesex

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow

  pc

  1981

  Daneswood Convalescent Home

  Bedfordshire

  tc

  1981

  Temple Hill

  Ealing Hamersmith & Hounslow

  tc

  1981

  Harpenden Memorial

  North West Hertfordshire

  pc

  1982

  Highlands

  Enfield

  pc

  1982

  Shenley

  Brent and Harrow

  pc

  1982

  Banstead

  Victoria

  pc

  1983

  Park

  North Bedfordshire

  pc

  1983

  Leamington Park

  Brent

  tc

  1983

  West Hendon

  Barnet

  tc

  1983

  North Hertfordshire Maternity

  North Hertfordshire

  tc

  1983

  All Saints

  Victoria

  tc

  1983

  Clapham

  North Bedfordshire

  pc

  1984

  Hertford County

  East Hertfordshire

  pc

  1984

  Banstead

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  pc

  1984

  Charing Cross

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  pc

  1984

  West London

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  pc

  1984

  St. Stephens

  Victoria

  pc

  1984

  Westminster

  Victoria

  pc

  1984

  Central Middlesex

  Brent

  pc

  1984

  295

  Hospital

  District

  Type

  Year

  West Middlesex

  Hounslow and Spelthorne

  pc

  1984

  Ashford

  Hounslow and Spelthorne

  pc

  1984

  Chepstow Lodge

  Paddington and North Kensington

  tc

  1984

  Hereford Lodge

  Paddington and North Kensington

  tc

  1984

  St. John's

  Hounslow and Spelthorne

  tc

  1984

  St. John's

  Hillingdon

  tc

  1984

  Houndswood annexe at Harperbury

  North West Hertfordshire

  tc

  1984

  Ealing St. Bernard's wing

  Ealing

  pc

  1985

  Harpenden Memorial

  North West Hertfordshire

  pc

  1985

  Harrow

  Harrow

  pc

  1985

  St. Charles

  Paddington and North Kensington

  pc

  1985

  Westminster

  Victoria

  pc

  1985

  Park

  North Bedfordshire

  tc

  1985

  Priory

  South Bedfordshire

  tc

  1985

  St. Stephen's surgical ward

  Riverside

  pc

  1986

  Charing Cross

  Riverside

  pc

  1986

  Tenterden House

  North West Hertfordshire

  tc

  1986

  Hendon district

  Barnet

  tc

  1986

  St. Mary's Harrow Road

  Paddington and North Kensington

  tc

  1986

  Banstead

  Riverside

  tc

  1986

  North East Thames

  St. Margaret's

  Essex

  pc

  1981

  Whipps Cross

  Waltham Forest

  pc

  1983

  Highlands

  Enfield

  pc

  1984

  North Middlesex

  Haringey

  pc

  1985

  Orsett

  Basildon and Thurrock

  pc

  1986

  Garret Anderson

  Camden and Islington

  tc

  1979

  Thomas Barlow

  Camden and Islington

  tc

  1980

  Cromwell Lodge

  Camden and Islington

  tc

  1980

  London Jewish

  City and East London

  tc

  1980

  Bearstead Memorial

  Enfield and Haringey

  tc

  1980

  Waltham Abbey War Memorial

  Essex

  tc

  1981

  St. Faith's

  Barking and Haringey

  tc

  1981

  296

  Hospital

  District

  Type

  Year

  Aldersbrook

  City and East London

  tc

  1981

  Queen Mary's Newham

  City and East London

  tc

  1981

  St. Mary's Newham

  City and East London

  tc

  1981

  City of London maternity

  Camden and Islington

  tc

  1982

  Whittington Home

  Camden and Islington

  tc

  1982

  Enfield War Memorial

  Enfield

  tc

  1982

  Royal National Orthopaedic Great Portland street

  Bloomsbury

  tc

  1983

  Prince of Wales

  Haringey

  tc

  1983

  Clacton Maternity

  North East Essex

  tc

  1983

  Essex Hall

  North East Essex

  tc

  1983

  The Mothers

  City and Hackney

  tc

  1984

  The German

  City and Hackney

  tc

  1984

  St. Matthews

  City and Hackney

  tc

  1984

  Mildmay Mission

  Tower Flamlets

  tc

  1984

  Harts

  Waltham Forest

  tc

  1984

  Lugano nursing home

  Waltham Forest

  tc

  1984

  Royal Throat Nose and Ear

  Bloomsbury

  tc

  1985

  Brunswick House

  North East Essex

  tc

  1986

  Dagenham Hospital

  Redbridge

  tc

  1986

  Bethnal Green

  Tower Hamlets

  tc

  1986

  South East Thames

  Queen Mary's

  Greenwich and Bexley

  pc

  1981

  Joyce Green

  Dartford and Gravesham

  pc

  1982

  South Western

  West Lambeth

  pc

  1982

  Preston Hall

  Maidstone

  pc

  1983

  Sevenoaks Hospital

  Tunbridge Wells

  pc

  1986

  Lewisham unit children

  Lewisham

  pc

  1986

  Beckenham Hospital

  Bromley

  pc

  1986

  Holmhurst

  West Lambeth

  tc

  1979

  Bexhill convalescent home

  Hastings

  tc

  1980

  Mansell House

  Tunbridge Wells

  tc

  1982

  Newhaven Valley

  Brighton

  tc

  1983

  St. Giles'

  Camberwell

  tc

  1983

  St. John's

  Lewisham and Southwark

  tc

  1983

  Hawkenbury

  Tunbridge Wells

  tc

  1983

  Dreadnought Seamans

  Greenwich

  tc

  1985

  297

  Hospital

  District

  Type

  Year

  Sussex Throat and Ear

  Brighton

  tc

  1985

  New Cross Hospital

  Lewisham and North Southwark

  tc

  1986

  Lennard

  Bromley

  tc

  1986

  Beckenham

  Bromley

  tc

  1986

  St. Nicholas

  Greenwich

  tc

  1986

  South West Thames

  Haslemere

  South West Surrey

  tc

  1985

  Horsham

  Mid Downs

  pc

  1985

  Farnham

  West Surrey and North East Hampshire

  pc

  1985

  St. James' Hospital

  Wandsworth

  DC

  1986

  Schiff

  Mid Surrey

  tc

  1979

  St. George's Hyde Park Corner

  Merton Sutton and Wandsworth

  tc

  1979

  Caterham main

  East Surrey

  tc

  1980

  Clerks croft

  East Surrey

  tc

  1980

  East Surrey

  East Surrey

  tc

  1980

  Horley

  East Surrey

  tc

  1980

  Smallfield

  East Surrey

  tc

  1980

  Cuddington

  Mid Surrey

  tc

  1980

  Queen Elizabeth House

  Merton Sutton and Wandsworth

  tc

  1980

  St. Benedict's

  Merton Sutton and Wandsworth

  tc

  1980

  Wimbledon

  Merton and Sutton

  tc

  1981

  Waddon

  Croydon

  tc

  1983

  South London Hospital for Women

  Wandsworth

  tc

  1983

  Cheam

  Merton and Sutton

  tc

  1984

  Murray House Ottershaw

  North West Surrey

  tc

  1984

  Bletchingley

  East Surrey

  tc

  1984

  Roffey Park

  Mid Downs

  tc

  1984

  Rowley Bristow

  North West Surrey

  tc

  1985

  Westmoor House

  Richmond Twickenham and Roehampton

  tc

  1985

  Queens

  Croydon

  tc

  1986

  St. Mary's

  Croydon

  tc

  1986

  District Health Authorities

  Winchfield

  Basingstoke and North Hampshire

  tc

  1981

  Tichbourne Down House

  Winchester

  tc

  1984

  Victoria

  Winchester

  tc

  1986

  298

  Hospital

  District

  Type

  Year

  St. John's Hospital

  Winchester

  tc

  1986

  King George's

  Portsmouth and South East Hampshire

  tc

  1981

  Sandy Point

  Portsmouth and South East Hampshire

  tc

  1983

  King George's

  Portsmouth and South East Hampshire

  tc

  1986

  Longford

  Isle of Wight

  tc

  1985

  Tindal ward 3

  Aylesbury Vale

  pc

  1985

  Canadian Red Cross memorial

  Berkshire

  pc

  1979

  Peppard

  Berkshire

  tc

  1979

  Canadian Red Cross memorial

  Berkshire

  pc

  1981

  King Edward VII Windsor

  East Berkshire

  tc

  1982

  Farnham Park rehabilitation centre

  East Berkshire

  tc

  1983

  Henley War Memorial

  West Berkshire

  tc

  1983

  Canadian Red Cross Memorial

  East Berkshire

  tc

  1984

  Slade

  Oxfordshire

  pc

  1979

  Cowley Road

  Oxfordshire

  pc

  1979

  Cowley Road

  Oxfordshire

  tc

  1979

  Longworth

  Oxfordshire

  PC

  1981

  St. Mary's

  Oxfordshire

  tc

  1981

  Neithrop and Pines

  Oxfordshire

  tc

  1983

  Longworth

  Oxfordshire

  tc

  1984

  General Practice Finance Corporation
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how it is proposed to meet the expenses incurred in connection with the reconstitution of the General Practice Finance Corporation.

  Mr. Newton
  Parliamentary approval for this expenditure has been sought in the Supply Estimate for the Family Practitioner and Other Services, England, Vote (class XIV, vote 2) presented to Parliament on 15 March 1988. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure, estimated at £100,000, will be met by repayable advances from the contingencies fund.

  Medical Secretaries
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the annual average salary of a qualified medical secretary;

  (2) if he will give, for each regional health authority, district health authority and special health authority (a) the number of funded establishments for qualified medical secretaries and (b) the number of qualified medical secretaries in post;
  299
  (3) if he will give the average annual salary of a trained medical secretary.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answers 6 May 1988 and 9 May 1988]Medical secretaries are employed in the NHS on various grades with basic pay scales ranging from £4,733 to £8,990 per annum for an adult according to their individual responsibilities. In addition, allowances up to £635 per annum may be payable for tested proficiency in typing, shorthand and audio skills. London weighting allowances of £1,201 per annum within the inner zone and £718 per annum in the outer zone are also payable as appropriate.

  Payroll information identifying medical secretaries is not centrally available for all parts of the NHS. Based on information from eight regions and six special health authorities in the period April to December 1987, the average gross salary was estimated to be £6,620 per annum inclusive of proficiency allowances but excluding London weighting. There is no central classification or payroll identification of a trained or qualified medical secretary.

  The table shows the number of medical secretaries in post in each regional, district and post-graduate special health authority at September 1986. Figures for funded establishments are not held centrally.

  National Health Service Medical Secretaries at September 1986

  Regional Health Authority and District Health Authority

  Whole-time equivalent1

  Northern

  0

  Hartlepool

  13

  North Tees

  41

  South Tees

  75

  East Cumbria

  45

  South Cumbria

  31

  West Cumbria

  25

  Darlington

  30

  Durham

  35

  North West Durham

  5

  South West Durham

  22

  Northumberland

  42

  Gateshead

  36

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne (T)

  126

  North Tyneside

  32

  South Tyneside

  27

  Sunderland

  12

  RHA Total

  596

  Yorkshire

  0

  Hull

  33

  East Yorkshire

  28

  Grimsby

  38

  Scunthorpe

  45

  Northallerton

  13

  York

  35

  Scarborough

  21

  Harrogate

  25

  Bradford

  68

  Airedale

  38

  Calderdale

  26

  Huddersfield

  30

  Dewsbury

  31

  Leeds Western (T)

  87

  Leeds Eastern (T)

  91

  Wakefield

  44

  Pontefract

  25

  RHA Total

  678

  Trent

  North Derbyshire

  35

  South Derbyshire

  59

  Leicestershire (T)

  108

  300

  Regional Health Authority and District Health Authority amd district Health Authority

  Whole-time equivalent1

  North Lincolnshire

  68

  South Lincolnshire

  58

  Bassetlaw

  16

  Central Nottinghamshire

  44

  Nottingham (T)

  174

  Barnsley

  31

  Doncaster

  62

  Rotherham

  40

  Sheffield (T)

  148

  RHA Total

  841

  East Anglian

  Cambridge (T)

  59

  Peterborough

  46

  West Suffolk

  31

  East Suffolk

  62

  Norwich

  84

  Great Yarmouth and Waveney

  38

  West Norfolk and

  36

  Wisbech

  Huntingdon

  20

  RHA Total

  377

  North West Thames

  North Bedfordshire

  38

  South Bedfordshire

  37

  North Hertfordshire

  25

  East Hertfordshire

  17

  North West Hertfordshire

  36

  South West Hertfordshire

  30

  Barnet

  48

  Harrow

  33

  Hillingdon

  65

  Hounslow & Spelthorne

  46

  Ealing

  31

  Brent

  30

  Paddington & North

  26

  Kensington (T)

  Riverside

  116

  RHA Total

  576

  North East Thames

  Basildon & Thurrock

  31

  Mid Essex

  30

  North East Essex

  63

  West Essex

  1

  Southend

  37

  Barking/Havering/Brent-wood

  76

  Hampstead (T)

  49

  Bloomsbury (T)

  94

  Islington

  31

  City & Hackney (T)

  58

  Newham

  20

  Tower Hamlets (T)

  83

  Enfield

  30

  Haringey

  41

  Redbridge

  25

  Waltham Forest

  39

  RHA Total

  708

  South East Thames

  0

  Brighton

  40

  Eastbourne

  21

  Hastings

  14

  South East Kent

  46

  Canterbury and Thanet

  68

  Dartford and Gravesham

  40

  Maidstone

  25

  Medway

  52

  Tunbridge Wells

  56

  301

  Regional Health Authority and District Health Authority and District Health Authority

  Whole-lime equivalent1

  Bexley

  2

  Greenwich

  27

  Bromley

  60

  West Lambeth (T)

  46

  Camberwell (T)

  40

  Lewisham and North

  71

  Southwark (T)

  RHA Total

  607

  South West Thames

  0

  North West Surrey

  43

  West Surrey and North

  36

  East Hants

  South West Surrey

  30

  Mid-Surrey

  32

  East Surrey

  32

  Chichester

  30

  Mid-downs

  49

  Worthing

  41

  Croydon

  38

  Kingston and Esher

  32

  Richmond, Twickenham

  33

  and Roehampton

  Wandsworth (T)

  98

  Merton and Sutton

  55

  RHA Total

  549

  Wessex

  0

  East Dorset

  54

  West Dorset

  10

  Portsmouth and South East Hampshire

  7

  Southampton and South West Hampshire (T)

  61

  Winchester

  29

  Basingstoke and North Hampshire

  10

  Salisbury

  36

  Swindon

  50

  Bath

  33

  Isle of Wight

  25

  RHA Total

  313

  Oxford

  1

  East Berkshire

  38

  West Berkshire

  41

  Aylesbury Vale

  34

  Wycombe

  38

  Milton Keynes

  27

  Kettering

  51

  Northampton

  66

  Oxfordshire (T)

  109

  RHA Total

  405

  South Western

  0

  Bristol and Weston (T)

  88

  Frenchay

  10

  Southmead

  33

  Cornwall and Isles of

  69

  Scilly

  Exeter

  50

  North Devon

  26

  Plymouth

  83

  Torbay

  33

  Cheltenham

  43

  Gloucester

  44

  Somerset

  89

  RHA Total

  567

  West Midlands

  0

  Bromsgrove and Redditch

  31

  302

  Regional Health Authority and District Health Authority and District Health Authority

  Whole-time equivalent1

  Herefordshire

  33

  Kidderminster and

  21

  District

  Worcester and District

  27

  Shropshire

  48

  Mid-Staffordshire

  37

  North Staffordshire

  99

  South East Staffordshire

  15

  Rugby

  17

  North Warwickshire

  24

  South Warwickshire

  40

  Central Birmingham (T)

  147

  East Birmingham

  64

  North Birmingham

  29

  South Birmingham

  75

  West Birmingham

  64

  Coventry

  70

  Dudley

  74

  Sandwell

  49

  Solihull

  30

  Walsall

  21

  Wolverhampton

  41

  RHA Total

  1,055

  Mersey

  0

  Chester

  32

  Crewe

  34

  Halton

  16

  Macclesfield

  29

  Warrington

  27

  Liverpool (T)

  151

  St. Helens with Knowsley

  38

  Sefton North

  16

  Sefton South

  41

  Wirral

  56

  RHA Total

  439

  North Western

  0

  Lancaster

  28

  Blackpool Wyre and

  51

  Fylde

  Preston

  47

  Blackburn, Hyndburn and

  44

  Ribble Valley

  Burnley, Pendle

  49

  Rossendale

  West Lancashire

  17

  Chorley and South Ribble

  23

  Bolton

  11

  Bury

  32

  North Manchester

  75

  Central Manchester (T)

  67

  South Manchester (T)

  52

  Oldham

  39

  Rochdale

  46

  Salford (T)

  80

  Stockport

  41

  Tameside and Glossop

  43

  Trafford

  36

  Wigan

  44

  RHA Total

  826

  London Postgraduate Special Health Authorities

  Authority

  Whole-time equivalent1

  Hospitals for sick children

  33

  National hospital for nervous diseases

  15

  Moorfields eye hospital

  23

  Bethlem Royal and Maudsley hospitals

  49

  National heart and chest hospitals

  54

  The Royal Marsden hospital

  36

  303

  Authority

  Whole-time equivalent1

  Hammersmith hospital and Queen Charlotte's hospital

  51

  The Eastman dental hospital

  5

  Total

  264

  England total for all authorities

  8,801

  Source: DHSS(SR7) Annual Census of NHS Non-Medical Manpower.

  1 All figures are independently rounded to the nearest whole time equivalent.

  Regional Health Authorities
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what assessment he has made of the possibility of transferring to regional health authorities functions currently carried out by his Department.

  Great Britain, Thousands

  Men

  Women

  60–64

  65–69

  60–64

  65–69

  No.

  Per cent.

  No.

  Per cent.

  No.

  Per cent.

  No.

  Per cent.

  Total

  1,381

  100

  1,211

  100

  1,506

  100

  1,445

  100

  Economically active

  753

  55

  158

  13

  283

  19

  80

  6

  of whom

  employed

  676

  49

  143

  12

  272

  18

  77

  5

  full-time

  615

  45

  56

  5

  73

  5

  14

  1

  part-time

  60

  4

  88

  7

  193

  13

  62

  4

  unemployed

  77

  6

  14

  1

  12

  1

  2—

  Economically inactive3

  628

  45

  1,053

  87

  1,223

  81

  1,365

  94

  of whom

  retired5

  254

  18

  837

  69

  651

  43

  4—

  other

  374

  27

  216

  18

  572

  38

  4

  Source:Labour Force Survey 1987(preliminary estimates)

  1 Includes those in employment and people unemployed and seeking work

  2 Number below 10,000.

  3 Includes those who are retired, sick or disabled, or not seeking work for all other reasons

  4 Question not asked of women in the 65–69 age group.

  5 Details are not available of the numbers of those who regarded themselves as retired but nevertheless undertook some paid work.

  Note: Numbers do not sum to total because of roundings.

  Capenhurst (Cancers)
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what have been the recorded levels of childhood leukaemia, malignant brain tumours among young people and the number of adult thyroid cancers, in the area covering a six-mile radius around the British Nuclear Fuels plc plant at Capenhurst; and how this compares with the incidence of these conditions in the rest of the United Kingdom.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 7 June 1988]The precise information is not readily available in the form requested. In a report published last year in the OPCS series "Studies on Medical and Population subjects" (No 51) [1] the following relevant information is given in relation to Capenhurst:
  304
  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 25 May 1988]: The need to exercise functions centrally is kept under continuing consideration. For example, following a review of the Department's works function, authority for execution of capital building schemes at all stages subsequent to approval in principle was delegated to regional health authorities.

  60 to 70-year-olds
  Sir David Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the number of men and women, respectively, for each year between the ages of 60 and 70 who in 1987(a) were in full-time employment, (b) were known to be retired and who were working part-time or(c) whose status was unknown; and what percentage of their year each represented.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 7 June 1988]Information is not available in exactly the form requested. The available information is in the table and is for spring 1987:

  Local Authority Area with at least two-thirds of the population

  resident within 6 miles of BNFL site at Capenhurst

  Age Group

  1961–80

  Rate in area as a percentage of regional rate

  0–24

  Cases

  [2]

  All leukaemias

  Incidence

  38

  104·2

  Mortality

  33

  95·8

  Malignant

  Brain

  Tumours

  Incidence

  29

  122·7

  Mortality

  10

  77·0

  25–74

  Thyroid

  Incidence

  48

  16·60

  Mortality

  31

  171·0

  Copies of this Report are available in the Library.

  [1] "Cancer incidence and mortality in the vicinity of nuclear installations England and Wales 1959–80" (HMSO 1987)

  [2] This column shows the local incidence of disease and mortality expressed as a percentage of the regional average.

  Common Cold
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what research is currently undertaken into the prevention of the common cold; which institutions are undertaking such research; how much money is being provided, publicly and privately, for such research and by whom; and if he will make a statement on policy and research in this area.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 14 June 1988]The Department is not at present funding any research on the prevention of the common cold. The main agency through which the Government promote medical and related biological research is the Medical Research Council, which receives its grant-in-aid from the Department of Education and Science. I understand that the Medical Research Council is at present funding research at the common cold unit, which is part of the clinical research centre's division of communicable diseases. In the financial year 1986–87 (the last for which figures are available) the council's expenditure on this research was £304,000.

  The Medical Research Council has agreed that the common cold unit should close in 1990 following the retirement of the director. A committee has been set up to evaluate the future need of a facility for studying infections in human volunteers.

  Details of research other than that funded directly by Government Departments or by research councils are not held centrally.

EMPLOYMENT

  Tourists (Expenditure)
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what estimates he has in sterling equivalent of the amount(a) spent in the United Kingdom by foreign tourists, and (b) spent overseas by British tourists.

  Mr. Lee
  It is estimated that overseas residents spent £6·2 billion in the United Kingdom in 1987 and that United Kingdom residents spent £7·3 billion abroad.

  Urban Greening Initiatives
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will provide details of the number of Manpower Services Commission staff and participants employed on urban greening initiatives in the voluntary sector;

  (2) if he will provide details of the number of Manpower Services Commission staff and participants employed on urban greening initiatives in local authority sponsored schemes.

  Mr. Nicholls
  There are no Manpower Services Commission staff employed directly on urban greening initiatives under the community programme. One of the programme's national initiatives, UL2000, includes amongst its five themes "greening the cities", but separate figures of participants on the different themes are not available.

  At 31 March some 6,782 people were employed on the UK2000 community programme national initiative in Great Britain. Of these, some two thirds are employed in the voluntary sector and around one fifth in local authorities.

  Training Schemes (Fatalities and Accidents)
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many fatalities have occurred on Manpower Services Commission building and construction schemes under YTS, the job training scheme and the community programme for each of the last five years.

  Mr. Nicholls
  One fatality occurred in May 1986 to a YTS trainee in the construction and civil engineering occupations. There have been no fatalities to trainees on the job training scheme in these occupations. Central records of fatalities on the community programme are not held, although accidents on the community programme have to be notified to the Health and Safety Executive in the same way as for other employment.

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many accidents have occurred on Manpower Services Commission building and construction schemes under YTS, the job training scheme and the community programme for each of the last five years.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Accident information by industries is available only for YTS and where the accident occurred after 1 July 1986. Comparable accident figures for adult trainees on the job training scheme and employees on the community programme are not available centrally. Accidents on the community programme have to be notified to the Health and Safety Executive in the same way as for other employment. The following table gives quarterly figures of fatal, major and minor YTS accidents in the construction and civil engineering occupations and includes accidents to both one-year and two-year YTS participants.

  Accidents3

  Period

  Fatal

  Major

  Minor

  1 July 1986–30 September 1986

  Nil

  21

  74

  1 October 1986–31 December 1986

  Nil

  26

  136

  1 January 1987–31 March 1987

  Nil

  15

  162

  1 April 1987–30 June 1987

  Nil

  35

  145

  1 July 1987–30 September 1987

  Nil

  30

  199

  1 October 1987–31 December 1987

  Nil

  32

  234

  1 January 1988–31 March 1988

  Nil

  41

  209

  1 MSC accident figures for YTS have been compiled on a similar basis to those prepared by the Health and Safety Executive on employed persons. However, the commission's figures include a number of accidents, in particular road traffic accidents during scheme time and accidents to trainees in educational establishments which may not have been reportable to the executive had the individuals been employed.

  Mines and Quarries
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Bradford, South of 26 May,Official Report, column 315, why the inspector was concerned only with the security of the stockpiles on his visit to Penlee quarry on 5 January; how long was the visit; why no check was made on machinery guards and conveyors; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The inspector visited Penlee quarry, not to carry out a routine inspection of the site, but to investigate a specific complaint from the public. The investigation took approximately three hours, was restricted to the extensive stockpiling areas and did not include the preparation plant area where the conveyors are sited.

  Employment Training
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether training managers under the proposed employment training scheme will be able to(a) charge trainees for any protective clothing, safety footwear and special equipment they may be issued with, (b) deduct any part of a trainee's training allowance as a deposit on any protective clothing, safety footwear or special equipment they are issued with and (c) impose any fines or deductions from any part of a trainee's training allowance for any trainee's unauthorised absences, lateness or irregular attendance.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Training managers will not be able to make any financial demands on trainees for protective clothing, safety footwear or special equipment, nor will they be able to impose fines or deductions from a trainee's training allowance.

  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many placements on the new employment training scheme will at any one time he available for use by voluntary sector agencies.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Employment training will provide for about 300,000 trainees at any one time with about 600,000 trainees taking part during a full year. The emphasis will be on the individual training needs of trainees, and they may spend time in a variety of training opportunities during their period on the programme. I hope voluntary organisations will be extensively involved in employment training and so continue the valuable contribution which they have made to existing programmes. Training Commission officials are currently considering proposals from organisations interested in taking part.

  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many voluntary sector agencies have indicated that they will not take placements under the new employment training scheme.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Employment training is a locally planned and locally delivered programme and the majority of discussions and negotiation with organisations which may wish to participate is being done at local level. There is no central record of organisations which have indicated that they either do or do not wish to take part. The voluntary sector has an important part to play in employment training and I hope most existing managing agents and sponsors will move forward into the new programme.

  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what alternative support will be offered to voluntary groups which are not offered placements from the new employment training scheme and to those which decide not to use such placements;

  (2) what consideration the Government have given to the probable impact of the withdrawal of the community programme on voluntary agencies which provide community services.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The community programme will be replaced from 5 September by employment training. Project-based training will be an important part of the new programme, with some 194,000 project-based opportunities in the first year, broadly the present level of community programme provision. I hope that most 308
  current CP projects will move forward into employment training bringing with them the worthwhile services that they currently provide.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State recently met representatives of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations to discuss the scope for the fullest involvement of the voluntary sector in employment training. Discussions are continuing between officials, including the role of the voluntary sector in providing worthwhile voluntary activities for those participants who, at the end of employment training, do not move directly into a job.

  YTS Agents
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether there are any exemptions to the requirement for agents of YTS to have approved training status; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  There are no exemptions to the requirement that agents of YTS must achieve approved training organisations status. New organisations contracting with the Training Commission to deliver YTS programmes must apply for ATO status within one month of signing a contract and their training arrangements are monitored against the ATO criteria. A decision on whether to award ATO status will be made within a year of their contracting with the commission to provide training.

  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether there are any agents of YTS who have not acquired approved training status still operating as agents of that scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  Only 136 (4 per cent.) of all agents contracted to deliver YTS by the Training Commission have yet to acquire approved training organisation status. All these organisations have recently contracted with the Training Commission to deliver YTS training and their training arrangements are being monitored against the 10 ATO criteria prior to a decision on their status.

  Community Programme
  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a full list of voluntary sector community programme placements classified according to type of work undertaken.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Information on the number of filled places is not available in the form requested. The table shows the number of authorised places on the community programme as at 29 April 1988 (the latest date available) allocated to agents and sponsors in the voluntary sector, classified according to the type of work undertaken.

  Table of Authorised Places in the Voluntary Sector at 29 April 1988

  Type of Work Undertaken

  Number of Places

  Building and landscaping

  55

  Home insulation

  6,248

  Research and surveys

  2,771

  Library

  2,472

  Youth work

  14

  Other social services

  67

  Cultural

  3,695

  Workshop

  11,138

  CP agency management

  10,079

  309

  Type of Work Undertaken

  Number of Places

  Environmental and landscaping

  27,519

  Building and construction

  18,227

  Archaeological digs

  734

  Children's services

  5,813

  Young people's services

  11,084

  Services for the elderly

  29,746

  Services for the disabled

  13,176

  Centres for the unemployed

  407

  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many voluntary sector community programme placements are allocated for work with(a) the elderly, (b) the disabled, (c) under-fives, (d) women, (e)black people, (f) children aged five to 13 years and (g) young people aged 14 to 25 years.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information is not available in the form requested. The nearest categories and the number of authorised places in each are shown in the table:

  Type of work undertaken

  Number of authorised places at 29 April, 1988

  Services for the elderly

  29,746

  Services for the disabled

  13,176

  Children's services (Up to 16)

  5,813

  Young people's services (16 to 18)

  11,084

  Health and Safety Commission
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the specific matters in relation to the establishment and activities of the Health and Safety Commission and the Health and Safety Executive and their subordinate agencies on which he answers parliamentary questions.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is responsible for all matters concerned with the staffing and establishment of the Health and Safety Commission and Executive which do not fall to the Prime Minister as arising from the position of HSE staff as civil servants. He is also responsible for all the aspects of the commission's and the executive's work which cover primarily the protection of workers. He answers for the protection of the public from the generality of hazards, except where other Secretaries of State have responsibilities which involve the commission and executive. For a description of these responsibilities, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister today.

  Remploy
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what further steps he proposes to take to enable Remploy to increase its work force, its range of products and its subsidy.

  Mr. Lee
  The longer-term arrangements for supporting people with severe disabilities in employment, including the support given to Remploy, are among the matters to be considered within the internal review of the assistance 310
  offered by my Department to people with disabilities announced in March. We aim to complete this review as quickly as possible this year.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when was the last occasion on which he visited Remploy factories to discuss subsidies, pay, bonuses and working conditions.

  Mr. Lee
  I welcome the opportunity to visit Remploy factories whenever possible to meet both management and work force, and most recently visited the Burnley factory on 26 February. Discussions on the matters raised by the right hon. Member are generally held at a national level. I met members of the consortium of Remploy trades unions on 28 September 1987 to discuss pay issues and met the board of directors on 15 June to discuss a range of issues.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what special provision is made in Remploy for those severely disabled people who may not be able to participate in bonus schemes.

  Mr. Lee
  By effective placement and training Remploy has increased the number of severely disabled workers who earn bonus from 86 per cent. of the disabled work force in 1980 to 98 per cent. in 1988. Those who are unable to achieve the bonus standard receive the basic Remploy wage.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of Remploy workers who lose money, compared with benefits, by working.

  Mr. Lee
  This information is not available.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many disabled people are seeking work with Remploy but are unable to get jobs.

  Mr. Lee
  Information on the number of severely disabled people seeking work with Remploy is not held. The company recruits and trains between 1,000 and 1,200 new employees each year.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the average cost to the Government of each Remploy worker who benefits from the subsidy.

  Mr. Lee
  In 1987–88 the average cost to the Government of subsidising each severely disabled worker employed by Remploy, excluding loans to the company in respect of capital expenditure, was £5,529.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to provide new, modern skills for those Remploy workers who require them.

  Mr. Lee
  This is essentially a matter for the management of Remploy to determine within the resources available to it, taking account of the characteristics of those people with severe disabilities in its employment.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the cost to the Government in terms of benefits which would have to be paid if all Remploy workers become unemployed.

  Mr. Lee
  A reliable estimate could be made only if information were available about the entitlement to
  311
  benefit of each Remploy worker. However, it is estimated, using general survey information, that the cost to the Government would have been of the order of £27·5 million if all the severely disabled people employed by Remploy had remained unemployed and claimed benefits during the whole of the financial year 1987–88. This estimate is based on information about the characteristics of severely disabled people in employment collected in 1986. It does not take account of changes in benefits introduced since that date.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are in supervisory jobs in Remploy and how many of them are disabled.

  Mr. Lee
  Comprehensive information is not available, but 283 (42 per cent.) of the 667 supervisory staff in Remploy factories are severely disabled.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are in management jobs in Remploy; and how many of them are disabled.

  Mr. Lee
  Comprehensive information is not available, but four of Remploy's 94 factory managers are severely disabled.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many disabled workers are employed by Remploy; in which areas they are located; and what is their basic weekly wage.

  Mr. Lee
  On 31 March 1988 Remploy employed 9,042 severely disabled workers. This figure has been broken down into employment service regions as follows:

  Region

  Number of Severely Disabled Workers at 31 March 1988

  Northern

  920

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  1,104

  East Midlands and Eastern

  653

  London and south-cast

  990

  South-west

  516

  Wales

  1,492

  West midlands

  646

  North-west

  1,647

  Scotland

  1,074

  The basic weekly wage is £102·43 for workers in London and £90 elsewhere. With skill and productivity payments, average weekly earnings are £121·86 in London and £109·43 elsewhere.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he next intends to meet the management and trade unionists of Remploy to discuss the present subsidy.

  Mr. Lee
  I shall continue to meet the management of Remploy, and representatives of the trades unions with which the company negotiates, as and when the need arises.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the annual subsidy to 312
  Remploy for each of the past 10 years; if he will increase the present subsidy to enable Remploy to pay higher wages; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  The annual subsidy (excluding loans for capital expenditure) to Remploy for each of the past 10 years is given in the table:

  £000

  1978–79

  22,530

  1979–80

  27,263

  1980–81

  32,235

  1981–82

  39,195

  1982–83

  42,578

  1983–84

  44,572

  1984–85

  47,825

  1985–86

  48,415

  1986–87

  47,770

  1987–88

  49,726

  In the past three years pay settlements for Remploy"s manual work force have been above the annual rate of inflation. I am informed that Remploy's manual work force has voted by a substantial majority to accept a pay offer negotiated between the company and the consortium of Remploy trades unions earlier in the year, operative from 1 April.

  It is estimated that average weekly earnings of Remploy workers outside London have risen from £83·03 in April 1984 to £109·43 in April 1988. Workers at Remploy's London factories receive higher rates of pay. The new pay arrangements will be operated within the subsidy for 1988–89.

  Sheltered Workshops (Wage Rates)
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is(a) the national average wage, and (b)that paid in local authority sheltered workshops.

  Mr. Lee
  The average gross weekly earnings (excluding bonuses, overtime and shift premiums) taken from the new earnings survey April 1987 for full-time adult employees whose pay was not affected by absences was £170·70. In April 1987 the average weekly rate of pay in most local authority sheltered workshops was estimated to be £95·10; the current average weekly rate of pay in these workshops is estimated to be £102·28.

  Civil Defence
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will identify(a) liaison arrangements between his Department and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation civil emergency planning boards and committees, concerning civil emergency and home defence planning, and (b) the extent of collaborative work carried out with these bodies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  The Department of Employment has no liaison arrangements, and does no collaborative work, with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation civil emergency planning boards and committees.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will identify the terms of reference of work on(a) civil emergencies and (b) home defence planning carried out in his Department, the

  313
  number of staff involved and the annual budgets for 1985–86, 1986–87 and 1987–88; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  Work in the Department of Employment on civil emergencies and home defence planning is carried out within guidelines laid down by the Government. The work is done by staff, both in London and in the regional offices, who also have other duties. It is estimated that the total effort devoted to emergency planning is equivalent to about five full-time staff. This area of work is not costed separately, but is included in overall administrative costs and amounted to around £100,000 in the 1987–88 financial year; no figures are available for previous years.

  Single European Market
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish an analysis of the regional impact on jobs in the United Kingdom of the Commission's proposals to achieve a single market in the European Community by 1992.

  Sheltered placement scheme

  Remploy operating deficit

  Local authority workshops

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  £000

  £000

  £000

  £000

  £000

  £000

  £000

  £000

  £000

  South-east

  64

  222

  497

  1,600

  1,654

  1,699

  1,545

  1,714

  1,851

  London

  173

  284

  409

  4,336

  4,179

  4,228

  3,054

  3,259

  3,386

  South-west

  644

  1,457

  2,545

  3,345

  3,405

  3,645

  2,542

  2,734

  2,937

  West midlands

  76

  123

  264

  2,286

  2,404

  2.256

  1,678

  1,843

  2,142

  East midlands and eastern

  302

  382

  510

  5,382

  4,911

  4,797

  1,992

  2,118

  2,157

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  184

  249

  473

  5,510

  5,026

  5,643

  2,658

  2,520

  2,400

  North-west

  215

  368

  504

  9,267

  9,893

  10,612

  2,386

  2,448

  2,623

  Northern

  77

  79

  99

  5,354

  5,363

  5,269

  1,088

  1,065

  1,126

  Wales

  6

  18

  58

  9,825

  9,034

  9,697

  1,976

  2,011

  2,494

  Scotland

  212

  401

  705

  6,053

  4,995

  6,060

  2,833

  3,439

  3,385

  Great Britain

  1,953

  3,583

  6,064

  52,958

  50,864

  53,906

  21,752

  23,151

  24,501

  314
  Mr. Cope
  The impact of the single European market should be beneficial on output growth in the United Kingdom and so on jobs. The impact on jobs in different regions in the United Kingdom cannot be predicted with confidence.

  Sheltered Employment
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total cost, in each of the years 1985, 1986 and 1987, and by each standard region, of providing(a) sheltered placement scheme places, (b) sheltered employment places in Remploy and (c) sheltered employment places in local authority workshops.

  Mr. Lee
  [holding answer 17 May 1988]:The information is not available in the form requested. Total expenditure nationally and by Training Commission regions (excluding the Department's expenditure on administration and capital expenditure, for which information in this form is not available) is given in the table for the last three financial years for which information is available.

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