Written Answers of 20 June 1988

PRIME MINISTER

  Gibraltar (Shootings)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will now set up an inquiry into the policy considerations and decisions which led to the recent operation involving military personnel in Gibraltar and the shooting of three Irish Republican Army personnel.

  The Prime Minister
  No. The inquest in Gibraltar is the proper occasion for the matter to be examined. We hope it will be held as soon as possible.

  Members' Letters
  Mr. McTaggart
  To ask the Prime Minister what is her practice with regard to answering letters from right hon. and hon. Members directly from her Office or referring them to other Departments.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Burnley (Mr. Pike) on 22 April 1988 at column 583.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Prime Minister what information she has as to the proportion of civil servants at grade 3 and above in the Cabinet Office who were educated in(a) private schools and (b) state schools.

  The Prime Minister
  The names of the schools attended by civil servants at grade 3 level and above in the Cabinet Office are recorded on personal files in only a few cases.

  University of Newcastle (News Media Unit)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister why British Nuclear Fuels plc made it a condition of its offer to fund a news media unit at the University of Newcastle that Mr. Bernard Ingham be associated with the project.

  The Prime Minister
  Mr. Ingham remains my Chief Press Secretary and is not available to take up any post in Newcastle.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Birmingham Pub Bombings
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Attorney-General what was the basis for the decision by the Director of Public Prosecutions to ask the Commissioner of the City of London police for an inquiry into contacts between the two principal Crown witnesses at the recent appeal in relation to the Birmingham pub bombings.

  The Attorney-General
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer that I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. Mullin).
  370
  Mr. Flannery
  To ask the Attorney-General what line of inquiry the Director of Public Prosecutions suggested to the City of London police when asking them to inquire into contacts between the two principal Crown witnesses at the recent appeal hearing of the six men convicted of the Birmingham pub bombings.

  The Attorney-General
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen) on 17 June 1988, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

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

  The Attorney-General
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks) on 15 June 1988, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

  Court Proceedings (Tape Recording)
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Attorney-General what representations he has received concerning the introduction of the taping of court proceedings in England and Wales to replace shorthand writers.

  The Attorney-General
  Representations in writing have been received by the Lord Chancellor's Department from 13 sources.

  DPP (Meeting)
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Attorney-General when he last met the Director of Public Prosecutions; and what matters were discussed.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Attorney-General when he last met the Director of Public Prosecutions; and what subjects were discussed.

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Attorney-General when he last met the Director of Public Prosecutions; and what matters were discussed.

  The Attorney-General
  I last met the Director of Public Prosecutions on Wednesday 15 June 1988 to discuss matters relating to the Crown Prosecution Service.

  King Edward (Remains)
  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  To ask the Attorney-General what costs have been incurred to public funds to date in legal proceedings involving the bones of Edward, King of England, Saint and Martyr.

  The Attorney-General
  Costs expended to date amount to £2,361·99.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Attorney-General what information he has as to the proportion of civil servants at grade 3 and above in his Department who were educated in(a) private schools and (b) state schools.
  371
  The Attorney-General
  There is only one such person in my Department. He was educated at a private school.

  Crown Prosecution Service (North Report)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Attorney-General what are the implications for the Crown Prosecution Service of the recommendations in the North report on fatal road accidents.

  The Attorney-General
  The road traffic law review, chaired by Dr. Peter North, published its report on 12 April this year. The report contains 137 recommendations, several of which propose major restructuring of the current road traffic offences which may be applicable when a fatal accident occurs, including those where drink is involved. The report is currently receiving detailed scrutiny, and whilst I cannot anticipate any future legislation, the Crown Prosecution Service would naturally welcome any move which would assist in bringing to justice on appropriate charges those who commit serious driving offences.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Overseas Aid
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the average percentage of gross national product given in aid by the members of the European Community that are also members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development assistance committee, excluding the United Kingdom, in 1987 or for the latest available year.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  In 1986, the latest year for which figures have been published, the net official development assistance of these countries represented 0·55 per cent. of their combined GNP.

  Mr. Franks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the estimated expenditure on overseas aid in the current financial year.

  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current level of expenditure on overseas development.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  The overseas aid budget, including aid administration, for the current financial year is £1,337 million.

  Kampuchea
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in the light of Vietnam's 25 May undertaking to withdraw half its troops from Kampuchea by the end of the year, he will reconsider the provision of development assistance to Kampuchea.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  We see no reason at the present time to change our position on aid to Cambodia.

  Africa
  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support Her Majesty's Government are giving to programmes of structural adjustment in Africa.
  372
  Mr. Chris Patten
  In 1987–88 Britain provided an estimated total of over £90 million of quick-spending balance of payments finance in support of structural adjustment programmes in African countries. We have pledged at least £250 million of similar assistance over the next three years in association with the World Bank's special programme of assistance to low-income, debt-distressed countries in sub-Saharan Africa that are following appropriate programmes of economic reform. We are also giving very substantial support to the IMF's enhanced structural adjustment facility. Our contribution to the interest subsidy account will be greater than that of any other country, and will be sufficient to subsidise the interest on lending up to SDR 1 billion—about £750 million.

  SADCC and Front-line States
  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the value, in 1980 prices, of British bilateral aid to the Southern Africa Development Co-ordination Conference and the front line states in(a) 1980, and (b)

  Mr. Chris Patten
  In 1980 prices gross bilateral aid to the member states of the Southern African Development Co-ordination Conference was £133 million in 1980 and £73·5 million in 1986. The 1980 figure is particularly high because of large post-independence expenditure in Zimbabwe. Finance pledged to the Southern African Development Co-ordination Conference is recorded as aid to a particular country once expenditure has taken place.

  Afghanistan
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to increase British and European aid to Afghanistan after the withdrawal of Soviet troops and advisers.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  I have already pledged £10 million to support the work of multilateral organisations and British voluntary agencies once properly co-ordinated international relief arrangements have been established. If appropriate, additional resources will be made available later.

  When the situation in Afghanistan allows, the European Community could also make an important contribution to international aid efforts. Emergency and food aid, channelled through international organisations, will be priorities.

  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's assistance to Afghan refugees.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Following signature of the Geneva agreements in April, I have announced a doubling of our annual programme of support for Afghan refugees to £10 million in the current financial year. These funds will support the work of British voluntary agencies and multilateral organisations such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Committee of the Red Cross. This assistance will be conditional on properly co-ordinated international arrangements for the resettlement of Afghan refugees being put in place.

  Africa (Locusts)
  Mr. Dickens
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance he is providing to counter the threat of locusts in north and west Africa.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  I have recently agreed to provide £1·3 million of new bilateral aid for a programme to help combat locust infestations in 16 countries of north and west Africa. This support is in addition to some £1·5 million already provided bilaterally and through the European Community.

  Nicaragua
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is, for each year since 1970, the amount of bilateral aid to Nicaragua.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Between 1970 and 1987 British bilateral aid to Nicaragua amounted to £2·49 million. I shall publish in the Official Report a breakdown by calendar year.

  Following is the information:

  £'000

  1970

  4

  1971

  21

  1972

  66

  1973

  87

  1974

  248

  1975

  398

  1976

  287

  1977

  405

  1978

  186

  1979

  246

  1980

  127

  1981

  91

  1982

  49

  1983

  64

  1984

  9

  1985

  116

  1986

  86

  1987

  —

  Vietnam
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will reconsider his decision not to respond to the Government of Vietnam's request for emergency food aid as a result of the drought in northern Vietnam.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  No. The European Community has, however, agreed to provide 20,000 tonnes of cereals.

  Ethiopia
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on the famine relief effort in Ethiopia.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  The international community has responded promptly and generously to the renewed threat of famine in Ethiopia and estimated food aid requirements for 1988 have been largely met by pledges made. For our part, we have committed over £45 million in famine relief assistance since the beginning of 1987, including the cost of some 95,000 tonnes of bilateral food aid and our share of European Community assistance. The relief effort is,374
  however, being seriously hampered by increased military activity in Eritrea and Tigray. As a result the number of people, particularly in Tigray, who can be reached by current relief operations has been substantially reduced. The situation is further aggravated by the Ethiopian Government's continued refusal to permit full resumption of the relief activities of the voluntary agencies and the ICRC.

  Sri Lanka
  Mr. Jessel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he plans to provide reconstruction aid for Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  When I visited Sri Lanka this year, I signed an agreement for the provision of £20 million in reconstruction aid to Sri Lanka. A number of projects have already been agreed, and others identified, for expenditure against this aid.

  Africa (AIDS)
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what special assistance Her Majesty's Government are providing for African countries affected by the spread of AIDS.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  We have already committed £7·75 million, including £4·5 million this year, to the World Health Organisation's global programme on AIDS which is working with 44 countries in Africa. In addition, we have offered to provide a total of £4·6 million over five years for national AIDS control programmes agreed with the World Health Organisation in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will express Overseas Development Administration expenditure as a percentage of gross national product(a) in the financial year 1978–79 and (b) in the current financial year.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Expenditure under the net aid programme in 1978–79 represented 0·41 per cent. of GNP. The comparable figure for the current financial year will not be available until later next year.

  Underdeveloped Countries (Technical Aid)
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on current provisions for technical aid to underdeveloped countries.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  In 1987 some £320 million was spent on technical assistance.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Drink-Driving Convictions
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of drink-driving convictions in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.
  375
  Mr. John Patten
  The available information is for findings of guilt at all courts for driving and so on after consuming alcohol or taking drugs. It is published for 1976 to 1986 in table 7 of Home Office statistical bulletin 36/87, "Offences Relating to Motor Vehicles, England and Wales 1986", copies of which are in the Library. In 1986, there were about 107,000 such findings of guilt. The figures for 1987 will he published later this year.

  Passports
  Mr. Sackville
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current average period required to process applications for passports in each passport office in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Renton
  The current times for straightforward non-urgent applications are shown in the table. Urgent applications are given priority.

  Passport office

  Delay (Working days)

  London

  59

  Glasgow

  38

  Peterborough

  35

  Newport

  22

  Liverpool

  14

  Belfast1

  4

  1 The Belfast office is by far the smallest and deals only with Northern Ireland residents.

  Child Care
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has in relation to the number of social workers, teachers, medical staff, ancillary staff and other members of the public who have been vetted by police before they are employed in jobs where they work with children; and whether his Department keeps information as to the number of people refused employment and the reasons therefore.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The police do not vet applicants for posts which involve close contact with children; they supply information which they may have about the criminal background of individuals to prospective employers, who then decide whether or not to employ the individual in the light of all the information they may have about him or her.

  The latest figures available on the number of checks undertaken under these arrangements were given in a reply I gave to a question from the hon. Member on 29 April at column 283. A further survey will be undertaken for the year to 31 August 1988 and the results should be available in the autumn.

  Concessionary Television Licences
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received seeking the withdrawal of his announcement of 18 May regarding the rise in the cost of concessionary television licences; what response he has made; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  Between 19 May and 14 June, 12 members of the public and six hon. Members complained about the concessionary licence fee increase. Replies have explained 376
  that the increase is necessary to cover the costs of administering the concessionary scheme and of extending it.

  Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he next intends to meet the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis; and what he expects to discuss.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend has arranged to meet the Commissioner on Wednesday 22 June. He plans to discuss a number of policing issues, including football hooliganism.

  Television
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied with the progress being made by the broadcasting authorities in improving television reception in areas at present experiencing difficulties.

  Mr. Renton
  The BBC and IBA do their best to assist viewers who experience difficulty in obtaining good television reception. They have undertaken a joint programme to extend UHF television coverage to all unserved areas with a population of at least 500. and smaller communities where practicable. Twenty-six new relay transmitters were installed in 1987 serving some 20,000 people. Some 99·4 per cent. of the population are now able to receive BBC and IBA services.

  Immigration Officers (Holyhead)
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigration officers are at present employed at the port of Holyhead; and what are the corresponding figures for 1979 and 1984.

  Mr. Renton
  No immigration officers are at present stationed at the port of Holyhead; none were stationed there in 1979 or in 1984.

  Welsh Language Programmes
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning the availability of Welsh language television and radio programmes and other programmes made in Wales to viewers outside Wales.

  Mr. Renton
  I am aware of only one such representation in recent months.

  Police Houses (Sales)
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he intends to propose any changes in the method of valuation of ex-police houses for the purpose of their sale to serving officers.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  It is for police authorities to arrange for the valuation of surplus police houses which they propose to offer for sale. They are authorised by the general consents issued by the Secretary of State for the Environment in 1981 to sell such houses to serving police officers on the same terms and at the same rates of discount
  377
  as those offered by housing authorities to council tenants. It is for individual police authorities to decide whether a discount should be offered and, if so, what the rates of discount should he, subject to the maximum rates of discount set by the general consents.

  Metropolitan Police (Racial Equality)
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will hold discussions with representatives of the Metropolitan police concerning the future establishment of appropriate structures to monitor and settle problems of racial equality in the service, the promotion of black officers and appraisal procedures, and training improvements.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Since December 1986, the Metropolitan police have been implementing an equal opportunities programme with the help of the Commission for Racial Equality, the Equal Opportunities Commission, and the race relations advisory service of the Department of Employment. Issues of race and sex equality are handled by the equal opportunities unit which has been set up in the force and last year a procedure was introduced to enable officers to seek redress for grievances under the Race Relations Act 1976.

  I understand from the Commissioner that recruit selection is undertaken only by those trained in equal opportunities. All probationers, and other serving officers, also receive such training. The force is also developing a computerised system to monitor equality of treatment, and the staff appraisal system has recently been modified taking account of the need to ensure equal opportunities. At present, 7·1 per cent. of the 442 officers from ethnic minority backgrounds hold supervisory ranks.

  Given the continuing progress being made by the Metropolitan police in this area, we do not consider that discussions are needed at present.

  Magistrates Courts
  Mr. Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in the light of the national shortage of court clerks and inadequate space and facilities in many courts, he will make a statement about planned additional funding for the magistrates courts.

  Mr. John Patten
  We are aware of the concern expressed by justices' clerks and others about difficulties in recruiting and retaining court clerks, especially those qualified as solicitor or barrister. I understand that the joint negotiating committee (JNC) which negotiates pay and conditions for magistrates' courts staff is collecting information on recruitmemt and retention, and will take it into account when considering the pay settlement for 1988. We will consider very carefully whatever proposals the JNC puts forward. Capital funds are available for replacing or improving accommodation and are allocated in order of operational need.

  Immigration (Grants to Local Authorities)
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money has been spent on section 11 grants under the Local Government Act 1966 in each of the last four years.
  378
  Mr. John Patten
  The amount of grant paid under section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966 in respect of each of the last four years was:

  £ million

  1984–85

  73·6

  1985–86

  81·2

  1986–87

  87·8

  1987–88

  98·8

  The figures for 1986–87 and 1987–88 are estimates subject to adjustment when claims from local authorities are finally settled. The grant represents 75 per cent. of the eligible expenditure incurred by local authorities.

  Category C Prisons (Escapes)
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the numbers of prisoners who have escaped, or attempted to escape, from all category C prisons in the last 20 years.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Statistics on escaps are published in annual reports on the work of the prison department, copies of which are available in the Library, and show that the following numbers of prisoners escapd from category C prisons:

  Year

  Number

  1969

  9

  1970

  12

  1971

  20

  1972

  45

  1973

  36

  1974

  26

  1975

  44

  1976

  50

  1977

  48

  1978

  44

  1979

  94

  1980

  62

  1981

  76

  1982

  98

  1983

  91

  1984–85

  105

  1985–86

  98

  1986–87

  68

  The 1984–85 figure is for the 15-month period from 1 January 1984–31 March 1985. Subsequent reports relate to the year from 1 April. Between 1 April 1987 and 31 May 1988, a total of 103 prisoners escaped.

  The figures need to be viewed in the context of the substantial increases which have occurred during the period in both the number of category C prisons, and the total average population of such establishments.

  As to attempted escapes, the information readily available centrally relates to 1986–88 and shows that, during these years, the following numbers of prisoners were reported as having attempted to escape:

  Year

  Number

  1986

  72

  1987

  93

  1988 (to 31 May)

  26

  Entry Rules
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what rules govern entry into the United
  379
  Kingdom by (a) citizens of Eire and (b) citizens of Commonwealth countries; and if privileges granted are reciprocal for United Kingdom citizens in Eire.

  Mr. Renton
  Because the Irish Republic forms part of the common travel area, its citizens are generally free to enter the United Kingdom, whether coming from within or outside that area. Irish citizens, may, however, be subject to deportation, or to exclusion under either the immigration or the prevention of terrorism legislation. Under regulations in place in the Republic of Ireland, complete reciprocity is accorded to British citizens, thus allowing them unrestricted access to the Republic. The entry of Commonwealth citizens to the United Kingdom is controlled by the Immigration Act 1971 and by the immigration rules made under it.

  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what entry documents are required for(a) citizens of Eire entering the United Kingdom and (b) Commonwealth countries; and if these rights are reciprocal for United Kingdom citizens entering Eire.

  Mr. Renton
  Under the provisions of the Immigration Act 1971 a person must produce a valid passport or some other document establishing his identity or citizenship if required to do so by the immigration officer examining him. This applies to all nationalities without distinction. Additionally, any person requiring an entry clearance must be in possession of this at the time of entry. Entry clearance requirements however do not apply to citizens of the Irish Republic.

  Persons arriving in and departing from the United Kingdom on a local journey within the common travel area, that is to say, the Channel islands, the Isle of Man or the Republic of Ireland, are not generally subject to control under the Immigration Act and would not therefore normally be required to submit to examination by an immigration officer, nor required to produce entry documents under the provisions of that Act. Arrangements for the operation of the common travel area are reciprocal.

  Requirements placed on persons entering the Republic of Ireland from outside the common travel area are matters for the Irish Government.

  Computer Crime
  Mr. McCrindle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the progress being made against computer crime; what steps are being taken to combat it; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We are concerned about computer crime, but it is a complicated matter and my right hon. Friend is awaiting a report from the Law Commission about it before deciding what, if any, action needs to be taken by Government to deal with it. In the meantime, the subject is receiving close attention from the police. I know, for example, that the Metropolitan police give lectures and talks to companies and have contributed to conferences on the dangers, and security aspects, of computer crime.

  Mr. McCrindle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he proposes to take to ensure that companies who are the victims of computer crime are co-operating fully with the police; and if he will make a statement.
  380
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  All citizens have a general duty to co-operate with the police in the investigation of offences. We have no information to suggest that companies which have become victims of computer crime are not co-operating fully with the police.

  Mortgage Fraud
  Mr. McCrindle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated total involved in known mortgage fraud; what steps are being taken to identify those responsible; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Criminal statistics do not distinguish between mortgage and other types of fraud and no information is therefore available on numbers of offences or amounts of money involved. It is the responsibility of chief officers of police to take whatever steps they think appropriate to investigate suspected offences and to identify offenders.

  Police (Establishment)
  Mr. John
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out for each police authority area in England and Wales the current establishment of police officers and the shortfall where applicable in the actual numbers of police officers in service below that establishment.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The information is as follows:

  Force

  Establishment as at 31 March 1988

  Vacancies

  Avon and Somerset

  3,030

  17

  Bedfordshire

  1,020

  21

  Cambridgeshire

  1,160

  —

  Cheshire

  1,845

  8

  Cleveland

  1,474

  8

  Cumbria

  1,144

  3

  Derbyshire

  1,793

  3

  Devon and Cornwall

  2,802

  15

  Dorset

  1,235

  1

  Durham

  1,357

  28

  Dyfed Powys

  935

  18

  Essex

  2,742

  14

  Gloucestershire

  1,164

  11

  Greater Manchester

  6,943

  —

  Gwent

  986

  7

  Hampshire

  3,105

  2

  Hertfordshire

  1,631

  28

  Humberside

  1,972

  19

  Kent

  2,911

  3

  Lancashire

  3,158

  19

  Leicestershire

  1,733

  —

  Lincolnshire

  1,183

  15

  Merseyside

  4,679

  32

  Norfolk

  1,318

  10

  Northamptonshire

  1,086

  —

  Northumbria

  3,453

  —

  North Wales

  1,316

  16

  North Yorkshire

  1,368

  —

  Nottinghamshire

  2,259

  7

  South Wales

  3,109

  —

  South Yorkshire

  2,931

  19

  Staffordshire

  2,156

  21

  Suffolk

  1,186

  —

  Surrey

  1,639

  —

  Sussex

  2,923

  29

  Thames Valley

  3,486

  —

  Warwickshire

  981

  2

  West Mercia

  1,963

  17

  West Midlands

  6,684

  45

  West Yorkshire

  5,204

  20

  381

  Force

  Establishment as at 31 March 1988

  Vacancies

  Wiltshire

  1,074

  —

  City of London

  798

  11

  Metropolitan

  27,815

  127

  122,751

  596

  Members' Representations
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Stretford of 31 December 1987 and 14 April 1988 concerning the practice of writing directly to constituents on matters raised by a right hon. or hon. Member.

  Mr. Renton
  I hope to do so shortly.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has as to the proportion of civil servants at grade 3 and above in his Department who were educated in(a) private schools and (b) state schools.

  Mr. Hurd
  About one half of officers at grade 3 level and above attended private (including the then direct grant) schools: the remainder either attended state schools or the information is not readily available.

  Remand Prisoners
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of those held on remand in custody awaiting trial have been held(a) over three months and (b) over six months, at the latest date for which figures are available.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The latest available information on the length of time since the initial remand in custody of untried prisoners relates to 30 June 1987 and was given in the reply to a question from the hon. Member for St. Helens, South (Mr. Bermingham) on 27 May at columns 379–80.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Home Tutors (Cheshire)
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is yet in a position to make a statement about the pay of home tutors in Cheshire.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  I understand from the Cheshire local education authority that it will be reinstating the rate of pay applicable before 1 October 1987 for those home tutors who had a contract with the authority on that date, for the duration of those contracts. I have written to my hon. Friend on this matter.

  Education Support Grants
  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has on the operation of education support grants in Norfolk, in particular those which are specifically geared to the needs of rural areas.
  382
  Mrs. Rumbold
  The total expenditure that has been approved for support by education support grants in Norfolk in the four years to 1988–89 and the amount of expenditure on which grant has been claimed is given in the table.

  The authority has taken part in the pilot project to improve the quality or the range of the curriculum provided in primary schools in rural areas and figures are given in the table. This is the only activity that is specifically geared to the needs of rural areas.

  Education support grants: Norfolk

  £ cash prices

  Expenditure supported by ESGs on

  All activities1

  Curriculum in primary schools in rural areas (included in all activities)

  Financial year

  Approved

  Claimed

  Approved

  Claimed

  1985–86

  386,400

  368,203

  66,600

  66,600

  1986–87

  1,412,850

  1,005,444

  123,600

  123,600

  1987–88

  1,461,400

  —2

  107,300

  —2

  1988–89

  1,833,200

  —2

  134,100

  —2

  1 As well as curriculum in primary schools in rural areas the other activities are:

  Mathematics in Schools

  Science in Primary Education

  PICKUP

  Midday Supervision

  IT in NAFE

  Education needs of unemployed adults

  DP equipment in FE

  Misuse of Drugs

  GCSE

  Education for a multi-ethnic society

  Portage.

  2 Figures not yet available.

  Rugby League
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to the answer of 14 June to the hon. Member for Wakefield, if he will take steps to encourage the greater availability of rugby league as part of the content of physical education courses at teacher training colleges.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  No.

  Education Reform
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the additional estimated transport costs faced by local authorities as a result of the implementation of the Education Reform Bill.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  We do not consider that there need be any significant additional transport costs associated with the implementation of the Education Reform Bill.

  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to issue guidance on admissions to county and voluntary schools in the light of the more open enrolment provisions of the Education Reform Bill.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  Draft guidance is being issued today. Its purpose is to inform discussion of this topic during the remaining stages of the Bill's passage through Parliament; to guide local education authorities and others in any preparatory work they wish to undertake and to give all concerned an early opportunity to comment. Comments are invited by 16 September 1988.

  Inner London Education Authority
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what has been the number of letters his Department has received to date from parents of children attending schools in the Inner London education authority area who(a) expressed opposition to the abolition of the authority and (b) approved of the abolition.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Some 3,350 letters have been received since the announcement of the Government's proposals on 4 February. Correspondents do not always give their circumstances and it is therefore not possible to state how many are parents. Initially, many correspondents expressed concern at the proposals, but as these have become better understood the emphasis has shifted to inquiries about specific areas of education.

  Undergraduate Tuition
  Mr. Gerald Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the current, average, annual, per student full cost of undergraduate tuition, excluding capital costs, for degree courses in veterinary science, medicine, law, physics, modern languages and English, at(a) university and (b) polytechnic.

  Mr. Jackson
  Table 9 of "University Statistics 1985–86—Volume 3, Finance" provides information (excluding some central costs) about university academic provision within each of 37 cost centres. Similar information about polytechnic provision in each of 17 cost centres is contained in "Polytechnic Expenditure, Actual 1986–87". Copies of both volumes are in the Library. The cost centres do not necessarily tally with the individual subjects identified in the question but, in any case, the figures do not permit the separation of first degree course tuition costs from other departmental activity.

  Amnesia
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what research into amnesia has been and is being supported by his Department; and what plans there are to increase it.

  Mr. Jackson
  I understand that the Medical Research Council (MRC) is currently supporting 10 research projects on amnesia. In the financial year 1986–87, the last year for which figures are available, the council's expenditure on this research was £254,000. The MRC also supports a variety of other projects which have a bearing on aspects of memory. University departments and medical schools also undertake research in this area supported by UGC block grant funds. The MRC will consider soundly based scientific proposals for further research in amnesia in competition with other applications.

  City Technology Colleges
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a detailed statement on the up-to-date progress being made on the individual plans to set up the various city technology colleges in the various sites earmarked for this purpose.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Sponsorship for six city technology colleges has now been announced. The first, sponsored by 384
  Hanson plc in Kingshurst, Birmingham will open in September this year, the second CTC, in Nottingham, sponsored by Mr. H. Djanogly, CBE, will open in September 1989 when I hope that the Teesside CTC sponsored by BAT Industries will also open. Dixons plc, the Sir Philip and Pauline Harris Trust, and jointly, the Mercers' Company and Thamesmead Town have announced their sponsorship of three more CTCs. We are making good progress in discussions with a number of other prospective sponsors and over prospective buildings-sites.

  City Technology College (Thamesmead)
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether his Department has incurred any cost in drawing up a proposal to establish a city technology college in Thamesmead; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  No. The cost of planning for the proposed Thamesmead CTC is being borne by the prospective sponsors. The cost of local consultation prior to a decision on the publication of related proposals under section 12 of the Education Act 1980 would be met by Bexley local education authority. As part of their normal duties, officials in the Department have given information and advice to the prospective sponsors and to the local education authority.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has discussed with the sponsors of the proposed city technology college in Thamesmead the college's admission policy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Officials at the Department have advised the prospective sponsors of the proposed Thamesmead CTC of the general policy for admission to city technology colleges and ways in which it might be applied in the particular circumstances in Thamesmead.

  Further and Higher Education
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to publish the draft financial memoranda covering relationships between his Department and the PCFC and between his Department and the UFC; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  These documents will set out formal financial requirements on matters such as transfer of funds and accounting and audit. They will be drafted in discussion with the interested parties and made publicly available in due course.

  Medical and Scientific Research
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has on the comparative expenditure in medical and in scientific research for each year since 1974 in Belgium, France, Holland, Italy, Denmark and the Federal Republic of Germany in pounds sterling of 1988.

  Mr. Jackson
  Figures showing international comparisons of expenditure on research are published in the 1987 annual review of Government-funded R and D, which is in the Library. For 1985, the latest year for which figures are available, the details are as follows:
  385

  £ million 1985 prices

  Belgium

  France

  Holland

  Italy

  Denmark

  Federal Republic of Germany

  United Kingdom

  Civil Research

  372

  4,018

  883

  1,948

  n.a.

  4,900

  2,203

  of which Medical Research

  26

  232

  22

  99

  n.a.

  169

  167

  Details of expenditure for each year back to 1974 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is, for each year since 1974 and in 1988 moneys, the expenditure on medical or scientific research in (i) Scotland, (ii) Wales. (iii) Northern Ireland, (iv) England and (v) the whole of the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Jackson
  The information is not available.

  Non-advanced Further Education
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the public spending per head for senior school pupils and those in non-advanced further education in pound sterling for Germany, France, the United States of America and Italy.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The readily available information is shown in the table. As my hon. Friend the Member for Dartford (Mr. Dunn) explained in his reply of 10 June to the hon. Member, for international comparisons, non-advanced further education is included with secondary education at the second level. Figures for the United Kingdom have been included for comparison.

  Recurrent public expenditure per pupil/student at the second level at 1984 values1

  Year of data (beginning in)

  £ purchasing power parity2 (1984 values)3

  Germany, Federal Republic of4

  1984

  1,410(1,340)

  France5

  1982

  1,610(1,520)

  United States of America6

  1983

  15207

  United Kingdom4

  1984

  1,400(1,280)

  Main source: UNESCO Statistical Yearbook.

  1 Where necessary, data have been adjusted to calendar years.

  2 Local currencies have been adjusted using purchasing power parities, which allow for differences in the cost of living as well as exchange rates. Basic data prior to 1984 have been adjusted by Consumer Price indices.

  3 Bracket figures exclude unallocated sums within budgets.

  4 Public sector education only.

  5 Public expenditure including subsidies to private education and pupils in public and private education.

  6 Public elementary and secondary schools.

  7 Based on a combined 1st and 2nd level expenditure figures. All expenditure is allocated.

  Universities (Government Expenditure)
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give Government expenditure, excluding home student fee income, in total and per head of university population for each year since 1978–79 at constant prices, including planned expenditure per head for 1988–89 to 1990–91; and if he will give the number of new undergraduate entrants for 1978–79.

  Mr. Jackson
  In the table, Government expenditure has been taken as the University Grants Committee recurrent 386
  grant to universities. Otherwise, the per capita figures are on the same basis as those contained in the reply I gave to the hon. Member on 13 June at columns 8–9. The full-time home undergraduate intake for the academic year for 1978–79 was 72,994.

  Government expenditure (constant 1986–87 prices)

  Per student

  £ million

  £

  1978–79

  1,120·3

  4,352·4

  1979–80

  1,156·4

  4,386·9

  1980–81

  1,267·4

  4,671·6

  1981–82

  1,211·1

  4,380·1

  1982–83

  1,401·2

  5,095·3

  1983–84

  1,396·5

  5,147·4

  1984–85

  1,371·4

  5,096·2

  1985–86

  1,324·5

  4,914·7

  1986–87

  1,320·1

  4,855·1

  11987–88

  1,394·4

  5,066·9

  11988–89

  1,441·7

  5,145·3

  11989–90

  1,441·2

  5,058·6

  11990–91

  1,424·2

  4,941·7

  1 Based on estimated figures.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  CHIEF Computer Project
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will place in the Library a copy of the business case on which his decision on the CHIEF computer project was made.

  Mr. Lilley
  No. The business case for CHIEF contains commercial information that was supplied in confidence. This confidence would be breached if the report became a public document during the course of the contractual negotiations which are still taking place.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated cost over the next 10 years of granting the CHIEF project to British Telecom, rather that its being continued in-house.

  Mr. Lilley
  Contractual negotiations for the development and operation of CHIEF are currently taking place with British Telecom and will not be concluded until towards the end of the year and figures will not be finalised until then. The release of information about the costs of the options for CHIEF could compromise these negotiations.

  Customs and Excise Computers Project
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has to privatise the Customs and Excise computers project.

  Mr. Lilley
  I assume that this question refers to the CHIEF project which is currently being negotiated
  387
  between Customs and British Telecom. CHIEF will replace the current DEPS system which British Telecom already operate under contract with Customs. There is therefore no privatisation involved.

  Civil Service Pensions
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average weekly Civil Service pension; and what percentage of Civil Service pensioners are on or below this average.

  Mr. Brooke
  The average pension in payment to retired civil servants is £54 a week; the average in payment to dependants is £21 a week. Some two thirds of retired civil servants and of dependants are on or below their respective averages.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements he proposes for customs clearance on high-speed trains to and from the north of England using the Channel tunnel; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lilley
  Section 12 of the Channel Tunnel Act provides for customs and immigration checks to be undertaken on board trains going beyond London via Olympia, subject to adequate facilities being provided. Discussions are at present taking place between Customs and British Rail about the facilities that would be required on these trains and the back-up accommodation needed at Olympia.

  Government-owned Companies
  Mr. Fry
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the trading concerns and companies which are still either fully or partly owned by Her Majesty's Government.

  Mr. Major
  Details of Her Majesty's Government's holdings of shares and other securities are shown annually in the "Consolidated Fund and National Loans Fund Accounts, Supplementary Statements", a copy of which is held in the Library.

  Alcohol and Tobacco
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce a special and additional tax on alcohol and tobacco, the proceeds of which are to be spent exclusively on the National Health Service.

  Mr. Lilley
  It is not the Government's policy to introduce taxes whose revenues are hypothecated to particular programmes.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has as to the proportion of civil servants at grade 3 and above in his Department who were educated in(a) private schools and (b) state schools.

  Mr. Brooke
  Information on the type of school attended is not held on personnel records or in any other form.

  Own Resources
  Mr. Charles Wardle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the early payment of non-value added tax own resources to the European Communities in June.

  Mr. Brooke
  As I informed my hon. Friend the Member for Edmonton (Dr. Ian Twinn) on 8 June at columns 602–3, the European Commission estimates that its spending obligations during June will exceed the available resources available for that month, thereby leading to cash flow difficulties. In order to help ease these difficulties, and in accordance with article 10(2) of Council regulation 2891/77, the Commission has requested member states to advance into this month their payments of own resources other than VAT which would otherwise have been made in July. The Government are satisfied that the request complies with article 10(2). The gross amount of the advance is £147 million. However, the actual payment to be on 20 June in respect of the advance will be only some £36 million as a result of two adjustments to the gross figures:

  As I informed my hon. Friend the Member for Dulwich (Mr. Bowden) on 29 March at column 397, in accordance with the conclusions of the Brussels European Council of 11–12 February 1988, member states are entitled to deduct at source 10 per cent. of non-VAT own resources to cover collection costs. This replaces the previous arrangements whereby 10 per cent. of the amounts in question was refunded to member states.

  The outstanding amount of the Commission's borrowing up to 20 June under article 12(2) of Council regulation 2891/77 will be recovered.

  The article 10(2) facility does not affect the total amount which the Community is authorised to spend during the year. The payment of levies and duties on 20 July will be reduced by the amount of the advance. The Commission's request does not, therefore, involve any net addition to public expenditure.

  Economic and Finance Council
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the outcome of the latest meeting of the European Community's Economic and Finance Council.

  Mr. Lawson
  The Ecofin Council met in Luxembourg on 13 June. I represented the United Kingdom. The Council approved the interinstitutional agreement between the Council, the European Parliament and the Commission on the implementation of the conclusions of the Brussels European Council on budget discipline.

  The Council reached agreement on a directive providing for complete liberalisation of capital movements in the Community and a regulation combining the two existing mechanisms for medium-term balance of payments support. The complete abolition of exchange controls by those countries that still retain them will represent an important move towards a freer and less-regulated Europe, and an essential step towards the completion of the single market.

  The Council also agreed that there should be further discussion on tax exemptions for temporary importations of means of transport.

  Land and Buildings
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement explaining the variation in the figures for general Government gross domestic fixed capital formation, purchases of land and existing buildings net of sales in 1987–88 as(a) forecast in the 1987 public expenditure White Paper, Cm. 56, (b) estimated in the 1988 public expenditure White Paper, Cm. 288, (c) provided in the Official Report, of 28 March 1988, column 321, and (d) most recently estimated, following publication of figures for sales by the new town commission.

  Mr. Major
  [holding answer 14 June 1988]: The table gives planned expenditure and estimated outturn figures for purchases, net of sales, of land and existing buildings by Department for 1987–88.

  No detailed update to estimated outturns for 1987–88 has been made since these figures were produced for the 1988 public expenditure White Paper. The overall difference between planned expenditure and estimated outturn is mainly the result of substantially larger than expected sales.

  The table shows purchases, net of sales, of land and existing buildings included in the planning total. Between Cm. 56 and Cm. 288 the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and the Development Board for Rural Wales (new town activities) were given external finance treatment and their capital expenditure no longer features in the planning total. The presentation of the figures is consistent with the coverage used in the 1987 public expenditure White Paper (Cm. 56-II, Table 2–9) and in the table provided in the Official Report of 28 March 1988 at column 321.It differs, however, from the presentation of purchases, net of sales, of land and existing buildings shown in table 2.11 of volume I of the 1988 public expenditure White Paper, which excluded public corporations not given external finance treatment.

  Purchases, net of sales, of land and existing buildings, by department, 1987–88

  £ million

  Plans (Cm. 56)

  Estimated outturn (Cm. 288)

  Difference

  Defence

  -31

  -63

  -31

  Foreign and Commonwealth Office1

  35

  36

  +1

  Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food2

  -10

  -28

  -18

  Employment

  2

  —

  -2

  Transport

  75

  36

  -39

  DOE—Housing

  -1,236

  -1,850

  -614

  DOE—Other environmental services

  -463

  -830

  -367

  Home Office and legal departments3

  -15

  -27

  -13

  Education and science

  -51

  -98

  -47

  DHSS—health and personal social services

  -138

  -199

  -61

  Scotland

  -155

  -261

  -106

  Wales

  -74

  -93

  -19

  Northern Ireland

  -8

  -4

  +4

  Other departments4

  -36

  -33

  +3

  TOTAL

  -2,105

  -3,413

  -1,308

  1 Including Overseas Development Administration.

  2 Including Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce and Forestry Commission.

  3 This group comprises the Home Office, Lord Chancellor's

  390
  Department, Northern Ireland Court Service, the Crown Prosecution Service, the Serious Fraud Office and the Crown Office, Procurator Fiscal Service and Lord Advocate's Department.

  3Including Property Services Agency and Civil Superannuation.

  VAT
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he plans to impose a 14 to 20 per cent tax on talking books for blind and disabled people, and on aids and equipment for disabled people, in accordance with proposals from the Commission of the European Communities.

  Mr. Lawson
  [holding answer 10 June 1988]: I have made it clear on a number of occasions that Her Majesty's Government do not accept the Commission's proposals for the approximation of indirect taxation.

EMPLOYMENT

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has on the destination of the 377,000 individuals who left the unemployment register between May 1987 and March 1988 but did not apparently enter work.

  Mr. Cope
  In the 10 months May 1988 to March 1988 the total outflow from the United Kingdom claimant count was over 4·1 million. Information on the destinations of those leaving the count is not available.

  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in the Official Report the total number of persons out of work and claiming benefit for each(a) assisted area and (b) intermediate area on 8 April.

  Mr. Lee
  The following information is in the library. The table shows the total number of unemployed claimants for each development area and intermediate area on 8 April 1988.

  Unemployed claimants—April 1988

  Development Areas

  Unemployed Claimants

  South West

  Falmouth

  1,636

  Helston

  1,189

  Newquay

  1,817

  Penzance and St. Ives

  2,913

  Redruth and Camborne

  3,362

  East Midlands

  Corby

  2,605

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  Rotherham and Mexborough

  19,925

  Scunthorpe

  7,089

  Whitby

  1,138

  North West

  Liverpool

  86,887

  Widnes and Runcorn

  8,931

  Wigan and St. Helens

  28,079

  Wirral and Chester

  30,936

  North

  Workington

  3,593

  Bishop Auckland

  6,795

  391

  Development Areas

  Unemployed Claimants

  Hartlepool

  8,185

  Middlesbrough

  23,944

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  53,464

  South Tyneside

  12,503

  Stockton on Tees

  12,086

  Sunderland

  31,471

  Wales

  Aberdare

  3,645

  Blanau Gwent and Abergavenny

  5,422

  Cardigan

  1,428

  Holyhead

  3,338

  Lampeter and Aberaeron

  891

  Merthyr and Rhymney

  8,632

  Neath and Port Talbot

  5,623

  Pontypridd and Rhondda

  9,121

  Shotton, Flint and Rhyl

  9,156

  South Pembrokeshire

  2,556

  Wrexham

  5,833

  Scotland

  Arbroath

  1,535

  Bathgate

  7,671

  Cumnock and Sanquhar

  4,031

  Dumbarton

  5,010

  Dundee

  13, 027

  Glasgow

  97,865

  Greenock

  9,116

  Irvine

  9,980

  Kilmarnock

  4,723

  Lanarkshire

  27,400

  Unemployed claimants—April 1988

  Intermediate Areas

  Unemployed Claimant

  Region

  South West

  Bodmin and Liskeard

  2,764

  Bude

  734

  Cinderford and Ross on Wye

  2,543

  Plymouth

  16,023

  West Midlands

  Birmingham

  92,855

  Coventry and Hinkley

  27,097

  Dudley and Sandwell

  33,370

  Kidderminster

  3,786

  Telford and Bridgenorth

  8,716

  Walsall

  19,241

  Wolverhampton

  19,352

  East Midlands

  Gainsborough

  1,671

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  Barnsley

  13,835

  Bradford

  23,665

  Doncaster

  17,489

  Grimsby

  10,562

  Hull

  24,225

  Sheffield

  38,899

  North West

  Accrington and Rossendale

  4,879

  Blackburn

  7,343

  Bolton and Bury

  21,850

  Manchester

  85,606

  Oldham

  9,269

  Rochdale

  7,872

  North

  Darlington

  5,954

  Durham

  7,643

  Morpeth and Ashington

  7,637

  392

  Intermediate Areas

  Unemployed Claimant

  Wales

  Bangor and Caenarfon

  4,129

  Bridgend

  6,906

  Cardiff

  22,442

  Fishguard

  538

  Haverfordwest

  2,998

  Llanelli

  4,816

  Newport

  10,000

  Pontypool and Cwmbran

  4,884

  Porthmadoc and Ffestiniog

  736

  Pwhelli

  890

  Swansea

  13,751

  Scotland

  Alloa

  2,971

  Ayr

  5,780

  Badenoch

  463

  Campeltown

  707

  Dunfermline

  7,225

  Dunoon and Bute

  1,268

  Falkirk

  8,478

  Forres

  652

  Girvan

  734

  Invergordon and Dingwall

  3,074

  Kirkcaldy

  10,632

  Lochaber

  1,210

  Newton Stewart

  613

  Skye and Wester Ross

  952

  Stewartry

  818

  Stranraer

  1,230

  Sutherland

  772

  Western Isles

  2,050

  Wirk

  880

  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in the Official Report each travel-to-work area, not being either an assisted or intermediate area, in which male unemployment on 8 April was 10 per cent. or higher.

  Mr. Lee
  The following information is in the Library. The table shows the number of male unemployed claimants, expressed as a percentage of employees in employment plus the unemployed for each of the non-assisted travel-to-work areas in Great Britain, on 14 April 1988, in which the male unemployment rate was 10 per cent. or higher. The figures are not seasonally adjusted.

  Not assisted areas Unemployed claimants—April 1988

  Travel to work area

  Rate

  Skegness

  22·6

  Torbay

  19·2

  Thanet

  19·2

  Mansfield

  19·1

  Alnwick and Amble

  18·8

  Castleford and Pontefract

  18·1

  Clacton

  17·9

  Blackpool

  17·8

  Worksop

  17·8

  Conwy and Colwyn

  16·9

  Buckie

  16·5

  Bideford

  16·3

  Louth and Mablethorpe

  16·2

  Chesterfield

  16·0

  Wakefield and Dewsbury

  16·0

  Stirling

  15·8

  Crieff

  15·4

  Keith

  15·4

  Inverness

  15·3

  Fraserburgh

  15·3

  Peterhead

  15·1

  Islay/Mid Argyll

  15·0

  Lancaster and Morecambe

  14·9

  393

  Travel to work area

  Rate

  Berwickshire

  14·8

  Dolgellau and Barmouth

  14·8

  Minehead

  14·6

  Monmouth

  14·5

  Brechin and Montrose

  14·4

  Orkney Islands

  14·3

  Folkestone

  14·3

  Great Yarmouth

  14·2

  Bridlington and Driffield

  14·2

  Machynlleth

  14·0

  Edinburgh

  13·8

  Burnley

  13·8

  Nottingham

  13·8

  Alferton and Ashfield

  13·6

  Peebles

  13·6

  Isle of Wight

  13·4

  Goole and Selby

  13·4

  Annan

  13·3

  Banff

  13·3

  Weston-super-Mare

  13·2

  Elgin

  13·2

  Wisbech

  13·1

  Blairgowrie and Pitlochry

  13·1

  Barnstaple and Ilfracombe

  13·1

  Lincoln

  12·9

  Harwich

  12·9

  Scarborough and Filey

  12·8

  Horncastle and Market Rasen

  12·6

  Oban

  12·5

  Newark

  12·5

  St. Austell

  12·2

  Dartmouth and Kingsbridge

  12·1

  Perth

  12·1

  Cromer and North Walsham

  11·9

  Berwick on Tweed

  11·9

  Forfar

  11·9

  Thurso

  11·9

  Retford

  11·9

  Lockberie

  11·8

  Warrington

  11·8

  Pendle

  11·7

  Truro

  11·7

  North West Fife

  11·6

  Northwich

  11·6

  Leeds

  11·5

  Aberystwyth

  11·5

  Hawick

  11·5

  Denbeigh

  11·5

  Derby

  11·4

  Llandeilo

  11·4

  Thirsk

  11·4

  Carmarthen

  11·3

  Boston

  11·3

  Hastings

  11·1

  Burton on Trent

  11·1

  Preston

  11·0

  Keighley

  10·9

  Dumfries

  10·9

  Calderdale

  10·9

  Lowestoft

  10·8

  Huddersfield

  10·8

  York

  10·7

  Bournemouth

  10·7

  Kelso and Jedburgh

  10·7

  Dover and Deal

  10·7

  Sittingbourne and Sheerness

  10·6

  Huntly

  10·6

  Newton Abbot

  10·6

  Portsmouth

  10·6

  Whitchurch and Market Drayton

  10·4

  London

  10·4

  Southend

  10·3

  South Molton

  10·3

  Malvern and Ledbury

  10·2

  Llandrindod Wells

  10·2

  Fakenham

  10·2

  Launceston

  10·0

  Canterbury

  10·0

  394
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what was the percentage level of unemployment at the latest available date in the Liverpool, Riverside constituency;

  (2) if he will list in the Official Report the percentage figures for unemployment for the top 10 constituencies in England and Wales and the percentage of the bottom 10 constituencies.

  Mr. Lee
  The information requested is not available. The Department does not calculate unemployment rates for areas smaller than travel-to-work areas.

  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has for each of the member states of the EEC concerning(a) the average weekly hours worked, (b) the average holiday entitlement and (c) the normal retirement age in the most recent years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Lee
  The table sets out the latest available information published by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) covering average weekly hours worked in manufacturing industry. Information on average holiday entitlement and age of retirement is not. readily available.

  Average weekly hours worked in manufacturing

  Country

  Hours

  Year

  Belgium5

  33·0

  1986

  Denmark1

  33·0

  1986

  France

  38·6

  1986

  Greece3

  39·1

  1986

  Ireland

  41·2

  1986

  Italy

  67·77

  1984

  Luxembourg

  40·3

  1986

  Netherlands3

  40·3

  1985

  Portugal1

  38·1

  1985

  Spain4

  36·9

  1986

  West Germany3

  40·4

  1986

  United Kingdom2

  41·6

  1986

  Source: ILO Yearbook of Labour Statistics 1987.

  1Provisional.

  2United Kingdom's figures are for full time workers on adult rates of pay; excludes quarrying.

  3Hours paid for rather than hours actually worked.

  4Spain's figures are for employed persons (including armed forces) aged 16 years or over.

  5Belgium's figures exclude primary iron and steel industries.

  66 Per day.

  Restart
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of individuals attending restart interviews since 1986 have moved straight into employment; if he will provide a breakdown of the destinations of the remainder; and what information he has as to how many have been switched from unemployment-related benefit to some other form of benefit.

  Mr. Cope
  The table shows the proportion of people interviewed under the restart scheme who have been referred to various opportunities, including jobs. We do not know how many of these move straight into employment, nor do we know how many people have moved from unemployment related benefits to some other form of benefit.

  Between July 1986 and 29 April 1988, a total of 3,725,563 restart interviews took place. These resulted in:
  395

  As percentage of those interviewed

  Submitted to:

  Jobs

  8·8

  Community programme

  8·0

  Voluntary projects programme-voluntary work

  2·2

  Jobclub

  8·7

  New job training scheme

  6·8

  Other training

  8·2

  Employment rehabilitation centre

  0·2

  Restart course

  7·6

  Enterprise allowance scheme

  3·9

  Referred to:

  Disablement resettlement officer

  3·4

  Claimant adviser

  4·2

  Other referrals (inc. PER)

  18·2

  Some people may be referred to more than one opportunity. The remaining represent people who have either declined an offer or for whom an offer was not appropriate.

  New Jobs
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many of the net new jobs created in the United Kingdom since 1983 have been full-time and how many part-time; and what evidence there is on how many of the new part-time jobs have been taken by people already in employment.

  Mr. Cope
  As the employed labour force estimates for Northern Ireland do not distinguish between full-time and part-time jobs, the figures are for Great Britain only. Between December 1983 and December 1987, the latest date for which figures are available, there was a net increase of 603,000 full-time and 760,000 part-time jobs in the employed labour force—the sum of employees in employment, the self-employed and members of Her Majesty's forces. It is estimated from the labour force survey that between spring 1984 and spring 1987, the number of people with two or more jobs increased by 133,000.

  Employment Growth
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide figures to show how net employment growth in the United Kingdom since 1979 compares with that of other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries when measured on a common basis in terms of full-time equivalents.

  Mr. Cope
  Comparative data for employment in terms of full-time equivalents are not available. Figures for net change in total civilian employment in the major OECD countries are as follows.

  Net change in civilian employment between 1979 and 1987

  Thousands

  Per cent.

  Canada

  +1,559

  +15·0

  United States

  +13,616

  +13·8

  Japan

  +4,320

  +7·9

  Italy

  +590

  +2·9

  Germany

  -249

  -1·0

  France

  -340

  -1·6

  United Kingdom

  -410

  -1·6

  Source: United Kingdom-Department of Employment. Other countries—OECD.

  Benefit Fraud Investigations
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the average duration of unemployment of those denied benefit after fraud investigations in the year to April; what are the net savings to the taxpayer; and how these are calculated.

  Mr. Cope
  Records are not kept separately of the number of unemployed people whose claim to benefit is disallowed by the independent adjudicating authorities in fraud cases. Where a person voluntarily withdraws a claim to unemployment benefit following a fraud investigation it is assumed, on the basis of DHSS research, that the person refrains from claiming benefit on average for a period of 22 weeks. Net savings to the taxpayer for the year up to 31 March 1988 amount to £54·6 million and are calculated by multiplying by 22 the total amount of weekly benefit in payment at the time that a claim is withdrawn and deducting the costs of the fraud operation.

  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of the numbers flowing through unemployment in the year to April is represented by those denied benefit after fraud investigations.

  Mr. Cope
  Records are not kept separately of the number of unemployed people whose claim to beneift is disallowed by the independent adjudication authorities in fraud cases. In the year ending 31 March 1988, a total of 80,088 people voluntarily withdrew their claims to unemployment benefit following a fraud investigation. This figure represents 1·83 per cent. of the total number of people who withdrew their claims in that year.

  Taxi Drivers
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what access his Department has, and by what means, to details of the names and addresses of licensed taxi drivers in(a) Glasgow, (b) Birmingham and (c) elsewhere.

  Mr. Lee
  My Department's investigators requested and obtained from the local authorities in Glasgow and in Birmingham lists of the names of licensed taxi and private hire car drivers. They would adopt the same method in other parts of the country.

  Job Club Scheme
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the percentage of unemployed who, having used the Government's sponsored job club scheme, have successfully gained a job during the last 12 months(a) nationally and (b) in the (i) Doncaster area and (ii) Mexborough area; and if he will make a statement on the general working of the scheme.

  Mr. Lee
  From April 1987 to March 1988 a total of 105,677 people passed through job clubs. Of these 57,080 (54 per cent.) went into jobs. During the same period, 680 people passed through job clubs in the Doncaster area of which 295 (43 per cent.) went into jobs. A total of 226 people passed through job clubs in the Mexborough area and, of these, 122 (54 per cent.) went into jobs.

  Restart
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give for each month from March 1987 the number of restart interviews at each jobcentre within the London borough of Camden.

  Mr. Lee
  Restart interviews are carried out at two offices within the London borough of Camden—Swiss Cottage jobcentre and Camden employment office. The table gives the available figures:

  Camden employment office

  Swiss Cottage jobcentre

  Total

  1987

  April

  461

  —

  461

  May

  579

  —

  579

  June

  708

  —

  708

  July

  612

  459

  1,071

  August

  395

  724

  1,119

  September

  407

  671

  1,078

  October

  297

  805

  1,102

  November

  215

  681

  896

  December

  211

  519

  730

  1988

  January

  264

  684

  948

  February

  246

  613

  859

  March

  244

  698

  942

  April

  301

  794

  1,095

  Access to Employment
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what comparable access to employment in the United Kingdom(a) citizens of Eire and (b) citizens of Commonwealth countries enjoy; and if such access enjoyed is reciprocal for United Kingdom citizens seeking employment in Eire.

  Mr. Lee
  European Community law provides for free reciprocal access to employment between the United Kingdom and Eire. Commonwealth citizens require a work permit or other permission to work in the United Kingdom, unless they have the right of abode or are settled in the United Kingdom.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has as to the proportion of civil servants at grade 3 and above in his Department who were educated in(a) private schools and (b) state schools.

  Mr. Lee
  This information is not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Printing Industry
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the barriers to be removed from the printing industry by the completion of the EEC internal market by 1992.

  Mr. Maude
  I am not aware of barriers peculiar to the printing industry which need to be removed by 1992. If the hon. Member is aware of obstacles particularly affecting the printing industry, I should be glad to receive details.

  Lloyd's
  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the progress which has been made by Lloyd's in the implementation of the recommendations of the committee of inquiry into regulatory matters at Lloyd's.

  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what further progress has been made by Lloyd's in the implementation of the recommendations of the committee of inquiry into regulatory matters at Lloyd's.

  Mr. Maude
  The chairman of the council of Lloyd's has recently submitted a memorandum which records the progress made to date and Lloyd's plans for further implementation. This is the third such report to have been submitted by Lloyd's; the last having been placed in the Library on 18 November 1987 as I announced in the Official Report at columns 555–56. I have today placed a copy of the latest memorandum in the Library. It shows that the council of Lloyd's has implemented 38 of the 70 recommendations in the committee's report which was published in January 1987. A steady programme of consultation on the remaining recommendations, including that on deficit clauses, continues. Implementation of virtually all the committee's recommendations should be: completed by the middle of 1989.

  I expect Lloyd's to maintain momentum in accordance with that agreed timetable for full and complete implementation. I shall continue to follow closely their progress and to keep the House informed.

  Fur Marking Order
  Sir Eldon Griffiths
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects that the proposed Fur Marking Order will be laid before the House.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) when he intends to introduce a labelling order for leather goods manufactured from fur-bearing animals which he has identified as being commonly caught in leghold traps;

  (2) whether he will list the scientific evidence on which he bases his identification of certain animals as commonly being trapped in leghold traps;

  (3) if he will make it his policy not to lay the forthcoming order on fur labelling before Parliament in advance of a decision by the House on the principle of the matters to be covered by the order; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  I have been giving careful consideration to the representations which were made during the consultation process. Legal difficulties have been raised, and I have regretfully come to the conclusion that it would not be practicable to proceed in the way originally envisaged. I have therefore decided not to proceed with the proposed order and to defer further action on the matter.

  Professional Liability
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the names and occupations of the members of the three study teams he has set up to establish
  399
  the implications of liability problems faced by selected professions, as announced in his reply to the hon. Member for Salisbury on 28 October 1987, Official Report,column 298; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  As announced on 11 May by my right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry—Official Report, House of Lords, columns 1208–9—we have appointed Andrew Likierman, professor of accounting and financial control at London business school, to be overall chairman of the fact-finding studies of the liability problems of selected professions. The names and current or former occupations of the members of the three study teams are as follows:

  Name

  Occupation

  Auditors:

  William Morrison (Chairman)

  chartered accountant

  Robin Jackson

  Lloyd's underwriter

  Anthony Mallinson

  solicitor

  Geoffrey Williams

  merchant banker

  Architects/consulting engineers/construction surveyors:

  Donald Bishop (Chairman)

  academic, chartered engineer

  Bernard Anderson

  regional health authority estate manager

  Peter Down

  services engineer

  Donald Keating

  Queen's Counsel

  Anthony Kidd

  insurance underwriter

  Clifford Lansley

  architect

  James Myatt

  building contractor

  Roger Squire

  director, property company

  Chris Vickers

  chartered surveyor

  K. Wesley Whimster

  consulting engineer

  Other surveyors:

  Ian Oddy (Chairman)

  chartered surveyor

  John Chapman

  chartered surveyor

  Brian Grainger

  chartered surveyor

  Edward Hartill

  the City Surveyor

  Kim Lewison

  barrister

  Ray Moorman

  managing director, property company

  Jeremy Mortimer

  insurance broker

  Scotch Whisky (Japan)
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what progress is being made in negotiations with the Japanese Government to ensure the early removal of discriminatory import taxation on Scotch whisky as agreed under the general agreement on tariffs and trade; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The Japanese authorities have now announced their intention to introduce, from April 1989, a single rate of tax for all whiskies, at a level 45 per cent. below that currently applying to Scotch. This news is most welcome. Nevertheless, since some discrimination in the tax rates applying to other competing spirits will remain, the impact of the proposes changes would need to be kept closely under review, and the possibility of further recourse to the general agreement on tariffs and trade left open.

  Harvard Securities
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many items of correspondence he has received complaining about the activities of Harvard Securities in each quarter of 1985, 1986, 1987 and the current year respectively.
  400
  Mr. Maude
  The number of complaints received in respect of Harvard Securities plc between January 1985 and April 1988 are as follows:

  Quarter

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  January-March

  16

  3

  37

  34

  April-June

  16

  5

  26

  110

  July-September

  10

  14

  42

  —

  October-December

  9

  84

  28

  —

  1 To 29 April 1988.

  Following the repeal of the Prevention of Fraud (Investments) Act 1958 on 29 April 1988, complaints have been dealt with by the Securities and Investments Board. Three complaints relating to Harvard have been passed to the SIB since that date.

  Barlow Clowes
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether the monitoring returns made by Barlow Clowes to his Department in October 1987 were accompanied by an accountant's report from(a) the former Barlow Clowes auditors Spicer and Pegler, (b) the current Barlow Clowes auditors Touche Ross or (c) from any other firm of accountants; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  While the facts of my Department's handling of the Barlow Clowes case are under investigation, I do not believe it would be appropriate to answer specific questions relating to the case.

  Financial Services Act
  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many firms are presently operating with interim authorisation under the Financial Services Act.

  Mr. Maude
  I understand from the Securities and Investments Board that on Wednesday 15 June, the most recent date for which figures can be supplied, there were 4,184 persons holding interim authorisation within the terms of paragraph 1 of schedule 15 to the Financial Services Act.

  Securities Licences (Investigations)
  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many firms have been subject to more than the usual investigation prior to being granted a securities licence by his Department in the years 1984 to April 1988.

  Mr. Maude
  The extent of investigation varied considerably from case to case, depending upon the circumstances, and it is not therefore possible to provide a meaningful answer.

  Estate Agents Act 1979
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what sections of the Estate Agents Act 1979 are currently not in operation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butcher
  There are no regulations in force under sections 16, 17, 19 or 22 of the Estate Agents Act 1979. We have considered the need for such regulations but have no plans to implement these sections for the time being.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what information he has as to the proportion of civil servants at grade 3 and above in his Department who were educated in(a) private schools and (b) state schools.

  Mr. Butcher
  The information requested is not currently held, and to obtain it would involve disproportionate cost.

  Deregulation (Small Businesses)
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster from which organisations representing small businesses he has received representations in connection with his Department's forthcoming White Paper on deregulation.

  Mr. Maude
  No representations from organisations representing small businesses have been received dealing specifically with the forthcoming White Paper on deregulation. The enterprise and deregulation unit, however, has frequent contact with those organisations about issues involving all aspects of deregulation.

  Handsworth Task Force
  Mr. Bevan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the projects approved so far by the Government's Handsworth task force.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Following is the list:

  Approved projects

  Task force

  Total Government spending

  Black Star Car Company—motor vehicle repair project run as a community business

  28,535

  94,535

  Broughton road housing refurbishment local labour initiative

  575,000

  1,350,000

  CANDEL Potohari Hinko: provision of a community base to develop employment and training opportunities, and provide a drugs and AIDS awareness programme

  68,000

  240,000

  Copthorne Hotal customised pre-recruitment training programme

  6,500

  36,500

  CP Management Training for ethnic minorities, and follow-up

  85,800

  126,800

  Grove Lane Baths—Community and youth enterprise centre

  272,000

  1,266,250

  Handsworth employment scheme catering training unit

  53,000

  104,000

  Handsworth opportunities programme for employment (HOPE): Sikh managed CP scheme to refurbish the groups training base

  36,500

  216,618

  Handsworth churches forum YTS training centre and neighbourhood care project

  115,075

  266,926

  Handsworth single homeless housing association development worker

  15,000

  15,000

  Hotel and catering pre-recruitment training compact with 12 major Birmingham hotels

  92,500

  142,500

  Inner city contracts—non profit making building company, providing jobs for local people

  58,325

  58,325

  402

  Approved projects

  Task force

  Total Government spending

  Inner City Glass Decorating: a craft workshop for predominantly disabled Task Force area residents which will develop into a community business

  14,318

  52,118

  Local recruitment in the finance sector—feasibility study

  3,967

  3,967

  United Youth Association: construction skills training

  105,025

  148,189

  Villa Cross Employment Centre (formerly Villa Cross Pub)

  302,875

  967,875

  Asian Business Institute

  17,000

  142,000

  Birmingham Interpretation and Translation Service (BITS): grant to turn existing voluntary organisation into a self financing business

  32,269

  32,269

  Black Business in Birmingham: venture capital fund to assist development of local small black business

  88,800

  88,800

  Business Action Team offering free business consultancy to small local business and developing an executive recruitment service

  113,605

  113,605

  Federation of Black Housing Associations seminar on construction contracts

  4,670

  4,670

  Establishment of Handsworth Builders' Association, to advise and train local small builders

  105,000

  105,000

  Handsworth Task Force Development Fund: grants and loans in co-operation with National Westminster bank and the City Council

  200,000

  200,000

  Redevelopment of the Lozells Road Shops (including feasibility work)

  494,198

  578,198

  Micro Business Support Service to those receiving Task Force Development Fund assistance

  34,907

  34,907

  Rastafarian Enterprise Initiative, expansion of existing community business

  23,500

  23,500

  Winson Green/Rotton Park Employment Project

  25,000

  107,500

  Attock Welfare Employment and Training—CP pilot initiative

  10,000

  25,000

  Birmingham Young Volunteers: support and advice to young people at risk.

  8,000

  22,000

  Broadway Lower School technology laboratory—computer hardware and refurbishment costs.

  20,000

  59,000

  City and Handsworth Alternative Scheme (CHAS): employment and training advice for ex-offenders.

  38,604

  49,854

  Effective leadership in inner city schools: management development training for local teachers.

  780

  780

  Fire service pre-recruitment training programme

  7,500

  17,700

  Guru Ravidass Cultural Association: skills workshop conversion.

  18,000

  72,000

  Handsworth Employment Scheme feasibility work and subsequent capital equipment funding for bakery and YTS workshop on the Camp Lane site.

  150,610

  194,564

  Handsworth Under Fives Forum (HUFF) Training for nursery staff.

  27,800

  27,800

  403

  Approved projects

  Task force

  Total Government spending

  Industrial Society, providing employment/enterprise awareness training in schools.

  16,000

  16,000

  Information Technology Network—data link between Holte School, Handsworth Technical College and Austin Rover IT centre

  49,956

  49,956

  Inner City Community Sports Leadership training-pilot Lozells Electronic

  5,400

  7,000

  Workshop: training and low cost purchasing/servicing facility

  21,864

  103,244

  MACRO Films video/film YTS training workshop

  69,045

  213,260

  Opportunities Industrialisation Centre (OIC): training and employment advice to alienated local people

  97,005

  154,005

  Outward bound self-development scheme

  5,300

  5,300

  Positive Action for training in Housing Management (PATH) scheme for people from ethnic minorities

  72,000

  130,000

  Handsworth Technical College personal services workshop (hairdressing, care of the elderly etc.)

  58,900

  90,400

  Positive Image—childcare training centre

  76,038

  136,541

  Holte School/Industry Centre in conjunction with business and the Local Education Authority

  69,760

  69,760

  Schools Outreach pilot preventive care project

  32,000

  32,000

  YTS project placement officer, to develop high quality employer led placements for local voluntary sector YTS providers

  18,672

  35,135

  Villa Park Self Build—assistance with construction skills training for a group of Bangladeshis wishing to build their own houses

  59,200

  59,200

  Afro-Caribbean Resource Centre—day care for elderly and creche facility

  29,000

  94,300

  Handsworth Youth Crime Prevention Scheme—property marking using CP

  1,648

  56,121

  Handsworth Day Care Centre Latchkey Scheme

  5,000

  29,611

  Ladworth Community Safety project—small grants scheme for local groups

  15,000

  65,000

  Lozells Shops security measures

  28,500

  28,500

  Police Foundation—mobile crime prevention workshop

  25,000

  37,000

  Progress 2000—CP refurbishment scheme to improve nursery protection

  44,000

  75,392

  Think Green—training in horticultural skills for local people and development of a garden centre as a co-operative

  54,700

  86,830

  Homework Centres—bridge funding to assist underachieving pupils in the Task Force area

  25,500

  25,500

  Birmingham Area Improvement Team—security and environmental work to a residential area, involving 64 properties, to improve community safety

  149,570

  199,570

  Handsworth Wood Boys School—equipment for the craft and design technology department

  2,500

  2,500

  404

  Approved projects

  Task force

  Total Government spending

  Handsworth Skills Partnerships—feasibility work

  7,500

  7,500

  Prince of Wales Community Venture—capital (training) equipment

  8,400

  8,400

  Villa Cross Bingo Hall—conversion into managed workspace for local businesses

  300,000

  450,000

  Handsworth Employment Scheme—second capital equipment phase, also developing security services and contract cleaning businesses

  185,931

  185,931

  Marcus Garvey Supplementary School—audio-visual and other equipment

  9,000

  9,000

  Inner City Task Forces
  Mr. Bevan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he is making any changes to the inner city task forces.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Yes. There are now 16 Government task forces operating in small inner city areas. The task force in Handsworth in Birmingham set up two years ago has made remarkable progress in stimulating enterprise and creating jobs for local people. The time has now come to transfer the benefits of the task force approach to another deprived part of Birmingham. I am therefore setting up a new Government task force to focus on the Saltley, Nechells and Washwood Heath areas of east Birmingham. The new task force will work closely with the private sector-led Birmingham heartlands urban development agency which is already tackling the economic regeneration of east Birmingham.

  The new emphasis on east Birmingham does not mean that Handsworth will be forgotten. There is much work still to be done and projects to implement. The task force has brought a new impetus and freshness to tackling the area's problems and has proved that Handsworth is a place with a future worth investing in. The task force has contributed £4 million to 60 projects whose total cost has been 10 million. We estimate that it will have created over 2,000 jobs and training opportunities for local people and the ongoing effect of the projects will create many more.

  I have always made it clear that task forces were short-term pump-priming and experimental teams working in deprived areas. I envisage the Handsworth team remaining for another nine months or so, but the demands on it are such that it will not be able to accept any new projects from today. Over the next few months the task force will be consulting with other public and private sector bodies, including the Government city action team, Birmingham city council and the CBI, to determine the best means to continue its work and maintain its record of success.

  Through our action for cities programme, the Government will continue to focus a wide range of special assistance on Handsworth. We will also continue to learn from experiences in Handsworth and other task forces, and apply the lessons to the Government's continuing support for inner cities. Our new high priority in Birmingham will be the work of the east Birmingham task force.

ENERGY

  Council of Energy Ministers
  Mr. Sackville
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement about the meeting of the European Communities Council of Energy Ministers on 9 June.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  The Council was unable to agree conclusions on the three major items on the agenda. Those were the Commission's paper of obstacles to the completion of the internal market in energy, the Commission's review of progress made by member states against the 1995 energy objectives, and a draft recommendation on co-operation between public electricity supply companies and auto-producers using new and renewable and certain other sources of electricity. Objections were made to a reference in the first case to consumer choice, in the second to an opening up of the electricity market and in the third to the possibility of common carriage. The two latter items were remitted to permanent representatives for further work; on the first of these items the presidency, on its own responsibility, adopted conclusions which did not fully reflect the majority viewpoint.

  The Council did however adopt a recommendation on measures to encourage the exploitation of renewable energy sources in the Community. A common position on this recommendation had been agreed last November; it has since been considered by the European Parliament.

  The Council also agreed conclusions on a report by the Commission on implementation by member states of two 1983 recommendations encouraging the use of solid fuels in industry, public buildings and district heating schemes. The Commission will prepare a further report on the possibilities for increasing the use of these fuels.

  Potassium Iodate
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will identify the extent of potassium iodate stocks held in Wales, their locations and the arrangement for their distribution in the event of an emergency; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The operators' detailed site emergency plans include arrangements for the storage and distribution of stable iodine tablets to protect those who may be at risk in the unlikely event of an accident having significant off-site radiological effects. These plans are available in local libraries in the vicinity of the site, and in the Library of the House.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what information he has as to the proportion of civil servants at grade 3 and above in his Department who were educated in(a) private schools and (b) state schools.

  Mr. Parkinson
  About half of the civil servants at grade 3 and above in my Department were educated in private schools and half in state schools.

  Renewable Energy Sources
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects to publish the report on the development 406
  of renewable energy sources referred to in the debate on energy renewable sources, on 30 October, Official Report,columns 564–623.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  I am today publishing Energy Paper No. 55 "Renewable Energy in the UK: The Way Forward". The report is on sale by Her Majesty's Stationery Office and copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  The report outlines our view on a development strategy for renewable energy to the year 2000. By that time we hope that technologies will have been successfully developed to the point of commercial application and responsibility for exploitation taken over by industry. The report gives our view on the development path for each technology together with our estimation of the costs to be shared between Government and industry. We hope that the report will provide the basis for discussion with industry and the necessary increasing levels of collaboration.

  Our aim is to stimulate the development of renewable energy sources to the fullest practicable extent where they have prospects of being economically attractive and environmentally acceptable. This aim will be pursued by two main means:

  A collaborative research, development and demonstration programme with industry leading to commercial application for the more promising technologies;

  The establishment of an institutional framework which will ensure that renewables can compete in the market on equal terms with other energy sources.

SOCIAL SERVICES

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how he proposes to inform those involved of the benefit consequences for them of the social security rule concession in his announced speech to the House on 27 April; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, North-West (Mr. Stern) on 14 June 1988 at column 152. In addition a national press publicity campaign was carried out during week commencing 23 May.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people receive housing benefits, in each of the last three financial years; and what is the estimated number of recipients for 1988–89.

  Mr. Portillo
  The information requested is shown in the table. The figures represent the estimated average numbers of households receiving rate rebates. Most households receiving assistance with rent will also be in receipt of a rate rebate.

  Thousands

  Rent rebate

  Rent allowance

  Rate rebate

  1985–86

  3,710

  1,150

  7,020

  1986–87

  3,720

  1,180

  7,050

  1987–88

  3,760

  1,250

  7,030

  1988–89

  3,430

  1,055

  5,845

  Source: Public Expenditure White Paper 1988, table 15·6. 1988–89 updated to take account of changes to capital rule, income tax changes and latest information on rent and rates.
  407
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the number of households(a) by tenure and (b) by household type who were expected to cease to qualify for any housing benefit as a result of the changes to the scheme implemented in April; and what is his estimate of the effect on these figures of his announcement of 27 April, including in both cases the effect of the new capital rule.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer June 1988]: An estimate of the numbers losing all entitlement to housing benefit is contained in the tables. This is on the basis of the changes implemented in April. About 100,000 of these will be brought back into housing benefit by the capital changes introduced on 30 May. A breakdown of this 100,000 by household or tenure type would be unreliable because of data limitations. It is likely that the vast majority will be pensioners. The transitional payments scheme has no effect on the actual housing benefit caseload.

  Lose entitlement to housing benefit on April 1/4 (thousands)

  Table 1

  Pensioners 80+

  70

  Pensioners 60 to 79

  540

  Sick/disabled

  10

  Lone parents

  70

  Couples with children

  180

  Others

  120

  TOTAL

  990

  Table 2

  Local authority tenants

  300

  Private tenants

  140

  Others

  560

  TOTAL

  990

  Notes:

  1. Figures refer to tax units rather than households.

  2. Figures may not add owing to rounding.

  Prisoners (Home Leave)
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average sum paid by way of living expenses entitlements for prisoners on home leave, payable to their partner or relatives by paragraph 6304 of the social fund manual; in how many cases the notional entitlement is below the £30 threshold; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  I regret that this information is not available. However I am pleased to say that Secretary of State's direction 28, which prevents the award of community care grants for amounts below £30, has been amended today. The revised direction provides an exception to enable community care grants to be awarded under paragraph 6304 of the social fund manual in such cases where living expenses are calculated at less than £30.

  Employment Training (Benefits)
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, and in what ways, any of the additional payments that might be paid to adult trainees under the proposed employment training scheme, over and above their basic training allowance, including end of scheme bonus, earnings outside the programe and any additional 408
  top up in addition to their £10 premium, will affect their entitlement to (a) income support, (b) transitional protection payments, (c) housing benefit and (d) other passported benefits, including free prescriptions.

  Mr. Portillo
  Participants in employment training will be paid a training allowance, which will include a training "premium". If they are on income support when training starts, that benefit will continue but at a reduced level. This will safeguard automatic passported entitlement to other benefits, such as housing benefit and free prescriptions.

  The training premium will not count as income in calculating a trainee's entitlement to any of the means-tested benefits.

  The Government have announced an end-of-training bonus scheme, and intend that payments under that scheme will, likewise, not count as income in calculating entitlement to benefits. Any earnings received from work outside the training programme will be treated in the normal way with the appropriate disregard. Any voluntary top-up to the premium made at regular intervals will attract a £5 disregard.

  We have ensured that training allowances do not erode transitional protection for income support purposes.

  District Medical Staff Committees
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the relationship between a district medical staff committee and a district health authority.

  Mrs. Currie
  It is the responsibility of each DHA to establish professional advisory machinery in a form that best meets the professional advice needs of that district. This may well include a district medical staff committee whose role is to provide advice on professional medical issues to the DHA. Whether that advice is implemented or not is a matter for the DHA.

  Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received concerning maternity services at Queen Mary's hospital, Sidcup.

  Mrs. Currie
  Four letters were received, all in 1987, including three from right hon. and hon. Members about the effect on maternity services at Queen Mary's hospital of changes in service in Dartford and Gravesham health authority, and one from a consultant about staffing aspects of the service at Queen Mary's hospital.

  Maternity Services
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received concerning maternity services at West Hill hospital, Dartford.

  Mrs. Currie
  A considerable number of representations were received from right hon. and hon. Members and members of the public about Dartford and Gravesham health authority's proposals to rationalise some of its acute hospital services, which included transferring maternity services from West Hill hospital to Gravesend and North Kent hospital. I visited the health district on 1 September 1987. No representations concerning maternity services at West Hill hospital have been received subsequent to Ministers' decision on 15 September 1987 to approve the transfer.

  Home Defence Exercises
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his reply of 25 April to the hon. Member for Lewisham, Deptford (Ms. Ruddock),Official Report, column 30, whether the details of the limited participation by the National Health Service in any or all of the military home defence exercises Eastern Shield, Capital Guard, Drake' Drum, Autumn Tiger, Northern Crusade, Western Encounter, Triple Crown, and Strong Link have been finalised; how much such participation is now estimated to cost; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs Currie
  The Ministry of Defence has requested limited participation by certain National Health Service authorities in some of these exercises. The extent of any participation which would be on a voluntary basis—has not been decided, and the cost cannot yet be estimated.

  Income Support
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether claims in writing for income support forwarded by organisations providing emergency accommodation will be treated as valid claims in the terms of regulation 4(1) of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987.

  Mr. Portillo
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Leicester, South (Mr. Marshall) on 14 June, at column 172.

  Independent Living Fund
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will introduce an independent right of review for disabled persons who are refused assistance by the Independent Living Fund.

  Mr. Scott
  The Independent Living Fund is an independent discretionary trust and it is for the trustees to decide how they will deal with cases which give rise to dissatisfaction. I know, however, that it is their intention to look at such cases very carefully.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans his Department has to enable the Independent Living Fund to assist with disabled persons' claims after the £5 million provided by the Government has run out.

  Mr. Scott
  I am confident that the sum of up to £5 million for the current year will be more than enough. We shall review the level of funding for future years in the light of experience.

  Brain Injury (Rehabilitation Services)
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will commission an assessment of the probability of long-term improvement occurring from the provision of specialised rehabilitation services immediately or soon after brain injury occurs; and if he will examine the cost effectiveness for the National Health Service and the social services departments combined of such provision.

  Mrs. Currie
  We are aware of the issues raised by the right hon. Member. Officials are currently considering the way forward.
  410
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many brain injury rehabilitation units there are in(a) the National Health Service and (b) the private sector.

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

  Amnesia
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what are the most common causes of severe amnesia;

  (2) what estimates he has of the number of people suffering from serious amnesia who live at home with their families; and what evidence there is on the adequacy of the support provided by social services departments;

  (3) what estimates have been made of the number of patients suffering severe amnesia who are long-stay patients in hospitals which are not able to give specialised treatment to them.

  Mrs. Currie
  Severe amnesia can be a symptom of a range of medical conditions. Statistics on amnesia are not collected centrally.

  The National Health Service is organised to treat medical conditions rather than specific symptoms and there is therefore no special provision for patients with severe amnesia. Patients may be treated in a number of settings such as neurological, mental illness or geriatric units. Local authority social services departments usually provide services on a client group basis.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what research into amnesia has been and is being supported by his Department; and what plans there are to increase it.

  Mrs. Currie
  The Department does not directly commission research specifically into amnesia. The main Government agency for the promotion of medical and related biological research is the Medical Research Council (MRC) which receives its grant in aid from the Department of Education and Science.

  Brain-Injury and Amnesia
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what National Health Service provision there is for specialised treatment for(a) serious brain injury and (b) serious amnesia; what plans he has to increase such provision; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  The National Health Service offers a range of facilities for treatment of people with brain injury, including accident and emergency departments, neuro-surgery, and rehabilitation facilities. Treatment for amnesia sufferers is related to the medical condition with which the symptom is associated. It is for individual health authorities to determine the level of provision.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimates he has of the number of people suffering(a) serious brain injury and (b) serious amnesia; and how many new sufferers there are annually.

  Mrs. Currie
  I regret that this information is not available centrally. I am aware that the Medical Disability Society has recently published a report which contains estimates of the number of people suffering from brain injury.

  Brain Injury Service
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what response he has given to the proposal of the Royal College of Physicians that each district health authority should have a named consultant to provide and oversee a complete brain injury service.

  Mrs. Currie
  We are aware of this recommendation and officials are considering the best way to take the matter forward, in the light of the recent report of the Medical Disability Society's working party on the management of traumatic brain injury.

  Hospitals (Leasing)
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to the answer of 23 May,Official Report, column 93, whether health authorities may lease hospitals on a permanent basis to the private sector.

  Mrs. Currie
  At present, when a health authority does not envisage any further use for a National Health Service property it is required to dispose of the freehold. Exceptionally, a long-term lease may be granted, but only where there are strong reasons in the public interest for doing so.

  Lithotripsy
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) where in England hospitals are equipped to treat kidney stones by using the lithotripsy process;

  (2) what is the cost of equipping and staffing a hospital with the lithotripsy method of treating kidney stone patients; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Erdington (Mr. Corbett) on 29 April 1988 at columns 341–42.

  Kidney Stone Patients
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will release funds to enable(a) Chester district health authority and (b) Mersey health authority to purchase equipment and to appoint staff to enable them to treat kidney stone sufferers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  This is a matter for the health authorities concerned. They must determine their own priorities and use the resources they have available in a way which best serves the needs of the local population.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients with kidney stone problems are treated annually in the Chester district and Mersey health authority; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  Such information which is available centrally relates to the estimated number of patients treated with the main diagnosis of calculus of kidney and ureter, and is set out in the table:412

  Estimated Number of Discharges of In-patients, by Regional Health Authority, NHS Non-psychiatric Hospital, England, 1985

  Diagnosis

  ICD Code1

  England

  Mersey

  Chester

  Calculus of Kidney

  592·0

  4,480

  150

  2

  Calculus of Ureter

  592·1

  5,580

  230

  2

  Urinary Calculus, unspecified

  592·9

  260

  2

  2

  1 International Classification of Diseases—9th revision.

  2 The number in the sample is too small to make reliable estimates.

  The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairmen of the Mersey regional health authority and the Chester district health authority to see what information is available locally.

  Maternity Units (Closure)
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many maternity units have been closed since 1979, or are planned to close, in each health authority area in England.

  Mrs. Currie
  The table shows the numbers of maternity units by regional health authority approved for closure between 1979 and 1986. It is important to note that closures may be offset or balanced by openings or reprovision elsewhere.

  Number

  Northern

  3

  Yorkshire

  9

  Trent

  10

  East Anglian

  6

  North West Thames

  4

  North East Thames

  7

  South East Thames

  2

  South West Thames

  3

  Wessex

  3

  Oxford

  1

  South Western

  5

  West Midlands

  4

  Mersey

  3

  North Western

  3

  Figures of closures for 1987 should be available shortly. I regret that information regarding planned closures is not available centrally.

  Pensions (Eire Citizens)
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Social Services what entitlement to pension by virtue of age, injury or disability is granted in the United Kingdom to citizens of Eire; and if these rights are reciprocal.

  Mr. Scott
  The United Kingdom social security scheme does not discriminate on the grounds of nationality. Citizens of the Republic of Ireland in the United Kingdom are entitled to all social security benefits payable on account of age, injury or disability providing they satisfy the relevant conditions. Similarly, a United Kingdom citizen in the Republic of Ireland who satisfies the conditions for Irish benefits will be entitled to them.

  Single Payments (Birmingham)
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many claims for single payments were outstanding at the social security offices at Kingsbury road and St. Margaret's road in Birmingham on 30 April and 31 May.
  413
  Mr. Portillo
  The numbers of cases awaiting action on claims for single payments of supplementary benefit on 29 April are shown in the table. The figures are provisional and subject to amendment.

  29 April 1988

  31 May 1988

  Erdington local office (Kingsbury road)

  412

  42

  Washwood heath local office (St. Margaret's road)

  1,017

  263

  Unemployed Persons (Removal Expenses)
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the specific provisions in the new social security system for help with removal expenses of unemployed people who need to change their places of residence in order to take up new jobs.

  Mr. Portillo
  None. Such provision would be inappropriate to the social security system.

  Water Supplies (Aluminium)
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask The Secretary of State for Social Services what studies have been conducted by his Department, water authorities or other bodies into a possible link between high aluminium levels in water supplies and senility; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  The Department has not commissioned any research into a possible link between high aluminium levels in water supplies and senility. I understand that the Medical Research Council, which is the main agency through which the Government support medical research in the United Kingdom and which receives a grant-in-aid from the Department of Education and Science, has supported two studies on this subject in its own units. The results of one of these studies have still to be published. I am also aware that other research on this subject has been carried out at the University of Surrey, but details are not held centrally.

  Dental Reference Service
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many references have been dealt with by officers of the dental reference services, showing how many were in respect of(a) treatment and (b) estimates for dental treatment.

  Mrs. Currie
  In the year 1987–88 dental officers in England examined patients in the following numbers of cases:

  Number

  Proposed treatment

  13,724

  Completed treatment

  14,419

  TOTAL

  28,143

  Unemployment benefit as a percentage of average weekly net1 earnings

  All males

  All manually employed males

  Single person

  Married couple

  Married couple plus 2 children

  Single person

  Married couple

  Married couple plus 2 children

  Date

  per cent.

  per cent.

  per cent.

  per cent.

  per cent.

  per cent.

  November 1978

  24·1

  37·0

  41·7

  26·1

  40·0

  44·9

  November 1979

  23·2

  35·8

  39·9

  25·3

  38·9

  43·3

  414
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he proposes to take in the light of the Benner report on the review of the dental reference service; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  The report has been sent to interested parties and their comments invited by 31 July. No decision as to whether or not its recommendations should be implemented will be taken before then.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has as to the proportion of civil servants at grade 3 and above in his Department who were educated in(a) private schools and (b) state schools.

  Mr. Moore
  I regret that a reply cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.

  Hospitals (Staff Shortages)
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will urgently introduce measures to help teaching hospitals with staff shortages which cause damaging interruption of clinical research due to the need to attend to the care of patients.

  Mr. Newton
  The allocation of resources to teaching hospitals is a matter for health authorities subject to the guidance issued to them. The Department, in guidance to health authorities last year, reminded them of their responsibility to support clinical teaching and research.

  NHS Workers (Career Structure)
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will introduce new arrangements for the career structure of National Health Service workers aimed at the promotion of medical or scientific research.

  Mr. Newton
  We have no plans to do so. The present medical career structure is flexible enough to accommodate doctors who wish to make a career in academic medicine or to combine scientific research with an NHS commitment.

  Unemployment Benefit
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a table showing the value of unemployment benefit for a single person, a married couple and a married couple with two children under 11 years as a proportion of average net earnings for all males and all manually employed males for each year between November 1978 and the latest date available.

  Mr. Portillo
  The information requested is given in the table.
  415

  All males

  All manually employed males

  Single person

  Married couple

  Married couple plus 2 children

  Single person

  Married couple

  Married couple plus 2 children

  Date

  per cent.

  per cent.

  per cent.

  per cent.

  per cent.

  per cent.

  November 1980

  22·1

  34·2

  36·7

  24·9

  38·2

  41·1

  November 1981

  22·3

  34·5

  36·1

  25·4

  39·1

  40·9

  November 1982

  23·3

  36·0

  36·5

  26·7

  40·9

  41·5

  November 1983

  23·4

  36·1

  36·3

  26·9

  41·2

  41·5

  November 1984

  22·6

  34·7

  34·7

  26·1

  39·8

  39·8

  November 1985

  22·7

  34·8

  34·8

  26·3

  40·1

  40·1

  July 1986

  21·5

  33·0

  33·0

  25·2

  38·4

  38·4

  April 1987

  20·2

  31·2

  31·2

  24·0

  36·7

  36·7

  1 Net average earnings are the estimates of average gross weekly earnings less tax and national insurance contribution at the contracted out rate.

  Retirement Pension
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a table showing the value of the retirement pension for a single person and a married couple as a proportion of average net earnings for all males and all manually employed males for each year between November 1978 and the latest date available.

  Mr. Scott
  The information requested is in the table.

  Retirement pension as a percentage of net average weekly earnings at uprating date

  Date

  Male manual workers

  All male workers

  Single

  Couple

  Single

  Couple

  November 1978

  32·3

  48·9

  29·8

  45·3

  November 1979

  31·8

  48·4

  29·2

  44·6

  November 1980

  32·8

  49·7

  29·1

  44·4

  November 1981

  33·4

  50·9

  29·3

  44·9

  November 1982

  35·0

  53·1

  30·6

  46·7

  November 1983

  33·9

  51·3

  29·5

  44·9

  November 1984

  32·9

  49·6

  28·4

  43·2

  November 1985

  33·1

  49·9

  28·5

  43·3

  July 1986

  31·6

  47·8

  27·0

  41·1

  April 1987

  30·1

  45·7

  25·3

  38·8

  Social Security
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how the changes in the social security schemes announced to the House on 27 April will affect (i) war widows, (ii) industrial injuries benefit and (iii) special hardship allowance as respects income assessment for housing benefit; and if they will be protected by the minimum loss of £2·50 per week.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 17 May 1988]: The changes announced on 27 April did not alter the method of calculating housing benefit but people in these groups may receive transitional payments if they incurred losses in housing benefit in excess of £2·50 per week as a result of the changes in the structure of the scheme from 1 April. However, local authorities continue to have discretion in the new housing benefit scheme to disregard up to the whole amount of a war pension. Therefore, we will not compensate for losses arising from any reduction in the disregard through changes in local authorities' own discretionary schemes for war pensions.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Commodity Prices
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Governments of producer countries concerning improvements in commodity prices.

  Mrs. Chalker
  My right hon. and learned Friend and other Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers meet their opposite numbers in the Governments of commodity-producing countries at regular intervals. On these occasions the developmental problems facing producer countries, including the prices their commodities command, are often discussed.

  Spain (British Tourists)
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has as to how many British tourists have been killed on Spanish beached over the last seven years by drowning.

  Mr. Eggar
  Over the past five years our consulates in Spain have been informed of 83 British nationals who died by drowning. Of these, a number drowned in swimming pools.

  Not all such deaths are reported to us. Further statistics are not readily available, and could be provided only at disproportionate costs.

  "Platform on European Security Interests"
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he took to publicise the Western European Union statement entitled, "Platform on European Security Interests", arising from the meeting of the Foreign and Defence Ministers meeting at the Hague on 27 October 1987; and if he will make a statement as to what extent it represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

  Mr. Mellor
  The Western European Union "Platform on European Security Interests" was placed in the Library of the House following its adoption and has received considerable media publicity. It has been quoted regularly in ministerial and other speeches and has been further publicised in a Western European Union brochure about that organisation's activities. We endorse the platform.

  Israel
  Mr. Charles Wardle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a
  417
  further statement of Her Majesty's Government's latest assessment of relations with Israel and on its policy towards the Palestine Liberation Organisation.

  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Israeli Government about recent Mossad activities in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  Following the trial and conviction of Ismail Sowan, the Israeli ambassador was informed on 17 June that a member of his diplomatic staff must leave the country by the end of this month. Additionally, the Home Secretary is requiring the departure from Britain by the end of the month of a staff member currently serving in the PLO office in London.

  We will not tolerate the export to Britain of middle eastern feuds and violence.

  Cyprus
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his reply of 10 June,Official Report, column 696, what is the United Kingdom's representation in (a) Greek southern Cyprus and (b) Turkish northern Cyprus; and why he has no figures for non-Cypriots resident in southern Cyprus.

  Mrs. Chalker
  There are 30 United Kingdom-based members of staff and 37 locally engaged staff in the British high commission in Nicosia. The high commission represents Her Majesty's Government's interests throughout Cyprus.

  Information about the number of non-Cypriots resident in the south was not available when I answered the hon. Gentleman's earlier question, but further inquiries were then made. I understand that there are about 15,000 non-Cypriots resident in the area controlled by the Government of the Republic of Cyprus.

  Diplomatic Staff (Languages)
  Mr. Jopling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will list for each post overseas the number of diplomatic staff, the number and percentage whose skill in those local language is functional or better, and the number and percentage whose skill is extensive.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The information is not readily available in the form requested. However, of the total 3,257 mainstream Diplomatic Service officers, 2,978 have one or more language qualifications. Many have qualifications in more than one language. The total number of qualifications at functional level or better is 4,172. Of these 967 are at higher levels.

  Spain (British Holidaymakers)
  Mr. McCrindle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have been held with the Spanish authorities regarding the behaviour of young British males in holiday centres; what action is proposed to combat their activities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  I visited Spain from 12 to 14 June 1988. I had frank and useful talks on tourist security and 418
  behaviour of British visitors with local and regional authorities in Alicante and Valencia, and in Madrid. Some 3,000 extra policemen are being sent to the main coastal resorts, Seville and Grenada for the peak summer period, and a publicity campaign to give practical advice to tourists about security will be launched by the Spanish authorities shortly. We are exploring a number of further practical measures including restrictions on alcohol sales.

  We shall be continuing our public education campaign both here and in Spain to reduce as far as possible the small minority who tarnish Britain's image abroad. The Association of British Travel Agents and the major British tour operators also recognise the need to advise their clients on the spot about behaviour and security and we shall be pursuing further initiatives with them. In addition, in conjunction with other interested bodies, we shall be looking at the possibility of curbing excessive consumption of alcohol at airports prior to departure.

  Sharpeville Six
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations Her Majesty's Government has made to South Africa concerning the Sharpeville Six; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Foreign Ministers of the Twelve issued the following statement in Luxembourg on 14 June:"The Foreign Ministers today discussed the situation in South Africa following the decision by the Supreme Court of Pretoria not to reopen proceedings in the case of the Sharpeville Six.
  The Ministers expressed their deep distress and concern about the fate of the Sharpeville Six.
  They urged that all legal options available in South Africa should be used to prevent the death penalty from being carried out. In this connection they drew attention to earlier representations by the European Community."

  The German ambassador in Pretoria will be making representations to the South African Government on behalf of the Twelve.

  Soviet Union (Republics)
  Mr. Madel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what account Her Majesty's Government takes in its policy towards recognition of the legal status of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania as republics of the Soviet Union, of the manner in which they acquired that status; and what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the resumption by these states of their independence by peaceful means.

  Mr. Eggar
  We have not recognised de jure the incorporation of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania into the Soviet Union, because of the unacceptable way in which it was carried out. It follows that we would respect the right of these former independent states to determine their own future status in a peaceful manner, as is indeed provided for in the Soviet constitution.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Pollution
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what evidence he has on the extent
  419
  to which the proposed set-aside scheme will cause a reduction in pollution caused by agricultural activities; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what evidence he has on the extent to which the diversification scheme will reduce pollution caused by agricultural activities; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) whether he has evidence on the extent to which the introduction of environmentally sensitive areas has resulted in a reduction in pollution caused by agricultural practices in those areas; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  In my report to Parliament later this year on the first year's operation of the environmentally sensitive areas, I will he considering among many other things, the evidence available on their impact on pollution. We shall also be monitoring the impact of the set-aside scheme which we announced on the 14 June. The main aim of the farm diversification grant scheme is to provide additional non-agricultural sources of income for farmers and it is not therefore likely greatly to affect pollution from agricultural activities but I shall obviously keep this question in mind.

  Nitrates
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he intends to take to reduce the levels of nitrates as a result of the Hatton catchment nitrate study.

  Mr. Gummer
  The Government are currently looking at a mumber of options for further action to reduce nitrate pollution—including those identified in the Hatton study. A publicity campaign was launched earlier this year with the support of interested organisations aimed at encouraging farmers to adopt practices which minimise the risk of nitrate loss. The agricultural development and advisory service also takes every opportunity to put the message across in the course of its regular contact with the farming community.

  Council of Agriculture Ministers
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Council of Agriculture Ministers' meeting on 13 to 15 June in Luxembourg; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The Minister for State and I attended this Council of Agricultural Ministers of the European Community, which began on Monday afternoon, 13 June, and finished last Friday morning.

  The Council agreed to two directives harmonising charges for meat inspection and bringing the standards for export-approved and non-export slaughterhouses closer into line. Other member states were strongly opposed, partly on the ground that it would have been administratively cumbersome, to our preference that the harmonised inspection charges should be based on the principle that the charges should equal the actual costs of inspection in all cases. We did however in the end secure agreement to an increase from 50 to 55 per cent. in the reduction which is permitted from the standard charges where the actual costs of inspection are low. The result of this is to minimise the effect of the new arrangements on United Kingdom slaughterhouses. The arrangements will come into effect on 1 January 1991. The harmonised charges and the 55 per cent. reduction factor will be
  420
  reviewed by the Council in 1992. The Council also agreed a directive laying down animal health requirements for trade in cattle semen, and a directive dealing with safeguards against the spread of enzootic bovine leucosis.

  There was also a short introductory discussion on the Commission's revised proposals for income aids.

  The major part of the Council was taken up with further negotiations on prices and other support arrangemens for agricultural commodities for 1988–89. I very much regret that, just as it seemed that agreement was in reach after prolonged and difficult discussions the negotiations broke down when the Greek Minister invoked the Luxembourg compromise, signalling that the matter was so important for him that he wished discussion to continue until there could be unanimous agreement. The 11 other member states including ourselves were prepared to accept the compromise package proposed by the presidency and Commission at that stage. Negotiations will have to be concluded at a date still to be determined.

  Set-aside Scheme
  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the interaction between the set-aside scheme announced on 14 June and the arrangements for environmentally sensitive areas.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The schemes have separate objectives. Moreover, while set-aside applies throughout the United Kingdom, environmentally sensitive areas are limited to particular localities.

  Those farming within ESAs will be able to join the set-aside scheme provided they meet the conditions, but to avoid double payment on particular parcels of land, farmers will not be eligible for set-aside for any land to which an ESA agreement applies. A farmer in an ESA will have to consult the ESA project officer about the management of any land to be set-aside before he makes an application under the scheme.

  Mr. John
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food upon what estimated take-up by farmers he based his agriculture set-aside proposals announced on 14 June.

  Mr. MacGregor
  As this is an entirely new scheme, and it is voluntary, it is not possible to make a scientific assessment of take-up in advance.

  Mr. Tony Lester-Card (Statement)
  Mr. John
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he proposes to take against Mr. Tony Lester-Card, a civil servant in his Department, whose public statement reported in Farmers' Weekly of 8 June on the inefficacy of voluntary agricultural set-aside schemes was repudiated by him on 14 June, Official Report, column 178.

  Mr. MacGregor
  As I explained to the House on 14 June, the official mentioned was not speaking for the Government.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has as to the
  421
  proportion of civil servants at grade 3 and above in his Department who were educated in (a) private schools and (b) state schools.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The personnel records for officials at grade 3 and above in my Department include information on schools attended. However, this information has not been analysed in the terms of the question asked.

  Newcastle Disease
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has as to whether vaccines in use in the United Kingdom to protect poultry from Newcastle disease will protect against strains found in north America.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I have no reason to suppose that the Newcastle disease vaccines licensed in the United Kingdom, when used in accordance with the manufacturers' instructions, are not effective against strains of the virus found in north America.

  Cereals (Testing)
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the estimated costs for(a) Cambridge and (b) Edinburgh which make up the joint total of £233,000 for cereals test operations given in paragraph 253 of the report of the review on plant testing and seed certification.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 17 June 1988]: The estimated costs for 1987–88 were £152,000 for Cambridge and £81,000 for Edinburgh. The estimate for Cambridge includes costs for centralised activities not undertaken at Edinburgh.

  Sugar
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his latest estimate of the current annual production and consumption of sugar in the European Economic Community.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 16 June 1988]: For 1987–88, the Commission estimates European Community sugar production at 13·198 million tonnes, including 12·384 million tonnes of quota production, and sugar consumption at 10·750 million tonnes.

  Budgie Seed
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the European Economic Community Commission's proposal to increase the levy on budgie seed will be considered by the Council of Ministers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 16 June 1988]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Derbyshire, West (Mr. McLoughlin) today.

SCOTLAND

  Homicides
  Sir Nicholas Fairbairn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people have been convicted in Scotland of homicide since the abolition of the death penalty for murder.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  From 1966 until 1987, a total of 749 people were convicted of murder. Comparable figures for culpable homicide are only available from 1969. From 1969 until 1987, a total of 647 people were convicted of culpable homicide.

  Sir Nicholas Fairbairn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many persons convicted of homicide in Scotland and released on licence or termination of sentence have been convicted of homicide again since the abolition of the death penalty.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Since 1965. three people released on licence from a previous murder conviction have been convicted of murder. Comparable information about homicides other than murder is not readily available and could not be obtained except at disproportionate cost.

  Speed limits
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his criteria in determining whether to grant a request from a regional roads authority to change an existing speed limit; how many such requests he has received from Highland region over the past five years and of these(a) how many have been approved and (b) how many have been turned down; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The criteria for determining appropriate speed limits apply throughout Great Britain. They are set out in Scottish Development Department circular No. 18/80 and were issued after full consultation with various representative bodies, including the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Association of Chief Police Officers (Scotland).

  Thirty applications have been received from Highland regional council in the last five years. Nine applications have been approved, 18 have been turned down and three are currently under consideration. My right hon. and learned Friend refuses consent for a speed limit only if he is satisfied that the relevant criteria are not met.

  Atlantic Salmon Conservation Trust
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if the Lord Advocate will instruct the procurators fiscal for the Borders and Grampian regions to institute proceedings against the Atlantic Salmon Conservation Trust for breaches of charity law as it applies in Scotland on the grounds(a) that charitable status applies only to organisations dealing with endangered animal species and (b) that expenditure on extinguishing netting rights unlawfully discriminates in favour of proprietors of rod fishing rights and against the interests of netsmen.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  No reports alleging breaches of the criminal law have been received by my
  423
  noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate or by any of the procurators fiscal in Grampian, Highlands and Islands region or Lothian and Borders region against the Atlantic Salmon Conservation Trust. Accordingly the Lord Advocate has had no occasion to instruct procurators fiscal in this matter.

  Health Boards (Grievances)
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, as part of its review of procedures relating to individual employee's grievances with local health boards, he will direct the General Whitley council to consider any changes intended to expedite settlement of such grievances.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  While my right hon. and learned Friend approves General Whitley council agreements in Scotland, he has no power to direct the deliberations of that council.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, as part of its review of procedures relating to individual employee's grievances with local health boards, he will direct the General Whitley council to seek to obtain statistics on the average time for settlement of disputes between local health boards and the British Medical Association and on the total cost to the Health Service in locum salaries, ex-gratia settlements and administrative costs of such disputes.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I believe that the hon. Member's concern may arise from a constituency case about which we are in correspondence, and I shall write to him.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will describe the remit of the current review being undertaken by the General Whitley council on procedures relating to individual employees' grievances with health boards; and what options are under consideration.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  There is no formal remit for the current review of General Whitley council grievance procedures. Informal exploratory discussions between management and staff sides are taking place which may lead to formal negotiations on a new agreement. It remains to be seen what options emerge during discussion and negotiation.

  Remand
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the latest figure for the average time spent on remand for men and women.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The estimated average periods spent in custody on remand in 1987 were as follows.

  Days

  Men

  20·1

  Women

  17·6

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of(a) women and (b) men were put in prison while waiting for trial and subsequently freed over each of the past five years.
  424
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  This information is not available.

  Cornton Vale Prison
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to ensure that Cornton Vale prison benefits from having(a) a state registered nurse and (b) a drama therapist.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I am satisfied that the present complement of seven nursing staff at Cornton Vale, who are all state-enrolled nurses, is adequate for the present requirements of the establishment. There are no plans to employ a drama therapist.

  Elsie Inglis Maternity Hospital
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Central, of 10 June,Official Report, column 723, he will place a list of all those who made representations to him in connection with the closure of Elsie Inglis maternity hospital, and a copy of all such representations, in the Library.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This information could be made available only at disproportionate cost.

  Health Boards (Ancillary Services)
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements he has made for health boards ancillary services tenders to be considered by English health authorities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  None.

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average time taken by the Scottish Legal Aid Board in dealing with applications for legal aid; and what were the figures in each of the four previous years.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is not available.

  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations the Lord Advocate has received about the working of the legal aid system in Scotland; and if he plans to speed up the time taken in dealing with legal aid applications.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Since the Scottish Legal Aid Board assumed its duties on 1 April 1987, the Lord Advocate has received nine such representations from right hon. and hon. Members, bodies representing the legal profession and the general public. They covered delays in the determination of applications for legal aid, refusals of legal aid and other matters. Legal aid is the responsibility of my right hon. and learned Friend, who announced on 15 December 1987 our intention to make regulations to assist in improving procedures. These will be laid shortly. The Scottish Legal Aid Board is also considering an expedited civil application procedure.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has as to the proportion of civil servants at grade 3 and above in his Department who were educated in(a) private schools and (b) state schools.

  Mr. Rifkind
  Two of the Department's staff at grade 3 and above attended independent schools, 11 attended schools which were grant-aided by central Government and 19 attended schools which were managed by an education authority.

  Education (Opting Out)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the progress of the leak inquiry into the unauthorised disclosure of memoranda between his Department and the Prime Minister's office on opting out of the education system.

  Mr. Rifkind
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to him on 16 May 1988 at column 350.

DEFENCE

  US Bases
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list the location by parliamentary constituency of all United States bases and military facilities in the United Kingdom;

  (2) if he will list those Royal Air Force bases that are allocated for use as operating bases by United States forces, signifying which have been equipped with minimum essential facilities;

  (3) if he will list the location by parliamentary constituency, of all military and civilian facilities in the United Kingdom that are allocated for use by United States forces in wartime.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The following bases and facilities have been made available for use by United States forces in the United Kingdom:

  Base and Designation

  Constituency

  Main Operating Bases

  RAF Alconbury

  Huntingdon

  RAF Bentwaters

  Suffolk, Coastal

  RAF Fairford

  Cirencester and Tewkesbury

  RAF Lakenheath

  Bury St. Edmunds

  RAF Mildenhall

  Bury St. Edmunds

  RAF Upper Heyford

  Banbury

  RAF Woodbridge

  Suffolk, Coastal

  Cruise Missile Bases

  RAF Greenham Common

  Newbury

  RAF Molesworth

  Huntingdon

  Standby Deployment Bases

  RAF Sculthorpe

  Norfolk, North

  RAF Wethersfield

  Braintree

  Storage/Support Facilities

  RAF Bicester

  Banbury

  RAF Brawdy

  Pembroke

  RAF Burtonwood

  Warrington, North

  RAF Caerwent

  Monmouth

  RAF Chelveston

  Bedfordshire, North

  RAF Chilwell

  Broxtowe

  Eastcote

  Ruislip Northwood

  Felixstowe

  Suffolk, Coastal

  426

  Base and Designation

  Constituency

  RAF Feltwell

  Norfolk, South-West

  Framlingham

  Suffolk, Coastal

  High Wycombe Air Station (Daws Hill)

  Wycombe

  Holy Loch

  Argyll and Bute

  RAF Hullavington

  Wiltshire, North

  RAF Hythe

  Romsey and Waterside

  RAF Kemble

  Cirencester and Tewkesbury

  London USN Europe HQ

  City of London and Westminster, South

  RAF Machrihanish

  Argyll and Bute

  Marchwood

  Romsey and Waterside

  Oakington

  Cambridgeshire, South-East

  Ridgewell

  Saffron Walden

  RAF Ruislip

  Ruislip Northwood

  RAF Spadeadam

  Penrith and The Border

  RAF St. Mawgan

  Cornwall, North

  RAF Upwood

  Huntingdon

  RAF Welford

  Newbury

  RAF Watton

  Norfolk. South-West

  Contingency Wartime Hospitals:

  RAF Chessington

  Surbiton

  RAF Arbroath

  Angus, East

  RAF Kirknewton

  Livingston

  RAF Lanark

  Clydesdale

  RAF Little Rissington

  Cirencester and Tewkesbury

  RAF Locking

  Weston-super-Mare

  RAF Nocton Hall

  Grantham

  Communications Facilities:

  Aberdeen

  Kincardine and Deeside

  RAF Barford St. John

  Banbury

  RAF Barkway

  Hertfordshire, North

  Botley Hill

  Surrey, East

  Bovingdon

  Hertfordshire, South-West

  RAF Chicksands

  Mid-Bedfordshire

  Coldblow

  Mid-Kent

  Christmas Common

  Henley

  RAF Croughton

  Daventry

  Daventry

  Daventry

  Dunkirk

  Canterbury

  RAF Edzell

  Kincardine and Deeside

  Great Bromley

  Colchester, North

  RAF Inverbervie

  Kincardine and Deeside

  RAF Kinnabeer

  Angus, East

  Latheron

  Caithness and Sutherland

  Martlesham

  Suffolk, Coastal

  Mormond Hill

  Banff and Buchan

  Fort Murkle

  Caithness and Sutherland

  RAF Swingate

  Dover

  RAF Thurso

  Caithness and Sutherland

  RAF Uxbridge

  Uxbridge

  NATO Armaments Depots:

  Broughton Moor

  Workington

  Glen Douglas

  Dumbarton

  The following Royal Air Force and Procurement Executive airfields, all of which have sufficient operating facilities to enable them to fulfil their role, are allocated for use as collocated operating bases by United States forces:

  Collocated operating bases

  Constituency

  Abingdon

  Oxford West and Abingdon

  Bedford

  North Bedfordshire

  Benson

  Henley

  Boscombe Down

  Salisbury

  Brawdy

  Pembroke

  Coltishall

  Norfolk, North

  Cottesmore

  Rutland and Melton

  Finningley

  Don Valley

  Odiham

  Basingstoke

  Scampton

  Gainsborough and Horncastle

  Waddington

  Lincoln

  Wittering

  Huntingdon

  427
  In addition to the bases and facilities listed in the tables, a number of other facilities would be made available to the United States in wartime, but details of the sites involved are classified.

  NATO (US Units)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what basis United States forces units in the United Kingdom not assigned to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation operate in support of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  All United States forces in the United Kingdom contribute to the security of the United Kingdom and the NATO Alliance generally. The formal assignment to NATO of such forces is a matter for the United States Government.

  RAF Greenham Common
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the purpose and function of the proposed communications mast at Royal Air Force Greenham Common.

  Mr. Freeman
  The proposed communications tower at RAF Greenham Common would act as a communications relay station for United States forces based in Europe in support of NATO.

  Cruise Missiles
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has made any decision on the future use of the United States Air Force facilities at Daws Hill, High Wycombe, that are used in support of the cruise missile deployment at Greenham Common and Molesworth, once those missiles have been removed.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  High Wycombe air station at Daws Hill provides administrative and logistic support to the United States Air Force in London and south-east England and will thus have a continuing role after the departure of the ground-launched cruise missiles currently based at RAF Greenham Common and RAF Molesworth.

  Sidewinder
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what improvements to the Sidewinder missile are planned to be in operation during the next two years; and which of these improvements result from experience gained in the Falklands war.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We constantly seek to improve the performance of all our weapons. However, it is not our practice to give details of the operational capability of individual systems. For the performance of Sidewinder missile in the Falklands campaign, I refer the hon. Member to paragraph 222 of "The Falklands Campaign: The Lessons" (Cm. 8758) and paragraph 56 of "Implementing the Lessons of the Falklands Campaign: Government Response to the Fourth Report from the Defence Committee Session 1986–87".

  Arms Exports
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total value of the United Kingdom arms 428
  exports in the last five years for which figures are available; what equivalent information he has about the United States of America; what is his estimate for 1988–89 for the United Kingdom; and what equivalent information he has for the United States of America.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The total recorded value of deliveries of United Kingdom defence export equipment for the calendar years 1982–86 is assessed at £10,198 million. The equivalent United States figure (derived from the United States arms control and disarmament agency) is $51,460 million. Both figures are at current prices.

  Equivalent figures for 1987 and 1988 United Kingdom defence exports are not yet available. (SDE Volume 2 gives only an incomplete figure for 1987). I am not aware of any estimates for United States arms exports for the same period.

  The United Kingdom figures refer to actual deliveries of defence equipment as opposed to defence sales contracts signed during 1987 (vide para 420 Vol. 1 SDE 88).

  NATO—Warsaw Pact Forces
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the latest balance between the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and Warsaw Pact naval forces.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The latest figures showing the balance between the principal naval forces of NATO and the Warsaw Pact are shown in figure 17 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1988".

  Gibraltar (Shootings)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has now received any request from the Gibraltar coroner in relation to military personnel involved in the Gibraltar operation appearing at the inquest into the deaths of three IRA personnel; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Bradford, West (Mr. Madden) on 17 May at columns 369–70.

  Jaguar Aircraft (Dropped Fuel Tank)
  Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement as to the circumstances in which an RAF Jaguar dropped a 10 ft long auxiliary fuel tank near the village of Halberton, Devon, at approximately 16.30 hours on Tuesday 14 June; and what effective action he proposes to take to prevent such an event happening again.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  At about 4.15 pm on 14 June, during a routine training flight, an external fuel tank was inadvertently released from a Procurement Executive Jaguar aircraft of the Empire test pilots' school at Boscombe Down, Wiltshire. The tank fell on open ground near Halberton. We have received no reports of consequential injury to any person or livestock or damage to property. A unit inquiry has been convened and I expect it to report on the incident in about two weeks' time. Meanwhile it would be premature to prejudge the outcome of the investigation or to predict any measures which it may suggest to be necessary.

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether he has carried out monitoring exercises in accordance with the codes of the Commission for Racial Equality and the Equal Opportunities Commission, respectively,

  (2) whether he has appointed an equal opportunities officer.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer the hon. and learned Member to the reply I gave him on 17 June.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has any plans to improve equality of opportunity for women and for people from ethnic minorities in all grades of his Department, in connection with employment, training and promotion, respectively.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Ministry of Defence has an equal opportunities action plan which is reviewed on an annual basis. The aim of the plan is to set out actions required in respect of women, ethnic minorities and people with disabilities in relation to employment, recruitment, training and promotion within the Department. For example these actions include ethnic monitoring of recruitment, programmes for advertising in the ethnic press and including ethnic minorities in recruitment literature, and a review of women-only training.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has as to the proportion of civil servants at grade 3 and above in his Department who were educated in(a) private schools and (b) state schools.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The proportion of civil servants at grade 3 and above in the Ministry of Defence who were educated at private schools is 39·2 per cent. and at state schools is 60·8 per cent.

  Weapon

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  Total

  Army

  Pistol/revolver

  10

  12

  6

  8

  3

  10

  5

  12

  66

  Pistol-Very

  4

  1

  1

  2

  —

  1

  1

  —

  10

  SLR

  2

  1

  1

  —

  4

  —

  —

  —

  8

  SMG

  5

  3

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  9

  LMG

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  1

  Others

  3

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4

  8

  RAF Nil

  Royal Navy (including RM)

  Winchester rifle

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  SMG

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  LMG

  —

  -—

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Notes:

  1. These figures do not include small arms weapons lost and not recovered from cadet units or Service museums.

  2. Figures for RN and RM not available before 1985.

  Helicopters (Rescues)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will publish figures for the last available three years stating the number of rescues carried out in Devon and Cornwall each year by helicopter, proportioning the figures attributable to each helicopter station; what plans he has to make alterations to the service in Devon and Cornwall; and if he will make a statement.

  Low Flying
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if there are any plans to introduce a computerised automatic flight planning system for the United Kingdom low-flying system; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 26 April 1988]:Plans to introduce a computerised notification and deconfliction warning system in the United Kingdom low-flying system are currently under consideration.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures are being introduced to improve the safety of night low-level flying over the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 5 May 1988]: The deconfliction warning that would be provided by the introduction of a computerised notification and warning system, which is currently under consideration, could be expected to contribute to the safety of night low-level flying over the United Kingdom.

  Missing Weapons
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether efforts are made to record all military weapons which go missing in the United Kingdom, which belong to(a) the Army, (b) the Royal Air Force and (c) the Royal Navy; and if he will indicate in a table in the Official Report, by category of weapon, as recorded, such information as is available to him relating to weapons which have gone missing in each year since 1 January 1980.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 7 June 1988]:Instructions require all weapon losses to be reported. Such losses are investigated by the appropriate authority in each service. The figures for small arms weapons lost and not recovered by year since 1980 are as follows:

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 9 June 1988]Records are not kept of rescues in individual counties. The following information relates to an area from 3°W to 7°W and from 49°45'N to 51°5'N. This covers all of Devon and Cornwall (including the Scilly Isles and Lundy) with the exception of some very small parts of Devon; a large part of Somerset; and also the adjacent sea areas. The figures relate to persons rescued by military search and
  431
  rescue helicopters and record the number of people who were recovered alive from a hazard or who were transported for urgent medical attention.

  Persons rescued in or near Devon and Cornwall

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  Boulmer

  —

  —

  4

  Brawdy

  4

  1

  4

  Chivenor

  50

  46

  59

  Culdrose

  74

  55

  51

  Lee-on-Solent

  —

  1

  1

  Aircraft from these stations also rescued many people in other areas. The hon. Member may be aware that on 1 April 1988 the readiness states of the search and rescue Sea Kings at RNAS Culdrose were improved to enable them to respond to incidents within 15 minutes by day, and 45 minutes by night. As regards other decisions which may affect the service in Devon and Cornwall, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 13 June 1988 to my hon. Friends the Members for Tayside, North (Mr. Walker) and for Devon, North (Mr. Speller) at column 71.

  >Denmark (Nuclear-capable Ships)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his current policy towards the use of Danish ports by nuclear-capable ships of the Royal Navy.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  [holding answer 17 June 1988]:It remains our policy neither to confirm nor deny the presence of nuclear weapons aboard particular HM ships. The new Danish Government have confirmed that visits by ships of the Royal Navy can continue under the same procedures which obtained previously and a normal programme of visits to Danish ports by HM ships is planned.

  NORTHERN IRELAND

    Heart Surgery
    Mr. Beggs
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons in Northern Ireland presently require heart surgery and await notification that bed space has become available in hospital; and how many heart operations have been carried out weekly in Northern Ireland hospitals during the last 12 months.

    Mr. Needham
    At 31 March 1988 the waiting list for admission for cardiac surgery totalled 707. The Royal Victoria hospital is the only hospital in Northern Ireland to provide cardiac surgery; the number of heart operations, excluding catheterisations, carried out during the period from 28 September 1987 to 6 March 1988 were as follows:

    Week Commencing

    Number of Operations

    28 September 1987

    6

    5 October 1987

    4

    12 October 1987

    10

    19 October 1987

    6

    26 October 1987

    5

    2 November 1987

    10

    9 November 1987

    7

    16 November 1987

    10

    23 November 1987

    7

    30 November 1987

    11

    432

    Week Commencing

    Number of Operations

    7 December 1987

    6

    14 December 1987

    8

    21 December 1987

    6

    28 December 1987

    3

    4 January 1988

    7

    11 January 1988

    7

    18 January 1988

    6

    25 January 1988

    7

    1 February 1988

    10

    8 February 1988

    11

    15 February 1988

    9

    22 February 1988

    6

    29 February 1988

    10

    Information on the weekly number of operations carried out before 28 September 1987 or after 6 March 1988 is not readily available.

  >WALES

    Lithotripsy
    Mr. Barry Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) where, in Wales, hospitals are equipped to treat kidney stones by using lithotripsy; and if he will make a statement;

    2. if he will release funds to enable Clwyd area health authority to purchase equipment and to appoint staff to enable them to treat kidney stones by lithotripsy method; and if he will make a statement;

    3. what is the cost of equipping a hospital in Wales with lithotripsy method.

    Mr. Grist
    Lithotripters are a developing technology which is being monitored by the Department. The cost of equipping a hospital with a lithotripter is estimated to be in the region of £700,000 capital for installation and £200,000 annually for running costs. No hospital in Wales is presently equipped with the technology and the Department have no plans to fund Clwyd health authority to acquire a lithotripter. It is open to the authority to consider appropriate arrangements to obtain lithotripsy treatment from those centres which provide the service.

    >Kidney Patients
    Mr. Barry Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many patients are treated annually in each of the Welsh area health authorities, for kidney stones.

    Mr. Grist
    The latest available information, for

    District health authority

    Patients1

    Clwyd

    97

    East Dyfed

    28

    Pembrokeshire

    22

    Gwent

    144

    Gwynedd

    127

    Mid Glamorgan

    96

    Powys

    2

    South Glamorgan

    125

    West Glamorgan

    162

    1 Number of discharges (including deaths) from National Health Service hospitals with diagnosis Calculus of Kidney and Ureter.

    Maternity Units (Closure)
    Mr. Strang
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many maternity units have been closed since 1979, or are planned to close, in each health authority area in Wales.

    Mr. Grist
    Since January 1979 a total of 14 maternity units have closed and four have opened in Wales. The breakdown by health authority is as follows:—

    Maternity Units

    Closed

    Opened

    Clwyd

    5

    1

    East Dyfed

    2

    —

    Gwent

    —

    —

    Gwynedd

    1

    —

    Mid Glamorgan

    2

    2

    Pembrokeshire

    2

    1

    Powys

    —

    —

    South Glamorgan

    —

    —

    West Glamorgan

    2

    —

    Closure proposals have been submitted to my right hon. Friend for decision in respect of St. David's hospital, Bangor, Gwynedd, and the unit at County hospital, Griffithstown, in Gwent.

    Nuclear Accidents
    Dr. Thomas
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will list those circulars produced by his Department relating to nuclear accidents and the response of the emergency services.

    Mr. Peter Walker
    The following are the circulars: 146/75

    WHC (76)48

    WHC (85)34

    Letter dated 10 September 1985

    Emergency plans for individual nuclear installations are drawn up by the operator in consultation with the emergency services and are available at local libraries in the vicinity of the plant. A description of the measures to be taken in the event of an emergency at any licensed nuclear installation in the United Kingdom is contained in the Health and Safety Executive's booklet "Emergency Plans for Civil Nuclear Installations", published by HMSO. The lead within Government for nuclear accident planning in respect of installations in England and Wales is taken by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy.

    Tonyrefail Railway Station
    Mr. John
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether, pursuant to the statement on page 31 of his valleys initiative, it is proposed as part of new park and ride facilities at Tonyrefail to rebuild the disused Tonyrefail railway station and to relay the track necessary to reconnect it to the rail network; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Peter Walker
    I apologise for an unfortunate clerical error; the reference in page 31 should have been to Tirphil and not Tonyrefail. I am arranging for the error to be corrected in future prints of the document.

    Water Supplies
    Mr. Ron Davies
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps are being taken by the Welsh water authority to reduce aluminium levels in water supplies in Wales.

    Mr. Ian Grist
    The Welsh water authority has an on-going programme of remedial works to water supplies in Wales containing levels of aluminium above that specified in EC directive 80/778/EEC (the drinking water directive). These works are part of an overall programme, which will be mostly completed by 1990, to ensure that all drinking water supplied complies with the provisions of the directive.

    Mr. Ron Davies
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what studies have been conducted by his Department, the Welsh water authority and other bodies, respectively, into a possible link between high aluminium levels in water and senility; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Grist
    No such studies have been conducted by the Department or the Welsh water authority.

    Research at Southampton university is said to indicate a correlation between Alzheimer's disease (which causes premature senility) and aluminium in drinking water. The report has not been published and so it is not yet possible for medical advisers to comment. When it is published it will be assessed and appropriate action taken if necessary.

    In the United Kingdom and many other countries, aluminium salts are used widely as coagulants in water treatment to remove undesirable suspended contamina-tion and potentially harmful bacteria. Aluminium can also occur naturally in some raw waters. In the United Kingdom, however, the concentrations of aluminium in tap water are controlled mainly by the efficiency with which aluminium is removed during water treatment, irrespective of the source of aluminium.

    The current standard which the Government have adopted, after taking advice from medical experts, for aluminium concentrations in drinking water is that contained within directive 80/778/EEC (the drinking water directive). Most water supplies comply and, where they do not, the Welsh water authority has a programme of remedial action.

    Departmental Staff
    Mr. Grocott
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has as to the proportion of civil servants at grade 3 and above in his Department who were educated in(a) private schools and (b) state schools.

    Mr. Peter Walker
    All oflicers in my Department at grade 3 and above were educated in state secondary schools. However two of these 14 had some of their education in private schools.

    Cancer Treatment (Clwyd and Gwynedd)
    Mr. Barry Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the English health authorities and with Welsh health authorities, indicating which, to agree the terms of reference for a comprehensive study of all cancer treatment services as they relate to patients from Clwyd and Gwynedd; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Grist
    The terms of reference of a study of cancer treatment services for north Wales patients have been the
    435
    subject of consultation with officials of Clwyd, Gwynedd, Powys, Shropshire and Wolverhampton health authorities and North Western, Mersey and West Midlands regional health authorities.

    Satellite Radiotherapy Centre
    Mr. Barry Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to see the establishment of a satellite radiotherapy centre in north Wales related to cancer radiotherapy, currently given to north Wales patients in Wirral, Cheshire; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Grist
    A review of cancer treatment services to north Wales patients, to be mounted as soon as possible, will address the feasibility of providing a satellite radiotherapy centre in north Wales.

    Rents
    Mr. Flynn
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish estimates on the likely changes in average rents paid in(a) council housing, (b) housing association properties and (c) privately rented housing in (i) Wales and (ii) the area covered by the valleys initiative as a consequence of the Housing Bill.

    Mr. Peter Walker
    The Bill will have no effect on the determination of council house rents: this will continue to be a matter for the local authorities. It is not possible to give reliable estimates, for the whole or any part of Wales, of the Bill's possible implications for housing association or private sector rents. Rents charged by associations will continue to reflect the cost of providing accommodation and the availability of public subsidy. As regards private 436
    lettings, existing tenants will continue to be entitled to a fair rent, while rents for new lettings will primarily be for agreement between landlords and tenants.

    Council House Completions
    Mr. Flynn
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the totals of council homes completed by Welsh councils in each year since 1974 and the estimated totals for the next five years.

    Mr. Grist
    The total number of council homes completed by Welsh councils in each year since 1974 is show in the table:

    Local authority completions1

    1974

    3,247

    1975

    7,967

    1976

    7,369

    1977

    6,890

    1978

    4,459

    1979

    3,326

    1980

    3,702

    1981

    3,530

    1982

    1,875

    1983

    1,738

    1984

    2,152

    1985

    1,073

    1986

    870

    1987

    810

    1 Including Newtown.

    Forecasts of housing provision in different tenure categories are not made by the Department.

    Income Support
    Mr. Flynn
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish estimates of the likely changes in Wales this year and for the next five years, in the total amounts claimed in income support in(a) Wales and (b) the area of Wales covered by the valleys initiative.

    Mr. Peter Walker
    No Government, past or present, have ever produced estimates of this nature.

    Private House Completions
    Mr. Flynn
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the totals of new private homes(a) started and (b) completed in each local district council area in Wales in each year since 1974 and the estimated totals for the next fives years.

    Mr. Grist
    The required information on private housing starts and completions from 1974 to 1986 is published in "Local Housing Statistics" copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

    Data for 1987 are given in the following table.

    Forecasts of housing provision in different tenure categories are not made by the Department.

    1987 Private sector

    Welsh Districts

    Starts

    Completions

    Alyn and Deeside

    232

    208

    Colwyn

    369

    241

    Delyn

    215

    189

    Glyndŵr

    169

    116

    Rhuddlan

    119

    109

    Wrexham Maelor

    297

    250

    Carmarthen

    205

    169

    Ceredigion

    212

    149

    Dinefwr

    91

    69

    Llanelli

    98

    51

    Preseli

    32

    331

    South Pembroke

    193

    166

    Blaenau Gwent

    64

    59

    Islwyn

    64

    25

    Monmouth

    468

    376

    Newport

    407

    335

    Torfaen

    220

    219

    Aberconwy

    156

    255

    Arfon

    126

    110

    Dwyfor

    55

    69

    Merionnydd

    14

    10

    Ynys Môn

    128

    166

    Cynon Valley

    56

    60

    Merthyr Tydfil

    149

    127

    Ogwr

    408

    438

    Rhondda

    43

    15

    Rhymney Valley

    169

    213

    Taff-Ely

    560

    330

    Brecknock

    114

    84

    Montgomeryshire

    206

    207

    Radnor

    122

    130

    Cardiff

    1,691

    1,458

    Vale of Glamorgan

    584

    457

    Lliw Valley

    87

    160

    Neath

    121

    96

    Port Talbot (Afan)

    29

    15

    Swansea

    355

    361

    Cwmbran

    57

    54

    Newtown

    56

    91

    WALES TOTAL

    8,741

    7,975

    Local Government (Labour Statistics)
    Mr. Flynn
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish estimates based on experience elsewhere of the changes in the numbers employed by local government in the areas covered by his valleys initiative following the implementation of the privatisation proposals in the Local Government Act 1988.

    Mr. Peter Walker
    Phased implementation of the competition provisions of the Local Government Act 1988 will not begin until 1 August 1989. Estimates of changes in the numbers employed by local government as a result of competition are not available. If local authorities are already competitive there would be no change. If they can improve their competitiveness it may make resources available for other activities.

    National Health Service (Privatisation)
    Mr. Flynn
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish estimates on the likely job losses or gains in the National Health Service that would result in(a) Wales and (b) the areas covered by the valleys initiative if the Government privatisation proposals are fully implemented.

    Mr. Peter Walker
    No such estimates are available. District health authorities in Wales have been encouraged to introduce competitive tendering for certain ancillary services. This, however, is not a policy of privatisation. The object is to compare the efficiency of in-house teams with that of private contractors. Authorities are asked to place contracts with whoever provides the lowest acceptable tender. To date, most tenders have remained in-house.

    Budget (Income Tax Changes)
    Mr. Flynn
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish estimates of the average change per household in income tax payments following the Budget in(a) Wales, (b) the area covered by the valleys initiative and (c) the south-east of England.

    Mr. Peter Walker
    I regret that regional estimates of the effect of the Budget changes are not available.

    Rate Support Grant
    Mr. Flynn
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish amounts of rate support grant and other Government grants paid to all Welsh district and county councils each year since 1974, using 1974 as the base year expressed as 100.

    Mr. Peter Walker
    An index of the amounts of rate support grant and other Government grants paid to all Welsh district and county councils each year since 1974–75 as reported by local authorities is given in the table:

    1974–75 = 100

    1974–75

    100·0

    1975–76

    133·1

    1976–77

    151·3

    1977–78

    161·4

    1978–79

    174·2

    1979–80

    195·5

    1980–81

    235·4

    439

    1974–75 =100

    1981–82

    246·6

    1982–83

    257·3

    1983–84

    268·5

    1984–85

    276·5

    1985–86

    291·3

    11986–87

    312·4

    1 Provisional.

    Housing Association Homes
    Mr. Flynn
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the totals of housing association homes(a) started and (b) completed in the areas of Welsh district councils in each year since 1974 and the estimated totals for the next five years.

    Mr. Grist
    The required information on housing association starts and completions from 1974 to 1986 is published in "Local Housing Statistics" copies of which are available in the Library of the House. The corresponding information for 1987 is shown in the table.

    Forecasts of housing provision in different tenure categories are not made by the Department.

    1987 Housing Associations

    Welsh Districts

    Starts

    Completions

    Alyn and Deeside

    —

    —

    Colwyn

    25

    10

    Delyn

    12

    —

    Glyndŵr

    28

    9

    Rhuddlan

    —

    —

    Wrexham Maelor

    32

    47

    Carmarthen

    49

    23

    Ceredigion

    27

    12

    Dinefwr

    24

    —

    Llanelli

    —

    —

    Preseli

    30

    33

    South Pembroke

    6

    —

    Blaenau Gwent

    23

    40

    Islwyn

    —

    —

    Monmouth

    123

    —

    Newport

    —

    —

    Torfaen

    12

    —

    Aberconwy

    —

    —

    Arfon

    42

    30

    Dwyfor

    8

    35

    Meirionnydd

    —

    —

    Ynys Môn

    27

    —

    Cynon Valley

    81

    40

    Merthyr Tydfil

    6

    14

    Ogwr

    —

    —

    Rhondda

    51

    8

    Rhymney Valley

    49

    14

    Taff-Ely

    —

    12

    Brecknock

    —

    12

    Montgomeryshire

    20

    —

    Radnor

    6

    —

    Cardiff

    265

    23

    Vale of Glamorgan

    —

    31

    Lliw Valley

    —

    —

    Neath

    32

    —

    Port Talbot (Afan)

    20

    28

    Swansea

    16

    46

    Cwmbran

    —

    —

    Newtown

    —

    —

    WALES TOTAL

    1,014

    467

  TRANSPORT

    Cycling
    Mr. Roger King
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what new efforts his Department is making to encourage cycling.

    Mr. Peter Bottomley
    Safer cycling is a high priority. We have a continuous programme of research, and undertake advisory and promotional activities. We helped sponsor the Cyclists' Touring Club's new guide "Positive Cycling". I have just opened a major new cycle route in Exeter and innovative cycle schemes are being opened in Cheltenham and Darlington.

    Mr. Harry Greenway
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department has had any communication with the European Commission over the implementation of the European Parliament report, "The Bicycle as a Means of Transport"; and whether his Department has taken any steps itself to fulfill the recommendations of the report, particularly with regard to paragraph 6 of the report concerning cycle tracks.

    Mr. Peter Bottomley
    The Department has had no communication from the European Commission over the implementation of a report from the European Parliament over cycling. We recognise cycle tracks as a means of enhancing the safety of cyclists. Other techniques, engineering treatments at danger spots such as some junctions and roundabouts, offer more generally applicable ways of helping cyclists.

    Mr. Harry Greenway
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps have been taken by his Department to ensure that Eurotunnel complies with its statutory responsibility to make provision for the conveyance by means of the shuttle trains of pedals cycles in the vehicles that will use the Channel tunnel.

    Mr. David Mitchell
    Eurotunnel is drawing up plans for the conveyance of pedal cycles on Channel tunnel shuttle trains. For safety reasons, it intends to transport cyclists in minibuses towing trailers carrying their cycles. The detailed arrangements will be submitted for approval by the intergovernmental commission.

    Mr. Harry Greenway
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department has spent on providing cycling facilities in the last financial year for which figures are available; and how much local authorities have spent during this time.

    Mr. Peter Bottomley
    We spend much time on cycling.

    The Department spent £160,000 in 1987–88 on its programme of experimental cycling facilities. Figures are not collected centrally on the amounts spent by local authorities on cycle facilities, or on the Department's continuing expenditure on cycle elements in its trunk road improvement schemes.

    Mr. Harry Greenway
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of cycle track have been provided as a part of new and improved trunk roads during the last year for which figures are available.

    Mr. Peter Bottomley
    This information is not held centrally. I shall write to my hon. Friend.

    Pedestrian Safety
    Mr. David Porter
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent measures his Department has taken to improve pedestrian safety.

    Mr. Peter Bottomley
    We have issued a number of leaflets to help local authorities reduce pedestrian casualties by improved road layout. On 17 May we co-sponsored a conference aimed at identifying the most promising new measures. A total of 95 per cent. of pedestrian casualties are in urban areas. First results from our "urban safety" pilot projects suggest that it is possible to reduce overall pedestrian casualties by 14 per cent. using an areawide approach. I am having copies of the reports placed in the Library.

    British Rail (Privatisation)
    Mr. Gareth Wardell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department has made any studies of the potential for selling off rural railway lines.

    Mr. David Mitchell
    No.

    Settle to Carlisle Line
    Mr. Sheerman
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the organisations and individuals who have expressed an interest in buying the Settle to Carlisle railway line since 16 May.

    Mr. David Mitchell
    No. I regard such information as commercially confidential. It is for the organisation concerned to decide whether to seek publicity at this stage.

    South-Western Region (Bypasses)
    Mr. David Nicholson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many new bypasses are scheduled to open in the south-western region in the near future; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Peter Bottomley
    Four new trunk road bypasses will open in July. The Blackwater bypass in Cornwall will open early in the month. I hope soon to perform three opening ceremonies at Bridport in Dorset, Ilminster in Somerset, and—the most significant of all for the west country—Okehampton in Devon.

    Motorways (Charges)
    Mr. Battle
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what reduction in motorway congestion he would expect from the introduction of tolled fast lanes.

    Mr. Peter Bottomley
    No assessment has been made of such a proposal.

    Mr. Tom Clarke
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department has made any assessment of the economic impact of charging vehicles for the use of motorway fast lanes.

    Mr. Peter Bottomley
    Tolling of individual lanes on existing motorways is impracticable. If we receive proposals for the construction of additional lanes on which tolls are to be charged we shall have a full assessment made of their effect. Meanwhile there is no need to do so in any detail.

    Ferry Safety
    Dr. Godman
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to seek to amend his powers to enforce safety improvements in ferry design on United Kingdom and foreign flagged ferries.

    Mr. David Mitchell
    No. I have the powers that I need under the Merchant Shipping Acts.

    Mr. Nellist
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he is satisfied that the IMO is in a position to agree improvements in ferry safety within acceptable time scales.

    Mr. David Mitchell
    In April this year the maritime safety committee of the IMO adopted amendments to the safety of life at sea convention 1974 in the minimum time permitted by the articles of that convention. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has already introduced regulations that apply those amendments to ships using our ports.

    Mr. Pendry
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what comments he has received from the IMO concerning his Department's research into roll-on roll-off ferry safety.

    Mr. David Mitchell
    Such comments as individual members of IMO have made 'welcomed my Department's research into ferry safety.

    Mr. Skinner
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions lie has had with the IMO concerning ferry safety.

    Mr. David Mitchell
    My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State addressed the 15th session of the assembly of the International Maritime Organisation on 9 November last year when he impressed on representatives the United Kingdom Government's's concern to secure early international agreement on measures to ensure the highest safety standards for roll-on roll-off ferries. The assembly sympathised with and supported this concern. The Maritime Safety committee, at its April meeting, considered and endorsed our first package of proposals on ferry safety, including new international requirements on indicator lights, television surveillance and supplementary emergency lighting. The committee also agreed, with the United Kingdom's active support, upon new damage stability requirements for passenger ships, as explained in the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Dover (Mr. Shaw) on 19 May, Official Report, columns 524–25.

    Main Line Railway Stations
    Mr. Hardy
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, when he next meets the chairman of British Rail, he will raise the question of the conditions of British Rail's main line stations.

    Mr. David Mitchell
    No. The conditions of main line stations are purely a matter for British Rail, who are well aware of the importance of quality of service, in the widest sense. If the hon. Member has a particular area of concern perhaps he will write to British Rail (and copy his letter to me).

    London Underground (Bakerloo Line)
    Mr. Simon Hughes
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals there are to extend the southern end of Bakerloo line beyond the Elephant and Castle; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. David Mitchell
    It is for the operators to bring forward investment proposals. Possible extensions to the Bakerloo line, together with other proposals to relieve congestion in the central area of London, are being considered as part of the central London rail study announced on 25 March 1988.

    London Underground (Security)
    Sir John Biggs-Davison
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about security on the London Underground.

    Mr. David Mitchell
    Following my Department's report on crime on the Underground, London Underground Limited is implementing a wide-ranging programme of security measures with the support of £15 million made available by the Government.

    Channel Tunnel
    Mr. Andrew Smith
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement as to the amount of room the statutory authorities will need on a train using the Channel tunnel; and whether this will give rise to any special difficulties in rolling stock construction.

    Mr. Morgan
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what conditions as to space for their purposes the statutory authorities will impose on British Rail for trains using the Channel tunnel; and whether there will be any special conditions for rolling stock construction.

    Mr. David Mitchell
    I understand that the Customs and immigration authorities are currently discussing their requirements with British Rail. Any agreed on-train requirements will be taken into account in the specification for the Channel tunnel rolling stock.

    Mr. Anderson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received about the provision of customs and immigration facilities for the Channel tunnel.

    Mr. David Mitchell
    I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell).

    Mr. Adley
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to receive from British Rail its report on additional rail routes to the Channel tunnel; and when he expects to publish it.

    Mr. David Mitchell
    I expect to receive British Rail's report in July, and that it will he published before Parliament rises for the recess.

    Basildon (Ministerial Visit)
    Mr. Amess
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the visit by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Eltham (Mr. Bottomley) to Basildon.
    444
    Mr. Peter Bottomley
    I visited Hawtal Whiting of Pitsea, Essex on 10 June to see at first hand the work of a United Kingdom company successfully applying new technology in its work for home and overseas customers, particularly in the field of vehicle safety.

    A1 (Improvements)
    Mr. Holt
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the three road improvements under way on the A1 in Yorkshire to be completed.

    Mr. Peter Bottomley
    Work on the new Wetherby bypass is due to end in August 1988. The new interchange at Dishforth should open by the end of 1989. Resurfacing work on the Leeming bypass should be completed in July 1988.

    Car Telephones
    Mr. French
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce legislation to stipulate that the only types of telephone permitted to be used by the driver of a car whilst in motion are those equipped with voice-activated dialling.

    Mr. Peter Bottomley
    Our advice is clear: anyone who can afford a car phone can afford a hands-free microphone.

    Current legislation already places the responsibility on drivers to have proper control of their vehicles at all times. A driver who fails to do so as a result of distraction or lack of concentration is liable to prosecution.

    There are no plans to introduce legislation to stipulate the type of car telephones permitted to be used.

    Ship Discharges
    Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes he is planning in controls over discharges from ships in British coastal waters.

    Mr. David Mitchell
    There will be changes when annex V of the international convention for the prevention of pollution from ships enters into force on 31 December, 1988, when new restrictions will be placed upon the discharge of garbage into the sea. My officials are consulting the industry before I lay subordinate legislation before the House. Other recent changes in controls have come about as a consequence of decisions at the second North sea conference held in London last year. Subsequently airborne surveillance of our coastal waters, in particular for oil discharges, was increased, and new arrangements set up to ensure ships suspected of violations are visited by marine surveyors when they enter not only United Kingdom ports, but ports in Europe.

    Motorways
    Mr. David Marshall
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will prepare a new motorway construction programme for Great Britain; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Peter Bottomley
    We are continuing to develop and improve the trunk road and motorway network. The need for further motorway development is closely monitored and new schemes are added to the programme as the need
    445
    is identified. Motorways in Scotland and Wales are the responsibility of my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales.

    British Rail (Rolling Stock and Locomotives)
    Mrs. Dunwoody
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will hold discussions with the chairman of British Rail about the provision of rolling stock and locomotives for the 1990s.

    Mr. David Mitchell
    My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I already hold frequent discussions with the chairman of BR on investment in new locomotives and rolling stock, for which BR plans to spend around £1 billion over the next five years, making this the biggest programme of locomotive and rolling stock renewal for decades.

    Cars (Clamping)
    Mr. Harry Greenway
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on research into alternatives to the clamping of cars in London and the rest of the United Kingdom.

    Mr. Peter Bottomley
    Current research into parking enforcement is concentrated in and around wheel clamping areas in London and now takes into account the effects of vehicle removal in these areas. Wheel clamping commands much public support. Evidence so far is that clamping is uniquely effective for those parking offences that do not cause danger or delay by obstruction. Parking research elsewhere is largely confined to evaluating the effectiveness of new kinds of parking payment equipment.

    IPCS (Meetings)
    Ms. Quin
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to meet representatives of the Institution of Professional Civil Servants involved in transport industries.

    Mr. Peter Bottomley
    My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no plans at present to do so.

    British Rail (Privatisation)
    Mr. Bill Michie
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department has conducted any studies of options for the sale of British Rail.

    Mr. Austin Mitchell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans for the privatisation of British Rail.

    Mr. David Mitchell
    I have no plans at present for the privatisation of British Rail. But I am beginning to consider long-term options for the future and the possibilities of privatisation are not ruled out.

    London Underground (Safety)
    Mr. Pike
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his staff have had any discussions with London Regional Transport concerning its report on actions taken to improve safety since the King's Cross fire.

    Mr. David Mitchell
    Actions to improve safety on the Underground as a result of the King's Cross fire are 446
    matters for the board of LRT which is statutorily responsible for safety; they keep my officials fully informed.

    Mr. Jim Marshall
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recommendations his Department has made to London Underground concerning safety improvements, following the King's Cross fire.

    Mr. David Mitchell
    The safe operation of London Underground is the responsibility of London Regional Transport. However LRT has explained to my Department its plans for improving safety following the King's Cross fire.

    British Rail
    Mrs. Ray Michie
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last met the chairman of British Rail; and what matters were discussed.

    Mr. David Mitchell
    My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State last met the chairman of British Rail on 24 May and discussed a wide range of matters of mutual interest.

    Mr. Bowis
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next intends to meet the chairman of British Rail; and what matters will be discussed.

    Mr. David Mitchell
    My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will be meeting the chairman of British Rail on 27 July to discuss matters of current interest.

    Drink-Driving Campaign
    Mr. David Martin
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress is being made in his anti-drink and driving campaign.

    Mr. Peter Bottomley
    The Secretary of State launched the latest phase of the Government's campaign against drinking and driving on 15 June. This continues the. "drinking and driving wrecks lives" theme from last year. We have now produced a new TV commercial to supplement the previous ones.

    Our research shows that our campaigns are making an impact. There is evidence of a long-term reduction in the amount of drinking and driving.

    We are greatly encouraged by the support of the private sector, and in particular the contribution of the brewing industry. New low and non-alcoholic beers have been introduced and sales are increasing rapidly.

    We are determined to maintain the momentum of this campaign. Over 1,000 people each year are killed due to drinking and driving. It requires a major collective effort by all concerned to reduce this terrible toll.

    London Underground (Automatic Ticket Barriers)
    Mr. Chris Smith
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the implications for passenger safety on the London Underground of the installation of automatic ticket barriers to replace manned ticket booths.

    Mr. David Mitchell
    London Underground Limited has discussed the safety implications of the new system with the railway inspectorate. All the new automatic ticket barriers can be opened simultaneously from any one of at least three separate places on each station.
    447
    Inspecting officers have visited a number of stations where the new barriers have been installed and are satisfied that the arrangements for the emergency opening of the gates are satisfactory. There will be a wider overall opening in the barrier line with the new system compared with the old manned ticket booth system. Therefore a better means of escape in an emergency will be provided.

    Motorways (Franchisement)
    Mrs. Clwyd
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has any plans for franchising individual motorway lanes.

    Mr. Peter Bottomley
    Not of existing lanes. If we receive proposals for the construction of new lanes on a franchise basis we shall consider them.

    Autoguide System (London)
    Mr. Tim Smith
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the autoguide system to be in operation in central London.

    Mr. Peter Bottomley
    We hope that a pilot autoguide scheme will be operating in London by 1990, provided that Parliament grants the necessary powers and private industry makes a satisfactory proposal. The pilot scheme is intended to provide the basis for a fully commercial autoguide service, to which the public can subscribe in the early 1990s.

    Lead-free Petrol
    Mr. Jacques Arnold
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has of how many vehicles on the road could be adapted to take lead-free petrol.

    Mr. Peter Bottomley
    Nearly half the cars on the road could use or be easily adapted to use unleaded petrol. About 2 million cars currently on the road could use unleaded petrol without modification and about 7 million others could be easily adapted to do so.

    London (Public Transport)
    Mr. Corbyn
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what further plans he has to improve public transport in London; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. David Mitchell
    The Government have approved investment by London Regional Transport of £365 million for this year and for Network SouthEast the planned investment is £197 million per annum on average over the next five years. We look forward to receiving next month the initial report of the central London rail study on improvements to London's rail services in the longer term. London Buses will be restructured into smaller units, providing some benefits as a result of increased competition; and in the early 1990s the benefits of deregulation will further improve service for the public.

    A1 (Ministerial Visit)
    Mr. Devlin
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last made an official visit to any part of the A1 in Yorkshire.

    Mr. Peter Bottomley
    My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State saw the constructional works on the new 448
    A1 Wetherby bypass on 13 December 1987. During his visit he inspected conditions on the road north of Wetherby.

    Radioactive Waste
    Mr. Wallace
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has met representatives of the Nuclear Industry Radioactive Waste Executive to discuss the transportation of radioactive waste and other nuclear materials; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. David Mitchell
    No, but regular contact is maintained at official level.

    Passenger Transport Authorities
    Mr. Blunkett
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has made for monitoring and acting upon the effects of the change in funding of passenger transport authorities, in the light of the proposed community charge.

    Mr. David Mitchell
    We shall be watching with interest metropolitan district expenditure billed from the PTAs and indicators of output made available annually by the PTES. The responsibility for deciding the levels of service will remain as now with the district representatives making up the PTAs.

    Severn Crossing
    Mr. Roy Hughes
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on progress with the provision of a second Severn crossing; and when construction is likely to be completed.

    Mr. Peter Bottomley
    Preparatory work on the second Severn crossing is progressing well. Survey work necessary to develop the design of the crossing is under way and consultations with interested parties are continuing. This would enable the bridge to be completed by the mid-1990s if the build up of traffic needs it by then and Parliament so decides.

    M25–M23 (Traffic Delay)
    Mr. Higgins
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport why traffic turning south from the junction of the M25 and M23 was delayed for over 50 minutes at about noon on Saturday 11 June; who is responsible for co-ordinating the work of the police and other authorities to ensure that traffic is not unnecessarily delayed and motorists are informed when approaching motorway junctions that an alternative route should be used; why no attempt to reduce congestion was made on this occasion; and if he will review his Department's policy to ensure that traffic flows are maintained.

    Mr. Peter Bottomley
    The delays on 11 June were caused by lane closures imposed while a deflectograph machine measured the structural condition of the road. The county council, as the Department's agent, is responsible for co-ordinating lane closures and traffic management. The work was undertaken at short notice to take advantage of the availability of the machine and favourable weather conditions. I regret the inconvenience to motorists. We will aim to avoid similar hold-ups.

    Wild Animals (Crossings)
    Mr. William Powell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his Department does to assist wild animals in crossing busy roads and railways.

    Mr. David Mitchell
    On trunk roads the Department takes special measures to protect wildlife. Examples are deer runs to provide for safe crossing and special fencing and reflectors designed to frighten animals from straying on to roads. Special road signs advise motorists of 150 sites where migrating toads cross during the spawning season. British Rail takes similar measures where practicable, including provision of gaps in electric rails where there are known badger runs.

    Roadworks
    Mr. Squire
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the effect of construction prices on his plans for road building and maintenance this year.

    Mr. Channon
    We are achieving a high level of activity in road building and maintenance. Our planned spending on capital items is over 30 per cent. more in real terms than in 1978–79. Spending on roads this year is at an all time record level of over £1 billion.

    We are also making more rapid progress with schemes than expected. I have reviewed the scheduling of our work. All work currently in hand will continue. I shall continue to give high priority to safety schemes, though there will be implications for the phasing of major reconstruction works. My aim remains to start within the year all planned new construction schemes which are ready.

    Motor Cyclists (Prescription-lensed Goggles)
    Mr. John Marshall
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made on helping those motor cyclists with prescription-lensed goggles comply with the eye protectors regulations.

    Mr. Peter Bottomley
    Amending regulations exempting existing prescription lensed goggles and postponing until 1 April 1989 the requirement for new ones to be approved and marked to BS 4110 were laid before the House today. The regulations also permit the use of glass lensed goggles approved to an earlier version of the standard which did not require marking with the letter "A" to show abrasion resistance. The regulations will come into force in early July.

    M1 (Southbound Carriageway Congestion)
    Mr. Marlow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the causes of congestion on the southbound carriageway of the M1 between junctions 15 and 12 between 20.00 and 22.00 hours on Sunday 12 June, and what immediate action he intends to take to prevent a recurrence.

    Mr. Peter Bottomley
    Southbound traffic on this section of MI is very heavy on Sunday afternoons and evenings. A fatal accident near junction 12 at 18.30 hours on 12 June caused congestion to build up rapidly. The delays extended throughout the evening.

    An experimental automatic incident detection system is being installed on the northbound carriageway of the M1
    450
    between junctions 10 and 19. No immediate measures are to be taken on the southbound carriageway until the results have been evaluated. We continue the work of engineering, education, enforcement, exhortation and example which is designed to cut casualties, their causes and consequences by one third in 12 years.

    Departmental Staff
    Mr. Grocott
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to the proportion of civil servants at grade 3 and above in his Department who were educated in(a) private schools and (b) state schools.

    Mr. Peter Bottomley
    In the last 30 months I have neither needed to know nor asked. I do not intend to start now. The hon. Member could associate information in "Whitaker's" and "Who's Who".

    Motor Cycle Leg Guards
    Mr. Speller
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he made of the cost of providing motor cycle leg guards when considering his policy towards their future fitting on motor cycles.

    Mr. Peter Bottomley
    It might range between 3 and 10 per cent. of the cost of a new motor cycle. Cost and benefits are always taken into account in considering safety specifications to cut deaths and injuries. In the case of leg guards the cost would vary according to the type of motor cycle, its equipment, the manufacturer's design and production methods.

    Motor Cycles (Accidents)
    Mr. Speller
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many injuries there have been from road accidents involving motor cycles; and at what cost of treatment, over the most recent period for which figures are available.

    Mr. Peter Bottomley
    The information is as follows:

    Number of casualties in accidents involving motor cycles

    Great Britain: 1986

    Killed

    Seriously injured

    Slightly injured

    All casualties

    915

    17,678

    41,754

    60,347

    Of these, pedestrian casualties were:

    119

    1,360

    2,909

    4,388

    Number of casualties among motor cycle users

    Great Britain: 1986

    Killed

    Seriously injured

    Slightly injured

    All casualties

    762

    15,704

    35,814

    52,280

    The estimated medical and ambulance costs of all accidents involving motor cycles were £42 million, out of a total of £150 million for road accident casualties, at 1986 prices; 406 of the pedestrian casualties were incurred al. zebra crossings.

    North Circular Road (Subsidence)
    Ms. Richardson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how long the 5 ft wide hole in the middle of the
    451
    northbound carriageway of the Barking to South Woodford relief road north of the viaduct over the Barking to Fenchurch Street railway line will take to repair; whether other structural defects have appeared; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Neil Thorne
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set up an inquiry, with the results to be made public, into the circumstances of the subsidence on the northbound outside lane of the South Woodford to Barking relief road (north circular) between Barking and Ilford which occurred on or about 7 June; what action will be taken against those responsible; how much compensation will be received for the loss of use of part of the road; and when the repair work will be completed.

    Mr. Peter Bottomley
    Repairs will be carried out as quickly as possible. The subsidence was caused by the failure of a connection between a drainage gully and the main drain for the road, some 5 ft below the central reservation. Water draining through the gully washed away material below the surface.

    As this occurred during the one-year maintenance period following the road's opening, the relevant contractor is responsible for the repairs at his own expense.

    A considerable amount of material has blocked the main drain. Clearing this may involve further excavations and temporary traffic restrictions.

    Roads (Private Investment)
    Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the organisations and individuals who have expressed an interest in private sector investment in the provision of roads.

    Mr. Peter Bottomley
    Much interest has been shown. I wrote to a number of firms asking for ideas on how to improve the country's transport infrastructure. Over 30 responded.

    Vehicle Excise Duty
    Mr. Thurnham
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the campaign against vehicle excise duty evasion in the north-west.

    Mr. Peter Bottomley
    The recent campaign against vehicle excise duty evasion in the north-west was run in conjunction with the Cumbria, Cheshire, Iancashire and Greater Manchester police forces. Two weeks of extensive local publicity in early May, to encourage motorists to license their vehicles voluntarily, were followed by a fortnight of intensified police activity to catch evaders who had failed to heed the warnings given. More than 1,400 offenders have so far been reported for prosecution. I shall write to my hon. Friend when the full results are available.

    Home Defence Exercises
    Mr. Redmond
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his reply of 25 April to the hon. Member for Lewisham, Deptford (Ms Ruddock),Official Report, column 70, if he will list the sites occupied by public sector transport undertakings at which exercise activities will take place in any or all of the military home defence exercises Eastern Shield, Capital Guard, Drakes
    452
    Drum, Autumn Tiger, Northern Crusade, Western Encounter, Triple Crown and Strong Link; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Peter Bottomley
    No. It would not be in the public interest to disclose these sites.

    ATL Holdings
    Mrs. Dunwoody
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many public service vehicle licences are held by ATL Holdings Ltd. or any of its subsidiary companies; when they were granted; how long they have been held; and what were the variations in those licences in the last five years;

    (2) how many times the north-west traffic commissioners have reduced the public service vehicle licences held by ATL Holdings; on what dates; for which companies; and on how many vehicles;

    (3) on how many occasions, and on which dates, ATL Holdings has had any of its public service vehicle licences reduced because of road safety violations or the use of unsafe vehicles.

    Mr. David Mitchell
    ATL Holdings does not hold a PSV operator's licence. The current licence of its subsidiary Yelloway Motor Services Ltd., was granted on 8 April 1988 and its first licence on 1 March 1982. The current licence of Crosville Motor Services was granted on 17 August 1987, and its first licence on 1 August 1981. The current licence of SUT Ltd. was granted on 19 June 1987 and its first on 1 May 1987. The current licence of Yelloway Trathens Express was granted on 1 November 1986 and its first on 28 November 1985.

    The number of vehicles which Yelloways Motor Services is authorised to operate on its PSV operator's licence was reduced from 50 to 35 with effect from 1 June 1987 because of severe maintenance problems. It was further reduced from 35 to 30 on 8 April 1988 on account of new prohibition notices.

    The other variations in the number of vehicles which these companies were authorised to operate over the last five years were:—

    Yelloways Motor Services was granted a reduction from 60 to 50 in February 1987.

    Crosville Motor Services Ltd. was granted an increase from 764 to 774 in January 1985; a reduction from 774 to 478 in October 1986 (when the company was divided into two); and a reduction from 478 to 450 in August 1987.

    Yelloway Trathens Express Ltd. was granted an increase from 10 to 20 in March 1987.

    National Bus Company
    Mrs. Dunwoody
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) when he last consulted the north-west traffic commissioners; what were the subjects of his consultations; and whether he discussed the sale of Crosville Motor Co. with any of the north-west commissioners before approving the sale by the National Bus Company of the company;

    (2) what consultation procedures exist to enable him to establish from the traffic commissioners whether an applicant for the sale of National Bus Company assets is a fit and proper person; and how such procedures were followed in the case of ATL Holdings.

    Mr. David Mitchell
    There is no formal procedure for the Department to consult the traffic commissioners on
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    these matters. As I explained in my answer to the hon. Member's similar question on 18 May at column 614 the National Bus Company took steps to satisfy itself about the suitability of the purchasers of Crosville Motor Services. Its inquiries included discussion with the traffic commissioner's office and inspection of the maintenance facilities. The results of these inquiries were taken fully into account before approval to the sale was given.

    Public Service Vehicles (Maintenance)
    Mrs. Dunwoody
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department lays down minimum requirements for the maintenance of public service vehicles in regard to adequate numbers of fitters, maintenance depots and general maintenance inspections; and how often the north-west traffic commissioners have discussed this matter with him.

    Mr. David Mitchell
    The Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981 provides that an application for a public service vehicle operators licence shall not be granted unless the traffic commissioner is satisfied that there will be adequate facilities or arrangements for maintaining in a fit and servicable condition the vehicles to be used under the licence. It is for the traffic commissioner to decide how this requirement is to be met. The traffic commissioner for the north-western traffic area has had no recent discussions with the Department on maintenance matters.

    Motor Insurance
    Mr. Shersby
    To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what information he has concerning the extension of comprehensive and third party motor insurance to other European Community countries in the light of the forthcoming completion of the Channel tunnel and the single European market.

    Mr. Peter Bottomley
    Motor insurance policies issued in one member state already provide the cover required by law in each of the others. From 31 December 1988, policies throughout the Community will cover liability for damage to property as well as bodily injury. This is required by directive 84/5/EC. We introduced regulations last December to comply with the directive. The Community's effort has been directed to the harmonisation of compulsory requirements to protect the interests of accident victims. Our view is that it is for individual drivers to decide what cover they require in addition to compulsory insurance.

    Dial-a-Ride Service (London)
    Mr. Cartwright
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out the number of drivers employers by each dial-a-ride service in the London Regional Transport area at(a) the most recent convenient date, and (b) 12 months earlier.

    Mr. Peter Bottomley
    This is a matter for the management committees of the voluntary organisations concerned and for London Regional Transport which funds them.

    Channel Tunnel Rail Service (Disabled People)
    Mr. Tom Cox
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he is having with representatives of the British and French railways to ensure that all 454
    trains that will be used on the Channel tunnel rail service links will be properly equipped to ensure suitable seating and toilet facilities for disabled people; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. David Mitchell
    The design of the rolling stock for the Channel tunnel through rail services is the responsibility of the railway operators concerned. I understand that the draft specification for the high-speed rolling stock which has been agreed between the British and the French railways already includes suitable facilities for disabled people.

    London Buses
    Mr. Cartwright
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out the number of vehicles operated by each district road service in the London Regional Transport area of(a) the most recent convenient date and (b) 12 months earlier.

    Mr. David Mitchell
    The detailed deployment of vehicles to services provided by London Regional Transport through its subsidiary London Buses Limited or secured by them through tendering is a matter for the operators concerned.

  ENVIRONMENT

    Bradfield Court, Nottingham
    Mr. Allen
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the tenants of Bradfield court, Nottingham, regarding the selling of their homes.

    Mrs. Roe
    None.

    Housing Bill
    Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received concerning proposals contained in the Housing Bill to allow local authority tenants choice of landlords; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Waldegrave
    I have received many representations concerning the proposals in part IV of the Housing Bill—"Tenants' Choice"—from members of the public, from organisations and from local authorities. Where these were in response to our explanatory paper and the senders gave permission, copies were laid in the Library.

    Water Supplies
    Ms. Walley
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to make permissible levels of aluminium in the water supply lower than the level allowed under European Community regulations, following recent research suggesting that water that passes these regulations may be dangerous.

    Mr. David Young
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, in view of the research findings of Southampton university on the possible link between Alzheimer's disease and aluminium compounds added to water, what immediate action he proposes to take to safeguard the consumer while scientific investigation is carried out; if he will consider alternatives to aluminium compounds; and if he will make a statement.
    455
    Mr. Moynihan
    I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, North-East (Mr. Thurnham) on 17 June.

    Ms. Walley
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he is taking to ensure that water authorities comply with the European Community regulations limiting the levels of aluminium in the water supply; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Moynihan
    We have agreed action programmes for the 31 supplies which do not at present comply with the aluminium standard set in the EC drinking water directive, owing to the use of aluminium in the treatment process. Most of these supplies should comply by 1990.

    Where aluminium is naturally occurring in water the directive allows the Department to grant derogations. The Department has granted 16 derogations, but has stressed that these should be phased out over the next few years.

    The hon. Member is also referred to the statement I made in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, North-East (Mr. Thurnham) on 17 June.

    Ms. Walley
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list, by water authority areas and their districts, the levels of aluminium in the water supply.

    Mr. Moynihan
    This information is not held centrally.

    Mr. Cousins
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment by how much the water supplied by the Newcastle and Gateshead water company exceeds the European Economic Community limit for aluminium content; and whether he will make a statement.

    Mr. Moynihan
    The local areas served by the Newcastle and Gateshead water company which have been supplied with drinking water containing aluminium levels above those specified in the EC drinking water directive since the directive came into operation in 1985 are:

    Rochester

    West Woodburn

    Otterburn

    Wark on Tyne

    Bellingham

    There are about 3,500 people in these areas. However, improvements have been carried out and all the company's supplies now comply with the aluminium standard set in the directive.

    Mr. Pawsey
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what conclusion he has reached as a result of the Hatton catchment nitrate study.

    Mr. Moynihan
    The Hatton catchment nitrate study provides a thorough and useful assessment of the various options for controlling nitrate in water supplies in an area which may have lessons for other areas. The study is being taken into account in the Government's current review of the nitrate issue.

    Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish a list of water authorities in England and Wales, indicating in each case how much use it makes of aluminium compounds to achieve the characteristics sought in the water which it supplies; and whether his Department is to issue guidance in response to the alleged link between the long-term generation of Alzheimer's disease and the employment of chemicals containing aluminium in the public water supply.
    456
    Mr. Moynihan
    All water authorities in England and Wales use aluminium compounds in some of their treatment works for the removal of suspended matter from surface waters. Those which make the most use of aluminium are Northumbria, North-West, Severn-Trent, South-West and Yorkshire. With respect to the alleged link with Alzheimer's disease I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, North-East (Mr. Thurnham) on 17 June.

    Mr. Favell
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people in the Stockport area receive water with aluminium content exceeding European Community permitted levels; what are the levels of aluminium in such water; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Moynihan
    About 180,000 people in the Stockport area receive water with aluminium content exceeding the aluminium standard in the EC directive for drinking water. Current concentrations of aluminium are not considered a health risk. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 17 June to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, North-East (Mr. Thurnham).

    National Rivers Authority
    Mr. Alton
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) where it is intended to locate the headquarters of the new National Rivers Authority;

    (2) if he will locate the headquarters of the new National Rivers Authority in Liverpool.

    Mr. Moynihan
    No decision has yet been taken.

    Rating Reform
    Mr. Cohen
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether community charge officers will be able to trace debtors and defaulters by asking for information concerning an individual's name and address from gas, water and electricity boards.

    Mr. Howard
    No. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 26 May at column 305.

    Mr. Cartwright
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of (i) the staffing implications and (ii) the administrative costs of his proposals announced on 17 November 1987 and 25 April to require 10 London boroughs to operate residual domestic rating for four years in addition to the community charge.

    Mr. Howard
    I have not yet completed consideration of the findings of the Price Waterhouse study of the implementation of the community charge.

    Mr. Cartwright
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what criteria he used in establishing the threshold above which 10 London boroughs will be required to operate residual domestic rating, announced in his reply to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen) on 25 April,Official Report, at columns 61–62.

    Mr. Howard
    The basic criterion was the combined level of spending above assessed need on all local services, and therefore the implied level of community charges, based on 1987–88 budgets. We also had regard to the evidence from provisional expenditure returns for 1988–89
    457
    of reductions in aggregate overspending; to representations received and to assurances given about measures to be taken which would further reduce community charge levels. At the time of my announcement no representations had been received from the individual authorities to which part IV of the Local Government Finance Bill is now to apply.

    Community Charge Register
    Mr. Cohen
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce the procedures or restrictions that will be associated with the sale of names and addresses from the community charge register.

    Mr. Howard
    I refer the hon. Member to what was said by my noble Friend the Minister of State during the Committee stage of the Local Government Finance Bill in another place—Official Report, House of Lords, 6 June; column 1139–41.

    Environment Council
    Mr. Hanley
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Environment Council on 16 June.

    Mr. Moynihan
    My noble Friend the Minister for the Environment, Countryside and Water represented the United Kingdom at this meeting, which was adjourned at 4 am on 17 June and will resume on 28 June.

    The Council adopted the directive limiting diesel car particulate emissions, on which the Council had previously adopted a common position.

    I am pleased to say that the Council reached a common position on the Commission's proposals to ratify and implement the Montreal protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer, subject to parliamentary reserves on behalf of the United Kingdom and several other member states. The Council also agreed a political resolution which emphasises the importance of voluntary action to reduce further the use of CFCs and halons and specifies that such reductions should not be offset by increases in other uses or in other parts of the Community. The Commission was invited to seek voluntary agreement with industry on a Community label for CFC-free products.

    I am especially pleased to report that after four and a half years of negotiation the Council was able to reach agreement on the large combustion plants directive, subject to scutiny reserves by France, Italy, and Portugal and parliamentary reserves on behalf of Denmark and the United Kingdom. Under the agreement, the United Kingdom accepts a phased programme of reductions in sulphur dioxide emissions from existing large combustion plants, from 1980 levels, of 20 per cent. by 1993, 40 per cent. by 1998 and 60 per cent. by 2003; and in nitrogen oxide emissions of 15 per cent. by 1993 and 30 per cent. by 1998. These ambitious new targets will require a very substantial additional effort over and above our existing programe of retrofitting 6000 MW of coal-fired generating plant with flue gas desulphurisation equipment. The agreement represents a firm and positive commitment on the part of the United Kingdom which will result in substantial benefits for the environment, and will also give the industries concerned firm targets for their future planning.
    458
    There was further discussion of the second stage of exhaust emission standards for small cars (the "Luxembourg package"). My noble Friend indicated that the United Kingdom was willing to agree to the Commission proposal, subject to parliamentary reserve, and several other member states followed him in doing so. However, I am sorry to say that there remained a blocking minority which prevented progress. The dossier was referred for further discussion on 28 June.

    I am pleased to report that the Council reached agreement in principle, subject to a United Kingdom parliamentary reserve, on a second amendment to directive 82/501/EEC on the major accident hazards of certain industrial activities (the "Seveso" directive). This amendment will strengthen the parent directive's provisions on informing the public and will extend the scope of the directive to cover more premises storing dangerous substances—both isolated warehouses and process-associated storage. In the light of this extension, the Commission undertook to review urgently the list of substances and thresholds in annex III of the parent directive.

    The Council had a preliminary exchange of views on a Commission report on the environmental consequences of the changing nature of agriculture and also discussed the export of hazardous wastes to Third world countries and current pollution and algae problems in the North sea.

    On 28 June the Council will resume consideration of emissions from small cars and will also discuss wastes from the titanium dioxide industry and a proposed pilot scheme concerning environment and employment.

    Drinking Water
    Ms. Quin
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the 50 areas for which derogations have been given from European Economic Community requirements concerning levels of aluminium in drinking water.

    Mr. Moynihan
    The 47 areas where the Department has given the aluminium derogations under article 9 of the EC drinking water directive or has applied to the European Commission under article 20 for a further period of time to comply with the aluminium standard are as follows:

    Northumbrian Water Authority

    Tunstall

    Severn-Trent Water Authority

    Parts of North Warwickshire, Coventry and Nuneaton

    Parts of Charnwood, Hinckley and Bosworth areas

    Part of Stroud district council area

    Areas supplied direct from Elan reservoirs aqueduct

    Part of Montgomery

    South West Water Authority

    Parishes of Seaton and Beer

    Areas supplied from Tottiford treatment works

    Areas supplied from Prewley treatment works

    Bideford

    College supply zone—Falmouth and Penrhyn

    Watercombe supply zone

    Higher parts of Penzance

    Launceston and Callington areas

    Bodmin and Wadebridge areas

    Princetown

    Chagford Crediton hamlets

    North West Water Authority

    Parts of Sefton M.B

    Parts of Stockport M.B

    Parts of Bolton M.B.

    459

    Parts of Tameside M.B

    Parts of Oldham M.B

    Parts of Carlisle District

    Parts of Eden District

    Parts of Lancaster Borough

    Parts of Ribble Valley District

    Yorkshire Water Authority

    South East Sheffield

    Central Sheffield

    Parts of West Barnsley (2)

    South West Sheffield

    Thornton pressure treatment works supply area, West Bradford

    Area east of Thirsk

    Area west of Harrogate

    Addingham

    Parts of Dewsbury, Mirfield and Huddersfield

    Part of North Bradford

    Huddersfield, Holmbridge, Holmstyes area

    Parts of Huddersfield

    Rural area of Keighley

    Reva treatment works supply area, Rombalds

    Parts of Huddersfield

    Rural areas west and south of Halifax (2)

    Northern area of Halifax

    Halifax, served by Thrum Hall treatment works

    Otley

    Ms. Quin
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list the local areas, served by the Newcastle and Gateshead water company, which have been supplied with drinking water containing aluminium levels above recommended European Economic Community limits over each of the last five years;

    (2) how many people in the Newcastle and Gateshead areas have been supplied with drinking water containing aluminium over recommended European Economic Community limits, for each of the last five years;

    (3) he will list for each of the areas which have been given derogations from European Economic Community limits concerning aluminium levels, by how much the European Economic Community limits were exceeded for each of the last five years.

    Mr. Moynihan
    This information is not held centrally. The level of aluminium in drinking water in areas which do not yet meet the standard for aluminium set in the EC drinking water directive is considered acceptable by medical advisers.

    Planning Appeal (Banbury)
    Mr. Baldry
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to be able to announce his decision on the appeal relating to the retail warehouse parts and so on at the old automotive products site in Banbury.

    Mr. Waldegrave
    The Secretary of State currently awaits the submission of an agreement, to be concluded between the parties, under section 52 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971, relating to various highways and access works. It is not therefore possible to state when a decision will be reached on the appeal.

    Pollution
    Mr. David Young
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what actions have been taken to reduce the emissions causing acid rain; by what percentage these emissions have been reduced to date; what further actions he proposes in this field; what is the largest percentage reduction; and if he will make a statement.
    460
    Mrs. Ray Michie
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the levels of sulphur emissions from power stations; and what action he is taking to have these levels reduced.

    Ms. Walley
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he now intends to take to introduce an urgent programme of heavy cuts in the pollution from cars and power stations that causes acid rain.

    Mr. Moynihan
    Total United Kingdom sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions have fallen by nearly 40 per cent. since 1970, while nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions have remained broadly stable. We have authorised the Central Electricity Generating Board to retrofit flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) equipment to 6,000 MW of electrical generating capacity (three major power stations) and low-NOx burners to all 12 major CEGB coal-fired power stations. All new power stations are to have the technology to control acid emissions, to the requirements of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution.

    We have now agreed, subject to parliamentary reserve, to a new European Community directive on the control of emissions from large combustion plants, and I would refer the hon. Member to my answer today to my hon. Friend the Member for Richmond and Barnes (Mr. Hanley). This will represent a very substantial reduction in United Kingdom emissions.

    The European Community Luxembourg package which was agreed last December provides for substantial reductions in motor vehicle emissions. We intend to implement the new standards in full. We expect that the Luxembourg agreement will fully compensate for the growth in traffic between now and 2000 and will achieve significant reductions in both primary and secondary pollutants.

    Mr. David Young
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the water authorities succesfully prosecuted under the Control of Pollution Act 1974 for excess discharge of sewage; what action he has taken to see that plant is updated by the water authorities before any privatisation takes place; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Moynihan
    I understand that Thames water authority did not contest a prosecution last year for breaches of discharge consent conditions. I know of no other completed cases against water authorities. A major programme to renew and upgrade sewage treatment works is in progress. Investment in sewage treatment and disposal is planned to rise in real terms from £217 million last year to £260 million this year. Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution is investigating all sewage treatment works which failed to comply with consents in 1987 to establish the reasons for non-compliance and the remedial measures water authorities are proposing to deal with the problems.

    Housing Statistics
    Mr. Frank Field
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the number and the proportion of all households accounted for by owner-occupiers, for each of the last 20 years.

    Mrs. Roe
    Estimate of numbers and proportions of dwellings in owner-occupation from 1976 to 1987 appear
    461
    in table 2.22 of the quarterly "Housing and Construction Statistics", No. 32, a copy of which is available in the Library. Estimates for England from 1968 to 1975 are as follows:

    Estimated stock of owner-occupied dwellings in England

    End of year

    Thousand

    Per cent, of all dwellings

    1968

    7,870

    50·6

    1969

    8,029

    50·9

    1970

    8,214

    51·4

    1971

    8,501

    52·4

    1972

    8,780

    53·5

    1973

    9,029

    54·5

    1974

    9,205

    54·9

    1975

    9,385

    55·3

    Note: Although numbers are expressed to the nearest thousand they should not be regarded as accurate to the last digit.

    Mr. Simon Hughes
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each local authority area in England and Wales the number of homes made available to people under the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act in 1986–87; and what percentage this represented of the total number of houses available for new tenants in 1986–87.

    Mrs. Roe
    The information provided by English local authorities in their housing investment programme returns for 1987 is in the following table. For information about Welsh authorities I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

    Local authority lettings to homeless households in priority need in 1986–87

    Local authority

    Dwellings let to new tenants (excluding mobility schemes)

    through mobility schemes

    Number

    Percentage

    Number

    Region North Inc. Cumbria

    Cleveland

    Hartlepool

    171

    28

    —

    Langbaurgh

    67

    11

    —

    Middlesbrough

    397

    41

    n.a.

    Stockton-on-Tees

    252

    23

    —

    Cumbria

    Allerdale

    45

    15

    —

    Barrow-in-Furness

    27

    10

    —

    Carlisle

    77

    12

    —

    Copeland

    68

    17

    —

    Eden

    23

    14

    —

    South Lakeland

    22

    9

    —

    Durham

    Chester-le-Street

    28

    5

    —

    Darlington

    66

    13

    —

    Derwentside

    17

    2

    —

    Durham

    78

    11

    —

    Easington

    24

    2

    —

    Sedgefield

    68

    7

    —

    Teesdale

    16

    25

    —

    Wear Valley

    51

    9

    —

    Northumberland

    Alnwick

    12

    6

    —

    Berwick-upon-Tweed

    11

    6

    —

    Blyth Valley

    78

    14

    —

    Castle Morpeth

    22

    9

    —

    Tynedale

    29

    14

    —

    Wansbeck

    112

    19

    —

    Tyne and Wear

    Gateshead

    335

    21

    —

    Newcastle upon Tyne

    781

    15

    n.a.

    North Tyneside

    719

    45

    —

    462

    Local authority

    Dwellings let to new tenants (excluding mobility schemes)

    through mobility schemes

    Number

    Percentage

    Number

    South Tyneside

    168

    15

    —

    Sunderland

    270

    12

    —

    Region Yorkshire and Humberside

    Humberside

    Beverley

    107

    25

    —

    Boothferry

    32

    11

    —

    Cleethorpes

    24

    8

    —

    East Yorkshire

    14

    7

    —

    Glanford

    41

    10

    —

    Great Grimsby

    78

    13

    —

    Holderness

    24

    12

    —

    Kingston upon Hull

    561

    28

    —

    Scunthorpe

    53

    9

    —

    North Yorkshire

    Craven

    37

    22

    —

    Hambleton

    46

    21

    —

    Harrogate

    71

    24

    —

    Richmondshire

    37

    21

    —

    Ryedale

    61

    29

    —

    Scarborough

    107

    30

    —

    Selby

    38

    9

    —

    York

    143

    28

    —

    South Yorkshire

    Barnsley

    83

    5

    —

    Doncaster

    53

    2

    —

    Rotherham

    119

    5

    —

    Sheffield

    1,042

    25

    —

    West Yorkshire

    Bradford

    508

    15

    —

    Calderdale

    156

    11

    —

    Kirklees

    1,023

    30

    1

    Leeds

    1,090

    20

    —

    Wakefield

    62

    2

    —

    Region East Midlands

    Derbyshire

    Amber Valley

    139

    37

    —

    Bolsover

    27

    7

    —

    Chesterfield

    75

    10

    —

    Derby

    313

    22

    —

    Derbyshire Dales

    39

    16

    —

    Erewash

    103

    20

    —

    High Peak

    65

    19

    —

    North East Derbyshire

    84

    14

    —

    South Derbyshire

    58

    33

    —

    Leicestershire

    Blaby

    61

    31

    —

    Charnwood

    96

    14

    —

    Harborough

    45

    28

    —

    Hinckley and Bosworth

    29

    13

    —

    Leicester

    443

    21

    —

    Melton

    50

    28

    —

    North West Leicestershire

    70

    18

    —

    Oadby and Wigston

    52

    46

    —

    Rutland

    45

    58

    —

    Lincolnshire

    Boston

    17

    5

    —

    East Lindsey

    56

    16

    —

    Lincoln

    101

    14

    —

    North Kesteven

    46

    12

    —

    South Holland

    38

    26

    —

    South Kesteven

    142

    24

    —

    West Lindsey

    62

    15

    —

    Northamptonshire

    Corby

    197

    30

    —

    Daventry

    74

    27

    1

    East Northamptonshire

    66

    19

    —

    Kettering

    62

    20

    —

    463

    Local authority

    Dwellings let to new tenants (excluding mobility schemes)

    through mobility schemes

    Number

    Percentage

    Number

    Northampton

    214

    14

    —

    South Northamptonshire

    95

    41

    —

    Wellingborough

    78

    15

    —

    Nottinghamshire

    Ashfield

    186

    28

    —

    Bassetlaw

    173

    25

    n.a.

    Broxtowe

    88

    21

    —

    Gedling

    57

    24

    —

    Mansfield

    201

    21

    —

    Newark and Sherwood

    41

    8

    —

    Nottingham

    355

    14

    —

    Rushcliffe

    59

    23

    —

    Region East Anglia

    Cambridgeshire

    Cambridge

    184

    41

    —

    East Cambridgeshire

    44

    21

    1

    Fenland

    21

    9

    —

    Huntingdonshire

    180

    38

    —

    Peterborough

    102

    22

    —

    South Cambridgeshire

    90

    29

    —

    Norfolk

    Breckland

    111

    25

    —

    Broadland

    54

    28

    —

    Great Yarmouth

    54

    16

    —

    Kings Lynn and West Norfolk

    122

    28

    —

    North Norfolk

    103

    43

    —

    Norwich

    409

    28

    —

    South Norfolk

    62

    32

    2

    Suffolk

    Babergh

    147

    63

    —

    Forest Heath

    26

    14

    —

    Ipswich

    149

    46

    —

    Mid Suffolk

    58

    23

    —

    St. Edmundsbury

    49

    15

    —

    Suffolk Coastal

    18

    7

    —

    Waveney

    87

    28

    —

    Local authority lettings to homeless households in priority need in 1986–87

    Local Authority

    Dwellings let to new tenants (excluding mobility schemes)

    Through mobility schemes

    Number

    Percentage

    Number

    Region Greater London

    Inner London

    City of London

    15

    12

    —

    Camden

    1,373

    72

    17

    Hackney

    674

    64

    151

    Hammersmith and Fulham

    437

    60

    42

    Haringey

    873

    70

    13

    Islington

    941

    63

    101

    Kensington and Chelsea

    255

    49

    5

    Lambeth

    1,142

    48

    75

    Lewisham

    1,219

    73

    76

    Newham

    818

    59

    n.a.

    Southwark

    1,404

    59

    173

    Tower Hamlets

    627

    44

    120

    Wandsworth

    364

    49

    82

    Westminster

    554

    60

    10

    Outer London

    Barking and Dagenham

    1142

    13

    n.a.

    Barnet

    319

    46

    25

    Bexley

    190

    42

    —

    Brent

    579

    79

    4

    Bromley

    602

    80

    6

    Croydon

    511

    67

    6

    464

    Local Authority

    Dwellings let to new tenants (excluding mobility schemes)

    Through mobility schemes

    Number

    Percentage

    Number

    Ealing

    522

    57

    17

    Enfield

    353

    42

    1

    Greenwich

    21,130

    81

    112

    Harrow

    211

    59

    —

    Havering

    260

    35

    4

    Hillingdon

    326

    56

    —

    Hounslow

    625

    61

    12

    Kingston upon Thames

    175

    69

    3

    Merton

    290

    48

    —

    Redbridge

    287

    60

    3

    Richmond upon Thames

    199

    46

    —

    Sutton

    285

    57

    n.a.

    Waltham Forest

    564

    50

    —

    Region South East Excluding London

    Bedfordshire

    Luton

    26

    5

    —

    Mid Bedfordshire

    43

    14

    —

    North Bedfordshire

    108

    24

    1

    South Bedfordshire

    122

    37

    —

    Berkshire

    Bracknell

    107

    39

    —

    Newbury

    116

    39

    —

    Reading

    159

    52

    —

    Slough

    236

    46

    10

    Windsor and Maidenhead

    73

    26

    —

    Wokingham

    46

    24

    —

    Buckinghamshire

    Aylesbury Vale

    144

    30

    —

    Chiltern

    43

    17

    —

    Milton Keynes

    119

    30

    —

    South Bucks

    13

    9

    —

    Wycombe

    179

    47

    —

    East Sussex

    Brighton

    185

    44

    —

    Eastbourne

    130

    36

    —

    Hastings

    141

    42

    3

    Hove

    138

    63

    —

    Lewes

    82

    35

    —

    Rother

    108

    52

    —

    Wealden

    154

    51

    —

    Essex

    Basildon

    121

    30

    —

    Braintree

    109

    20

    —

    Brentwood

    41

    13

    3

    Castle Point

    33

    30

    —

    Chelmsford

    162

    39

    3

    Colchester

    337

    50

    1

    Epping Forest

    13

    4

    1

    Harlow

    190

    26

    —

    Maldon

    61

    48

    —

    Rochford

    50

    51

    —

    Southend-on-Sea

    116

    38

    —

    Tendring

    57

    30

    1

    Thurrock

    198

    33

    10

    Uttlesford

    34

    25

    —

    Hampshire

    Basingstoke and Deane

    85

    21

    —

    East Hampshire

    85

    42

    —

    Eastleigh

    74

    31

    —

    Fareham

    41

    25

    —

    Gosport

    165

    54

    —

    Hart

    37

    38

    —

    Havant

    45

    16

    —

    New Forest

    308

    73

    —

    Portsmouth

    167

    18

    —

    Rushmoor

    173

    65

    —

    Southampton

    148

    11

    —

    Test Valley

    149

    40

    —

    Winchester

    84

    25

    —

    465

    Local Authority

    Dwellings let to new tenants (excluding mobility schemes)

    Through mobility schemes

    Number

    Percentage

    Number

    Hertfordshire

    Broxbourne

    96

    56

    —

    Dacorum

    70

    13

    —

    East Hertfordshire

    133

    43

    —

    Hertsmere

    114

    44

    2

    North Hertfordshire

    63

    16

    —

    St. Albans

    139

    51

    —

    Stevenage

    160

    28

    —

    Three Rivers

    118

    43

    —

    Watford

    117

    39

    —

    Welwyn Hatfield

    89

    18

    1

    Isle of Wight

    Medina

    104

    43

    —

    South Wight

    85

    58

    —

    Kent

    Ashford

    84

    19

    —

    Canterbury

    163

    43

    —

    Dartford

    81

    27

    —

    Dover

    49

    16

    —

    Gillingham

    111

    45

    1

    Gravesham

    85

    37

    —

    Maidstone

    195

    53

    —

    Rochester upon Medway

    42

    15

    —

    Sevenoaks

    179

    46

    2

    Shepway

    5

    2

    —

    Swale

    85

    30

    —

    Thanet

    40

    10

    —

    Tonbridge and Malling

    156

    64

    —

    Tunbridge Wells

    128

    49

    —

    Oxfordshire

    Cherwell

    145

    30

    —

    Oxford

    119

    30

    —

    South Oxfordshire

    27

    7

    —

    Vale of White Horse

    18

    8

    —

    West Oxfordshire

    42

    18

    —

    Surrey

    Elmbridge

    117

    44

    —

    Epsom and Ewell

    10

    13

    —

    Guildford

    80

    26

    —

    Mole Valley

    21

    13

    —

    Reigate and Banstead

    87

    30

    —

    Runnymede

    62

    45

    —

    Spelthorne

    24

    10

    —

    Surrey Heath

    39

    33

    —

    Tandridge

    102

    37

    —

    Waverley

    119

    45

    1

    Woking

    101

    35

    —

    West Sussex

    Adur

    71

    42

    —

    Arun

    40

    13

    —

    Chichester

    145

    36

    —

    Crawley

    169

    32

    —

    Horsham

    98

    35

    —

    Mid Sussex

    90

    46

    3

    Worthing

    65

    30

    —

    Local authority lettings to homeless households in priority need in 1986–87

    Local Authority

    Dwellings let to new tenants (excluding mobility schemes)

    through mobility schemes

    number

    percentage

    number

    Region South West

    Avon

    Bath

    177

    42

    —

    Bristol

    493

    22

    —

    466

    Local Authority

    Dwellings let to new tenants (excluding mobility schemes)

    through mobility schemes

    number

    percentage

    number

    Kingswood

    76

    38

    —

    Northavon

    65

    26

    —

    Wansdyke

    42

    20

    —

    Woodspring

    187

    44

    1

    Cornwall

    Caradon

    76

    26

    —

    Carrick

    57

    27

    —

    Kerrier

    51

    27

    —

    North Cornwall

    61

    22

    —

    Penwith

    46

    28

    —

    Restormel

    136

    51

    —

    Isles of Scilly

    1

    13

    —

    Devon

    East Devon

    86

    77

    —

    Exeter

    46

    10

    —

    Mid Devon

    49

    24

    —

    North Devon

    49

    21

    —

    Plymouth

    376

    36

    —

    South Hams

    28

    14

    —

    Teignbridge

    132

    55

    —

    Torbay

    132

    53

    —

    Torridge

    8

    7

    —

    West Devon

    44

    31

    —

    Dorset

    Bournemouth

    128

    31

    —

    Christchurch

    51

    53

    —

    North Dorset

    65

    38

    —

    Poole

    168

    48

    —

    Purbeck

    70

    50

    —

    West Dorset

    53

    20

    —

    Weymouth and Portland

    116

    59

    —

    East Dorset

    37

    29

    —

    Gloucestershire

    Cheltenham

    41

    12

    —

    Cotswold

    65

    46

    1

    Forest of Dean

    66

    26

    —

    Gloucester

    147

    40

    2

    Stroud

    145

    44

    —

    Tewkesbury

    71

    29

    —

    Somerset

    Mendip

    59

    21

    1

    Sedgemoor

    67

    20

    —

    South Somerset

    161

    34

    —

    Taunton Deane

    123

    31

    4

    West Somerset

    45

    36

    —

    Wiltshire

    Kennet

    106

    56

    3

    North Wiltshire

    144

    44

    —

    Salisbury

    117

    47

    —

    Thamesdown

    94

    11

    —

    West Wiltshire

    85

    27

    —

    Region West Midlands

    Hereford and Worcester

    Bromsgrove

    75

    33

    —

    Hereford

    98

    37

    —

    Leominster

    40

    39

    —

    Malvern Hills

    183

    55

    1

    Redditch

    157

    22

    —

    South Herefordshire

    29

    25

    —

    Worcester

    130

    30

    —

    Wychavon

    18

    6

    —

    Wyre Forest

    170

    38

    2

    Shropshire

    Bridgnorth

    22

    12

    —

    North Shropshire

    53

    30

    —

    Oswestry

    50

    34

    —

    Shrewsbury and Atcham

    45

    8

    —

    467

    Local Authority

    Dwellings let to new tenants (excluding mobility schemes)

    through mobility schemes

    number

    percentage

    number

    South Shropshire

    24

    24

    —

    The Wrekin

    140

    20

    —

    Staffordshire

    Cannock Chase

    80

    17

    —

    East Staffordshire

    76

    17

    —

    Lichfield

    165

    61

    —

    Newcastle-under-Lyme

    170

    22

    —

    South Staffordshire

    90

    31

    —

    Stafford

    124

    36

    —

    Staffordshire Moorlands

    56

    30

    —

    Stoke-on-Trent

    490

    31

    —

    Tamworth

    146

    21

    —

    Warwickshire

    North Warwickshire

    54

    22

    —

    Nuneaton and Bedworth

    79

    16

    —

    Rugby

    79

    18

    —

    Stratford-on-Avon

    82

    23

    —

    Warwick

    88

    25

    —

    West Midlands

    Birmingham

    4,855

    52

    —

    Coventry

    314

    15

    —

    Dudley

    127

    7

    —

    Sandwell

    360

    12

    —

    Solihull

    283

    29

    —

    Walsall

    472

    30

    —

    Wolverhampton

    391

    17

    —

    Region North West excluding Cumbria

    Cheshire

    Chester

    248

    43

    —

    Congleton

    50

    25

    —

    Crewe and Nantwich

    105

    21

    —

    Ellesmere Port and Neston

    9

    2

    —

    Halton

    201

    41

    —

    Macclesfield

    222

    42

    —

    Vale Royal

    189

    28

    —

    Warrington

    60

    9

    —

    Lancashire

    Blackburn

    236

    15

    —

    Blackpool

    93

    14

    —

    Burnley

    107

    14

    —

    Chorley

    125

    43

    —

    Fylde

    20

    15

    —

    Hyndburn

    115

    22

    —

    Lancaster

    44

    12

    —

    Pendle

    60

    10

    —

    Preston

    152

    19

    —

    Ribble Valley

    41

    28

    —

    Rossendale

    62

    12

    —

    South Ribble

    62

    18

    —

    West Lancashire

    208

    18

    —

    Wyre

    97

    40

    —

    Greater Manchester

    Bolton

    726

    36

    —

    Bury

    291

    29

    —

    Manchester

    2,195

    39

    —

    Oldham

    62

    3

    —

    Rochdale

    53

    2

    —

    Salford

    110

    6

    —

    Stockport

    200

    19

    —

    Tameside

    251

    14

    —

    Trafford

    237

    37

    —

    Wigan

    364

    14

    —

    Merseyside

    Knowsley

    251

    14

    —

    Liverpool

    276

    10

    —

    St. Helens

    257

    23

    —

    Sefton

    98

    9

    —

    Wirral

    271

    12

    —

    468
    Notes:

    1 Barking and Dagenham—number of lettings to homeless households on non-secure tenancies not reported.

    2 Greenwich—number of lettings on non-secure tenancies not reported.

    Longford Hall
    Mr. Tony Lloyd
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to respond to the request of the Longford park conservation area association for the listing of Longford hall in the borough of Telford.

    Mr. Moynihan
    I wrote to the hon. Member on 14 June with the news that Longford hall is to be listed grade II.

    Green Belt
    Mr. Adley
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in the light of his Department's proposed new planning circular, he will make a further statement on his commitment to the green belt and, in particular, on whether the Government remain opposed to any new development taking place in existing green belt, as designated in existing structure plans.

    Mr. Waldegrave
    The planning policy guidance note on local plans, which my Department issued in draft for consultation on 15 June, would urge local authorities to define detailed green belt boundaries so that there is no uncertainty as to where green belt policies do and do not apply. Government policy on development in designated green belts remains as stated in PPG 2:"Inside the Green Belt approval should not be given except in very special circumstances for the construction of new buildings or for the change of use of existing buildings for puposes other than agriculture and forestry, outdoor sport, cemeteries, institutions standing in extensive grounds or other uses appropriate to rural areas."

    Rents
    Mr. Simon Hughes
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing the latest available average level of fair rents registered for(a) private unfurnished tenancies and (b) private furnished tenancies in each London borough.

    Mrs. Roe
    The information is as follows:

    Mean rents registered by rent officers in Greater London during 1987

    (£ per annum)

    Regulated Unfurnished Tenancies

    Regulated Furnished Tenancies

    Rent registration area

    £

    £

    Barking and Dagenham

    1,028

    1,998

    Barnet

    1,491

    2,526

    Bexley

    977

    2,427

    Brent

    1,208

    1,686

    Bromley

    1,248

    2,319

    City of London

    1,352

    1,533

    Camden

    1,865

    2,083

    Croydon

    1,319

    2,592

    Ealing

    1,337

    2,531

    Enfield

    1,061

    1,898

    Greenwich

    1,019

    2,044

    Hackney

    1,226

    1,498

    Hammersmith and Fulham

    1,239

    2,010

    Haringey

    1,230

    1,989

    Harrow

    1,260

    2,356

    Havering

    1,125

    1,678

    469

    Regulated Unfurnished Tenancies

    Regulated Furnished Tenancies

    Rent registration area

    £

    £

    Hillingdon

    1,261

    1,994

    Hounslow

    1,299

    2,192

    Islington

    1,204

    2,018

    Kensington and Chelsea

    2,139

    2,038

    Kingston on Thames

    1,289

    1,872

    Lambeth

    1,194

    2,057

    Lewisham

    1,024

    1,505

    Merton

    1,280

    3,416

    Newham

    819

    1,663

    Redbridge

    1,029

    1,391

    Richmond

    1,250

    2,322

    Southwark

    1,044

    1,635

    Sutton

    1,220

    2,866

    Tower Hamlets

    922

    1,253

    Waltham Forest

    876

    1,942

    Wandsworth

    1,251

    2,097

    Westminster

    2,622

    2,091

    Waste Disposal
    Mr. Austin Mitchell
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from(a) the European Commission and (b) elsewhere on the delay in implementing the European directive on the transfrontier shipment of hazardous waste.

    Mr. Moynihan
    We have received a number of representations about the difficulties and delay in implementing the EC directive on transfrontier shipment of hazardous waste, from the European Commission, waste disposal authorities and others.

    Mr. Austin Mitchell
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to introduce enabling legislation or regulations to implement the European directive on the transfrontier shipment of hazardous waste.

    Mr. Moynihan
    We intend to lay regulations to implement these directives before the summer recess.

    Mr. Austin Mitchell
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many prosecutions for misleading, wrong or incorrect descriptions of special waste on the consignment notes required by the 1980 regulations have been brought in each year since 1981; and how many for failure to provide consignment notes.

    Mr. Moynihan
    Responsibility for administering the special waste regulations rests with waste disposal authorities. Data provided to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, which may be incomplete, give the following information on prosecutions for offences under section 17 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974:

    1985

    1986

    3

    5

    Mr. Austin Mitchell
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many major waste disposal sites have laboratory facilities for analysis of waste coming in.

    Mr. Moynihan
    Details of laboratory facilities are not held centrally. Few landfill sites have laboratory facilities, but Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution knows of testing facilities at some: for example; the L Field site in Bedfordshire; the Witton Flash site in Cheshire; the Colliers site at Rixton in Cheshire; the Himley Wood site 470
    in Staffordshire; the WeIlford site in Northamptonshire; and the Pitsea site in Essex. The presence of laboratory facilities does not necessarily imply that all loads are tested on arrival. All major treatment and incineration facilities have laboratories on site.

    Mr. Austin Mitchell
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many European countries have implemented the European directive on the trans-frontier shipment of hazardous waste.

    Mr. Moynihan
    We understand that Belgium and Denmark have done so.

    Mr. Austin Mitchell
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of waste coming into the United Kingdom is defined as hazardous or special(a) under British regulations, (b) under regulations of the country of origin and (c) under the EEC directive.

    Mr. Moynihan
    It is estimated that some 28 per cent. of imported wastes are defined as special waste under our regulations. The proportion defined as hazardous or special in the country of origin or under the EC transfrontier directives cannot be estimated until the directives are implemented by other member states.

    Mr. Austin Mitchell
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment at what time after the arrival of the vessel the importer of special waste is required to notify the local authority of the port of arrival of the nature of the consignment.

    Mr. Moynihan
    Under the Control of Pollution (Special Waste) Regulations 1980, notification is linked to the removal of waste from the place where it is produced or held. Notification should take place not less than three days before the waste is moved. For imports of special waste, this means not less than three days before the waste is due to leave the port.

    Under regulations to be laid to implement the directive on transfrontier shipment of hazardous waste, the Waste Disposal Authority will receive notification before the arrival of the shipment.

    Mr. Austin Mitchell
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the figures for the import of(a) special waste and (b) general waste through Humberside in each year from 1980; and how much of it was deposited in Humberside.

    Mr. Moynihan
    Figures for the importation of special wastes via the port of Hull/Immingham for the years 1981 to 1986 are as follows:

    Tonnes

    1981

    2,886

    1982

    3,088

    1983

    2,444

    1984

    12,000

    1985

    881

    1986

    12,504

    1 Approximately.

    There is no requirement for other controlled waste to be: pre-notified and therefore figures for the importation of these wastes through Humberside are not available.

    Humberside county council is not aware of any imported wastes being deposited within the county.
    471
    Mr. Austin Mitchell
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what definition of hazardous waste has been used in other countries implementing the European directive on transfrontier shipment of hazardous waste; what definition he intends to use in the United Kingdom; and what representations he has made to the Commission for a common definition.

    Mr. Moynihan
    The directives include a general definition of hazardous waste but the detailed interpretation of this definition by other member states will not be known until they have completed their implementation. It is our intention to apply the provisions of the directives to wastes defined as special wastes in the United Kingdom and to imports which are notified as hazardous by other member states. The question of a common definition has been raised with the Commission on a number of occasions in the past three years.

    Mr. Austin Mitchell
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations have been made to him from Humberside county council about proposals to import 15,000 tonne consignments of domestic waste for dumping in Humberside.

    1979

    1980

    1981

    1982

    1983

    1984

    1985

    1986

    Control of Pollution Act, S3

    13

    24

    35

    48

    66

    67

    65

    93

    Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act

    385

    570

    648

    605

    584

    560

    436

    380

    Information is not collected separately on offences relating to special wastes.

    Mr. Hinchliffe
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will bring forward legislation to require consignment notes applying to imported toxic waste to be forwarded to the waste disposal authority responsible for its final disposal;

    (2) if he will take steps to ensure that consignment note descriptions of imported toxic waste contains accurate descriptions of the quality and content of each consignment;

    (3) if he will seek to amend the Control of Pollution (Special Waste) Act 1980, in order to ensure that waste disposal authorities responsible for ports which import toxic waste are required to be notified of the quantity and content of such consignments before they arrive at the ports concerned.

    Mr. Moynihan
    [holding answer 16 June 1988]: Regulations to implement the EC directives on transfrontier shipment of hazardous waste will be laid before the House shortly. They will require the use of standard consignment notes to give advance notice to the waste disposal authority responsible for the waste disposal of an intended shipment. The consignment notes will be required to contain details of the source, quantity, composition and destination of the wastes.

    The regulations, which will replace existing controls on imported waste under the 1980 regulations, will also provide for the waste disposal authority at the port of entry to be notified in advance with full details of the intended shipment.

    Mr. Hinchliffe
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received
    472
    Mr. Moynihan
    None.

    Mr. Hinchliffe
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what evidence he has of increasing involvement of organised crime in the disposal of toxic waste.

    Mr. Moynihan
    [holding answer 16 June 1988]: I have no evidence of the involvement of organised crime in the disposal of special waste in the United Kingdom.

    Mr. Hinchliffe
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the number of successful prosecutions for the illicit disposal of toxic waste for each year since 1979.

    Mr. Moynihan
    [holding answer 16 June 1988]: The unlicensed disposal of any controlled waste is an offence under the Control of Pollution Act 1974, section 3, and unauthorised dumping of any article is an offence under the Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978. Information on convictions for these two offences, which may be incomplete, as reported to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department is as follows:

    regarding the loss of significant quantities from consignments of imported toxic waste between their arrival in the United Kingdom and final disposal.

    Mr. Moynihan
    [holding answer 16 June 1988]: I have had no such representations.

    Mr. Hinchliffe
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will bring forward legislation to ensure that, before completing consignment notes, importers of toxic waste are required to carry out a chemical analysis of each consignment to ensure that the information concerning its quantity and content supplied by either the waste producer or waste broker is accurate.

    Mr. Moynihan
    [holding answer 16 June 1988]: The Special Waste Regulations 1980 provide that the duties of a producer of special waste shall apply to the person who imports special waste. These duties include the completion of the consignment note on which details of the waste are required. The importer must declare that this description of quantities and chemical composition is correct. He is already therefore obliged to satisfy himself that the consignment note is complete and accurate. Failure to do so will render him liable to prosecution. There is no need for further legislation on this point.

    Mr. Hinchliffe
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to ensure that waste disposal authorities do not dispose of toxic waste until they are in receipt of the relevant consignment notes and are satisfied that they are fully aware of the quantity and contents of each consignment.

    Mr. Moynihan
    [holding answer 16 June 1988]: The disposal of special waste is primarily a private sector activity, licensed and monitored by waste disposal

    473
    authorities. The transfrontier shipment of waste regulations, to be implemented in the autumn, will prohibit disposal of imported special waste unless the waste is accompanied by a consignment note which records that the waste disposal authority has received full details of the quantity and contents of the consignment and is satisfied that the disposal will be in accordance with the licence conditions. A consultation paper will be issued later in the year to amend the special waste regulations which will include proposals to introduce similar requirements for movements of special waste within Great Britain.

    Mr. Hinchliffe
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many incidents of imported toxic waste being disposed of in the United Kingdom before the waste disposal authority were in receipt of the relevant consignment notes were recorded in the past year.

    Mr. Moynihan
    [holding answer 16 June 1988]: This information is not held centrally.

    Ticket Touts
    Mr. Menzies Campbell
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about ticket touting at major sporting events in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Moynihan
    [holding answer 16 June 1988]: I have received three letters on this subject. One concerning touting in general and two on touting at football matches and in particular the FA cup final.

    This is an issue which the Department and the Home Office have considered very carefully, especially in the context of the damage that black market ticket sales for major football matches can do to the efforts of the police and clubs to segregate rival fans effectively. However, it is not yet clear that a practicable and enforceable legal answer to this problem can be found. It may well be that a better solution to the problem rests with tighter controls by the organisers of sporting events over the distribution of tickets, and the imposition of sanctions against those found abusing the controls.

    Population Statistics
    Mr. Cousins
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the household and migration estimates contained in "Serplan: Land for Housing in South East England 1991–2001", include any fiscal migration effects arising from the introduction of the community charge.

    Mr. Waldegrave
    [holding answer 16 June 1988]: No. Any effects the community charge may have on migration are not sufficiently foreseeable to be incorporated into the population and household estimates.

    Mr. Cousins
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate county populations within the Serplan area at 1986, 1991 and 2001, using the migration assumptions in the paper "Serplan: Land for Housing in South East England"; and if he will provide further estimates assuming the net in-migration levels of 1985–86 were to be(a) maintained, (b) reduced by 50 per cent. and (c) reduced by 75 per cent. in the years up to 2001.
    474
    Mr. Waldegrave
    [holding answer 16 June 1988]: The table sets out the population in counties in the south-east for the years 1986, 1991 and 2001 as projected by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys. Alternative population projections on the same basis, but using different assumptions about net migration levels. could only be made at disproportionate cost.

    Projected Populations for Counties in the South East of England: OPCS 1985-based Population Projections

    (Thousands)

    1986

    1991

    2001

    Bedfordshire

    520

    536

    560

    Berkshire

    733

    766

    814

    Buckinghamshire

    610

    648

    719

    East Sussex

    687

    704

    740

    Essex

    1,512

    1,546

    1,612

    Hampshire

    1,538

    1,609

    1,750

    Hertfordshire

    991

    1,013

    1,053

    Isle of Wight

    123

    124

    127

    Kent

    1,502

    1,533

    1,596

    Oxfordshire

    573

    595

    627

    Surrey

    1,015

    1,028

    1,072

    West Sussex

    692

    714

    757

    South East (excluding London)

    10,494

    10,816

    11,427

    Greater London

    6,778

    6,806

    6,916

    Total South East

    17,271

    17,622

    18,343

    Source: OPCS Monitor PP3 88/1

    Mr. Cousins
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate by country of origin and destination the migration flows to the south-east from outside England as in table 4 of his paper "Serplan: Land for Housing in South East England".

    Mr. Waldegrave
    [holding answer 16 June 1988]: The assumptions about future net migration between counties in the south-east and areas outside England are set by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys. Detailed assumptions about country of origin or destination of future migrants are not made as they are unnecessary for the purposes of projecting the population of counties.

    Housing
    Mr. Cousins
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide for each standard region, but distinguishing between London and the rest of the south-east, the net increase in dwelling stock for 1986 to 1991 on the same basis as in his paper "Serplan: Land for Housing in South East England", table 1, line E, but distinguishing between new build and conversion.

    Mr. Waldegrave
    [holding answer 16 June 1988]: Estimates of the possible net increase in dwelling stock over the period 1986 to 1991 on the basis referred to are set out in the following table. These have been obtained by taking recent annual averages of components of change and multiplying them by five. Averages for housebuilding completions relate to the three calendar years 1985 to 1987; averages for conversions and other gains, and for slum clearance and other losses relate to financial years 1984–85 to 1986–87.
    475

    Estimates for 1986 to 1991—Recent annual averages multiplied by 5, in thousands

    North

    Yorkshire and Humber-side

    East Midlands

    East Anglia

    Greater London

    1 South East (excl. Greater London)

    South West

    West Midlands

    North West

    England

    Housebuilding completions

    43

    71

    84

    59

    52

    259

    115

    82

    88

    854

    Net conversions and other gains

    1

    2

    4

    3

    28

    9

    7

    3

    4

    60

    Slum clearance and other losses

    10

    14

    7

    2

    10

    7

    3

    10

    35

    98

    Total net change

    33

    59

    82

    60

    70

    261

    119

    75

    58

    816

    1 Total net change of 261,000 compares with the implied estimate of 250,000 included in the paper "Land for Housing in South East England". The increase reflects upward revisions to estimates of housebuilding completions over the period 1985 to 1987 in the light of the most recent returns.

    Some figures do not sum to totals due to rounding.

    Mr. Cousins
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of the extra 669,000 one-person households predicted in the south-east by 2001 in his paper "Serplan: Land for Housing in South East England," will be provided for by owner-occupation, council, housing association or private landlords.

    Mr. Waldegrave
    [holding answer 16 June 1988]: The tenure of one-person households will depend on incomes, house prices, the response of private investors to deregulation, and the way in which social landlords allocate their tenancies. It is likely that a higher proportion than now of older one-person households will be owner-occupiers.
    476
    Mr. Cousins
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of the extra 184,000 lone-parent households predicted for the south-east by 2001 in his paper "Serplan: Land for Housing in the South East," will be provided for by owner-occupation, council housing, housing associations or private landlords.

    Mr. Waldegrave
    [holding answer 16 June 1988]: The tenure of lone-parent households will depend on incomes, house prices, the response of private investors to deregulation, and the way in which social landlords allocate their tenancies. It is likely that the proportion of lone-parent households that are owner-occupiers will continue to be somewhat lower than for all types of households taken together.

  CHILD ABUSE IN CLEVELAND: REPORT
  CHILD ABUSE IN CLEVELAND: REPORT
  EC INWARD INVESTMENT: JOB CREATION EFFECTS
  EC INWARD INVESTMENT: JOB CREATION EFFECTS
  GIROBANK: LOCATION OF HEAD OFFICE
  GIROBANK: LOCATION OF HEAD OFFICE
  ENVIRONMENT COUNCIL, 16th JUNE
  ENVIRONMENT COUNCIL, 16th JUNE
  FISH COUNTER: NORTH ESK
  FISH COUNTER: NORTH ESK
  FISH COUNTERS: SITING
  FISH COUNTERS: SITING
  EDUCATION REFORM: ACADEMIC AWARDS
  EDUCATION REFORM: ACADEMIC AWARDS
  PRISONS: INDUSTRIAL WORKSHOPS
  PRISONS: INDUSTRIAL WORKSHOPS
  PRISONERS: STATISTICS
  PRISONERS: STATISTICS
  BOARDS OF VISITORS
  BOARDS OF VISITORS
  "EUROPEAN PRISON RULES"
  "EUROPEAN PRISON RULES"
  FIREARMS ACT 1968: PROSECUTIONS
  FIREARMS ACT 1968: PROSECUTIONS
  POLICE OFFICERS: STATISTICS
  POLICE OFFICERS: STATISTICS
  SINGLE INTERNAL MARKET
  SINGLE INTERNAL MARKET
  LLOYD'S INQUIRY: IMPLEMENTATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS
  LLOYD'S INQUIRY: IMPLEMENTATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS