Written Answers of 22 June 1988

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Nicaragua
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much aid has been sent to Nicaragua by the United Kingdom in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan (Mr. Wray) on 20 June.

  £ million at 1987–88 prices

  1982–83 outturn

  1983–84 outturn

  1984–85 outturn

  1985–86 outturn

  11986–87 outturn

  21987–88 estimated outturn

  1988–89 plans

  1989–90 plans

  1990–91 plans

  Schools

  9,608

  9,721

  9,519

  9,320

  10,077

  10,633

  10,630

  10,585

  10,552

  Higher and further education

  4,970

  4,999

  4,987

  4,790

  4,823

  4,904

  4,866

  4,828

  4,760

  Miscellaneous educational services research and administration

  833

  884

  896

  895

  937

  975

  1,032

  1,066

  1,079

  Research Councils and related bodies

  594

  608

  617

  623

  639

  657

  669

  672

  649

  Total Department of Education and Science

  16,006

  16,106

  16,019

  15,629

  16,476

  17,169

  17,197

  17,150

  17,040

  Central government

  Voted in Estimates

  Schools

  Building grants to voluntary and special schools

  48

  45

  52

  59

  51

  55

  68

  70

  73

  Music and ballet schools

  5

  3

  3

  3

  3

  3

  4

  4

  4

  Assisted places scheme

  11

  18

  26

  32

  40

  49

  53

  54

  54

  City technology colleges

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4

  18

  30

  30

  Higher and further education (including teacher training) Universities

  Capital

  152

  142

  139

  145

  155

  154

  147

  141

  140

  Current

  1,580

  1,567

  1,540

  1,490

  1,485

  1,562

  1,614

  1,613

  1,594

  Voluntary and direct grant institutions

  Capital

  5

  5

  6

  5

  5

  7

  6

  5

  5

  Current

  108

  106

  97

  93

  92

  95

  93

  89

  89

  Adult education

  14

  15

  15

  16

  16

  16

  17

  16

  16

  Postgraduate awards to humanities students and other student awards

  8

  5

  5

  4

  5

  6

  5

  5

  5

  Miscellaneous services, research and administration

  Youth service

  4

  4

  4

  4

  4

  4

  4

  4

  4

  Research programme and other education services

  19

  23

  24

  25

  24

  27

  45

  68

  74

  Administration and inspection costs

  41

  54

  55

  56

  57

  58

  65

  63

  62

  Compensation payments

  5

  5

  6

  6

  7

  7

  7

  7

  7

  Research Councils etc.

  Capital

  96

  91

  89

  97

  97

  93

  85

  99

  76

  Current (including postgraduate science awards)

  498

  517

  528

  526

  542

  564

  584

  573

  573

  Total voted expenditure

  2,594

  2,601

  2,589

  2,562

  2,582

  2,703

  2,812

  2,841

  2,806

  Other central government Schools

  -4

  -5

  -4

  -4

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Expenditure
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish in the Official Report a table based on table 12·1 of the public expenditure White Paper, Cm. 288–II, with all figures converted to 1987–88 prices.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The information requested is set out in the table. The figures have been revalued using the Budget assumptions about movements in the GDP (market prices) deflator, which is assumed to rise by 5 per cent. in 1987–88, 4·5 per cent. in 1988–89, 4 per cent. in 1989–90 and 3·5 per cent. in 1990–91. All figures have been rounded to the nearest £1 million, so that the totals shown may not equal the sum of their rounded components.
  553

  1982–83 outturn

  1983–84 outturn

  1984–85 outturn

  1985–86 outturn

  11986–87 outturn

  21987–88 estimated outturn

  1988–89 plans

  1989–90 plans

  1990–91 plans

  Total central government

  2,590

  2,596

  2,585

  2,558

  2,582

  2,703

  2,812

  2,841

  2,806

  Of which: Total central government and capital expenditure

  298

  280

  284

  304

  309

  310

  309

  317

  297

  1982–83 outturn

  1983–84 outturn

  1984–85 outturn

  1985–86 outturn

  11986–87 outturn

  21987–88 estimated outturn

  1988–89 plans

  1989–90 plans

  1990–91 plans

  Local authorities

  Relevant current spending Schools

  Under fives

  345

  355

  380

  380

  414

  441

  443

  454

  459

  Primary schools

  2,950

  2,898

  2,855

  2,832

  3,140

  3,370

  3,403

  3,469

  3,505

  Secondary schools

  4,452

  4,482

  4,434

  4,283

  4,678

  4,957

  4,895

  4,796

  4,751

  Special schools

  480

  495

  496

  501

  527

  544

  546

  538

  533

  Meals and milk

  516

  511

  492

  472

  475

  469

  431

  414

  400

  Transport

  232

  235

  229

  226

  221

  213

  205

  203

  203

  Non-maintained school fees

  144

  141

  139

  127

  125

  125

  123

  118

  113

  Teachers' centres

  29

  28

  32

  34

  37

  39

  42

  42

  41

  Child guidance

  35

  34

  35

  38

  41

  45

  45

  45

  44

  Pupil support

  32

  32

  37

  38

  38

  38

  38

  38

  37

  Higher and further education Advanced further education

  765

  763

  769

  783

  788

  780

  774

  778

  781

  Non-advanced further education

  1,103

  1,117

  1,147

  1,062

  1,108

  1,098

  1,104

  1,078

  1,035

  Adult eduation

  96

  103

  107

  110

  117

  123

  125

  126

  126

  Discretionary students awards and support

  152

  158

  163

  164

  177

  189

  200

  199

  198

  Miscellaneous services, research and administration

  Youth service

  122

  131

  134

  136

  144

  150

  160

  162

  160

  Recreational services and research

  58

  65

  67

  63

  67

  68

  75

  75

  74

  Administration and inspection costs

  547

  572

  578

  583

  615

  642

  664

  674

  685

  Total relevant current spending

  12,058

  12,120

  12,094

  11,832

  12,712

  13,291

  13,273

  13,209

  13,145

  1982–83 outturn

  1983–84 outturn

  1984–85 outturn

  1985–86 outturn

  11986–87 outturn

  21987–88 estimated outturn

  1988–89 plans

  1989–90 plans

  1990–91 plans

  Local authorities

  Non-relevant current spending Mandatory student awards3

  840

  880

  855

  770

  738

  742

  733

  728

  721

  Local authority capital4

  Schools

  335

  341

  314

  300

  286

  281

  316

  309

  306

  Higher and further education

  146

  139

  144

  148

  138

  134

  50

  50

  49

  Miscellaneous education services

  Youth service

  15

  12

  13

  12

  12

  12

  8

  7

  7

  Other education services

  22

  18

  15

  10

  7

  7

  6

  6

  5

  Total local authority capital

  518

  509

  486

  469

  444

  434

  379

  372

  368

  Total local authorities

  13,416

  13,509

  13,434

  13,071

  13,894

  14,467

  14,385

  14,310

  14,234

  Total Department of Education and Science

  16,006

  16,106

  16,019

  15,629

  16,476

  17,169

  17,197

  17,150

  17,040

  1 The 1986–87 figures incorporate a distribution by sector of total current spending by local authorities based on their provisional outturn expenditure on education.

  2 The 1987–88 figures incorporate a provisional distribution by sector of total current spending by local authorities based on their budgets

  3 Includes payments to public sector higher education institutions as reimbursements of fees for European Community students.

  4 Local authority capital expenditure figures are net of receipts attributable to education. They include provision for the Urban Programme.

  Medical Research Council (Pensions)
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what account he took of the current relative level of contributions paid by men and women in the Medical Research Council's pension scheme and of the Government Actuary's calculations as to the 554
  cost of a widowers' pension within that scheme when issuing guidelines to the Medical Research Council indicating that widowers' pensions should be funded by increasing members' contributions in order that the cost be shared by employer and employees.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Government's policy on implementation of the Social Security Act 1986 is that the cost of
  555
  introducing additional benefits to existing public sector pension schemes must be shared by the employer and the employees. We are still discussing with the Medical Research Council and the Treasury the appropriate basis for applying this policy to the MRC scheme, taking account of all the relevant factors including the current level of contributions paid and the Government Actuary's calculations. A final decision has not yet been reached.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Mr. Anthony Cavendish
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Attorney-General when he expects to be in a position to give the final outturn of costs incurred in relation to the proceedings on Mr. Anthony Cavendish's memoirs.

  The Attorney-General
  I will not be in a position to give the final figure for the costs of this case until after the conclusion of the proceedings, which are still at the interlocutory stage.

  "The Friends: Britain's Post-war Secret Intelligence Operations"
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Attorney-General why Her Majesty's Government have not sought an injunction to restrain publication of the book written by the hon. Member for Torbay (Mr. Allason) under the pseudonym of Nigel West entitled, "The Friends: Britain's Post-war Secret Intelligence Operations."

  The Attorney-General
  The Government deplore the publication of books of this nature, and especially when advice from the D Notice Committee secretary has to any extent been disregarded.

  As regards legal action, this is not a case of an author who is or has been a Crown servant, and taking that fact into account, together with the contents of this particular book, the Government concluded that an application for an injunction to restrain the book's publication would be unlikely to succeed.

  "Spycatcher"
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Attorney-General (1) for what reason the Treasury Solicitor approached Messrs Nilsson and Lamon regarding their circular to British booksellers about the book, "Spycatcher"; what form the approach took; what warnings it contained about the risk of criminal contempt on the part of Nilsson and Lamon and on the basis of what legal precedents; how the Treasury Solicitor became aware of the circular by Nilsson and Lamon; what is his general policy towards issuing warnings to organisations and individuals about the possible criminal nature of their actions or intended actions; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what assessment he has made of the implications for Her Majesty's Government's obligations under the treaty of Rome and the European Convention on Human Rights of his attempts to prevent paperback editions of the book "Spycatcher" being distributed to British booksellers; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  These questions relate to a letter which is referred to in an affidavit before the Judicial 556
  Committee of the House of Lords, which is currently hearing the Government's appeal against The Guardian, The Observer and the Sunday Times newspapers. It would therefore not be appropriate for me to comment upon it while the proceedings continue.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Rolls-Royce
  Mr. Milian
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he has received a request from Rolls-Royce for launch aid in respect of the development of the RB211–524L engine; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  I have received an application from Rolls-Royce for launch aid under the Civil Aviation Act 1982 towards the development of the RB211 family of engines including the RB211–524L. This is being considered.

  Furniture (Fire Safety)
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many written representations he has so far received on the subject of furniture fire safety regulations.

  Mr. Butcher
  Some 275 representations have been received.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what video or film evidence he has so far received concerning the furniture fire safety regulations; and if he will list the film or video producers in each case;

  (2) if he has made any representation to the British Rubber Manufacturers Association in relation to procedure used during the fire safety test contained in the video sent to him by the association; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butcher
  [holding answer 21 June 1988]: The British Rubber Manufacturers Association video contains comparisons of the fires in a number of suites which were identical apart from the fillings. Rapid ignition was ensured, for experimental and video recording purposes, by the use of the small crib, ignition source 4 of the British standard, although the acrylic velvet generally ignites readily from a match. The test burn showing the cover burning off a substitute non-combustible mineral wool filling demonstrates very forcibly the contribution that a burning cover as part of the overall construction can make to the hazard of fire in furniture.

  I have made no representations to BRMA in response to this video.

  We have also received some short sales videos relating to fire blocking or barrier systems produced in-house by the manufacturers concerned.

  Steel Industry
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what has been the levy per tonne set each year since 1973 on steel production for the ECSC budget; and how much was raised each year by the levy on production from(a) British Steel Corporation works and (b) private steelmakers.
  557
  Mr. Atkins
  The ECSC levy is raised on the average value of the production of coal and steel by enterprises falling under the treaty of Paris. Details of the levy rate are as follows:

  Percentage

  1973–79

  0·29

  1980-

  0·31

  Separate figures on the amount raised each year by the levy on production from the British Steel Corporation and private sector steelmakers are not readily available.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many applications the Government have made since 1973 to the Commission of the European Communities under article 56.2.(b) of the treaty of Paris for workers in the steel industry; how many of their workers were employed in (a) British Steel Corporation works and (b) private steel works; and how much was received from the ECSC budget for each sector.

  Mr. Atkins
  Since 1973, the Government have applied for ECSC contributions towards aid to be given under the iron and steel employees readaptation benefits scheme in respect of some 129,000 projected redundancies in the steel industry. Of these, some 102,000 were in respect of employees of the British Steel Corporation, and some 27,000 in respect of employees of private sector steel companies. To date, 85,173 former employees of BSC and 23,112 former employees for private sector companies have registered to receive aid under the Scheme.

  The ECSC contributes towards the cost of the scheme retrospectively, and to date the Government have received £158,255,862 towards aid paid to former steel employees. Of this, approximately 76 per cent. was in respect of former BSC employees, and approximately 24 per cent. in respect of former private sector employees.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what has been Britain's contribution each year since 1973 to the ECSC budget by way of the levy made on steel production.

  Mr. Atkins
  The ECSC annual financial report provides figures on the ECSC levy revenue, broken down by industry and member state, only since 1981. The latest available figures are for the year 1986. The figures are as follows:

  Levy Revenue from the United Kingdom Steel Industry in ECU

  Number

  1981

  11,122,803

  1982

  9,515,579

  1983

  12,661,061

  1984

  13,199,907

  1985

  13,838,549

  1986

  13,961,944

  Electrical Appliances (Plugs)
  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what estimate he has made of the cost to manufacturers of household electrical equipment of requiring the fitting of electrical plugs to their products.

  Mr. Butcher
  The cost of fitting plugs to household electrical equipment is subject to many factors, the details 558
  of which will be known only to the manufacturers. No Government estimate has been made of such a proposal and were it to be done it would require a substantial input from the industry.

  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what regulations oblige the manufacturers of household electrical equipment to fit electric plugs as standard; what comparable regulations exist in other member states of the European Community; and what plans he has to ensure a standardisation of the regulations.

  Mr. Butcher
  Many manufacturers of electrical equipment are marketing equipment with a fitted plug and the number s growing but there is no statutory requirement which would oblige manufacturers of household electrical equipment to fit electric plugs prior to sale.

  There are no plans to impose such a requirement. The current legal position in other member states of the European Community is not at present available. There is no Community initiative to harmonise the national legislation governing the fitting of plugs to equipment.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Prisoners (Statistics)
  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many mentally disordered offenders are presently in prison in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  On 30 September last year, the most recent date for which figures are available, 315 inmates of prison department establishments in England and Wales were, in the opinion of medical officers, suffering from mental disorder of a nature or degree with would satisfy the criteria in the Mental Health Act 1983 for detention in hospital for medical treatment.

  Civil Defence
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to improve current arrangements for dealing with civil emergencies in the metropolis.

  Mr. John Patten
  Following recent major emergencies the Home Office is looking closely at the effectiveness of our present arrangements for responding to emergencies anywhere in the United Kingdom and at the possibilities for improvements. Officials will shortly be issuing a consultation paper to explore the issues with the emergency services and other interested parties, including local government associations; the Association of London Authorities and the London Boroughs Association will be included in this consultation process.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are used in the compiling of lists of approved contractors and tenderers for work on civil defence facilities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  Companies seeking inclusion on lists of approved contractors must first satisfy the Department that they are technically, financially and commercially able to perform the contracts for which they apply. The
  559
  Property Services Agency, which manages civil defence building projects on behalf of the Home Office, applies similar criteria.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department is taking to utilise private sector expertise in the hardening against nuclear electro-magnetic pulse of civil defence communications systems in both local authority emergency centres and regional government headquarters; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  The private sector has provided assessments of equipment resilience and advice on protection measures; we expect to continue to draw on such expertise.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to ensure that the new PABX telephone switchboard systems to be fitted in local authority emergency centres will fully meet all the operational requirements of such systems, including hardening against nuclear electro-magnetic pulse; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  Operational requirements for these systems have been prepared in consultation with local authority users, and an assessment of resilience against the effects of electro-magnetic pulse will be a requirement of the equipment specification.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what involvement Rainford Secure Systems has had in the drawing up of specifications for the new PABX telephone switchboard systems to be installed in local authority emergency centres; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  None, although before specifications were prepared, and in accordance with normal practice, information was sought from communications equipment suppliers, including Rainford Secure Systems, in order to establish the range of equipment and facilities likely to be commercially available.

  Library Facilities (Prisons)
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those local authorities which receive a lump sum and additional rate support grant for library facilities that are required to be made available to prisoners in Her Majesty's prisons; and if he will calculate the amounts for each of the past five years.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  As the hon. Member will be aware, the question of rate support grants is for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. As far as the system for funding prison libraries is concerned, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to his earlier question on 28 January at column 305.

  Bullwood Hall
  Mr. Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the numbers of planned hours of education, and the numbers of actual hours of education for inmates at Bullwood Hall prison and youth custody centre in each week since 1 April; what is the reason for any discrepancy; and what plans there are to ensure that education classes at this establishment take place as planned.
  560
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  In the nine weeks following Easter, only 43 class sessions were made available to inmates out of a total of 125 sessions planned for the period. The establishment is in dispute with the Prison Officers Association regarding the level of prison officer cover for education classes and it is not possible to state when the matter will be resolved. The loss of educational facilities for inmates at Bullwood Hall is very much regretted.

  Crime Statistics
  Sir Peter Hordern
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will publish a table showing the number of crimes committed with violence per 1,000 population in each police authority area of the country for the latest convenient period;

  (2) if he will publish a table showing the number of robberies per 1,000 population in each police authority area of the country for the latest convenient period.

  Mr. John Patten
  Because the numbers of offences are relatively small, numbers of offences are recorded per 100,000 population. Those for 1987 are given in the table. Figures in this form are published annually in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales" (table 2.6 of the issue for 1986, Cm. 233); the issue for 1987 will be published later this year. Copies of this publication are held in the Library.

  Table 2.6

  Certain notifiable offences recorded by the police per 100,000 population by police force area

  England and Wales 1987 Number of offences per 100,000 population

  Police force area

  Violence against the person

  Sexual offences

  Robbery

  Avon and Somerset

  256

  42

  44

  Bedfordshire

  370

  43

  51

  Cambridgeshire

  246

  48

  18

  Cheshire

  232

  37

  16

  Cleveland

  400

  60

  21

  Cumbria

  281

  31

  13

  Derbyshire

  264

  49

  14

  Devon and Cornwall

  201

  42

  12

  Dorset

  187

  26

  12

  Durham

  339

  59

  14

  Essex

  228

  36

  20

  Gloucestershire

  188

  40

  18

  Greater Manchester

  289

  50

  83

  Hampshire

  205

  66

  16

  Hertfordshire

  199

  43

  17

  Humberside

  583

  92

  30

  Kent

  199

  43

  16

  Lancashire

  208

  51

  13

  Leicestershire

  268

  42

  30

  Lincolnshire

  259

  56

  13

  London, City of

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  Merseyside

  340

  40

  116

  Metropolitan Police1

  312

  53

  250

  Norfolk

  194

  34

  12

  Northamptonshire

  349

  53

  26

  Northumbria

  319

  49

  37

  North Yorkshire

  201

  34

  9

  Nottinghamshire

  602

  104

  47

  South Yorkshire

  318

  55

  26

  Staffordshire

  395

  49

  17

  Suffolk

  241

  49

  13

  Surrey

  215

  41

  13

  Sussex

  175

  49

  24

  Thames Valley

  200

  55

  24

  561

  Police force area

  Violence against the person

  Sexual offences

  Robbery

  Warwickshire

  188

  27

  10

  West Mercia

  229

  42

  8

  West Midlands

  291

  52

  110

  West Yorkshire

  334

  64

  37

  Wiltshire

  291

  50

  18

  Dyfed-Powys

  223

  60

  8

  Gwent

  367

  73

  8

  North Wales

  310

  45

  13

  South Wales

  271

  33

  17

  England and Wales

  282

  50

  65

  1 Including City of London

  n.a. = not applicable.

  Police (Statistics)
  Sir Peter Horden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a table showing the number of police officers per 1,000 population in each area of the country, excluding the number of officers serving at Gatwick airport from the Sussex forces.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The information is as follows:

  Force

  Police Officers per 1,000 population1

  Avon and Somerset

  2·18

  Bedfordshire

  1·98

  Cambridgeshire

  1·86

  Cheshire

  1·96

  Cleveland

  2·64

  Cumbria

  2·35

  Derbyshire

  1·96

  Devon and Cornwall

  1·95

  Dorset

  1·94

  Durham

  2·26

  Dyfed Powys

  2·07

  Essex

  1·92

  Gloucestershire

  2·25

  Greater Manchester

  2·69

  Gwent

  2·25

  Hampshire

  1·89

  Hertfordshire

  1·94

  Humberside

  2·32

  Kent

  1·96

  Lancashire

  2·29

  Leicestershire

  1·98

  Lincolnshire

  2·09

  Merseyside

  3·19

  Norfolk

  1·84

  Northamptonshire

  2·00

  Northumbria

  2·42

  North Wales

  2·09

  North Yorkshire

  1·95

  Nottinghamshire

  2·28

  South Wales

  2·40

  South Yorkshire

  2·27

  Staffordshire

  2·12

  Suffolk

  1·89

  Surrey

  2·18

  Sussex

  1·89

  Thames Valley

  1·86

  Warwickshire

  2·04

  West Mercia

  1·87

  West Midlands

  2·57

  West Yorkshire

  2·55

  Wiltshire

  1·97

  City of London

  159·60

  Metropolitan

  3·88

  1 Latest Establishments and mid 1986 population figures.

  562
  The figures are in the form requested, but do not allow for extraction for airport duties from forces other than Sussex.

  Satellite Television
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what form of Government monitoring and control there will be over the contents of programmes beamed at the United Kingdom by satellite television.

  Mr. Renton
  British Satellite Broadcasting Limited plans to launch a three channel direct broadcasting by satellite (DBS) service for the United Kingdom in autumn 1989. This service will be regulated by the Independent Broadcasting Authority under the Cable and Broadcasting Act 1984. Existing non-DBS satellite services are virtually all transmitted for reception and distribution via cable systems; and they are therefore subject to regulation by the Cable Authority under the Cable and Broadcasting Act 1984 in the same way as other cable services. We are considering introducing legislation to extend the authority's remit to all non-DBS services transmitted direct to the home whether or not relayed by cable. Services linked from Europe may be made subject to rules currently being discussed in the Council of Europe and the European Communities. Finally, the satellite television services will be subject to monitoring by the Broadcasting Standards Council.

  In all cases, regulation and monitoring is or will be undertaken by independent bodies. The Government have no wish or any plans to control any television services themselves.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether satellite television now being made for schools programmes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  I am not aware of any satellite television service in the United Kingdom which provides schools programmes.

  Prisoners (Rule 43)
  Mr. Tom Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the present number of prisoners subject to rule 43 in prisons in England and Wales.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  On 1 January 1988, the most recent date for which information is available, 1,916 male sentenced and unsentenced prisoners were segregated under rule 43 in prisons in England and Wales. Figures are not kept centrally for female prisoners.

  Mr. Tom Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the prisons in England and Wales that take only rule 43 prisoners.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  No prisons in England and Wales take only rule 43 prisoners.

  Prisons (Education Services)
  Mr. Tom Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of staff employed full time on education services in the following prisons: Wandsworth, Wormwood Scrubs, Brixton, Pentonville and Holloway.
  563
  Mr. Dougas Hogg
  At the present time, the complement of full-time teachers seconded by the Inner London education authority to the five prison establishments in central London is 24·5 posts.

  Prisons (Category A Prisoners)
  Mr. Tom Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of category A prisoners at present held in prisons in England and Wales who are serving a life sentence.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  On 16 June 1988, there were 252 confirmed and 11 provisional category A inmates in penal establishments serving sentences of life imprisonment. In addition there were 14 confirmed and two provisional category A inmates serving sentences of youth custody for life or detained during Her Majesty's pleasure.

  Tranquillisers
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if his Department has evidence of misuse on any of the benzodiazepines;

  (2) if he or his officials have had discussions with the United Nations officials involved with the United Nations convention on psychotropic substances regarding the reports of misuse of benzodiazepines in other countries; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) whether the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs has recommended adding benzodiazepines to the list of drugs controlled by the Misuse of Drugs Act.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  There is evidence that some benzodiazepine drugs, particularly temazepam, are subject to misuse. Neither my right hon. Friend nor I, or Home Office officials, have had recent discussions with United Nations officials about the misuse of benzodiazepines in other counties, but we are kept fully informed by them about world trends in drug abuse. On 1 April 1986, in preparation for the United Kingdom's ratification of the United Nations convention on psychotropic substances 1971 and following consultation with the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, 33 benzodiazepine drugs, including temazepam, were brought within the controls of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 as class C drugs. We are keeping this classification under review.

  Election Returns
  Sir Geoffrey Finsberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, pursuant to his answer of 14 June, he will list the names and constituencies of those candidates in the 1979, 1983 and 1987 general elections who failed to submit a return within the statutory period allowed.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The information requested is given in the return to an address on election expenses which is published after each general election (HCP426(87/88) for the 1987 election, HCP130(83/84) for 1983 and HCP374(79/80) for 1979). In the 1983 publication, the footnote reference indicating that a return of expense had not been received was omitted in error for the National Labour Party candidate in the Ashford constituency.

  Staines Police Station
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans he has to replace Staines police station; and whether he will make a statement;

  (2) whether he will make it his policy that any new police station for Staines will be sited in the town centre.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that Staines is high on the priority list of police stations to be replaced, but that no firm date for doing so has yet been set. The location of the new station will be determined after a thorough assessment of operational requirements and available sites.

  Police (Nottinghamshire)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has received any further requests from the Nottinghamshire police authority for more policemen.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The latest application from Nottinghamshire police authority was received in May 1987 for 173 posts to be recruited over three financial years. On 18 May this year my right hon. Friend announced that he had approved 35 posts with effect from 1 June. The authority has been informed that he will consider the remainder of its application when he takes decisions on the next tranche of posts to be approved under the programme which my right hon. Friend announced in May 1986.

  Religious Broadcasts
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will extend the remit of the Broadcasting Standards Council to cover religious programming; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  The main purpose of the Broadcasting Standards Council is to act as a focus for public concern about violence and sex on television. Consequently, religious programmes are not likely to receive much attention from the council.

  Misuse of Drugs
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to implement the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs recommendation that the prison department give urgent consideration to means of providing confidential but easy access to evidence; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Health to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Worcestershire (Mr. Forth) on 29 March at columns 452–54.

  Mrs. Nannete Goodman (Passport)
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will inquire into the circumstances in which Mrs. Nannete Ida Goodman of 12 Avenue terrace, Southend on Sea and whose date of birth is 5 October 1907, has not received her renewal passport for which she applied to Petty France on 19 April, despite her having explained the urgency.
  565
  Mr. Renton
  The application has been traced, and a replacement passport was posted to Mrs. Goodman yesterday. The application form indicated an intention to travel during June or July for holiday purposes, but no specific travel date or destination were shown, and no indication of urgency was given. The application was not therefore given priority at the Passport Office.

SOCIAL SERVICES

  Housing Benefit
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when he next plans to meet representatives of local authorities to discuss the changes in housing benefit.

  Mr. Portillo
  Officials meet regularly representatives of the local authority associations through the housing benefits standing committee, and its sub-groups, to discuss housing benefit matters. The next meeting of the standing committee is on 21 July 1988.

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he has taken to remedy past inequalities in employment practices in his Department, in compliance with the codes of the Commission for Racial Equality and the Equal Opportunities Commission, respectively.

  Mrs. Currie
  The Department has adopted a programme of action in support of its equal opportunity policy including the following measures to promote positive action to assist women and ethnic minority staff:Monitoring of recruitment has been introduced and managers are encouraged to utilise all possible advertising outlets to attract in particular applicants from ethnic minority groups, for example, through use of ethnic minority press and radio. youth clubs and local ethnic employment groups.
  The Department participates in the Civil Service Commission's advertising campaign which aims to recruit staff from ethnic minority groups; and in the commission's national schools liaison network, as well as a continued commitment to schools liaison at a local level.
  Promotion board monitoring studies, to identify harriers to the success of women and those from ethnic minority groups, are being carried out.
  Specific developmental training for women from HEO grade and above is provided. The Department is reviewing the development of equal opportunity training for all grades including the nature and delivery of the training.
  Job sharing and part time working is encouraged and publicised in departmental training for women in management grades.
  A "keeping in touch" scheme was introduced on 1 June 1988 which will enable officers to maintain regular contact with the Department whilst taking career breaks for domestic reasons and assist in their eventual return to work.

  On the wider front, as part of our equal opportunities initiatives we commissioned Isobel Allen's research study on women doctors, "Doctors and their Careers" recently published by the Policy Studies Institute. This compares the career patterns of male and female doctors. We will be discussing the findings with the medical profession and others involved in the training and development of doctors at two seminars in July and November, and will take such Further action as is indicated.

  Acute and Elderly Patients
  Mr. Nelson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will list the 10 lowest spending and the 10 highest spending health authorities on in-patient servies for acute and elderly patients; and what are the amounts so spent per resident in the areas.

  Mr. Newton
  I regret that comprehensive information on each health authority's in-patient expenditure specifically on acute or elderly patients is not collected centrally. However, from financial year 1987–88, the annual financial returns of health authorities will include a district-based analysis of hospital expenditure over a range of separate specialties.

  Supplementary Benefit
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many claims have been received in(a) the Greenock office and (b) the Port Glasgow office of his Department from former British Shipbuilders Ltd. employees about 13 weeks arrears of supplementary benefit; how many of these claims have been accepted; what was the average payment; and what were the reasons for refusal in each case.

  Mr. Portillo
  Local offices are not required to keep statistics of this kind. Some information on claims from former employees of British Shipbuilders Ltd. is, however, available from local unofficial records:

  Greenock office

  Port Glasgow office

  Claims received to date

  650

  554

  Claims processed

  650

  385

  Claims paid and average amount (where known)

  350 @ 350

  not available

  Reasons for refusal. In the main claims have been disallowed because income exceeds requirements or capital exceeds £3,000.

  Low-income Families
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he intends to publish the low income families statistics for 1987.

  Mr. Portillo
  No. I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Hornchurch (Mr. Squire) on 29 March at column 448 and my subsequent reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Great Yarmouth (Mr. Carttiss) on 19 May at columns 563–64.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the number of persons in low-income families in Scotland (i) on supplementary benefit, (ii) below 100 per cent. of supplementary benefit and (iii) below 140 per cent. of supplementary benefit for each of the years 1979, 1981, 1983 and 1985, as reported for Great Britain in the DHSS low-income families tables.

  Mr. Portillo
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Livingston (Mr. Cook) on 27 May 1988 at columns 413–14.

  Mr. Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a table, extrapolating from his
  567
  Department's paper, "Households Below Average Income: A Statistical Analysis", showing the proportion of individuals and children below various income thresholds held constant in real terms and analysed by family type and economic status both before and after housing costs.

  Mr. Portillo
  It is not possible to project "Households Below Average Income" tables forward to later years on a reliable basis.

  Ethics Committees
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will give those district health authorities that have ethics committees along with any information he has on the qualifications of such committees; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) to whom ethics committees in district health authorities report; if these reports are published; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  All health authorities are required to have a committee to advise them on the ethical aspects of clinical research. The objectives and composition of these local ethical committees are described in circular HSC(IS)153 of June 1975, a copy of which is in the Library. The reports are not normally published.

  Ambulances
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any proposals to change the national criteria on the replacement of National Health Service ambulances.

  Mrs. Currie
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Islington, North (Mr. Corbyn) on 12 May at column 241. The review of purchasing policy referred to in that reply is expected to be completed later this year.

  Drugs (Limited List)
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what have been the annual savings as a result of the introduction of the limited list of drugs available on the National Health Service in 1985; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Dewsbury (Mrs. Taylor) on 22 January at column 895.

  Leicester Night Shelter
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services why Leicester staff of his Department have discontinued their practice of visiting the Leicester night shelter to take fresh claims.

  Mr. Portillo
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Leicester, South (Mr. Marshall) on 16 June at column 288.

  Further Education Courses
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the prescribed period between YTS 568
  terminal date and eligibility to start a further education course of less than 21 hours per week for a claimant in receipt of income support or unemployment benefit; and if he has any plans to change this period.

  Mr. Portillo
  A person starting an education course of less than 21 hours a week could receive income support immediately if he or she had been: on a YTS course for the previous three months; or on a YTS course or receiving benefit for at least three months out of the last six months.

  Otherwise, a person must receive unemployment benefit, sickness benefit, or income support, for three months before starting the course. There are no plans to change this period.

  Tranquillisers
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many of the 25 million prescriptions for benzodiazepines in 1986 were repeat prescriptions.

  Mrs. Currie
  I regret that the information requested is not available. Repeat prescriptions are not separately identifiable.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps are being taken to ensure that represcription of benzodiazepines is done under controlled conditions.

  Mrs. Currie
  General practitioners are free to decide how best to issue repeat prescriptions to suit the needs of the patient. Many general practitioners already operate control systems which ensure the patients are regularly reviewed. We have made it clear in the White Paper "Promoting Better Health" that family practitioner committees will be expected to review prescribing patterns in future.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will undertake a sample survey of benzodiazepines prescribing so as to obtain a profile of the patients taking these drugs, relating numbers to the period of time for which the drugs have been taken.

  Mrs. Currie
  The Department has in the past supported research into prescriptions for minor tranquillisers and investigations into techniques for the cessation of tranquilliser consumption but has no plans to undertake a survey of benzodiazepine prescribing.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is his estimate of the number of long-term chronic users of the benzodiazepines; and what is the source of the estimated figures;

  (2) what estimate he can give of the proportion of the 25 million prescriptions for benzodiazepines in 1986 which was prescribed to patients who had been taking the drug for longer than two to four weeks.

  Mrs. Currie
  I regret that the information requested is not held centrally.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what discussion he has had with relevant medical bodies regarding controls on the use of benzodiazepines; and what conclusions were reached.

  Mrs. Currie
  Representatives of the Committee on Safety of Medicines had useful and informal discussions
  569
  with the Royal College of Psychiatrists prior to the issue of "Current Problems" No. 21. However, in recognition of the current concern about benzodiazepines, issues about the prescribing of these drugs are soon to be the subject of discussions between professional organisations and the chief medical officer.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services in which areas of the United Kingdom leaflets approved by the local drug and therapeutic committee and warning about the risk of benzodiazepine addiction are being circulated; and what action is being taken by his Department to encourage the wider circulation of such leaflets.

  Mrs. Currie
  Leaflets and other literature approved by local drug and therapeutic committees are issued on local initiative, and information about them is not collected centrally.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of the money provided by his Department for drug services has gone to help those suffering from addiction to benzodiazepines; and what steps are being taken by his Department to direct money to this area.

  Mrs. Currie
  Under the central funding initiative set up to develop drug misuse services, grants totalling £339,000 were made to four projects specifically for those dependent on tranquillisers. Each year funds are allocated to regional health authorities (£6·5 million in 1988–89) specifically for the development of drug misuse services. It is for health authorities to allocate these funds to individual services, since they are best placed to determine local needs. Many of the services financed from these allocations, and the other 184 projects funded under the central funding initiative, provide help for those dependent on tranquillisers.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if there is evidence of a change in the prescribing of the benzodiazepines following the notice sent to doctors by the Committee on Safety of Medicines in January which recommended restricted prescribing of these drugs.

  Mrs. Currie
  Official statistics about prescribing of benzodiazepines for the period following January 1988 will not be available until the beginning of 1989 at the earliest.

  Hospital Management (Public Inquiries)
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many public inquiries he has authorised into the management of individual hospitals in each of the past 10 years and of these how many were concerned with the management of surgical divisions within hospitals.

  Mr. Newton
  None.

  Consultants
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many consultants were suspended from 570
  employment by health authorities; how long was the average length of suspension; of those suspended how many were subsequently dismissed from their National Health Service employment and with what compensation in each of the past five years; and how many of those so dismissed have continued to work in private practice.

  Mr. Newton
  I regret that the information requested is not routinely collected.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any plans to change the disciplinary powers available to health authorities in relation to alleged clinical or other misconduct by consultants; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  We are expecting a report shortly from the joint working party established in March 1987, to review hospital and community doctors' and dentists' disciplinary procedures.

  Hospital Complaints Procedure Act 1985
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when he intends to lay a commencement order in respect of the Hospital Complaints Procedure Act 1985.

  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the Hospital Complaints Procedure Act 1985 is now in force at National Health Service hospitals.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 18 January 1988]: Directions on the complaints procedures to be operated in respect of complaints by hospital patients have been made. A copy of the direction and covering circular has been issued to health authorities arid is available in the Library. Health authorities will be required to ensure that the procedures are brought into effect not later than 29 July 1988.

  NHS Staffing
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will provide a functional breakdown, showing numbers in post and grades, of staff of his Department in London dealing with National Health Service management and policy, and showing the formal means of communication with regional and district health authorities.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 25 May 1988]: The functional breakdown requested, showing numbers and grades of staff, is given in the table.

  The Department communicates formally with regional and district health authorities by means of health circulars and health notices. NHS Management Board members regularly meet NHS regional general managers and their teams; and staff in the Department and health authorities communicate on a regular basis within their own spheres of responsibility.
  571

  Staff in post by grade at 1 April 1988

  Function Grades

  1/1A

  2

  3

  4

  5

  6

  7

  Executive

  Clerical and support

  Total

  Chief Executive and Personnel Director NHS Management Board

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  2

  2

  7

  NHS Operations

  (Liaison with Health Authorities on policy, accountability and programmes. Purchasing and supply. NHS buildings. Estate and property management

  —

  1

  3

  1

  16

  21

  80

  191

  69

  382

  Property Adviser to NHS Management Board (ungraded)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  NHS Personnel

  —

  1

  1

  1

  5

  1

  22

  56

  30

  117

  NHS Planning and Information Technology

  —

  1

  —

  —

  3

  1

  9

  35

  14

  63

  NHS Finance

  (Health Authority financial management and control. Management consultancy services for the NHS)

  —

  1

  2

  —

  3

  1

  12

  49

  23

  91

  Second Permanent Secretary

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  1

  4

  Health and Personal Social Services Policy1

  —

  1

  5

  —

  17

  4

  50

  141

  79

  297

  Family Practitioner Services

  —

  1

  2

  —

  7

  4

  32

  77

  49

  172

  Medical Groups2

  1

  3

  7

  8

  48

  1

  9

  19

  58

  154

  1 Policy relating to: health issues; primary care; community services; hospital services; mental, maternity and child health; child care.

  1 Advice on health issues relating to: prevention and health promotion; children, disablement, and nutrition; primary care; mental health and illness; hospital policies and services; management, planning and community medicine; medical manpower; scientific services, equipment building and supplies; cancer; maternity and the elderly.

  Note:

  Figures include: 1. Professional staff (shown under equivalent grading level).

  2. Staff seconded to the Department.

  3. Staff with significant duties concerned with NHS management and policy though many have other Departmental responsibilities.

  Spending Power
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish tables using the assumptions in his answer to the then hon. Member for Kensington of 4 February,Official Report, column 737, but using expenditure and benefit figures appropriate for families in Bradford for which he has sufficient data, and with an additional column showing the extent of the differences that will result from the changes in benefit in April.

  Mr. Scott
  [holding answer 14 June 1988]: The information requested is set out in the tables. It should be

  Old benefit system at hypothetical rates April 1988

  Bradford Local Authority

  Married couple with two children aged four and six

  Earnings head

  Tax

  NI

  FIS

  Child benefit

  Rent

  Rent rebate

  Rates

  Rate rebate

  Fares to work

  Free school meals

  Free welfare milk

  Net weekly spending power

  60·00

  0·00

  3·00

  28·70

  14·50

  19·98

  17·40

  8·62

  5·87

  5·85

  2·55

  1·83

  93·40

  70·00

  0·00

  4·90

  23·70

  14·50

  19·98

  16·15

  8·62

  5·47

  5·85

  2·55

  1·83

  94·85

  80·00

  1·22

  5·60

  18·70

  14·50

  19·98

  14·90

  8·62

  5·07

  5·85

  2·55

  1·83

  96·28

  90·00

  3·92

  6·30

  13·70

  14·50

  19·98

  13·65

  8·62

  4·67

  5·85

  2·55

  1·83

  96·23

  100·00

  6·62

  7·00

  8·70

  14·50

  19·98

  12·40

  8·62

  4·27

  5·85

  2·55

  1·83

  96·18

  110·00

  9·32

  9·90

  3·70

  14·50

  19·98

  10·88

  8·62

  3·70

  5·85

  2·55

  1·83

  93·49

  120·00

  12·02

  10·80

  0·00

  14·50

  19·98

  8·80

  8·62

  2·89

  5·85

  2·55

  0·00

  91·47

  130·00

  14·72

  11·70

  0·00

  14·50

  19·98

  5·50

  8·62

  1·59

  5·85

  2·55

  0·00

  93·27

  140·00

  17·42

  12·60

  0·00

  14·50

  19·98

  2·20

  8·62

  0·00

  5·85

  2·55

  0·00

  94·78

  150·00

  20·12

  13·50

  0·00

  14·50

  19·98

  0·00

  8·62

  0·00

  5·85

  0·00

  0·00

  96·43

  160·00

  22·82

  14·40

  0·00

  14·50

  19·98

  0·00

  8·62

  0·00

  5·85

  0·00

  0·00

  102·83

  170·00

  25·52

  15·30

  0·00

  14·50

  19·98

  0·00

  8·62

  0·00

  5·85

  0·00

  0·00

  109·23

  New benefit system from April 1988

  Bradford local authority

  Married couple with 2 children aged 4 and 6

  Earnings head

  Tax

  NI

  Family credit

  Child benefit

  Rent

  Rent rebate

  Rates

  Rate rebate

  Fares to work

  Net weekly spending power

  Difference between systems

  60·00

  0·00

  3·00

  40·32

  14·50

  19·98

  5·22

  8·62

  0·98

  5·85

  83·57

  -9·83

  70·00

  0·00

  4·90

  34·65

  14·50

  19·98

  3·64

  8·62

  0·00

  5·85

  83·44

  -11·41

  572
  noted that the results are essentially hypothetical. They compare the post-reform position in April 1988 not with the actual pre-reform cash situation but with a hypothetical position which they might have been in, had the previous structure continued and been uprated on the assumptions in "Impact of the Reform Structure of Income Related Benefits" (October 1987). Second, the comparisons are based on average local authority housing charges in Bradford but do not reflect the wide variety of rents and domestic rates that people actually pay. Finally, the comparisons do not take account of the transitional cash protection arrangements announced on the 27 April.
  573

  Earnings head

  Tax

  NI

  Family credit

  Child benefit

  Rent

  Rent rebate

  Rates

  Rate rebate

  Fares to work

  Net weekly spending power

  Difference between systems

  80·00

  1·22

  5·60

  28·99

  14·50

  19·98

  2·06

  8·62

  0·00

  5·85

  84·28

  -12·00

  90·00

  3·92

  6·30

  24·37

  14·50

  19·98

  0·77

  8·62

  0·00

  5·85

  84·97

  -11·26

  100·00

  6·62

  7·00

  19·75

  14·50

  19·98

  0·00

  8·62

  0·00

  5·85

  86·18

  -10·00

  110·00

  9·32

  9·90

  16·67

  14·50

  19·98

  0·00

  8·62

  0·00

  5·85

  87·50

  -5·99

  120·00

  12·02

  10·80

  12·19

  14·50

  19·98

  0·00

  8·62

  0·00

  5·85

  89·42

  -2·05

  130·00

  14·72

  11·70

  7·71

  14·50

  19·98

  0·00

  8·62

  0·00

  5·85

  91·34

  -1·93

  140·00

  17·42

  12·60

  3·23

  14·50

  19·98

  0·00

  8·62

  0·00

  5·85

  93·26

  -1·52

  150·00

  20·12

  13·50

  0·00

  14·50

  19·98

  0·00

  8·62

  0·00

  5·85

  93·26

  0·00

  160·00

  22·82

  14·40

  0·00

  14·50

  19·98

  0·00

  8·62

  0·00

  5·85

  102·83

  0·00

  170·00

  25·52

  15·30

  0·00

  14·50

  19·98

  0·00

  8·62

  0·00

  5·85

  109·23

  0·00

  Old benefit system at hypothetical rates April 1988

  Bradford Local Authority

  Married couple with 3 children aged 3, 8 and II

  Earnings head

  Tax

  NI

  FIS

  Child benefit

  Rent

  Rent rebate

  Rates

  Rate rebate

  Fares to work

  Free school meals

  Free welfare milk

  Net weekly spending power

  60·00

  0·00

  3·00

  32·90

  21·75

  19·98

  18·44

  8·62

  6·20

  5·85

  5·10

  1·83

  108·77

  70·00

  0·00

  4·90

  30·50

  21·75

  19·98

  16·54

  8·62

  5·60

  5·85

  5·10

  1·83

  111·97

  80·00

  1·22

  5·60

  25·50

  21·75

  19·98

  15·29

  8·62

  5·20

  5·85

  5·10

  1·83

  113·40

  90·00

  3·92

  6·30

  20·50

  21·75

  19·98

  14·04

  8·62

  4·80

  5·85

  5·10

  1·83

  113·35

  100·00

  6·62

  7·00

  15·50

  21·75

  19·98

  12·79

  8·62

  4·40

  5·85

  5·10

  1·83

  113·30

  110·00

  9·32

  9·90

  10·50

  21·75

  19·98

  11·39

  8·62

  3·91

  5·85

  5·10

  1·83

  110·81

  120·00

  12·02

  10·80

  5·50

  21·75

  19·98

  9·74

  8·62

  3·26

  5·85

  5·10

  1·83

  109·91

  130·00

  14·72

  11·70

  0·50

  21·75

  19·98

  8·09

  8·62

  2·61

  5·85

  5·10

  1·83

  109·01

  140·00

  17·42

  12·60

  0·00

  21·75

  19·98

  4·96

  8·62

  1·37

  5·85

  5·10

  0·00

  108·71

  150·00

  20·12

  13·50

  0·00

  21·75

  19·98

  1·66

  8·62

  0·00

  5·85

  5·10

  0·00

  110·44

  160·00

  22·82

  14·40

  0·00

  21·75

  19·98

  0·00

  8·62

  0·00

  5·85

  2·55

  0·00

  112·63

  170·00

  25·52

  15·30

  0·00

  21·75

  19·98

  0·00

  8·62

  0·00

  5·85

  0·00

  0·00

  116·48

  New benefit system from April 1988

  Bradford Local Authority

  Married couple with 3 children aged 3, 8 and 11

  Earnings head

  Tax

  NI

  Family credit

  Child benefit

  Rent

  Rent rebate

  Rates

  Rate rebate

  Fares to work

  Net weekly spending power

  Difference between systems

  60·00

  0·00

  3·00

  51·72

  21·75

  19·98

  3·56

  8·62

  0·00

  5·85

  99·58

  -9·19

  70·00

  0·00

  4·90

  46·05

  21·75

  19·98

  1·98

  8·62

  0·00

  5·85

  100·43

  -11·54

  80·00

  1·22

  5·60

  40·39

  21·75

  19·98

  0·00

  8·62

  0·00

  5·85

  100·87

  -12·53

  90·00

  3·92

  6·30

  35·77

  21·75

  19·98

  0·00

  8·62

  0·00

  5·85

  102·85

  -10·50

  100·00

  6·62

  7·00

  31·15

  21·75

  19·98

  0·00

  8·62

  0·00

  5·85

  104·83

  -8·47

  110·00

  9·32

  9·90

  28·07

  21·75

  19·98

  0·00

  8·62

  0·00

  5·85

  106·15

  -4·66

  120·00

  12·02

  10·80

  23·59

  21·75

  19·98

  0·00

  8·62

  0·00

  5·85

  108·07

  -1·84

  130·00

  14·72

  11·70

  19·11

  21·75

  19·98

  0·00

  8·62

  0·00

  5·85

  109·99

  +0·98

  140·00

  17·42

  12·60

  14·63

  21·75

  19·98

  0·00

  8·62

  0·00

  5·85

  111·91

  +3·20

  150·00

  20·12

  13·50

  10·15

  21·75

  19·98

  0·00

  8·62

  0·00

  5·85

  113·83

  +3·39

  160·00

  22·82

  14·40

  5·67

  21·75

  19·98

  0·00

  8·62

  0·00

  5·85

  115·75

  +3·12

  170·00

  25·52

  15·30

  1·19

  21·75

  19·98

  0·00

  8·62

  0·00

  5·85

  117·67

  +1·19

  Old benefit system at hypothetical rates April 1988

  Bradford Local Authority

  Single Person with 2 children aged 4 and 6

  Earnings head

  Tax

  NI

  FIS

  Child benefit

  Rent

  Rent rebate

  Rates

  Rate rebate

  Fares to work

  Free school meals

  Free welfare milk

  Net weekly spending power

  60·00

  0·00

  3·00

  28·70

  19·40

  19·98

  16·18

  8·62

  5·48

  5·85

  2·55

  1·83

  96·69

  70·00

  0·00

  4·90

  23·70

  19·40

  19·98

  14·93

  8·62

  5·08

  5·85

  2·55

  1·83

  98·14

  80·00

  1·22

  5·60

  18·70

  19·40

  19·98

  13·68

  8·62

  4·68

  5·85

  2·55

  1·83

  99·57

  90·00

  3·92

  6·30

  13·70

  19·40

  19·98

  12·43

  8·62

  4·28

  5·85

  2·55

  1·83

  99·52

  100·00

  6·62

  7·00

  8·70

  19·40

  19·98

  10·92

  8·62

  3·72

  5·85

  2·55

  1·83

  99·05

  110·00

  9·32

  9·90

  3·70

  19·40

  19·98

  9·27

  8·62

  3·07

  5·85

  2·55

  1·83

  96·15

  120·00

  12·02

  10·80

  0·00

  19·40

  19·98

  7·19

  8·62

  2·25

  5·85

  2·55

  0·00

  94·12

  574 575

  New benefit system from April 1988

  Bradford Local Authority

  Single person with 2 children aged 4 and 6

  Earnings head

  Tax

  NI

  Family credit

  Child benefit

  Rent

  Rent rebate

  Rates

  Rate rebate

  Fares to work

  Net weekly spending power

  Difference between systems

  60·00

  0·00

  3·00

  40·32

  19·40

  19·98

  0·00

  8·62

  0·00

  5·85

  82·27

  -14·42

  70·00

  0·00

  4·90

  34·65

  19·40

  19·98

  0·00

  8·62

  0·00

  5·85

  84·70

  -13·44

  80·00

  1·22

  5·60

  28·99

  19·40

  19·98

  0·00

  8·62

  0·00

  5·85

  87·12

  -12·45

  90·00

  3·92

  6·30

  24·37

  19·40

  19·98

  0·00

  8·62

  0·00

  5·85

  89·10

  -10·42

  100·00

  6·62

  7·00

  19·75

  19·40

  19·98

  0·00

  8·62

  0·00

  5·85

  91·08

  -7·97

  110·00

  9·32

  9·90

  16·67

  19·40

  19·98

  0·00

  8·62

  0·00

  5·85

  92·40

  -3·75

  120·00

  12·02

  10·80

  12·19

  19·40

  19·98

  0·00

  8·62

  0·00

  5·85

  94·32

  +0·20

  Old tax and benefit system—assuming average local authority rent and rates for Bradford and a simple reseating of April 1987 benefits to April 1988.

  Lone mother with 2 children aged 4 and 6.

  a. Not working-after one year on benefit

  b. Working part-time earning £20

  c. Working part-time earning £40

  Supplementary Benefit

  45·93

  30·89

  14·35

  Earnings

  —

  20·00

  40·00

  Tax

  —

  0·00

  0·00

  Nat. insurance

  —

  0·00

  2·00

  Fares to work

  —

  2·92

  2·92

  Rent

  19·98

  19·98

  19·98

  Rates

  8·62

  8·62

  8·62

  Housing benefit

  26·88

  26·88

  26·88

  CHB

  19·40

  19·40

  19·40

  FSM

  2·55

  2·55

  2·55

  FWM

  1·83

  1·83

  1·83

  Net weekly spending power

  67·99

  70·03

  71·49

  Benefit system from April 1988 Assumptions as in "Impact of reformed structure of income related benefits" October 1987

  Average local authority rent and rates for Bradford Lone mother with two children aged 4 and 6

  (a) Not working after one year on benefit

  £

  Income support

  45·35

  Rent

  19·98

  Rates

  8·62

  Housing benefit

  25·50

  CHB

  19·40

  FSM

  2·55

  FWM

  1·83

  Net weekly spending power

  66·03

  Difference between systems

  -1·96

  b. Working part lime—earning £20

  c. Working part time—earning £40

  Income Support

  40·35

  20·35

  Earnings

  20·00

  40·00

  Tax

  0·00

  0·00

  NI

  0·00

  0·00

  Fares to work

  2·92

  2·92

  Rent

  19·98

  19·98

  Rates

  8·62

  8·62

  Housing Benefit

  25·50

  25·50

  CHB

  19·40

  19·40

  FSM

  2·55

  2·55

  FWM

  1·83

  1·83

  Net weekly spending power

  78·11

  78·11

  Difference between systems

  +8·08

  +8·08

  AIDS
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services in respect of tests of the efficacy of the Karpas AIDS cell test kit conducted by members of the public health laboratory service on 3 and 4 June 1987, what test slides, laboratory notes, and serum samples used in the test slides have been preserved; and where this material is now retained.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 16 June 1988]: I understand that the test slides were destroyed as is the usual practice. Laboratory notes transcribed to computer records, and serum samples, have been maintained at the Central Public Health Laboratory.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) why the report of the PH LS and DHSS evaluation of commercial anti-HIV test kits conducted by the virus reference laboratory displays at table C(3) results as to the efficacy of the Karpas AIDS cell test kit which differs in substantive detail from the signed interim report of the same evaluation, dated 8 June 1987 with regard to the description of an HIV seropositive serum sample testing as equivocal and a seronegative serum sample testing as positive; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what procedures in respect of the report of the PHLS and DHSS evaluation of five commercial anti-HIV test kits conducted by the virus reference laboratory resulted in the alteration of the data reported in the signed interim report of the evaluation, dated 8 June 1987, as compared with that displayed at table C(3) of the draft final report; and what the consequences of this alteration were in terms of the reported sensitivity and specificity of the Karpas AIDS cell test.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 16 June 1988]: The interim report was a summary which did not evaluate the findings in detail. The draft final report rested on the same data obtained at evaluation, but gave a fuller interpretation of it. A further evaluation has been offered.

  Departmental Leaflets
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average length of time for supplying leaflets to inquirers at the leaflets unit in Stanmore; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 17 June 1988]: The average length of time for supplying leaflets is currently 10 weeks. Additional staff have been recruited in order to reduce the backlog.

  Benefits
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will update his answer of 14 July 1987,Official Report, columns 459–60, on the value of the short and long-term rates of supplementary benefit for single

  Scale rates as a percentage of average earnings of all males1

  Single non-householder

  Single householder

  Couple

  Uprating date

  Ordinary rate

  Long-term rate

  Ordinary rate

  Long-term rate

  Ordinary rate

  Long-term rate

  November 1978

  19·0

  24·4

  23·8

  30·4

  36·6

  45·8

  November 1979

  18·3

  23·7

  22·9

  29·7

  35·5

  45·0

  November 1980

  18·3

  23·2

  22·8

  29·1

  35·4

  44·4

  November 1981

  18·4

  23·4

  23·0

  29·3

  35·8

  44·9

  November 1982

  19·1

  24·3

  23·9

  30·4

  37·1

  46·5

  November 1983

  18·6

  23·6

  23·2

  29·5

  35·9

  45·0

  November 1984

  17·8

  22·7

  22·3

  28·4

  34·4

  43·1

  November 1985

  17·6

  22·3

  21·9

  27·9

  33·8

  42·4

  July 1986

  16·6

  21·2

  20·8

  26·4

  32·1

  40·2

  April 1987

  15·6

  19·9

  19·5

  24·8

  30·3

  37·9

  Scale rates as a percentage of average earnings of manual males1

  Single non-householder

  Single householder

  Couple

  Uprating date

  Ordinary rate

  Long-term rate

  Ordinary rate

  Long-term rate

  Ordinary rate

  Long-term rate

  November 1978

  20·6

  26·5

  25·8

  33·0

  39·6

  49·5

  November 1979

  20·0

  25·9

  25·0

  32·4

  38·6

  48·9

  November 1980

  20·6

  26·2

  25·7

  32·8

  39·6

  49·7

  November 1981

  21·0

  26·7

  26·3

  33·4

  40·6

  50·9

  November 1982

  21·9

  27·9

  27·4

  34·9

  42·2

  52·9

  November 1983

  21·4

  27·1

  26·7

  34·0

  41·0

  51·4

  November 1984

  20·6

  26·2

  25·8

  32·8

  39·4

  49·4

  November 1985

  20·4

  26·0

  25·5

  32·4

  39·0

  48·9

  July 1986

  19·5

  24·8

  24·4

  31·0

  37·3

  46·8

  April 1987

  18·5

  23·6

  23·2

  29·4

  35·7

  44·7

  1 Net average earnings are gross average earnings less tax and national insurance contributions at the non-contracted out rate.

SCOTLAND

  Community Charge Register
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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. Lang
  This matter is currently under consideration. I expect that an announcement will be made shortly.

  Cervical Smear Tests
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what instructions he has given to Lothian health board concerning its system of providing its general practitioners with postage to notify results of cervical smear tests to their patients; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Lothian health board has written to my right hon. and learned Friend's Department seeking guidance on the payment of postage costs incurred by general medical practitioners in notifying results of cervical smear tests to their patients. This matter is under active consideration.

  Violent Crime (Knives)
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will call for a report from chief constables on 578
  non-householders, householders and married couples as a proportion of average net earnings for all males and manual males.

  Mr. Scott
  [holding answer 21 June 1988]: The information is as follows:

  the use of Stanley knives or similar tools in crimes of violence; and if he will consider taking action to control the sale of such tools.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  No. Restrictions on the sale of such articles could not be effectively enforced without due interference with their legitimate use by all kinds of people in all walks of life. It is already an offence to carry them in a public place with intent to cause injury.

  Further Education (College Principals)
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many representations he has received since the publication of circular FE/65 as it relates to the defined working week and annual leave allocated to principals of Scottish further education colleges; and whether any of these supported the new conditions of service which will be implemented on 1 September.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. and learned Friend has received representations on behalf of three college principals and one deputy principal. Several representations have also been made by or on behalf of the Association of Principals of Colleges. None of these has expressed support for the new conditions of service relating to the contractual working week or annual leave entitlement.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in 1989–90 in any situation, any person
  579
  in a household will be responsible for the payment of the community charge which any other person in that household is liable to pay.

  Mr. Lang
  Under section 8(7) of the Abolition of Domestic Rates Etc. (Scotland) Act 1987 people who are married to each other and live together or, a man and woman who live together as if they were husband and wife, will be jointly and severally liable for their personal community charges. An amendment has also been made to the Local Government Finance Bill to make it clear that in the case of the standard and collective community charges where two or more people are liable, as would arise in the case of joint owners or tenants, they should be jointly and severally liable to pay the charges.

  Hospital Management (Public Inquiries)
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many public inquiries he has authorised into the management of individual hospitals in each of the past 10 years; and of these how many were concerned with the management of surgical divisions within hospitals.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  None.

  Consultants
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many consultants were suspended from employment by health boards; how long was the average length of suspension; of those suspended how many were subsequently dismissed from their National Health Service employment; with what compensation during each of the past five years; and how many of those so dismissed have continued to work in private practice.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Information on suspensions is not held centrally. The Scottish Home and Health Department is only informed of decisions to dismiss consultants where the individual concerned decides to appeal to the Secretary of State against dismissal. There has been only one such case in the past five years involving a consultant and in that case the appeal was upheld. A doctor dismissed by a health board, or any other NHS employer, is still permitted to undertake medical practice so long as he remains registered by the General Medical Council.

  Electricity
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average domestic consumption of electricity(a) per head and (b) per household in (i) Scotland, (ii) the Strathclyde region and (iii) in Greater Glasgow for each year since 1974.

  Mr. Lang
  The figures requested for Scotland are set out in the table. Information on average consumption in Strathclyde region and Greater Glasgow is not available.

  Average Domestic Consumption of Electricity in Scotland

  Financial year

  Units (kWh) per head of population

  Units (kWh) per household

  1974–75

  2,216

  6,676

  1975–76

  2,043

  6,105

  1976–77

  2,060

  6,102

  1977–78

  2,082

  6,098

  580

  Financial year

  Units (kWh) per head of population

  Units (kWh) per household

  1978–79

  2,146

  6,213

  1979–80

  2,093

  5,996

  1980–81

  1,986

  5,632

  1981–82

  2,014

  5,628

  1982–83

  1,936

  5,366

  1983–84

  2,001

  5,489

  1984–85

  1,944

  5,265

  1985–86

  2,116

  5,679

  1986–87

  2,134

  5,652

  Drug Abuse
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has for dealing with problems relating to drug abuse in prisons.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  A range of security measures is used aimed at stopping drugs being smuggled into prisons. For dealing with drug abuse in prisons, medical examination on reception should identify drug abusers. They are counselled and educated as to the dangers of abuse, and physical or mental symptoms of withdrawal are treated as necessary.

  Community Programme
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions have taken place between his officials and those of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations about the continued funding of present community programme projects in the community care fields; and what is the outcome of their discussions.

  Mr. Lang
  No such discussions have been held, but I am to meet a delegation including representatives from the Scottish Council of Voluntary Organisations today to discuss employment training, which will replace the community programme.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many Manpower Services Commission community programme projects there are in Scotland which provide community care; how many people they employ; and what are the running costs of these projects.

  Mr. Lang
  This information is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much Manpower Services Commission community programme money went into Scottish voluntary organisations during 1987–88.

  Mr. Lang
  £57·1 million (estimated).

  Bail Hostels
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has received any proposals from local authorities to establish bail hostels in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  No such proposals have been received. In October last year I commissioned from the Scottish Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders a study of the options which might exist for the provision of bail accommodation. The report of that study is now under consideration.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he established his programme of voluntary ethnic monitoring; what steps have been taken to progress that programme; what results were obtained from that programme; and why and when the programme is being updated.

  Mr. Eggar
  The diplomatic and aid wings participated in the Civil Servicewide survey on ethnic origins covering London, the south-east and East Anglia which took place between April 1986 and March 1987.

  In the diplomatic wing, 77 per cent. of staff have responded to the survey. Some 2 per cent. of respondents have classified themselves as coming from an ethnic minority. A further 5 per cent. declined to classify themselves.

  The response rate in the aid wing was 79 per cent. (84·8 per cent.) in the London and East Anglia survey) of which 5 per cent. classified themselves as coming from an ethnic minority.

  The databases in both wings are updated regularly with details of new entrants, promotions, resignations and retirements.

  The updated programmes will allow us to monitor recruitment, training, promotions etc. to ensure that we are meeting our obligations as a equal opportunity employer.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by what methods he monitors recruitment and training; and what have been the results of such monitoring.

  Mr. Eggar
  The diplomatic wing monitors the following aspects in the grades for which it has delegated authority to recruit directly:—

  Gender

  Ethnic origins

  Geographic origins

  Educational backgrounds (state or public school, university, college or polytechnic)

  Educational qualifications

  Effectiveness of recruitment publicity

  Relevant details are drawn from application forms and ethnic monitoring questionnaires completed by individual applicants. Results in 1987 showed, for example, that of all recruits into the diplomatic wing of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in that year some 60 per cent. were women and 2 per cent. were from ethnic minorities.

  The diplomatic wing monitors the quality and effectiveness of training by means of examinations and assessments of subsequent performance. Participation of officers in training courses is monitored according to age, grade, gender and ethnic origin by means of voluntary self-classification forms. Results have shown, for example, that in the financial year 1987–88 a total of 31 per cent. of participants in training courses were women.

  The development wing monitors recruitment into those grades for which it has delegated authority to recruit directly on the basis of gender and ethnic origins. Relevant details are again drawn from application forms and ethnic monitoring questionnaires completed by individual applicants. Results have shown, for example, that the ethnic minority success rate in the majority of 1987 recruitment exercises were higher than the percentage of
  582
  ethnic minorities in the working population. The recruitment of women has been monitored only since July 1987. In the second half of that year 79 per cent. of all recruits were women.

  Participation of development wing officers in training courses is monitored according to gender only. Results have shown that in 1987 a total of 39 per cent. of participants were women.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in which of the ethnic minority press he has advertised; and with what results.

  Mr. Eggar
  In 1988 clerical vacancies in the diploma tic wing have been advertised in "The Voice". This produced 78 out of a total 811 inquiries. Applications from this competition are still being processed. We also advertise in other newspapers with a large ethnic minority readership.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has appointed an equal opportunities officer.

  Mr. Eggar
  As my right hon. Friend the Minister of State told the hon. and learned Gentleman in the reply given to him on 26 May we appointed equal opportunity officers in the diplomatic and aid wings in 1984. This month we appointed a new equal opportunity officer in the diplomatic wing who will deal exclusively with equal opportunity issues.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many, and what percentage of officers in each grade and overall in his Department, are women and from ethnic minorities, respectively.

  Mr. Eggar
  The table for the diplomatic and aid wings show the number of staff in post (counting part-time staff as whole units) broken down into five grade bands. The table also shows in each band the number of women and the number of staff who have identified themselves as coming from an ethnic minority.

  Diplomatic Wing

  Grade2

  Staff in post2

  Women per cent.

  Ethnic minorities per cent.

  DS 1–5

  1,119

  73 (6·5)

  1 (0·1)

  DS6–7

  1,464

  198 (13·5)

  9 (0·6)

  DS9

  1,477

  483 (32·7)

  8 (0·5)

  DS10 & below

  2,260

  1,300 (57·5)

  66 (2·9)

  Industrial

  114

  41 (36)

  4 (3·5)

  Totals

  6,434

  2,095 (32·6)

  88 (1·4)

  Aid Wing

  Grade

  Staff in post2

  Women per cent.

  Ethnic minorities per cent.

  HCS 1–7

  258

  20 (7·8)

  3 (1·2)

  SEO/HEO

  364

  90 (24·7)

  11 (3)

  EO

  255

  102 (40)

  14 (5·5)

  AO & below

  684

  440 (64·3)

  52 (7·6)

  Industrial

  —

  —(—)

  —(—)

  Totals

  1,561

  652 (41·8)

  80 (5·1)

  1 Includes Home Civil Service equivalent grades in the FCO.

  2 Includes staff at home and overseas at 1 May 1988.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any plans to
  583
  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. Eggar
  As my right hon. Friend the Minister of State told the hon. and learned Gentleman on 26 May, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is pursuing the 1984 programme of action for women in the Civil Service.

  As an equal opportunity employer we recruit nationally and from all sections of society. We shall continue to monitor the proportion of women members of ethnic minorities amongst those who apply to, and join the diplomatic service.

  We provide training where appropriate for all members of the diplomatic service irrespective or gender of ethnic origin. We monitor participation on training courses by gender and grade.

  We promote those members of the diplomatic service who have shown the ability to do the work of a higher grade irrespective of gender or origin. We shall monitor the promotion of women and officers from ethnic minorities.

  The aid wing has similar arrangements.

  Cyprus and Turkey
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to seek to arrange a joint meeting of the Foreign Ministers for Cyprus and Turkey and himself to discuss matters of common interest; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We have no plans to seek to arrange such a meeting. The United Nations Secretary-General is working towards an early meeting under his auspices between President Vassiliou of Cyprus and Mr. Denktash, the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community, as a prelude to the resumption of intercommunal negotiations. We support the Secretary-General's efforts to arrange this meeting.

  Hong Kong Cattle Depot
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what steps are being taken to relocate the Hong Kong cattle holding depot as a matter of urgency in the light of the overcrowding and health hazards;

  (2) what measures are being taken by the Hong Kong agriculture and fisheries department to improve the state of the buildings in the cattle holding depot;

  (3) what steps are being taken to improve conditions at the agriculture and fisheries department cattle holding depot in Hong Kong; and if he will make a statement.

  (4) if he will make a statement on the conditions prevailing in the agriculture and fisheries department cattle holding depot in Hong Kong.

  Mr. Eggar
  Conditions at the agriculture and fisheries department holding depot at Ma Tau Kok are adequate. But the buildings which comprise the depot are old and the Hong Kong Government have begun renovative work which should be completed later this year. The depot is not overcrowded.

  Average occupancy in the past year has been well within capacity. The cattle-holding areas are washed down twice a day. There is no evidence that the depot is a health hazard.
  584
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what records are kept of animals arriving and leaving the Hong Kong agriculture and fisheries department cattle holding depot.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Hong Kong Government agriculture and fisheries department maintain daily records of the animals arriving at and leaving the cattle depot.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the average charges to dealers using the Hong Kong agriculture and fisheries department cattle holding depot; and whether this covers provision of bedding and water.

  Mr. Eggar
  No charge is made if the cattle are to be slaughtered in a public abattoir. A flat charge of one Hong Kong dollar per head is made if they are to be slaughtered in a private abattoir. Because of the climate in Hong Kong there is no requirement for bedding. Water is provided as necessary.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will make it his policy to impose full quarantine restrictions together with disease control and veterinary services, in the event of the Hong Kong cattle holding depot being an official agriculture and fisheries department quarantine station; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) for how long animals have to stay at the Hong Kong agriculture and fisheries department cattle holding depot in order for quarantine to have the desired disease control effect; and who enforces this;

  (3) if he will make a statement on the extent of veterinary services covering the Hong Kong agriculture and fisheries department cattle holding depot;

  (4) whether he will make a statement on the reasons for, and the timing of, the declaration by the agriculture and fisheries department of Hong Kong of the cattle holding depot to be a quarantine station.

  Mr. Eggar
  Regulations governing the use of the cattle depot as a cattle quarantine station date from 1956. All cattle imported into Hong Kong for slaughter are segregated from local animals from the time of their arrival until their slaughter. While regulations allow imported cattle to be held in quarantine for up to 21 days their average stay, over the past 12 months, has been 4·4 days. Care of the cattle in the depot is under the supervision of trained staff and this is supplemented by regular inspections by a Hong Kong Government veterinary officer.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will ensure that RSPCA inspectors will in future be able regularly to attend the Hong Kong agriculture and fisheries department cattle holding depot.

  Mr. Eggar
  The depot is managed and operated under the close supervision of a qualified veterinary surgeon. Routine visits by RSPCA staff are not required.

  Mr. Alex Zelichenok
  Mr. Burt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last raised the case of the Jewish refusenik Alex Zelichenok of Leningrad with the Soviet authorities; and if he will make a statement.
  585
  Mr. Eggar
  Mr. Zelichenok's case has been raised by us on several occasions in the past. His name was included in a list of refuseniks about whom we are particularly concerned which was handed to the Soviet authorities last December. We shall be raising it again during Anglo-Soviet talks on human rights on 23 June in Moscow, when we shall be pressing for all Soviet citizens who wish to emigrate to be allowed to do so.

  EI Salvador
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the ambassador of El Salvador.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. and learned Friend last met the ambassador of El Salvador informally on 15 June. I last met him on 21 June.

  Hong Kong (Camps)
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy not to keep any person for more than five years in a closed camp in Hong Kong.

  Mr. Eggar
  As part of their new policy towards Vietnamese boat people arriving in the territory, the Hong Kong Government intend over the next six to 12 months to liberalise the regime in the centres which will house all those accorded refugee status. Those arriving after 16 June who are not accorded refugee status will be detailed in closed centres without access to resettlement, pending their return to Vietnam as soon as internationally acceptable conditions for this are established.

  Immigration Fees
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy, in the light of entry clearance fees being non-refundable, that where an applicant successfully appeals against refusal to grant a visa, the applicant will not be required to pay any additional fee.

  Mr. Eggar
  This is already current practice.

WALES

  Homelessness
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give figures for the number of households accepted as homeless in Wales in(a) 1979 and (b) 1987; and when he expects the number of households accepted as homeless in Wales to fall below the level recorded for 1979.

  Mr. Grist
  The number of cases accepted as homeless in Wales in 1979 and 1987 was 4,676 and 5,294 respectively. The 1987 figure represents an 11 per cent. decrease over 1986. It is impossible to predict when the number of cases accepted as homeless will reach the 1979 level. This will depend on social behaviour as well as availability of housing. I welcome the decrease in 1987 and hope that it will continue and I note that the 1987 figure was lower than the one for 1980.

  Cancer Treatment Services
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish and give details of the proposals concerning the comprehensive study of all cancer treatment services, including the possibility of establishing a satellite radiotherapy centre in north Wales, by management consultants; when the health authorities will discuss and decide upon their proposals; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  We propose to initiate a review of cancer treatment services provided for north Wales patients by north Wales health authorities and neighbouring English regional health authorities. When the review report is available we will consider it and take appropriate action.

  Corporation Management Programme (Health Service)
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the draft corporate management programme for the Health Service in Wales following the consultation exercise in 1987.

  Mr. Grist
  As a result of the consultation exercise which my hon. Friend has mentioned, the corporate management programme for the Health Service in Wales is to be issued today. It details the work which must be undertaken by a whole range of interests to enable the health care services in Wales to adapt constructively to changes in the environment, so as to ensure the highest standards of care and value for money. The programme paves the way for more patients in Wales to receive the health care they need, when they need it and for that care to be of the highest quality. There is further evidence of our commitment to ensuring that the people of Wales receive first-rate health services for the years to come. A copy of the document is available in the Library of the House.

  Regional Development Grants
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the monthly regional development grant applications on which he based his 15 month total quoted in his statement on the Valleys Initiative.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  [holding answer 20 June 1988]: The following numbers of applications are assessed to derive from the valleys programme area:

  Date

  Number of applications

  1987

  January

  45

  February

  51

  March

  70

  April

  48

  May

  50

  June

  43

  July

  58

  August

  42

  September

  36

  October

  62

  November

  50

  December

  98

  1988

  January

  117

  February

  91

  March

  472

  1,333

  587
  The review of the first quarter of 1988 serves to validate what I said at Welsh Grand Committee on 2 December 1987. Our regional policy will expand not contract.

  Earnings
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the proportion of full-time employees earning less than (i)

  Full-time employees1

  Males

  Females

  County

  Percentage earning less than £130 per week

  Percentage earning less than £140 per week

  Percentage earning less than £130 per week

  Percentage earning less than £140 per week

  Clwyd

  22·2

  29·6

  n/a

  n/a

  Dyfed (excluding Llanelli)

  31·7

  38·5

  59·3

  63·0

  Powys

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Gwent

  22·8

  30·8

  50·6

  58·2

  Gwynedd

  35·5

  42·4

  62·8

  68·1

  Mid Glamorgan

  24·6

  30·8

  58·4

  64·1

  South Glamorgan

  24·8

  33·1

  54·1

  60·5

  West Glamorgan (including Llanelli)

  21·8

  29·8

  54·4

  64·9

  Wales

  25·4

  33·0

  56·1

  62·6

  Source: New Earnings Survey.

  1 Data are based on the pay (excluding the effects of overtime) of full-time male employees, and full-time female employees, on adult rates, whose pay for the survey pay-period was not affected by absence.

  Full-Time Employees1

  Males

  Females

  County

  Percentage earning less than £130 per week

  Percentage earning less than £140 per week

  Percentage earning less than £130 per week

  Percentage earning less than £140 per week

  Clwyd

  15·3

  20·1

  n/a

  n/a

  Dyfed (ex Llanelli)

  24·0

  31·7

  57·8

  61·5

  Powys

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Gwent

  16·7

  20·2

  49·0

  55·8

  Gwynedd

  26·4

  31·5

  58·4

  64·6

  Mid Glamorgan

  18·6

  23·0

  54·8

  60·1

  South Glamorgan

  19·0

  26·0

  51·2

  59·1

  West Glamorgan (inc Llanelli)

  16·4

  21·8

  52·9

  62·2

  Wales

  18·9

  24·2

  53·4

  60·1

  Source: New Earnings Survey.

  1 Data are based on the pay (including the effects of overtime) of full-time employees on adult rates, whose pay for the survey pay-period was not affected by absence.

DEFENCE

  House Sales
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in the sale of surplus married quarters to service men through the discount scheme.

  Mr. Freeman
  The scheme for the sale of surplus married quarters at discounted prices to service personnel began on 1 December 1983. As at 26 May 1988, 1,430 married quarters sales had been completed, with a further 547 potential sales in the process of completion.

  Strategic Defence Initiative (Polytechnics)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many contracts have been awarded to polytechnics in the United Kingdom by the United States Department of Defense for research in support of the strategic defence initiative; how many subcontracts have been awarded to polytechnics in the United Kingdom by existing strategic defence initiative contractors in the United Kingdom or abroad; and if he will list all
  588
  £130 a week and (ii) £140 a week, when overtime earnings are excluded, for men and women separately, in each county in Wales.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  [holding answer 16 June 1988]: There are no figures available since April 1987. The figures both including and excluding overtime for April 1987 are as follows:

  polytechnics which are or have been involved in strategic defence initiative research and state the value of each contract.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  One polytechnic in the United Kingdom has been awarded an SDI research contract. It would be for that polytechnic concerned to decide whether to divulge publicly any information related to that contract.

  RAF Leuchars
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he next plans to visit RAF Leuchars.

  Mr. Freeman
  My right hon. Friend has no such plans at present.

  Ethnic Monitoring
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to be in a position to make a statement on his policy toward ethnic monitoring exercises within the Army, the Navy and the Royal Air Force, respectively.

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer the hon. and learned Member to my right hon. Friend's evidence to the Defence
  589
  Committee. The Committee's report (HC391) was published on 25 April, and we shall be responding to it shortly.

  Search and Rescue Operations
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Air Force pilots were assigned to flying duties in operational search and rescue helicopter squadrons in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Freeman
  It is not our practice to reveal numbers of aircrew assigned to specific operational roles. However, I can confirm that the search and rescue force is manned to requirement.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Air Force helicopter pilots were under training for the search and rescue role in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information is as follows:

  Year

  Number

  1979–80

  14

  1980–81

  11

  1981–82

  19

  1982–83

  20

  1983–84

  13

  1984–85

  14

  1985–86

  18

  1986–87

  17

  1987–88

  13

  RAF Prestwick
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the function of the air defence notification centre at RAF Prestwick; and what plans there are to change its role and manning.

  Mr. Freeman
  The air defence notification centre at RAF Prestwick co-ordinates civil and military flight plans in the Scottish air traffic region.

  There are no plans to change its role or level of manning.

  Short-range Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what further discussions he has had with his European

  Northern Ireland Offences—Service men found guilty after prosecution

  Offences

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988 (to 30 April)

  Murder

  1

  —

  1

  1

  6

  1

  —

  Manslaughter

  3

  1

  1

  —

  —

  2

  —

  Assault/Wounding

  64

  44

  27

  37

  51

  54

  20

  Theft/Burglary/Robbery/Forgery/Fraud/Handling

  54

  44

  75

  47

  25

  53

  14

  Criminal/Malicious Damage

  7

  8

  7

  10

  11

  19

  6

  Firearms Offences

  5

  6

  5

  11

  22

  46

  1

  Disorderly/Riotous Behaviour

  21

  17

  11

  15

  22

  28

  14

  Possession of an Offensive Weapon

  —

  2

  2

  —

  3

  1

  2

  Wearing Paramilitary Clothing

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4

  —

  —

  Wasting Police Time

  —

  —

  1

  —

  2

  —

  —

  Blackmail

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  Unlawful Carnal Knowledge

  —

  —

  2

  2

  1

  —

  —

  Kidnapping

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Offences Involving Animals

  —

  —

  —

  —

  6

  —

  —

  Unlawful Imprisonment

  3

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  Indecent Assault/Behaviour/Exposure

  3

  2

  3

  3

  1

  5

  1

  Making a False Declaration

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  590
  North Atlantic Treaty Organisation counterparts about the modernisation of short-range nuclear weapons; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  My right hon. Friend last met his NATO European colleagues at the Eurogroup and Defence Planning Committee ministerial meetings in Brussels in May. I have nothing to add to the communiqués issued after those meetings, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Service Personnel (Discipline)
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many members of the British armed forces have, since 1969, been convicted of murder or manslaughter while serving in Northern Ireland; and if he will give the name and date in each case;

  (2) how many members of the British armed forces have been charged, since 1969, with murder or manslaughter while serving in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 29 February 1988]: Since 1969, 23 members of the armed forces serving in Northern Ireland, including the UDR, have been convicted of murder. Five of these cases are currently the subject of appeals. A further 22 service men have been convicted of manslaughter. These figures cover offences involving negligent discharges of weapons where the victims were other soliders. It is not our policy to disclose details of individual cases.

  Figures are not kept for cases where charges did not result in conviction.

  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many serving British soldiers have, since 1969, been convicted of indictable offences while serving in Northern Ireland, giving the name and date in each case.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 29 February 1988]: Records of numbers of service men convicted of all indictable offences in Northern Ireland since 1969 are not available. The table shows the number of offences for which service men have been convicted between 1982 and April this year.
  591

  Offences

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988 (to 30 April)

  Drunken Driving/Excess Alcohol

  61

  54

  47

  41

  60

  56

  16

  Causing Death by Reckless Driving

  1

  2

  —

  2

  1

  1

  1

  Obstruction

  2

  7

  —

  1

  3

  —

  —

  Furious Driving

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Shoplifting

  —

  8

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  Misuse of Drugs

  —

  —

  7

  1

  —

  —

  1

  Obscene Phone Calls

  —

  —

  —

  5

  —

  —

  —

  Failing to Give Information

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Manufacturing Petrol Bombs

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  14

  —

  Collecting Information

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  Member of a Proscribed Organisation

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  4

  —

  Offences

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  Hoax bomb

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Gross indecency

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Diverting electricity illegally

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Going equipped for stealing

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Arson

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Hijacking

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Resisting arrest

  2

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  No television licence

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Rape

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Breach of Exclusion Order

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5

  —

  Offences against Domestic Proceedings Act

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  Miscellaneous non-criminal offences

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Totals—offences for which service men convicted1

  230

  200

  191

  182

  223

  294

  81

  Service men convicted of above offences

  —

  —

  110

  106

  147

  161

  61

  Service men convicted of traffic offences

  —

  —

  213

  218

  225

  243

  84

  Total number of service men convicted

  —

  —

  323

  324

  372

  404

  145

  1 Less traffic offences.

  Nuclear Test Site (Maralinga)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has on the cost of decontaminating the area around the Maralinga nuclear test site in Australia; if Her Majesty's Government will contribute to the cost of this decontamination; if Her Majesty's Government will compensate victims of the nuclear tests at Maralinga in 1963; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 26 May 1988]: Responsibility for the test sites has been a matter for the Australian Government since the 1968 clean-up operation. However, the two Governments continue to liaise closely on the future of the sites. No United Kingdom atmospheric nuclear tests were undertaken after 1958. The Government do not accept that the health of participants has been affected by the ionising radiation generated by these tests or the experimental programmes which continued until 1963. Compensation other than that already provided by the war pension scheme administered by the DHSS cannot therefore be justified.

  Nuclear Weapons (Tests)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement as to what action the Government propose to take in the light of the recent 592
  House of Lords judgment on the applicability of section 10 of the Crown Proceedings Act 1947 in the context of radiation exposure and its somatic and genetic effects on soldiers participant in United Kingdom atmospheric nuclear weapons tests conducted by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 23 May 1988]: The recent House of Lords judgment in the case of Mr. Melvyn Bruce Pearce was sought to resolve an important, but preliminary, legal point, and was to the effect that section 10 of the Crown Proceedings Act 1947 does not constitute a bar to an action for personal injury damages in the particular circumstances of the case under consideration. Mr. Pearce is therefore free to proceed with a claim for damages through the courts. The decision whether or not to proceed with such an action is for Mr. Pearce to take in consultation with his own legal advisers. The Government, in the meantime, remain of the view that the radiological protection measures adopted during the United Kingdom's overseas nuclear weapons test and experimental programmes were effective.

  Radiation Exposure
  Mr. Ray Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any plans to discuss possible
  593
  compensation with trade unions or representatives of those allegedly exposed to radiation during the course of their duties.

  Mr. Snape
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any plans to discuss possible compensation with trade unions or representatives of those allegedly exposed to radiation during the course of their duties.

  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any plans to discuss possible compensation with trade unions or representatives of those allegedly exposed to radiation during the course of their duties.

  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any plans to discuss possible compensation with trade unions or representatives of those allegedly exposed to radiation during the course of their duties.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 24 May 1988]: My right hon. Friend has no current plans for any such discussions.

EMPLOYMENT

  Training Agents
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what training he proposes to give to training agents to assist them in making assessments and drawing up appropriate personal action plans.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Training Commission is funding a full range of provision to help training agents provide training for their own staff where this is appropriate. The training will follow the planned approach for employment training itself, with staff being helped to assess their own training needs, prepare a personal training plan and to take training leading towards vocational qualifications. As part of this commitment a series of special training events for training agents has been arranged over the next few months.

  Child Care Facilities
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what will be the provisions for the development of supervised child care facilities for single parents participating in the Government's employment training programme.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Training Commission will meet costs of up to £50 per week, per child if lone parents make arrangements for the care of their children with a childminder, nursery or creche which is registered with a local authority.

  All travel costs over £5 a week incurred by the trainee including the cost of travel to the childminder, will also be reimbursed.

  I expect most child care to be provided through existing facilities. However, training managers and providers will be able to set up arrangements for the children of parents training with them, providing the facilities are appropriately registered with the local authority.

  Radiation Limits
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the terms of reference of the 594
  working group of the Health and Safety Commission, established to consider radiation dose limits in the United Kingdom; who are the members of the group; and when he expects it to report.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The terms of reference for the Health and Safety Commission's working group on ionising radiations are:"To consider all matters concerning the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1985 and related radiation protection matters that are referred to it by the Health and Safety Executive or the Commission, and to advise the Commission."

  The working group is due to report to the commission by the end of the year. However, it will send detailed reports to the commission on specific matters in the interim.

  The members of the working group are:

  Mr. E. A. Ryder—Chairman (Health and Safety Executive)

  Ms. B. Bernard—National Union of Public Employees

  Dr. R. Berry—British Nuclear Fuels plc

  Professor K. Boddy—Newcastle General Hospital

  Dr. R. Clarke—National Radiological Protection Board

  Mr. A. Cunningham—Electrical Electronic Telecommunications and Plumbing Union

  Dr. J. Gittus—United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority

  Mr. B. Godfrey—Department of Health and Social Security

  Dr. J. Hill—Ministry of Defence

  Mr. F. Howell—Transport and General Workers Union

  Dr. P. Roberts—Queen Elizabeth Medical Centre, Birmingham

  Mr. G. Shaw—Lancaster City Council

  Professor E. R. Davies—University of Bristol

  Mr. W. L. Ross—Royal College of Radiologists

  Professor J. Walker—University of Birmingham

  Dr. J. K. Wright—Central Electricity Generating Board

  Opencast Coal Mining
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether, in the light of recent medical evidence about the effects of opencast coal mining operations on the health of local populations, the Health and Safety Executive proposes to exercise its powers to prosecute under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, section 3(1), in relation to the duty owed by employers in such undertakings to ensure so far as is reasonably practicable that persons not in their employment who may be affected by their operations are not exposed to risks to their health; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The suggestion that opencast coal mining operations may have a significant effect on the health of local populations could only be tested by long term systematic epidemiological study. In the absence of medical evidence that there has been such a significant effect, no proposals have been put to me that regulations under section 3(3) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 are called for.

  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether, in the light of recent medical evidence about the effects of opencast coal mining operations on the health of local populations, he will prescribe under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, section 3(3) the cases, circumstances and manner in which it shall be the duty of any employer operating an opencast coal mining undertaking to give to persons not in
  595
  his employment, who may be affected by the way in which he conducts his undertaking, prescribed information about such aspects of the way in which he conducts his undertaking as might affect their health; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Health and Safety Executive's mines and quarries inspectors carry out tests at selected opencast sites for the presence of airborne respirable dust which might affect the health of those on site and of the local population. These samples are then analysed to determine the presence of any respirable silica. The tests do not cater for the collection and analysis of non-respirable airborne dust. The procedure for such sampling was determined in close conjunction with the medical profession and is regularly reviewed. Inspectors consider each case to see what, if any, enforcement action is required under their statutory power.

  Quota Working Group
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment to what extent the recommendations of the quota working group 1985 have been fulfilled.

  Mr. Lee
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced in 1985 that he proposed to defer action on the working group's proposals relating to the administration of the scheme pending research suggested by the group into the disabled working population and its characteristics.

  Research into employers' attitudes towards the quota scheme has been completed and the results will be published as soon as possible. Consideration is being given to the commissioning of a research project into the numbers and characteristics of people with disabilities in the working population in the light of a feasibility study completed last year.

  My officials continue to promote awareness of the scheme through the employment service's disablement advisory service and its network of jobcentres.

  Sex Discrimination and Equal Pay Act
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to seek to amend the Sex Discrimination Acts and Equal Pay Acts.

  Mr. Nicholls
  We have already announced our intention to amend section 51 of the Sex Discrimination Act. We plan to introduce legislation as soon as parliamentary time permits.

  The Equal Opportunities Commission has also put forward recommendations to amend the law. Its proposals are under consideration by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in consultation with colleagues.

  Industrial Tribunals
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many applicants to industrial tribunals in(a) 1986 and (b) 1987 proceeded to a full hearing from a pre-hearing assessment.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The numbers are as follows:
  596

  Number

  12 months ended 31 March 1987

  350

  12 months ended 31 March 19881

  303

  1 Provisional figure.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many applicants to industrial tribunals in(a) 1986 and (b) 1987 were warned by the chairman at a pre-hearing assessment that costs might be awarded against them.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The numbers are as follows:

  Number

  12 months ended 31 March 1987

  515

  12 months ended 31 March 19881

  341

  1 Provisional figure.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many applicants to industrial tribunals in(a) 1986 and (b) 1987 proceeded to a full hearing despite being warned by the chairman at a pre-hearing assessment that costs might be awarded against them.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The numbers are as follows:

  Number

  12 months ended 31 March 1987

  97

  12 months ended 31 March 19881

  75

  1 Provisional figure.

  Household Expenditure Statistics
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide a table showing total housing costs, and separate sub-totals for rent, rates, water rates and other costs, for all households included in the income groups £100 to £125 a week and £325 to £375 a week, as reported in the 1986 family expenditure survey, table 5, included in expenditure items 1 to 4.

  Mr. Lee
  I am sending the hon. Member the information he requested. I am also sending a copy to the Library.

  Disposable Incomes
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what was the aggregate disposable income in 1979, showing the median, the lowest and highest deciles, and the lower and upper quartiles for(a) all households in the United Kingdom and (b) for Greater London, in an adjusted form on the current basis, as if the housing benefit scheme had applied at that date, as provided for 1983 in the answer in the Official Report, 22 July 1987, columns 211–12;

  (2) what was the aggregate disposable income in 1979 and 1981, showing the median, the lowest and highest deciles, and the lower and upper quartiles, for (a) all households in the United Kingdom and (b) for Greater London, in an adjusted form on the current basis, as if the housing benefit scheme had applied at that date, as provided for 1983 in the answer in the Official Report, 22 July 1987, columns 211–12.
  597
  Mr. Lee
  It is not possible to produce estimates from the 1979 or 1981 family expenditure survey on the same basis as those provided for 1983, in the Official Report, 22 July 1987, at columns 211–212.

  Agricultural and Factory Inspectors
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his statement on 2 December 1987 at column 1007 that there will be 40 additional agricultural and factory inspectors in place before April 1989, whether he will state the number of inspectors in each of these two inspectorates on 1 December 1987, 1 May 1988 and 1 June 1988; by what date the 40 inspectors are expected to be in place; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The number of inspectors in each inspectorate on the dates mentioned are as follows:

  Factory Inspectorate

  Agricultural Inspectorate

  1 December 1987

  558

  150

  1 May 1988

  541·5

  150

  1 June 1988

  542·5

  150

  Some 30 successful candidates from a recent recruitment competition should be joining the Health and Safety Executive's factory and agricultural inspectorates shortly and further recruitment of inspectors to both inspectorates is currently under way.

  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many inspectors had(a) resigned, (b) retired and (c) otherwise left the agricultural and factories Inspectorates since 1 December 1987 by (i) 1 May and (ii) 1 June; and how many additional inspectors had been recruited in the same period.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information requested is as follows:

  Factory and agricultural inspector

  1 December 1987–1 May 1988

  1 December 1987–1 June 1988

  F1

  A1

  F1

  A1

  (a) resignations

  13

  0

  19

  0

  (b) retirements

  4

  0

  6

  0

  (c) otherwise left

  1

  0

  1

  0

  Note: Figures do not include inspectors returning from secondment or special leave, etc, those regraded or those transferring internally in HSE to and from the Inspectorates.

TRANSPORT

  Lorries (Hazardous Chemicals and Waste)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has for inspecting lorries carrying hazardous chemicals or hazardous waste to see that they are maintained and equipped up to British standards.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 as amended in 1987 and the Road Traffic (Carriage of Dangerous Substances in Packages etc.) Regulations 1986 are enforced by the police and the Health and Safety Executive.

  Roll-on/Roll-off Ferries
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what information he has about the minimum time it would take for a roll-on/roll-off ferry to capsize:

  (2) what information he has about the expected time in which a roll-on/roll-off ferry would capsize in the event of collision.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  If a roll-on/roll-off ferry is loaded correctly, operated in a safe and competent manner, and does not receive structural damage in excess of that assumed in the internationally agreed standards, there is no reason why it should capsize.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has about the number of collisions in which roll-on/roll-off ferries have been involved for each year since 1983.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  The number of collisions in which United Kingdom roll-on/roll-off ferries have been involved for each year since 1983 is as follows:

  Year

  Number

  1983

  4

  1984

  4

  1985

  2

  1986

  3

  1987

  3

  1988

  0

  In addition, since 1983, there have been seven incidents involving non-United Kingdom roll-on/roll-off ferries in collision with United Kingdom ships of other types.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration was given to the vulnerability of roll-on roll-off ferries to rapid capsize in determining the maximum evacuation time of 30 minutes under the passenger ship safety regulations.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  The 30-minute period prescribed to evacuate a passenger ship was first introduced by the 1960 international safety of life at sea convention, and has been repeated by successive conventions. The primary aim was to set a realistic target time in which to evacuate all the persons on board any passenger ship.

  London Airports (Traffic Distribution)
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he intends to review his traffic distribution policy for airports serving the London area; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Channon
  I have today written to the chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority formally seeking the authority's advice on traffic distribution policy for airports serving the London area. A copy of my letter has been placed in the Library. With that advice pending, it would be inappropriate for me to consider introducing either of the existing deferred rules, covering frequency capping at Heathrow and peak hour priority for scheduled services at Gatwick. I expect to receive the authority's formal advice by July next year.

  Ferries
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those recommendations of the
  599
  formal investigation into the Herald of Free Enterprise which (a) he has implemented, (b) he plans to implement, (c) on which he is still undecided and (d) over which he has no control.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  [holding answer 21 March]: I have placed in the Library a list of the recommendations in the report of the court indicating the action that has been taken or is in hand.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Empty Dwellings
  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement on the number of Government-owned empty houses and flats.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish a list of all Government Departments which own empty houses and flats and the length of time they have been empty.

  Mr. Fachett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any proposals for the use of empty Government-owned houses and flats.

  Mr. Major
  The Government are concerned to reduce the number of empty dwellings in its possession to the minimum necessary for operational requirements. Departments, therefore, are encouraged to sell the empty dwellings that are surplus to those requirements. According to annual returns made by departments to the Treasury, in 1987 there were 18,426 empty dwellings owned by Government Departments. The Departments owning these were the Ministry of Defence, Home Office, Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland departments, PSA, Scottish Office, Forestry Commission, Department of Transport, and the Welsh Office. Information on the length of vacancy of each dwelling would incur a disproportionate cost.

  Exchange Rate
  Mr. Warren
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will not make it his policy to publish the upper and lower numerical levels in pounds sterling and the reference limits within which the Treasury and the Bank of England are seeking to operate in relation to other currencies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lilley
  Policy towards the exchange rate was set out in my right hon. Friend's Budget speech. The Government do not discuss the tactics they pursue in the foreign exchange markets.

  Government Data Network
  Mr. Michael Marshall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether the Government data network will have spare communications capacity when it first becomes operational;

  (2) whether, during the planning of future expansion of the Government data network, consideration will be given to developing opportunities for use of the Network's facilities by the private sector;

  (3) whether, when the Government data network becomes operational, Government Departments will still
  600
  be allowed to consider competing offers of services alternative to Government data network in order to meet their telecommunications needs;

  (4) whether any spare capacity of the Government data network will be made available on a commercial basis to other Government Departments or with appropriate security safeguards to private concerns.

  Mr. Brooke
  The Government data network takes account of the current planned needs of the four initial users. However, because of the size of the Inland Revenue and DHSS applications, and the wide geographical spread of all four users, the network will be designed from the outset to facilitate rapid and easy growth and increased geographical coverage. Private concerns are not expected to become users of GDN.

  Racal Data Networks Ltd. has to guarantee service levels and offer the GDN service at a lower cost than comparable public services. Departments will be free to compare alternatives to GDN to ensure best value for money. The GDN could be used to carry value-added services if Departments require these. The procurement of these services will normally be on a competitive basis.

ENERGY

  Coal Workers
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many applications the Government have made since 1973 to the Commission of the European Communities under article 56.2.(b) of the treaty of Paris for workers in the coal industry; how many of these workers were employed in (a) British Coal NCB deep mines, (b) opencast sites and (c) licensed mines; and how much was received from the ECSC budget for each sector.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  A total of 13 applications have been made, one covering the years 1973 and 1974, and one for each subsequent year up to 1986. An application for the period 1 January to 28 March 1987 is expected to be made shortly. All the redundancies included in previous applications have arisen from the closure, partial closure or merger of British Coal deep mines. However it would involve disproportionate cost to calculate the number of workers included in the applications who were actually employed at British Coal deep mines, as opposed to the number employed at other British Coal units such as area services. No workers employed at opencast sites or licensed mines have been included in the applications.

  Redundant Mineworkers
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many former employees of British Coal who were employed at opencast sites have received payments made under the Redundant Mineworkers and Concessionary Coal (Payments Scheme) Order 1973 and 1978 and amending orders; what were the dates on which such payments were made; and what were the opencast sites at which such persons were employed giving their occupations.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  None.

  Coal-fired Power Stations
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what applications or approaches he has had from
  601
  companies based in the United Kingdom or overseas for permission to build small, purpose-built coal-fired power stations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  None. The consent of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is not required for the building of private coal-fired power stations.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make it his policy to stipulate that any new small purpose-built coal-fired power stations must have advanced fluidised bed combustion techniques; if he will seek to ensure that any prefabricated parts in such stations are built in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  It is a matter for the generating organisations concerned whether they wish to utilise advance fluidised bed combustion techniques. All new coal-fired power stations must meet the requirements of HMIP for emission control.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Set-aside Scheme
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he intends to take to exclude the use of land for opencast coal mining from the terms of his set-aside policy.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Land used for opencast coalmining will not be eligible for set-aside payments under draft regulations shortly to be put to Parliament.

  Whale Conservation
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will press for measures within the European Community similar to those adopted by the United States of America which provide for trade sanctions against countries which ignore whale conservation measures.

  Mr. Gummer
  It has been widely recognised that the United Kingdom Government have taken a strong lead on the conservation of whales. We shall continue to do that and hope to have continued success working through the International Whaling Commission.

  Pigmeat MCAs
  Mrs. Gillian Shepherd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress is being made with regard to the abolition of monetary compensatory amounts for pigmeat; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The proposal is to remove 3·2 percentage points of the United Kingdom pigmeat MCA, leaving it at 1·7 per cent. and making it our lowest MCA. I have agreed this in principle, provided that the package remains as it was in Luxembourg.

  Plant Testing and Seed Certification
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consultations have taken place with the potato seed trade in Scotland about the possible transfer of potato variety testing for distinctness, uniformity and stability from Edinburgh to Cambridge.
  602
  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on Thursday 16 June, at column 231, to the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire (M r. Kirkwood). At the meeting with representatives from the Scottish Crop Research Institute and Caithness Potato Breeders Ltd. on 28 July 1987, there was no disagreement that potato variety testing for distinctness, uniformity and stability should remain at Edinburgh. The report on plant variety testing and certification in the United Kingdom recommends the same.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what account was taken in calculating the saving of £42,000 of overheads to be achieved by transferring vegetable variety tests to Cambridge as against Edinburgh.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  In 1987–88 the costs, including overheads, of vegetable variety testing for distinctness, uniformity and stability were estimated as £222·000 at Cambridge and £76,000 for the smaller number of species tested at Edinburgh. It was estimated that the extra cost of transferring all the work to Cambridge would be just under £35,000—a net saving of about £42,000.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will place in the Library copies of the detailed calculations by which the review on plant testing and seed certification systems arrived at its cost estimate for work which it is proposed to transfer from Edinburgh to Cambridge, showing, in particular, any assumptions about productivity or efficiency gains.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I refer the hon. Member to the replies given to him on Monday 20 June, Tuesday 21 June and today. The calculations were based on information provided by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland and the National Institute of Agricultural Botany.

  Colorado Beetle
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has on the frequency, and dangers from the accidental import, of the Colorado beetle.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 21 June 1988]:Up to 100 or so Colorado beetles are found in the United Kingdom each year. The beetles enter the country in a wide variety of ways. Most are found on fruit and vegetables imported from the continent but others occasionally arrive on timber, vehicles and other materials. Thanks to the vigilance of the public in alerting the police or my officials when beetles are found we have managed to prevent this pest being established in our potato crops, where it could do substantial damage. It is very important that this vigilance continues.

  Poisonous Algae
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) whether he is investigating the effect of the poisonous algae on the marine ecosystem of the North sea and its effect on fish stocks; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) whether he is investigating the causes of the presence of the poisonous algae found in the North sea; and if he will make a statement.
  603
  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 21 June 1988]: The algal blooms to which I believe the hon. Member is referring occurred off Scandinavian coasts and in the eastern North sea. The causes and effects of this phenomenon are being investigated by the responsible authorities in the countries concerned. We are keeping closely in touch with the progress of this work.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will increase research funds to be made available for investigating the cause and effect of the poisonous algae in the North sea; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 21 June 1988]: As indicated in my earlier reply the algal blooms which have occurred recently have not affected British waters. A substantial amount of research work on inputs into the North sea and their effects is already undertaken and there is no requirement for additional work on algal blooms to be given priority over other research activities related to the marine environment. The United Kingdom is contributing fully to the work of the scientific task force which is being established to enhance our knowledge and understanding of the North sea.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with Ministers of other Nordic countries about dealing with the poisonous algae in the North sea; what was discussed; whether any agreements were reached; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 21 June 1988]: An international scientific symposium has been convened by the Federal Republic of Germany to consider the growth of algae in the North sea and Baltic sea. This will take place on 23–24 June and representatives of the Governments concerned have been asked to participate; these are Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden. The United Kingdom is not directly involved, but we are sending an observer to this symposium and will be following the proceedings with interest and concern.

  Vegetable, Plant and Animal Matter (Imports)
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has on the restrictions placed on the import of vegetable, plant and animal matter(a) into the United States of America from the United Kingdom and (b) into the United Kingdom from the United States of America.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 20 June 1988]: The United Kingdom has a wide range of controls on imports of plant matter made under the Plant Health (Great Britain) Order 1987, and on imports of animal matter in orders made under the Animal Health Act 1981, which are aimed at protecting this country against serious plant pests and plant and animal diseases being introduced from the United States and elsewhere.

  Similarly the United States has a wide range of controls on imports of plant and animal matter, including those from the United Kingdom, made principally under the United States Code of Federal Regulations.

PRIME MINISTER

  Chlorofluorocarbon-related Products
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will designate a Minister to take interdepartmental responsibility for policy towards the use and taxation of chlorofluorocarbon-related products in respect of the protection of the ozone layer, the needs of developing countries, ecosystem conservation requirements, and export potential.

  Mr. Ridley
  I have been asked to reply.

  I have overall responsibility for policy on chlorofluorocarbons in consultation with other colleagues involved.

ENVIRONMENT

  "London Under Stress"
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action his Department proposes to take in response to the report from the London Boroughs Association entitled "London Under Stress", a copy of which has been sent to him; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ridley
  It is for the London boroughs grants committee, for whom the report was prepared, and the individual London boroughs to decide what action to take.

  Urban Programme
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much public money is estimated to have been spent on the urban programme in England since 1979.

  Mr. Trippier
  Estimated public spending on the urban programme between April 1979 and March 1988 is £2,477 million, cash.

  New Towns (Asset Sales)
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the progress of the Commission for New Towns in disposing of the former assets of the new town development corporations.

  Mr. Ridley
  The Commission for the New Towns is conducting an extremely successful programme of asset sales which in 1987–88 yielded receipts in excess of £200 million. I expect asset sales in the current financial year to be higher than this. The success of the asset sales programme is a clear indication of the confidence which private investors have in the future of the new towns.

  Sport
  Mr. Franks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to involve active or recently retired sportsmen and women in the administration of British sport.

  Mr. Moynihan
  On 16 May I hosted the first ever conference for sportsmen and women which enabled over 100 active participants in sport to have their say on a wide range of issues affecting the future of sport. A number of
  605
  top-level sportsmen and women are directly involved in three particularly important initiatives—first Steve Ovett, Clive Lloyd and Jeoff Thompson are members of my review group looking at sport and recreation provision in inner cities; secondly, Duncan Goodhew and Tessa Sanderson are working with me on my reveiw of sport for people with disabilities; and thirdly, Sebastian Coe and I have worked closely together on efforts to stamp out drug abuse in sport. Earlier this year I invited Chris Bailieu to be a member of the United Kingdom's delegation at the Council of Europe's sports committee.

  Mr. Forth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has about the levels of private sector sponsorship in sport over the past 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Between 1981 and 1987, the level of private sector sponsorship of sport rose from about £50 million to £170 million per year, a real terms increase of 150%. Over the same period, the number of companies involved in sponsorship rose from 700 to 1,000. Comparable figures are not available for the period 1978–81. I welcome this growth in the sponsorship of sport. It brings substantial benefits to sport at all levels.

  Housing
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further measures he proposes to increase the availability of low cost housing for local people in rural areas.

  Mr. Ridley
  The Housing Corporation is aiming to double the present level of provision by housing associations in rural areas, and I have agreed that the Rural Development Commission should increase its funding of the National Agricultural Centre rural trust for its work in support of rural housing associations. We shall be making a full statement shortly.

  Mr. Robert Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any fresh proposals to help reduce local authority housing waiting lists; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ridley
  It is for each local authority to decide the criteria for its waiting list. The findings of the study "Queuing for Housing", a report published by my Department in March this year showed that nearly half of those on current waiting lists no longer required local authority housing. It is clearly important, therefore, for authorities to review their lists and procedures regularly.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what targets he is currently developing for housing starts in the north and midlands.

  Mrs. Roe
  My right hon. Friend does not have targets for housing starts. This is best left to the market. The Department's revised household projections for the period to 2001 were published on 15 February. I expect local planning authorities to consider these figures carefully in reviewing and extending their development plans.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations he has received calling for the construction of more new houses in the south-east.
  606
  Mrs. Roe
  Records are not kept in a form which directly answers my hon. Friend's question. Whilst many representations have expressed concern at the pressures for development in the south-east, there is also concern about housing shortages in some areas.

  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further action the Government are taking in order to ensure an adequate supply of low-cost housing in rural areas.

  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further steps he will take to assist the provision of modestly priced rural housing.

  Mrs. Roe
  I refer my hon. Friends to the answer given today by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to my hon. Friend the Member for Salisbury (Mr. Key).

  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to bring into use for housing purposes privately-owned empty properties in England and Wales.

  Mrs. Roe
  Our proposals in the Housing Bill for the deregulation of new lettings will enable private owners lo let their property at market rents. This will encourage owners of empty private houses and flats to let them.

  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his policy towards the provision of housing in the borough of Basingstoke and Deane under the north-east Hampshire structure plan, in relation to the demands of local commerce and industry.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Hampshire county council's strategy towards the provision of housing in the borough of Basingstoke and Deane in relation to the demands of local commerce and industry was an issue raised at the examination in public held in November 1987 into aspects of the second alteration to the north-east Hampshire structure plan. My right hon. Friend will need to consider the report of the panel which conducted the examination in public before deciding whether to propose any modifications to the housing or employment provisions for the Basinstoke and Deane borough.

  Smith Houses (Leicester)
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the reasons for the refusal of his Department to grant Leicester city council the extra money for the repurchase of Smith houses.

  Mr. Ridley
  For 1988–89, £20 million was reserved from the total available for housing investment programme allocations to assist authorities with particularly heavy obligations under the housing defects legislation. Leicester city council's bid for extra resouces was considered carefully but the needs of certain other authorities in the east midlands were considered to be greater.

  Planning Law
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has had any representations about the case of re-examining the presumption in favour of development in planning law.
  607
  Mr. Trippier
  Yes.

  Football (Crowd Behaviour)
  Mr. John Carlisle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he next plans to meet representatives from the Football Association and the Football League to discuss the implementation of future measures to combat hooliganism and disorder.

  Mr. Holt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he next intends to meet the Football League and Football Association; and whether he will be discussing new measures to combat football hooliganism for the forthcoming domestic season.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I shall discuss progress on existing measures and the possibility of further measures with the football authorities, on 5 July.

  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will authorise progress on the February 1987 joint Government and Football Authority agreement on measures to combat football hooliganism; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the latest initiatives by his Department to improve crowd behaviour at English football grounds.

  Mr. Moynihan
  In February 1987 the Government and the football authorities reached agreement on a package of measures aimed at combating hooliganism at Football League grounds. Progress on some elements of the package has been good, particularly on the introduction of local plans for dealing with home and away supporters. But I regret that some clubs still have to put CCTV in place and the progress on the introduction of membership areas has been slow. I will be discussing progress with the football authorities on 5 July.

  Urban Development Grant
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much public funding has been devoted to urban development grant in each year since it was introduced.

  Mr. Trippier
  Expenditure on urban development grants was as follows:—

  £ million

  1983–84

  7

  1984–85

  15

  1985–86

  22

  1986–87

  22

  Expenditure in 1987–88 is estimated to have been £23 million.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many applications have been received from Liverpool city council for assistance under the urban development grant scheme since its launch; and how many of those applications have been accepted by his Department.

  Mr. Trippier
  Since 1982 my Department has received seven applications for urban development grant assistance from Liverpool city council. One scheme has been approved.
  608
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much money has been spent in total on the urban regeneration grants since its launch.

  Mr. Trippier
  Eight urban regeneration grants totalling £40·7 million have been approved by my Department. Further approvals are expected to flow from applications received before the beginning of May. In each case payment of grant will be spread over the period in which the development is carried out.

  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many schemes were approved over the lifetime of urban development grants and urban regeneration grants; and at what cost to public funds.

  Mr. Trippier
  A total of 289 urban development grants and eight urban regeneration grants have been approved at a total cost of £175 million. Further approvals are expected to flow from applications made by the beginning of May.

  Improvement Grant Work
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the recommendations of the committee appointed by the hon. Member for Oxford, West and Abingdon (Mr. Patten), as Minister for Housing, Urban Affairs and Construction, regarding the financing of improvement grant work and preventing low-quality builders being involved in such work.

  Mr. Trippier
  The report of the working party is under consideration.

  Environmental Monitoring
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether it is intended to make any further changes in environmental monitoring procedures, and in particular of radioactivity in the environment, in the light of post-Chernobyl experiences.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The national response plan to cater for the consequences of nuclear accidents abroad incorporates new radiation monitoring arrangements. Details are set out in the HMSO booklet "The National Response Plan and Radioactive Incident Monitoring Network (RIMNET): A Statement of Proposals" published earlier this year, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Bail Hostels
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has received any representations on class CI of the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes Order) 1987 regarding change of use to bail hostels and similar residences for offenders.

  Mr. Ridley
  We have received one letter about bail hostels and the use classes order, from an area probation service, and I am aware of my hon. Friend's concerns about a proposed hostel in his constituency.

  Cluttons Ltd.
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last met the directors of Cluttons Ltd; and what matters of mutual interest were discussed.
  609
  Mr. Chope
  My right hon. Friend has had no meeting with the directors of Cluttons. I met the senior partner approximately 18 months ago when we discussed the management of PSA district works offices.

  Development (Density)
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidelines he gives to planning authorities and planning inspectors on density of development.

  Mr. Ridley
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. McCrindle).

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has, in the light of the overdevelopment of the south-east, to introduce a new planning circular.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given earlier today by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to my hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. McCrindle).

  Pollution
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will outline new proposals for steps being taken to reduce pollution from motor vehicles, in the light of the recent report on increasing air pollution in London.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I outlined the Government's proposals for further measures to reduce motor vehicle pollution in my reply of 7 December 1987 to my hon. Friend the Member for Fulham (Mr. Carrington), at column 20–21. We expect these measures to achieve reductions in air pollution, despite predicted increases in traffic.

  European Football
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will next meet the chairman of the Football Association to discuss the future of English participation in European football.

  Mr. Moynihan
  As I told the hon. Member in my answer on 18 May at column 941, I met the chairman of the Football Association on 14 May together with the president of UEFA and the president of the Football League. I have presented to UEFA my report on the 1987–88 domestic season and the preparations for the European Championship finals. UEFA will now take its decision on whether English clubs should be re-admitted to European competitions at its congress on 24 June.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the number of single people(a) under 18 years and (b) under 25 years who are homeless (i) in London and (ii) in England; and if he will introduce legislation to amend the Housing Act 1985 to include people under the age of 18 years within the category of homeless people who are in priority need and entitled to be housed by their local authority.

  Mrs. Roe
  Information about the ages of homeless single people is not available. Section 59 of the Housing 610
  Act 1985 does not specify any age limit for those who may be treated as in priority need for accommodation, and local authorities are therefore already able to house young people under 18 under the homelessness legislation when they judge them to be at risk.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the latest figures for families in bed-and-breakfast accommodation in England and Wales.

  Mrs. Roe
  The latest number of households temporarily placed in bed and breakfast accommodation by English local authorities, appears in table 4(A) of "Local authorities' action under the homelessness provisions of the 1985 Housing Act: England, Statistics for the first quarter 1988", which is available in the Library. For Welsh figures I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many young single homeless people there are(a) in London and (b) in England and Wales.

  Mrs. Roe
  The information is not available.

  Urban Development
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much private money in total is estimated to have been attracted as a result of public funding for urban development and regeneration in the Merseyside and London Dockland development corporations; and what level of leverage that represents.

  Mr. Trippier
  Estimated private sector investment committed by the end of March 1988 to the London Docklands development corporation's area was £4 billion and to the Merseyside development corporation's area was £63 million. Total grant-in-aid paid to the two corporations over the same period was £564 million. This represents a leverage (defined as the ratio of grant-in-aid received to private sector investment committed) of 1:7.

  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many(a) jobs have been provided, (b) homes have been provided and (c) areas of inner-city derelict land have been reclaimed, as a result of awards under the urban development and urban regeneration grants during their lifetime.

  Mr. Trippier
  Urban development grants and urban regeneration grants approved to date will result in the provision of 30,800 jobs and 8,500 homes as well as bringing 1,380 acres of land back into use. Further approvals are expected to flow from applications received by early May.

  Mr. Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much money has been spent in total o n the urban development corporation budget in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Trippier
  Urban development corporation grant-in-aid in the last three years was:

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  outturn

  outturn

  provision

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  82

  89

  133

  Planning Control
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he is considering for changes in the local authority planning control system.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  At any time we have a number of improvements to the planning system under consideration. In particular, revised rules governing planning inquiries have just been made; we have laid regulations to give effect by 3 July to the European Community's environmental assessment directive; we published on 15 June a draft planning policy guidance note on local plans; and we shall be laying a revised and consolidated general development order later this year.

  River Pollution
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what directions he has given to the chairman of the National Rivers Authority advisory committee with regard to the maintenance of river pollution standards subsequent to the introduction of the National Rivers Authority; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  None. The privatisation legislation will put the existing system of quality objectives and standards on a statutory basis, and allow my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, to set such objectives in the light of recommendations from the National Rivers Authority. These arrangements cannot be brought into operation until the NRA has been established and the relevant pollution control functions have been transferred to it. Until then, such matters remain the responsibility of the regional water authorities.

  Ozone Layer (Protection)
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last discussed the question of the protection of the ozone layer with his European Economic Community counterparts; and what was the content of the discussion.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I refer to the answer which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Richmond and Barnes (Mr. Hanley) on 20 June 1988.

  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he proposes to take, in the light of the report from the Environment Committee, published on 15 June, in so far as it relates to damage to the ozone layer caused by chlorofluorocarbons; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I refer to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) on 14 June at columns 143–44.

  Development (South-West)
  Sir Peter Emery
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what approaches and how many letters he has received from people and organisations concerned about the increased incursion of inappropriate modern buildings into the countryside of the south-west region of England; and what specific steps he proposes to take to preserve the rural heritage in this region.

  Mr. Moynihan
  In the year to 31 March the Department's south-west regional office received over 300 612
  letters about planning matters in the region. Some would have referred to the subject raised by my hon. Friend. The Government's policy for the countryside is aimed to encourage growth and diversification in the rural economy in ways that will enhance the quality of life in rural communities and conserve the nation's countryside heritage.

  Planning Appeals
  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance his Department currently provides to inspectors appointed to conduct planning appeals to assist them in carrying out their duties.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Like local planning authorities, inspectors must have regard to guidance on planning policy published by my right hon. Friend, so far as it is material to the particular case. The Department also arranges training for inspectors on all aspects of their work.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many appeals he has allowed from developers every year for the last five years.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The number of planning appeals allowed in each of the last five years is as follows:

  Year

  Appeals allowed

  1983

  3,633

  1984

  3,773

  1985

  5,477

  1985–86

  5,581

  1986–87

  6,208

  1987–88

  6,955

  Local Government Finance Bill
  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people and how many organisations have now made representations to him in favour of the Local Government Finance Bill.

  Mr. Howard
  A summary of the 1,271 responses received by 31 October 1986, when the consultation period on the Green Paper ended, was placed in the Library on 15 December 1986. Since June 1987, my Department has received some 10,400 letters, the majority of which are from private individuals. The letters contain a variety of comments on specific aspects of our proposals, or requests for further information, and for this reason do not readily lend themselves to an analysis of correspondents' views.

  London Docklands Development Corporation
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much private finance has been attracted to the London Docklands development corporation as a result of Government urban regeneration and development funding; and what level of public/private sector leverage this represents.

  Mr. Trippier
  Estimated private sector investment committed by the end of March 1988 to the London Docklands development corporation's area was £4 billion. The grant-in-aid paid to LDDC over the same period was £396 million. This represents a leverage (defined as the ratio of grant-in-aid received to private sector investment committed) of 1:10.

  Olympic Games, Seoul
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has received any representations about the safety of United Kingdom sportsmen and women competing in the summer Olympic Games in Seoul.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I replied to a question on the safety of competitors at the Olympic Games from the hon. Member on 25 January at column 51, and I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today to my hon. Friend the Member for Shipley (Sir M. Fox). I have not received any letters on the subject.

  Sir Marcus Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied with the security arrangements being made for the British Olympic team in South Korea.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Security for the Olympic Games is primarily the responsibility of the South Korean Authorities. They are taking extensive precautions and both I and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs are confident they are giving this matter very careful consideration. We will continue to monitor the situation between now and the start of the games.

  Litter Act 1983
  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to review the effectiveness of the Litter Act 1983.

  Mr. Moynihan
  No, but we shall be monitoring the effectiveness of the City of Westminster Act which introduces a fixed penalty of £10 as an alternative to being prosecuted for an offence, to establish whether the concept is suitable for wider application.

  Urban Development Grant (Brent)
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much public funding has been awarded to Brent under the Government's urban development grant scheme since 1984; and how much private funding has been attracted as a result.

  Mr. Trippier
  Since 1984 two urban development grant schemes have been approved in Brent generating £2,125,000 of Government funding. These projects are expected to encourage private sector investment in excess of £7 million.

  County Precepts
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which counties in England have(a) the highest and (b) the lowest county precept.

  Mr. Howard
  In 1988–89 Derbyshire has the highest county precept (297·5p) and Hereford and Worcester the lowest (185·0p).

  Housing Investment Programme Allocation (Cherwell)
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from Cherwell district council concerning its housing investment programme allocation.
  614
  Mrs. Roe
  None.

  Water Pollution
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to reduce pollution levels in the waters around the United Kingdom coastline; and what information he has about pollution levels in other European Economic Community countries with coastal waters in relation to the levels in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The ministerial declaration of the second international conference on the protection of the North sea, which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State chaired last November, contains a number of agreed proposals for reducing pollution of the North sea. The Department has since published a guidance note setting out the action the Government believe is necessary to implement the declaration. Discussions are in progress with water authorities and other interested parties with a view to drawing up an action plan for reducing inputs of dangerous substances via rivers and estuaries, and this will be reviewed at the third international conference to be held in the Netherlands in early 1990.

  The Government have stated that actions implied by the declaration will be applied consistently throughout the United Kingdom and not just to North sea waters.

  The North sea quality status report, prepared for last year's conference, provides the best assessment of the current state of the North sea. Copies of the ministerial declaration of the second conference, the Department's guidance note and the quality status report have all been placed in the Library of the House.

  Rents
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what procedures he intends to bring forward to co-ordinate the work of his own Department and of other Government agencies with regard to rent levels in the event of the Housing Bill becoming law.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We do not consider that there will be any need to alter arrangements for co-ordination as a result of the Housing Bill.

  Consortium Developments plc
  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he plans to meet the chairman of Consortium Developments plc to discuss his policy on housing development.

  Mrs. Roe
  My right hon. Friend has no plans at present for such a meeting.

  House Sales (Basildon)
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many New Town Commission houses and council houses have been sold in Basildon up to the present time.

  Mrs. Roe
  At 31 March 1988 11,083 new town houses and 1,685 council houses had been sold in Basildon.

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent ad vice he has received from public water authorities about the current state of nitrate pollution of public water supplies; and if he will make a statement.
  615
  Mr. Moynihan
  Water authorities and water companies have advised me of 49 public water supplies currently containing nitrate which regularly exceeds a concentration of 50 milligrams per litre.

  Planning Applications
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many applications for planning permission that fell outside county council structure plans he received in 1987.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Local planning authorities are required to notify my right hon. Friend of any planning application which would materially conflict with or prejudice the implementation of any of the policies or general proposals of the structure plan but which they intend to approve. Some 342 such applications were referred to him in 1987.

  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many planning applications for 3,000 houses or more have been called in by him within the last 12 months or are now under consideration by him with a view to calling in; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  One such application was called in; and another is currently unde consideration for call-in.

  Construction Industry
  Mr. Bevan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the most recent set of construction figures; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  Provisional figures for the first quarter 1988 are given in the table.

  Construction activity in Great Britain—1st Quarter 1988 £m 1980 prices—seasonally adjusted

  Output1

  New orders2

  Housing

  Private

  1,086

  1,040

  Public

  177

  152

  TOTAL

  1,263

  1,192

  Other New Work

  Private industrial

  752

  659

  Private commercial

  1,214

  1,879

  Public non-housing

  837

  1,090

  All other new work

  2,803

  3,628

  TOTAL NEW WORK

  4,066

  4,820

  Repair Maintenance and Improvements3,4

  Housing R M and I

  Private

  856

  Public

  561

  Private Non-housing R and M

  552

  Public Non-housing R and M

  695

  TOTAL R M AND I

  2,664

  TOTAL All Work

  6,730

  1Includes DLOs of LA's and PAs

  2Private Contractors only.

  3 Includes housing refurbishment but non-housing refurbishment is included with new work.

  4Orders for R and M are not collected.

  These total output figures of £673 million are the best for 15 years and represent a 10 per cent. increase over the
  616
  same period a year earlier. It has been largely achieved by the dominant influence of work for the private sector reflecting the success of the Government's economic policies.

  The high level of contractors' new orders confirms that the healthy state of the industry will be maintained during 1988.

  Arpley Meadows Dumping Site
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to meet representatives of Cheshire county council to discuss the future of the Arpley meadows dumping site.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I am arranging to meet representatives of Cheshire county council shortly.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what were his estimates in June 1987 and in December 1987 of the total number of people who will be exempt from paying the poll tax; and what is the latest equivalent estimate.

  Mr. Howard
  In June 1987 we estimated that about half a million people would be exempt from the community charge. We estimate that decisions taken since then will result in exemptions for about an additional 25,000 people.

  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received concerning exemption from the community charge of full-time residential community volunteer carers, including community service volunteers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  The Government have received a number of such representations, which are currently under consideration.

  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received concerning 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 after 25 April.

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 20 June 1988]: I have received representations from the London Boroughs Association, the Association of London Authorities, the City of London and from members and officers of a number of the boroughs affected.

  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on what date the Price Waterhouse report on administering the community charge was received; when he proposes to publish the report; what arrangements will be made for disseminating its findings; and if he will publish the cost of commissioning the report.

  Mr. Ridley
  The date on which both volumes of the final report were available was 16 June. I shall make both volumes available shortly and will distribute volume 2 of the report widely to local authorities as soon as this has been discussed with the local authority associations. The report is expected to cost £60,000.

  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if mature students paying the 20 per cent.
  617
  community charge with a non-student spouse, will be jointly and severally liable for their spouse's community charge at a rate of 100 per cent.

  Mr. Ridley
  All married and unmarried couples will be jointly and severally liable for the full amount of each other's community charge during the period that they live together.

  Air Pollution
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department is monitoring the build-up of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Although the Department does not monitor carbon dioxide concentrations directly, we keep in close touch with the United States National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration laboratories which maintains the definitive long-term records such as that at Mauna, Loa, Hawaii. The Department does monitor concentrations of many other important greenhouse gases (eg Methane, CFCs) in co-operation with NASA and University college, Galway, at a clean site in Western Ireland, which has been established with the co-operation of the Department of the Environment of the Republic of Ireland.

  "The Way Forward"
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received following the publication of the document entitled "The Way Forward" by United Kingdom Nirex Ltd.

  Mr. Moynihan
  My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations about Nirex's discussion document "The Way Forward". We have advised all respondents to make their views known to Nirex.

  Housebuilders Federation
  Mr. Model
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last met representatives of the Housebuilders Federation; what matters were discussed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Roe
  My hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning, last met representatives of the Housebuilders Federation at their conference on 24 March, when a wide range of issues of interest to the federation were raised. Ministers keep in regular touch with the federation.

  Housing Defects Act
  Sir John Biggs-Davison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the working of the Housing Defects Act.

  Mrs. Roe
  We have recently modified the rules of the scheme to enable local authorities more readily to give appropriate help to owners of houses designated as defective. We have also increased the cost limits up to which grants for repairs are available, and we have allocated a further £20 million to local authorities with the heaviest obligations to help house owners.

  Local authorities are now generally making good progress in implementing the legislation, but we are continuing to monitor the scheme closely, and to examine the scope for further streamlining.

  Right to Buy
  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will seek to extend the right to buy granted to council tenants to include tenants of privately rented properties without resident landlords.

  Mrs. Roe
  No.

  Planning Inquiries
  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to improve and make more cost-effective planning inquiries, particularly major planning inquiries; and if he will seek to introduce a power for inspectors at such inquiries to commission independent expert research not requested by parties to the inquiry.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  New procedure rules for planning inquiries were laid before both Houses on 16 June. 1 refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Hallam (Mr. Patnick) on that date at columns 247–48. A major objective of the new rules is 1:0 speed up decision times by introducing time tabling provisions for the service of pie-inquiry statements and for the date by which the inquiry should open. There are also now provisions for the exchange of evidence before the start of the inquiry. The rules are supplemented by a code of practice giving additional guidance on the action required from the various participants in preparing for a major inquiry.

  The rules do not give inspectors a specific power to commission independent research, but there is nothing to prevent them from inviting submissions on a particular issue. In general, however, it is for the parties to an inquiry to decide the scope and content of their evidence.

  Sport (Drug Abuse)
  Mr. Brandon-Bravo
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will outline the national and international steps taken to implement the proposals outlined in the Government's report on drug abuse in sport.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Nationally, the Sports Council began implementation on 1 April of a new drug-testing regime which provides for:

  (i) Testing to be undertaken by independent sampling officers

  (ii) Random selection of competitors

  (iii) Testing out of competition

  (iv) Publication of adverse findings and action taken by governing bodies of sport.

  Under this new regime, for which the Government allocated an additional £180,000 to the council's budget this year, testing has already taken place at over 100 events and 56 out-of-competition tests have been taken.

  Internationally, I proposed to Council of Europe Sports Ministers in Athens on 2 June that a European convention should be drawn up. Such a convention would be legally binding on the states which ratified it. Among other things, it would reflect international agreement to the principles of an independent testing regime set out in the report which Sebastian Coe and myself produced last summer. I am pleased that my European colleagues accepted my proposal. Additionally, the Council of Europe's working group on effective anti-doping measures is considering amendments to the existing European

  619
  charter which will take account of the proposals set out in our report; the first permanent world conference on anti-doping in Ottowa on 26–29 June will bring sports organisations together to consider a worldwide charter in line with the proposals in our report; and the European sports conference which includes eastern bloc countries and which meets in Sweden in October will consider the adoption and promotion of out-of-competition testing.

  Urban Development (Hull)
  Mr. David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much public money has been given to Hull under urban regeneration and urban development grants since 1983.

  Mr. Trippier
  Since 1983 a total of £22 million of urban development and urban regeneration grants have been approved in schemes for Hull. In each case payment of the grant is spread over the development period of the project.

  Council Properties (Wandsworth)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to the number of empty council properties in the London borough of Wandsworth on 1 June.

  Mrs. Roe
  I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member by my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning on 25 January 1988 at column 39.

  Waste Disposal
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has for licensing importers, transporters and disposers of hazardous waste.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Disposal of controlled waste is subject to licensing under the Control of Pollution Act 1974. Proposals for the registration of waste handlers were included in a consultation paper issued in September 1986. We expect to announce our conclusions very shortly.

  Glanville Fritillary
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further plans he has for protecting the Glanville fritillary.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I cannot at present add anything to the answer I gave my hon. Friend on 7 December 1987 at column 16. I will, however, write to my hon. Friend to explain the present position.

  Waste Imports
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement summarising the guidelines issued by his Department to local authorities on the subject of the import of hazardous and domestic waste from abroad.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Guidance on waste mangagement in respect of all controlled waste disposed of in this country is given in waste management papers issued by my Department. The guidance applies equally to imported wastes and wastes generated in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement outlining 620
  the policy of his Department on commercial agreements entered into by local authorities with companies allowing them to import waste from abroad to landfill sites in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Local authorities may enter into contracts to dispose of waste provided the disposal complies with all conditions necessary to ensure the protection of public health, water supply and local amenity.

  Planning Circular
  Mr. Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to introduce a new planning circular.

  Mr. Ridley
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar.

  Inner-City Sport
  Mr. Ken Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in the Government's review of inner-city sport; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Since its official launch in March, the review group has had one full day's meeting and has undertaken a two-day visit to the west midlands region. During that visit the group looked at existing sport and recreation schemes and held discussions with business men, community groups and voluntary groups. Further meetings and visits are being arranged for the coming months.

  Lead-free Petrol
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps are being taken to ensure that petrol companies are doing enough to advertise the availability of lead-free petrol.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Petrol companies which have installed equipment to sell unleaded petrol already have a strong incentive to advertise its availability. The additional duty differential introduced in the Budget makes the new fuel highly attractive at about 6p per gallon cheaper than leaded 4-star. The work of the various organisations interested in the smooth transition to unleaded petrol is co-ordinated by the unleaded petrol group, which I chair.

  Hazardous Waste
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will publish the third report of the hazardous waste inspectorate; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  On behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and the Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, I welcome the third report of the hazardous waste inspectorate which has been published today. Copies of the report have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses, and are publicly available from Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

  The report is concerned with standards of waste management for the year ending 31 March 1987. From

  621
  that time, the hazardous waste inspectorate has been incorporated in Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution under the new title of HMIP: Wastes. HMIP will in future publish reports on its activities as a whole including those of HMIP: Wastes. The present arrangements are being maintained in Scotland for the time being.

  While it is encouraging to note that the inspectorate found significant improvements in standards of waste management by comparison with its earlier findings, it is apparent that much remains to be done. The report particularly highlights the need for greater professionalism and training in the industry.

  The Government have already initiated a number of measures intended to ensure that the progress so far made is maintained and that waste management practice will continue to improve. On 11 May regulations were laid before Parliament which will inter alia clarify the application of the disposal licensing system in England and Wales; they do, for example, require the licensing of oil and solvent recovery operations as recommended in chapter 5 of the report. A separate review of the licensing provisions for waste disposal in Scotland is at present in hand, with a view to making new regulations. The provisions of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 on waste will not, however, be affected. Regulations are planned to be laid before the summer recess to implement the EC directives on transfrontier shipment of hazardous wastes; the regulations will apply to special wastes and will ensure that waste disposal authorities for the areas covering both port of entry and disposal site receive prior notification of such shipments from overseas. This will provide valuable assistance to waste disposal authorities in carrying out their enforcement duties.

  A revised version of waste management paper No. 4, which provides advice on the terms and conditions which should be applied to disposal licences will be published in September. Full publicity will be given to this up-to-date guidance, which the Government expect to be followed by both authorities and the waste disposal industry. Strict adherence to the guidance will avoid many of the unsatisfactory practices which the Inspectorate has found.

  The problem of landfill gas discussed in chapter 6 of the report is currently being reviewed by the inspectorate and the Secretary of State will consider urgently with the Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland any recommendations for improving control of gas generation at landfill sites.

  We are also concerned by the inspectorate's comments in chapter 8 about waste management practice in some of the former metropolitan county areas, and we await the considered views of the inspectorate in the light of the comprehensive review they are conducting.

  So far as concerns waste disposal plans required under section 2 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974, the Department has written to all waste disposal authorities in England asking them to expedite their plans with the aim of completing them by October 1989.

  The Secretaries of State for Social Services and Wales share our concern about the inspectorate's comments on hospital incinerators. Health authorities no longer have Crown immunity from the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, and it is intended that the new controls on incinerator emissions associated with the proposed new air pollution legislation (see chapter 11) will apply to health authorities as to all other operators. Health authorities intending to dispose of waste by incineration
  622
  will, as they upgrade their installations to meet these new emission controls, also be required to obtain and comply with the requirements of waste disposal licences, in accordance with the provisions of the new collection and disposal of waste regulations.

  Work has commenced on the review of the special waste regulations for which we plan to issue a consultation paper in the autumn.

  Finally the inspectorate draws attention to the proposals for primary legislation to improve the framework of control for waste management on which a consultation paper was issued in September 1986. Very careful consideration has been given to the responses to the consultation and we expect to be able to announce our conclusions later this month. Following similar consultations in Scotland in 1987, consideration is being given to equivalent action there.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment 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. Ridley
  [holding answer 20 June 1988]: Information on the types of schools attended by senior staff is not available.

  Local Government Finance Bill
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many Government amendments to the Local Government Finance Bill were tabled during(a) Committee stage in the Commons, (h) Report stage in the Commons and (c) Committee stage in the House of Lords.

  Mr. Ridley
  [holding answer 20 June 1988]: The Government have tabled amendments to the Local Government Finance Bill as follows:

  Commons Committee—218 amendments.

  Commons Report—135 amendments.

  Lords Committee—196 amendments.

  These totals include consequential amendments.

  Free Aluminium
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what studies are being conducted into the levels of free aluminium to be found in soil in the United Kingdom, and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  [holding answer 17 June 1988]: Studies on the mobilisation of aluminium in United Kingdom soils and freshwaters are being conducted by water authorities and a number of research contractors on behalf of the Natural Environment Research Council and this Department.

  Aluminium tends to be mobilised mainly in soils which have low or no acid neutralising capacity. Waters from these areas have higher aluminium contents than waters from calcareous areas but the contribution they make to the total aluminium content of public drinking water supplies is quite small.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Legislation
  Sir John Biggs-Davison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the Northern Ireland legislation passed since the abolition of the Northern Ireland Parliament(a) in the form of an Act of Parliament applying to the Province alone and (b) as part of a statute applying to the United Kingdom as a whole.

  Mr. Stanley
  As far as the first part of my hon. Friend's question is concerned, all, or most, of the provisions of the following Acts, passed since the abolition of the Northern Ireland Parliament in 1973, extend only to Northern Ireland.

  Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1973

  Northern Ireland (Young Persons) Act 1974

  Social Security (Northern Ireland) Act 1975

  Industrial Injuries and Diseases (Northern Ireland Old Cases) Act 1975

  Northern Ireland Assembly Disqualification Act 1975

  Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) (Amendment) Act 1975

  Statute Law Revision (Northern Ireland) Act 1976

  Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act 1976

  Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) (Amendment) Act 1977

  Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1978

  Education (Northern Ireland) Act 1978

  Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978

  Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons (Northern Ireland) Act 1978

  Criminal Appeal (Northern Ireland) Act 1980

  Statute Law Revision (Northern Ireland) Act 1980

  Elections (Northern Ireland) Act 1985

  Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) (Amendment) Act 1987

  The list does not include certain Acts (such as the Northern Ireland Constitution and Constitution (Amendment) Acts 1973, the Northern Ireland Acts 1974 and 1982, and the Northern Ireland Loans Acts 1975 and 1985) which are of United Kingdom-wide extent, notwithstanding that they are principally concerned with Northern Ireland.

  As far as the second part of the question is concerned, there are more than 500 Acts of Parliament that have been passed since 1973 that have application throughout the United Kingdom. Complete lists of such Acts are published in the annual volume of Northern Ireland statutes as table IV or V according to year.

  Social Workers
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the number of whole-time equivalent social workers in Northern Ireland in each year from 1976–77.

  Mr. Needham
  The number of whole-time equivalent social workers (fieldwork and management stall) in Northern Ireland in each year from 1979 is as follows:

  Number

  1979

  582·54

  1980

  675·40

  1981

  747·38

  1982

  808·78

  1983

  827·45

  1984

  850·48

  1985

  874·02

  1986

  896·30

  1987

  927·91

  624
  The information is not available for earlier years.

  Schools (Joint Projects)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Catholic and Protestant schools have applied during the last six months for grants for specific joint projects; how many have been accepted; how many rejected; on what grounds these rejections have been made; how many are still awaiting consideration; and if he will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Since the introduction of the cross-community contact scheme in September last year, 103 school-based projects have applied for grant support, involving 242 schools drawn equally from the two communities. Of the 103 applications, 79 have been accepted, 12 rejected and 12 await a final decision.

  Projects have been rejected for a variety of reasons: a number included proposals for capital expenditure which is not eligible for assistance under the scheme; others lacked a sufficient programme of ongoing contact.

  I am greatly encouraged that the scheme has succeeded in stimulating and encouraging cross-community activities not only in schools but also in youth and community organisations.

  Limavady
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether persons who made objections to the public inquiry into the Limavady area plan will be given an opportunity to comment upon the inspector's report before it is made public.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 21 June 1988]: No.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects the inspector's report of the public inquiry into the Limavady area plan to be published.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 21 June 1988]: The inspector's report is likely to be published by the end of September 1988.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what planning applications have been(a) received and (b) approved for the construction of dwellings on land which is not presently approved for such development in the area surrounding Limavady town; and whether any such development works are presently underway on land which is not presently approved but was shown for such development on the area plan presently under consideration.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 21 June 1988]: Five planning applications have been received in accordance with article 17 of the Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1972. Outline approval has issued for one site and detailed approval has been given for the construction of two dwellings. Development works are under way on one site.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what comments have been made by the Department of the Environment, Northern Ireland, in respect of the inspector's report following the public inquiry into the Limavady area plan;

  (2) under what powers the Department of the Environment, Northern Ireland, acted in making

  625
  comment on an inspector's report following a public inquiry into the Limavady area plan before publication of the inspector's report.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 21 June 1988]: The Department of the Environment (Northern Ireland) has not made any official comment on the inspector's report following the public inquiry into the Limavady area plan.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether Limavady district council will be given an opportunity to comment on the inspector's report which was made as a result of the public inquiry into the Limavady area plan before publication of the report.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 21 June 1988]: No. There is no statutory provision in the Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1972 for such comment to be made.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Staff Recruitment
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will set out, for each Department of the House and for the service of the House generally, the procedure and responsibility for the recruitment of staff; and what interviewing procedure is followed to establish(a) the physical and (b) the mental capabilities of those applying to work.

  Mr. Beith
  The provisions of the House of Commons (Administration) Act 1978 require that, as far as is consistent with the needs of the House, the conditions of service of staff are kept broadly in line with those of the Home Civil Service. Recruitment procedures therefore follow those laid down for the Civil Service, selection being on merit and on the basis of fair and open competition.

  In general, administrative responsibility lies with the Establishments Office acting on the instruction of Departments. Every candidate is required to complete a confidential health and character declaration form which is only made available to an interview panel when appropriate. Every applicant is notified of the Commission's policy on employment of disabled persons and the fact that it is an equal opportunities employer.

  Interview panels usually consist of three or four staff of the appropriate grades, whose chairman is responsible for reporting to the appropriate departmental head with whom resides responsibility for appointments. Each panel member is advised of the need to avoid discrimination on the grounds of sex and race when interviewing and assessing the suitability of candidates.
  626
  Variations to this general procedure, which accommodate the usual health and character inquiries, include the following:

  (a) Clerk's Department and Library

  Assistant Clerks and Assistant Library Clerks are recruited through the Civil Service Commission. The respective Departments are represented on the interview panel and the recommendation is subject to the agreement of the respective head of Department in the normal way.

  (b) Serjeant's Department

  Doorkeepers are recruited from men and women who have completed a period of regular service in one of Her Majesty's forces. These required qualifications were endorsed by the Select Committee on House of Commons Accommodation etc. in its report of 1954.

  (c) Refreshment Department

  Vacancies for industrial staff of the Refreshment Department are notified to the specialist hotel and catering branch of the jobcentre located at Denmark hill and those interested are asked to complete an application form. Suitable applicants are interviewed by the personnel administrator and other staff as appropriate in that Department.

  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, how many staff have been recruited by the Commission in each of the past five years.

  Mr. Beith
  The information requested is set out in the following table, each 12-month period running from June to the following May.

  Staff

  1983–84

  76

  1984–85

  141

  1985–86

  106

  1986–87

  122

  1987–88

  141

  The figures include temporary staff and those recruited by way of the Civil Service Commission.

  Staff (Insurance)
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, what insurance cover is provided for employees of the Commission.

  Mr. Beith
  In line with practice in the Civil Service the House of Commons Commission acts as its own insurers in respect of its staff and meets its liabilities from the House of Commons Administration Vote.

  ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
  ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
  AFFORESTATION POLICY: GUIDANCE
  AFFORESTATION POLICY: GUIDANCE
  FELLING AND REPLANTING: POLICY
  FELLING AND REPLANTING: POLICY
  COMMUNITY CHARGE: COST OF COLLECTION
  COMMUNITY CHARGE: COST OF COLLECTION
  HAZARDOUS WASTE INSPECTORATE REPORT
  HAZARDOUS WASTE INSPECTORATE REPORT
  HOMELESS SINGLE-PARENT FAMILIES: EMERGENCY HOUSING COST
  HOMELESS SINGLE-PARENT FAMILIES: EMERGENCY HOUSING COST