Written Answers of 1 March 1988

SCOTLAND

  Orthopaedic Consultants (Ayrshire and Arran)
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average waiting time for each orthopaedic consultant employed by the Ayrshire and Arran health board.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and will arrange for a copy of the letter to be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the average waiting time for operations for each orthopaedic consultant employed by the Highland health board.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and will arrange for a copy of the letter to be placed in the Library.

  Mobile Homes
  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many licensed residential mobile home stances there are in each district and islands authority in Scotland.

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

  Monofilament Nets
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what reference was made to the EC Commission about his Department's ban on the carriage of monofilament nets; and what representations were received from the Commission.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  As was stated to the hon. Member on 17 April 1986, at column 457, the Commission of the European Communities was consulted about the terms of the order before it was laid. In reply the Commission indicated that the order was compatible with Community law and in conformity with the common fisheries policy.

  On 5 November 1987, the Commission confirmed that the measures in the order could now be regarded as technical measures, covered by article 14(1)(b) of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 3094/86 which replaced Council Regulation (EEC) No. 171/83 on 14 October 1986.

  Rural Areas (Assistance)
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total amount of all central Government assistance to rural areas for the last financial year in Scotland on a per capita basis.

  Mr. Lang
  The information is not readily available in the form requested.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish figures for the number of households accepted as homeless in Scotland in each year from 1978 until the latest available year.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The numbers of applicant households under the homelessness legislation who were assessed as homeless by local authorities are set out in the following table.

  Financial year

  Number of homeless cases

  1978–79

  7,494

  1979–80

  7,443

  1980–81

  7,022

  1981–82

  8,268

  1982–83

  8,665

  1983–84

  8,094

  1984–85

  9,851

  1985–86

  110,906

  1986–87

  19,668

  1 Provisional.

  Children (Education)
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many four-year-old children in each local education authority in Scotland attend reception classes in primary schools; what percentage of the estimated four-year-old population in each local education authority area this represents; and what is the average pupil-to-teacher ratio in each local education authority area for these classes, for the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information requested is not available.

  Bridges (Tolls)
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he proposes to abolish tolls on the Forth road bridge and the Tay road bridge; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  No.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of Slate for Scotland what were the costs of the collection of tolls on the Tay road bridge in the years 1986 and 1987; and what were the interest charges paid in respect of the Tay road bridge during the same period.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The collection of tolls on the bridge is the responsibility of the Tay Road Bridge joint board. However, I understand that collection costs for the years 1985–86 and 1986–87 amounted to £352,000 and £350,000 respectively. Interest charges on the loan outstanding to the Secretary of State amounted to £208,096 and £206,328 respectively.

  Health Workers (Disruptive Action)
  Mr. Fairbairn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many operations in Scotland had to be cancelled as a result of the disruption by health workers on the day of action on 24 February.
  489
  Mr. Fairbairn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many operations have been cancelled as a result of disruptive action by health workers in the current year.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  2,447.

  Mr. Fairbairn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what effects detrimental to patients have resulted from disruptive action by health workers in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  If significant numbers of staff or staff in key areas withdraw their labour, health care is bound to be affected in a wide range of ways; for instance, inadequate levels of nursing cover in a major psychiatric hospital; geriatric and psychogeriatric patients having to be fed cold evening meals off paper plates; disruption of the normal delivery of supplies, including laundry and food, to hospitals; and long-stay patients having to use disposable paper sheets. I am informed by the health boards that on 24 February there was inadequate emergency cover for one or more services in more than 20 hospitals, as shown in the following list. Over 2,400 operations have not taken place this year because of industrial action, a needless waste of highly skilled manpower and advanced facilities. Industrial action is adversely affecting existing patients and is bound to lengthen waiting lists.

  Argyll and Clyde
  Vale of Leven, Hawkhead, Barshaw, Merchiston.

  Fife
  Lynebank, Dunfermline and West Fife, West Fife District General Hospital.

  Forth Valley
  Royal Scottish National Hospital.

  Greater Glasgow
  Knightswood, Victoria/Southern General, Canniesburn, Duke Street.

  Lothian
  Herdmanflat, Western General, Roodlands, Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, West Lothian Unit.

  Tayside
  Royal Liff, Strathmartine, King's Cross, Dundee Royal Infirmary, Ninewells.

  Assisted Places Scheme
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will announce the statistics for the assisted places scheme in the 1987–88 school session in Scotland, and the income scale which will apply to the scheme in school session 1988–89.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  At the beginning of the current school session there were 2,591 pupils receiving assistance under the assisted places scheme. Additional pupils will be admitted to assisted places throughout the 1987–88 school session and I expect that the final total will exceed that for the 1986–87 session.

  The scheme continues to concentrate assistance on lower income families. In 1987–88 1,183 pupils (46 per cent. of those in the scheme) will be receiving full fee remission because they have a family income of £6,972 per annum or less. A further 223 pupils (9 per cent.) have family incomes between £6,973 and £8,000 per annum and 99 (4 per cent.) between £8,001 and £8,500.
  490
  For school session 1988–89 I propose to lay regulations before the House in due course providing for progressive parental contributions for one assisted pupil in relation to family income as follows:

  Part of relevant income to which the specified percentage applies

  Parental contribution

  (percentage)

  That part (if any) which exceeds £7,092 but does not exceed £7,711

  9

  That part (if any) which exceeds £7,711 but does not exceed £8,341

  12

  That part (if any) which exceeds £8,341 but does not exceed £9,591

  15

  That part (if any) which exceeds £9,591 but does not exceed £11,513

  21

  That part (if any) which exceeds £11,513 but does not exceed £14,023

  24

  That part (if any) which exceeds £14,023

  33

  The relevant income scale is open ended, but the remission can of course be given only where the parental contribution is less than the school tuition fee.

  Housing Expenditure
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the total local authority capital expenditure on housing from 1974, including the estimated expenditure for 1988–89, where appropriate by block allocation, at current prices.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The following table shows total expenditure at current prices on the relevant blocks from 1 April 1974 including estimated expenditure for 1987–88 and planned expenditure for 1988–89.

  £ million

  HRA

  4,169

  Non-HRA

  1,357

  Other

  118

  Total LA expenditure

  5,644

  Argyll and Clyde Health Boards
  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many senior officials of the Argyll and Clyde health boards have been suspended or paid off in the last six weeks.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Two senior officials have been suspended during the last six weeks.

  Pay Beds
  Mr. Norman Hogg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list, by each health board, the average number of pay beds occupied by private patients daily in Scottish National Health Service hospitals.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Information in the form sought is not available centrally. The figures show numbers of pay beds in National Health Service hospitals in Scotland, the number of bed days available annually and the annual number of bed days occupied by private patients. Pay beds, when not occupied by private patients, are available for use by National Health Service patients.
  491

  Health board

  Number of pay beds

  Available bed days

  Bed days occupied by private patients

  Argyll and Clyde

  13

  4,745

  290

  Ayrshire and Arran

  11

  4,015

  1,076

  Borders

  1

  365

  109

  Fife

  1

  365

  28

  Forth Valley

  5

  1,825

  612

  Grampian

  17

  6,205

  1,175

  Greater Glasgow

  31

  11,315

  288

  Highland

  5

  1,233

  182

  Lothian

  19

  6,935

  1,157

  Tayside

  9

  3,285

  874

  112

  40,288

  5,791

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Durham Prison
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list(a) the prisoner capacity for which Durham prison was designed and (b) the number of prisoners currently held there.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The certified normal accommodation for male prisoners at Her Majesty's prison, Durham, is 675 and for female prisoners 39. On Friday 26 February there were 1,074 male prisoners and 36 female prisoners held there.

  Fines
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the numbers of persons imprisoned for non-payment of fines in the last five years for which figures are available.

  Mr. John Patten
  The information requested is published annually in "Prison Statistics England and Wales" (table 7·3 of the latest issue, Cm. 210, for 1986), a copy of which is in the Library. Information for 1987 will be published later in the year.

  Leicester (Official's Visits)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement on the recent visit of his Department's officials to Leicester on 16 February, showing the number of(a) officials and (b) members of the public present at the meeting;

  (2) what was the cost to public funds of the visit to Leicester of his Department's officials on 16 February.

  Mr. Renton
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to his question on 15 February at column 439. There were five officials at the meeting in Leicester on 16 February. A picket of the hall was organised by the Indian Workers Association and only about a dozen members of the public were present. The cost to the Department was approximately £500.

  Lunar House
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date the public enumerator board in the public inquiry office at Lunar house, Croydon, was made operative again after its recent period out of service.

  Mr. Renton
  It was restored to operation on 19 February 1988.

  Custody
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to reduce the inconsistencies in the use of custody in different magistrates' courts in England and Wales.

  Mr. John Patten
  The handbook for the courts, "The Sentence of the Court", gives guidance on the use of custody and aims to promote uniformity of approach. We take opportunities to stress this guidance in speeches and in discussions with magistrates. We provide the courts with information so they can compare their decisions on custody with those of other courts. Some differences in sentencing patterns are to be expected, since some courts have a higher proportion of more serious offenders.

  Offenders (Electronic Tagging)
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any plans to introduce electronic surveillance as a condition of bail, probation, parole or executive release on a trial basis in either the Greater London area or any other part of England and Wales.

  Mr. John Patten
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 9 February, at col.140, to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Surrey, South-West (Mrs. Bottomley).

  Recidivism
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons who were granted parole in 1985 and 1986 whose original offence involved violence, sex or robbery were reconvicted(a) during the period of their parole licence or (b) within 12 months of the expiration of that licence.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The information is not available in the form requested. In 1985 and 1986, 409 and 537 parolees respectively were recalled to prison for committing further offences of some kind; but it is not known how many of these had been released on parole licence following imprisonment for offences involving violence, sex or robbery.

  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what percentage of persons who were the subject of a prison sentence in England and Wales had re-offended within two years of the completion of the sentence, for the latest convenient period;

  (2) what percentage of persons who were the subject of a period of youth custody in England and Wales had re-offended within two years of the completion of the order, for the latest convenient period.

  Mr. John Patten
  Reconviction rates for offenders discharged in 1983 were published in table 8(b) of "Prison Statistics England and Wales 1986" (Cm. 210), a copy of which is in the Library. Figures for 1984 are not yet available.

  Police Cells
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were detained in police cells in England and Wales on the last day of August, September, October, November and December 1986, each month in 1987 and January 1988.
  493
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The numbers of prisoners held in police cells in England and Wales on the dates specified by the hon. Member were as follows:

  Number

  31 August 1986

  91

  30 September 1986

  131

  31 October 1986

  106

  30 November 1986

  219

  31 December 1986

  67

  31 January 1987

  338

  28 February 1987

  323

  31 March 1987

  380

  30 April 1987

  286

  31 May 1987

  355

  30 June 1987

  581

  31 July 1987

  753

  31 August 1987

  313

  30 September 1987

  818

  31 October 1987

  910

  30 November 1987

  912

  31 December 1987

  474

  31 January 1988

  758

  Prisoners (Suicides)
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) sentenced prisoners and (b) remand prisoners in England and Wales committed suicide whilst in custody in each year since 1974.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The following figures refer to deaths in prison department custody in respect of which suicide verdicts were subsequently returned:

  Sentenced

  Remand

  1974

  2

  4

  1975

  6

  8

  1976

  9

  11

  1977

  7

  4

  1978

  8

  8

  1979

  12

  9

  1980

  9

  12

  19811

  8

  7

  1982

  8

  9

  1983

  12

  9

  1984

  10

  13

  19852

  7

  14

  1986

  5

  12

  19873

  13

  26

  1 Excludes one inmate who had been committed to Broadmoor and who was awaiting removal there.

  2 Excludes one inmate awaiting extradition proceedings.

  3 Excludes three inmates (two sentenced, one remand) who apparently committed suicide but whose inquests have not yet been held and one inmate held under Immigration Act powers.

  Prisoners (Self-inflicted Injuries)
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) sentenced prisoners and (b) remand prisoners in England and Wales inflicted a serious injury upon themselves whilst in custody in each year since 1974.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The only available statistical information relates to 1976 and later years. The information, which is reproduced in the following table, does not distinguish between sentenced and unsentenced prisoners or between different types or degrees of injury.
  494

  Annual number of prisoners reported as having caused self-injury between 1 January 1976 and 31 March 1987.

  Period

  Number of Prisoners

  1976

  1,132

  1977

  1,077

  1978

  1,204

  1979

  1,267

  1980

  1,145

  1981

  1,166

  1982

  1,027

  1983

  1,012

  1.1.84—31.3.85

  1,382

  1.4.85—31.3.86

  1,155

  1.4.86—31.3.87

  1,559

  Police, Prison and Probation Officers
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons from ethnic minority groups are employed as(a) police officers, (b) prison officers and (c) probation officers in England and Wales.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  There were 1,108 police officers from the ethnic minority communities as at 31 December 1987. Because of a low response rate to ethnic monitoring surveys, I regret that accurate information on numbers in the prison service is not yet available. Nor is it available for the probation service, where manpower returns seeking this information are still being analysed.

  Young Offenders
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department where the prison department intends to hold 14 to 17-year-old males and 15 to 17-year-old females, who are sentenced to less than four months custody after the Criminal Justice Bill has been passed.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Male offenders aged 14 to 16 sentenced to less than four months custody will in due course be accommodated separately from young adult offenders aged 17 to 20, either in separate young offenders institutions or in discrete units of them. Female offenders aged 15 to 16 may not be sentenced to custody for less than four months; those aged 17 will be held as now in female establishments with designated provision for young offenders.

  Strip Searches
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many female prisoners in England and Wales were strip-searched during 1986 and 1987; and on how many occasions illegal contraband or smuggled drugs were found.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Probation and Community Service
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what percentage of persons placed on a probation order in England and Wales during 1985 and 1986 completed their period of supervision without a further appearance before a court;
  495
  (2) what percentage of persons placed on a community service order in England and Wales during 1985 and 1986 completed their period of supervision without a further appearance before a court.

  Mr. John Patten
  The readily available information can be found in table 7.42 of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales 1986" (Cm. 233), copies of which are in the Library.

  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what percentage of persons who were the subject of a probation order in England and Wales had re-offended within two years of the completion of the order, for the latest convenient period;

  (2) what percentage of persons who were the subject of a community service order in England and Wales had re-offended within two years of the completion of the order, for the latest convenient period.

  Mr. John Patten
  The available information is published in Home Office statistical bulletins issue 18/83 "Reconvictions of those given Community Service Orders" and issue 34/86 "Reconvictions of those given Probation Orders". Copies of these publications are in the Library.

  Probation Officers
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many extra probation officer posts will be created during the financial years 1988–89 and 1989–90 in England and Wales.

  Mr. John Patten
  The following figures are taken from table 11.8 of the 1988 public expenditure White Paper, Vol. II (Cm. 288-II):

  1987–88 Estimated Outturn

  1988–89 Plans

  1989–90 Plans

  Probation Officer Manpower

  5,711

  5,733

  5,745

  The creation of specific main-grade probation officer posts is a matter for individual area probation committees.

  Police Officers
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many extra police officer posts will be created during the financial years 1988–89 and 1989–90 in England and Wales.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Under the programme announced in May 1986 there would be 500 additional police officer posts available in 1988–89 for allocation to provincial forces if the specific need for them is established. Three hundred posts would be available for the Metropolitan police subject to my right hon. Friend being satisfied with the use made by that force of the increase allowed in 1986–87 and 1987–88. The programme allows for similar growth in 1989–90.

  Prison Officers
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many exstra prison officer posts will be created during the financial years 1988–89 and 1989–90 in England and Wales.
  496
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  1,360 additional prison officers will be recruited in 1988–89. Decisions for 1989–90 have not yet been made.

  Murder
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been convicted of murder since 1965; how many of these have been subsequently released from prison; and how many of these have been subsequently charged with another crime.

  Mr. John Patten
  [holding answer 25 February 1988]: The number of persons convicted of murder is published annually in table S2.1(A) of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, Supplementary Tables Vol. 2"; the figures for 1965–86 are given in the following table. The corresponding figure for 1987 is not yet available. The readily available information on those re-convicted after release on licence relates to all offences of homicide, most of which are murder, and is published in tables 2 and 6 of Home Office statistical bulletin, issue 18/87 "Reconvictions and Recalls of Life Licensees". Copies of both publications are in the Library.

  Persons convicted of murder in England and Wales

  Year

  Number

  1965

  57

  1966

  72

  1967

  63

  1968

  74

  1969

  75

  1970

  97

  1971

  97

  1972

  79

  1973

  90

  1974

  112

  1975

  107

  1976

  104

  1977

  115

  1978

  105

  1979

  136

  1980

  169

  1981

  126

  1982

  184

  1983

  132

  1984

  156

  1985

  173

  1986

  179

  Life Sentences
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons sentenced to life imprisonment were released from prison in each of the most recent five years for which figures are available; and what was the average sentence served by all those released over that five year period.

  Mr. John Patten
  [holding answer 15 February 1988]: The readily available information is as follows.

  The average times served under sentence in prison department establishments in England and Wales by those first released on licence from life sentences in 1982, 1983 and 1984 was about ten and a half years; for those in 1985 was about ten and a quarter years and for those in 1986 was about 11 years. There are wide variations in the periods served in custody from which this average is

  497
  calculated. Reasons for this may include the range of offences for which life sentences are passed and any time which may have been served in other custodial care before entering a prison department establishment which is not included in the estimate. The average figure is lower because it excludes the long periods being served by some of those given life sentences following the abolition of capital punishment in 1965, who have not yet been released. The Home Secretary has made clear that his policy, other than in exceptional circumstances, is that those found guilty of certain heinous categories of murder will serve a minimum of 20 years in custody; those who are judged to remain a danger to the public will not be released. This average excludes persons who have died in custody or been discharged for other reasons.

  The corresponding numbers first released on licence from life sentences in these five years were:

  Year

  Number

  1982

  101

  1983

  102

  1984

  66

  1985

  61

  1986

  43

  Further details of the lengths of the periods served before release are given in "Prison Statistics, England and Wales", table 1(f) of the latest issue, for 1986 Cm. 210, a copy of which is in the Library.

PRIME MINISTER

  Turkey
  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Prime Minister whether she will seek to pay an official visit to Turkey.

  The Prime Minister
  I hope to visit Turkey in the first half of this year.

  London Docklands
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Prime Minister when she next expects to make an official visit to the London docklands.

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

  Brussels Council (Annexe to Presidential Notes)
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister if Her Majesty's Government treat annexe V of the presidential notes published after the Brussels Council meeting of 12 February, which sets out circumstances in which the budgetary restraints may be disregarded, as part of the Council agreement; if she agreed to the inclusion of this annexe; if Her Majesty's Government treat the implementation of the annexe as falling to be considered by majority vote of the Council or by unanimity; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  Annex V of the note from the presidency (SN 461/1/88) was, with minor amendments, attached to the final conclusions of the European Council (SN 517/88) as annex I. It is free standing and has no effect on the arrangements for budget discipline in agriculture agreed at the Council. It refers to existing provisions in the treaty and does not confer any new powers on the Council.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Prime Minister what is her policy towards the appointment by a Minister of a special adviser(a) who is employed by a political lobbying firm with interests in that Minister's departmental policies and decisions, (b) whose employers are currently under investigation by that Minister's Department for possible illegal conduct and (c) whose employers are paid advisers to companies whose activities are the subject of investigation by that Minister's Department in relation to possible illegal conduct; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  Special advisers are civil servants, and their terms of appointment are similar to those of other civil servants; apart from certain exceptions which reflect the special nature of their role they are subject to the same rules of conduct (including paragraph 9870 of the Civil Service code which sets out general principles of conduct). They are required to avoid conflicts of interest between their business affairs and their work in a Department. It is for each Minister to ensure that the necessary steps are taken to avoid such conflicts arising.

  Engagements
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 March.

  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 March.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 March.

  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 March.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 March.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 March.

  The Prime Minister
  This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having meetings with Secretary Shultz and with King Hussein later today. This evening I hope to have an Audience of Her Majesty The Queen.

DEFENCE

  YTS
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many places are provided currently on the YTS by Her Majesty's Forces; and how many of these are taken up.

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Greenway) on Thursday 18 February at column 737.

  Atomic Weapons Research Establishment
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many scientific seminars and conferences within the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment have been open to scientists from universities and other such educational institutions during the last two years; and on what occasions.
  499
  Mr. Sainsbury
  Our records do not show any such seminars or conferences during the last two years, though from time to time scientists from academic institutions visit AWE sites by invitation.

  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel from the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment have taken part in scientific seminars and conferences within United Kingdom universities and other such institutions of higher education during the last two years; and on what occasions.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  AWE staff participate from time to time in seminars and conferences which are relevant to their fields of expertise. Details of such participation are not, however, held centrally and could not be collected without disproportionate effort.

  War Widows
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has any plans to review Government policy on the withholding from pre-1973 war widows of the enhanced pension benefits paid to post-1973 war widows.

  Mr. Freeman
  When improvements were introduced into the armed forces occupational pension scheme in 1973 it was recognised that in view of the very great costs which would have been involved, and in accordance with normal superannuation practice, the new provisions could not be given retrospective effect. That remains the position.

  Cemeteries
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will give details of cemeteries by name, location and number of graves maintained in London by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission;

  (2) if he will give details by graveyard location of crosses of sacrifice maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in London;

  (3) if he will give details by each London graveyard of the amount expended by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission on maintenance in each of the past 10 years.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 22 February 1988]: There are 22,625 war graves in 265 cemeteries in the London area. These graves are maintained by various agencies (usually the cemetery owners) on behalf of the commission. Some maintain them free of charge; others are paid fees. It is not possible to identify the cost of maintaining London cemeteries alone; the current cost nationally is approximately £1·57 million per annum. The commission maintains 65 crosses of sacrifice in cemeteries in the London area.

ENERGY

  Nuclear Waste
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if, pursuant to the reply by the hon. Member for Broxbourne (Mrs. Roe),Official Report, 10 February, column 289, on the meeting of nuclear experts, he will make a statement on the outcome of the meeting to which reference was made; and if he will arrange for a copy of the final communiqué to be placed in the Library.
  500
  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The expert meeting, which was held in Brussels on 15 February, was initiated by the EC Commission for a discussion and exchange of views on the handling, reprocessing and storage of radioactive waste in member states. No conclusions were drawn and no communiqué was issued.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Cyprus
  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it is his practice to inquire before committing public money by way of aid to Cyprus what proportion of it will be applied for the benefit of(a) Greek Cypriots and (b) Turkish Cypriots.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  When allocating aid funds for specific purposes for Cyprus we now check whether the intended beneficiaries are from the Greek or Turkish communities.

  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether aid given to Cyprus by Her Majesty's Government in the last three financial years has been applied predominantly for the benefit of Greek Cypriots.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Both communities have benefited, but the larger share has gone to the Greek Cypriot community.

  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of the £222,000 proposed to be allocated to Cyprus by way of bilateral aid in 1987–88 will be applied for the benefit of Turkish Cypriots.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  The exact proportion will not be known until the 1987–88 accounts close later this year, but it is provisionally estimated that 42 per cent. of aid funds for Cyprus will benefit Turkish Cypriots.

  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to paragraph 9 of Cm. 232, what he regards as an appropriate proportion of aid for training Turkish Cypriots.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Our general view is that the proportion of aid for training Turkish Cypriots should be rather less than half the total, bearing in mind the ratio of Greek to Turkish Cypriots. But this will vary from year to year, depending on the quality of the candidates coming forward and on other factors.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Child Benefit
  Mr. Squire
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the savings would be if child benefit were taxed for(a) all taxpayers, (b) taxpayers on all the higher rates of tax and (c) taxpayers on the 60 per cent. rate of tax, in 1987–88 and in 1988–89.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The direct revenue yield from taxing child benefit is estimated to be about £1,200 million in 1987–88 and 1988–89. If child benefit were taxable only for taxpayers whose marginal tax rate was higher than the basic rate, the yield would be expected to be about £150
  501
  million in 1987–88 and £170 million in 1988–89. It is tentatively estimated that the yield from taxing child benefit for top-rate taxpayers only is of the order of £20 million to £30 million in both years.

  The estimates for 1988–89 assume no change to current tax rates and statutory indexation of allowances and thresholds.

  Disposable Income
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has as to average per capita disposable income for each region in the United Kingdom after taking account of average mortgage repayments in each region.

  Mr. Major
  The only available regional information on average per capita disposable income after taking account of mortgage repayments is from family expenditure surveys. Data for 1985 and 1986 combined are:

  £ per person per week

  North

  58·77

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  59·44

  East Midlands

  63·43

  East Anglia

  67·77

  Greater London

  82·43

  Rest of the South East

  76·87

  South West

  69·63

  West Midlands

  59·84

  North West

  62·16

  Wales

  60·73

  Scotland

  62·54

  Northern Ireland

  52·16

  United Kingdom

  66·83

  Data from the family expenditure survey are subject to sampling variation. Comparisons between these regional figures should also be interpreted carefully as mortgage repayments per capita vary between regions according to the proportion of mortgaged dwellings as well as with the average size of mortgages.

  Departmental Spending Programmes
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list in the Official Report the relative price effect experienced for each Department's spending programme for each year since 1979, and the retail price index for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Major
  Since the introduction of cash planning in 1981 the Government have not compiled information on price movements systematically in the way that would be needed to calculate relative price effects for each departmental programme (or the planning total itself). Some Departments produce specific price indices for their own use. Appendix 3 to the Minutes of Evidence taken before the Treasury and Civil Service Select Committee (HC 292) lists the information which is available.

  The retail prices index is published each month in the Employment Gazette. However, the GDP deflator is the measure of inflation used by the Government for public expenditure comparisons. This measures the rise in general inflation across the United Kingdom economy as a whole while the RPI is a consumer price index. The latest estimates of GDP deflators for the years since 1979 are as follows:
  502

  GDP deflators

  1978–79

  51·3

  1979–80

  59·9

  1980–81

  71·0

  1981–82

  78·0

  1982–83

  83·7

  1983–84

  87·6

  1984–85

  91·5

  1985–86

  96·9

  1986–87

  100·0

  1987–88

  104·3

  Wildfowling Clubs
  Mr. Allan Roberts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the area of foreshore and intertidal land leased to wildfowling clubs; and if he will list in the Official Report the names of the clubs and the areas involved in each case.

  Mr. Lawson
  [holding answer 5 February 1988]: The Crown Estate Commissioners do not lease Crown foreshore to wildfowling clubs. In some areas, with a total linear mileage of approximately 160 miles, they have granted leases of shooting rights to the trustees of 12 clubs affiliated to the British Association of Shooting and Conservation. These leases are subject to comprehensive management plans agreed with all interested parties such as the Nature Conservancy Council, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, local authorities and adjoining landowners. Under these leases some 35 miles of foreshore are shot over. It is not normal practice for the names of these organisations to be published.

  Wildfowlers
  Mr. Allan Roberts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what circumstances bona fide wildfowlers are permitted to enter on to, or participate in hunting activities on, foreshore and intertidal land in England and Wales which is held by the Crown Estate Commissioners but not leased to another party.

  Mr. Lawson
  [holding answer 5 February 1988]: Where shooting rights have not been granted over areas of foreshore in England and Wales by the Crown Estate Commissioners, they have given an authority to members of the British Association for Shooting and Conservation to be on the foreshore in question with shotguns and ammunition. This authority does not extend to the discharge of shotguns, which is, of course, subject to common law and any other legislation relevant to particular areas.

  Treasure Trove
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his review of treasure trove procedures.

  Mr. Brooke
  [holding answer 29 February 1988]: I have now received the report of the review of ex gratia awards to finders of treasure trove. That report makes a number of recommendations for improvements to the existing arrangements for handling treasure trove. I am considering those recommendations and expect to make an announcement shortly.

  Wildlife Conservation
  Mr. Allan Roberts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the area of foreshore and intertidal land leased to wildlife conservation organisations; and if he will list in the Official Report the names of the organisations and the areas involved in each case.

  Mr. Lawson
  [holding answer 5 February 1988]: Approximately 55 per cent. of the foreshore of England and Wales is part of the Crown estate. Of the remainder, the bulk of it is owned by the Duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall.

  The Crown Estate Commissioners lease about 280 miles of foreshore to wildlife conservation organisations. The organisations and approximate amounts are as set out:

  Organisation

  Foreshore mileage

  National Trust

  37

  Nature Conservancy Council

  65

  Royal Society for the Protection of Birds

  12

  Pembrokeshire Coast National Park

  159

  Devon Trust for Nature Conservation

  ½

  Landmark Trust

  ½

  West Wales Naturalists Trust

  3

  Essex Naturalists Trust

  2

  Kent Trust for Nature Conservation

  1

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  EC Treaties
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he now expects to publish the treaties of the European Communities, as amended by the Single European Act treaty, in the treaty series of the United Kingdom.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We have now received from the Community Publications Office the text of the treaties of the European Communities as amended by the Single European Act. The test is being reprinted by HMSO for publication in the treaty series.

  Cyprus
  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to paragraph 7 of Cm. 232, what proportion of the funds available for Cyprus under the FCO scholarships and awards scheme was applied in 1986–87 and will be applied in 1987–88 for the benefit of Turkish Cypriots.

  Mrs. Chalker
  In 1986–87 Turkish Cypriot students benefited from approximately 20 per cent. of the funds available for Cyprus under the Foreign and Commonwealth Office scholarships and awards scheme and about 64 per cent. in 1987–88.

  Plutonium
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy,Official Report, 19 November 1987, column 618, on plutonium and safeguards, he will make a further statement on the current effectiveness of safeguards accounting systems in
  504
  the European Community, in the light of new information recently revealed concerning the Mol SCK/CEN nuclear centre in Belgium, the Nukem nuclear facility in the Federal Republic of Germany and the nuclear transport company Transnuklear.

  Mrs. Chalker
  A joint inspection by Euratom and the International Atomic Energy Agency into the safeguards aspects of the Mol/Transnuklear affair has produced no evidence of any failure of Euratom safeguards. We therefore have no further statement to make on our assessment of procedures for safeguarding weapons-grade nuclear material.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to ensure that recent evidence concerning the inadequacy of EURATOM's capacity to safeguard weapons grade nuclear materials in Belgium and the Federal Republic of Germany are discussed at the meeting of NATO Ministers on 2 and 3 March, in the context of protection measures of NATO facilities against prospective threats from nuclear-armed terrorists.

  Mrs. Chalker
  A joint inspection by Euratom and the International Atomic Energy Agency into the safeguards aspects of the Mol/Transnuklear affair has produced no evidence of any failure of Euratom safeguards. My right hon. and learned Friend does not therefore intend to raise the subject at the NATO ministerial meeting.

  Council of Ministers
  Dame Elaine Kellett-Bowman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report a statement of forthcoming business in the European Community Council of Ministers.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The usual forecast was deposited in the House earlier today. At present seven meetings of the Council of Ministers are planned for March.

  The Economic and Finance Council will meet on 7 March to discuss the European Court of Auditors' annual report on the 1986 financial year; prepare for the April IMF interim committee meeting; and consider the Commission's quarterly review of the economic situation in the Community. The agenda may also include a follow-up to the European Council agreement on the future financing of the Community.

  The Agriculture Council meets on 7/8 March to discuss follow-up action on agricultural stabilisers; olive oil production aid; set-aside of farmland; cessation of farming (early retirement); hormones; pesticide residues; and materials and articles in contact with food.

  The Transport Council will meet on 14/15 March. Discussion will cover access to the road haulage market; increasing the road haulage permit quota; draft proposals on international bus liberalisation; vehicle taxation; the Commission's proposed amendments to social regulations (driver's hours); the width of refrigerated lorries; vehicle weights and dimensions and road haulage tariffs.

  The Environment Council meets on 21 March to consider proposals for the control of emissions from large combustion plants; the control of discharges of chromium into water; the reduction of wastes from the production of titanium dioxide; the control of chloroform; emission standards for small cars; and the protection of the ozone layer from chlorofluorocarbons. The Council will also

  505
  discuss a proposal for a five-year programme illustrating the favourable impact of environmental projects on unemployment.

  The Foreign Affairs Council meets on 22 March to discuss follow-up action to the European Council conclusions on financing the Community; the 1988 guidelines for the Community's programme of aid to developing countries in Asia and Latin America; the Commission's recent sectoral negotiations with Japan; and progress made in negotiations with Hungary on a trade and co-operation agreement.

  The Internal Market Council will meet on 22 March to discuss a number of measures relevant to completion of the single European market.

  The second Agriculture Council this month, on 28 and 29 March, will concentrate on the 1988 price-fixing proposals.

THE ARTS

  Business Sponsorship
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will list in the Official Report the total grants made under the business sponsorship incentive scheme in each financial year since its inception and the total related business sponsorship for the same years.

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 25 February 1988]: Grants paid and related sponsorship in each year, inclusive of administration costs, amounted to:

  £ million grants

  £ million related sponsorship

  1984–85

  0·5

  2·6

  1985–86

  1·3

  2·7

  1986–87

  1·75

  3·6

  1987–88 (to date)

  1·5

  2·7

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will provide a breakdown of the total grant made under the business sponsorship incentive scheme for the most recent complete financial year in the following categories(a) drama, (b) opera, (c) dance, (d) music, (e) visual arts, (f) film and (g) museums and galleries.

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 25 February 1988]: The grant paid in 1986–87 amounted to £1·75 million. It was distributed among a wide range of art forms as follows:

  £

  Theatre

  264,342

  Opera

  80,500

  Dance

  137,500

  Music

  371,147

  Visual Arts

  181,079

  Film

  59,334

  Museums

  45,733

  Festivals

  372,077

  Other art forms and administration

  238,288

  Total

  1,750,000

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what are the latest estimates of total business sponsorship of the Arts in the years 1985–86, 1986–87 and 1987–88; and if he will give a detailed breakdown of how these estimates were made.
  506
  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 25 February 1988]: The latest estimates of arts sponsorship are as follows:

  £ million

  1985–86

  20

  1986–87

  25

  A figure for 1987–88 is not yet available but current indications are that it will be in the region of £30 million. The estimates are based on membership surveys carried out by the Association for Business Sponsorship of the Arts and statistics from the business sponsorship incentive scheme.

  Percentage-for-art Legislation
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what information he has about which EEC countries have percentage-for-art legislation; and if he will introduce similar legislation in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 25 February 1988]: I understand that there are some arrangements along these lines in France but comprehensive information is not available. I have no plans to introduce such legislation in the United Kingdom.

  Museums and Galleries (Government Funding)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Minister for the Arts (1) if he will publish figures showing(a) central Government funding in real terms, and (b) the percentage change in central Government funding in real terms for each of the national museums and galleries for each year since 1974;

  (2) if he will publish figures showing the total percentage change in Government funding in real terms for each of the national museums and galleries between 1979–80 and the most recent years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 29 February 1988]: The allocations to individual national museums and galleries may not be directly comparable from one year to the next because the system (prior to 1986–87) of re-voting excess receipts in the second financial year after they were earned, and changes in the needs and responsibilities of particular institutions, distort the figures. Also the expenditure on building and maintenance work, which will continue to be managed by the PSA as a single programme until the end of this financial year, cannot be accurately attributed to individual museums.

  The aggregate cental Government funding for the national museums and galleries for which I am responsible (including the British Museum (National History) but excluding the National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside which have been funded by central Government since 1986–87) in each year since 1974–75 is shown in 1974–75 prices (using the GDP deflator for this purpose).

  £'000

  Percentage change

  1974–75

  16,457

  —

  1975–76

  18,406

  11·8

  1976–77

  18,488

  0·4

  1977–78

  22,033

  19·2

  1978–79

  26,381

  19·7

  507

  £'000

  Percentage change

  1979–80

  24,397

  -7·5

  1980–81

  25,490

  4·5

  1981–82

  25,275

  -0·9

  1982–83

  27,397

  8·4

  1983–84

  27,198

  -0·7

  1984–85

  28,204

  3·7

  1985–86

  28,846

  2·3

  1986–87

  28,040

  -2·8

  1987–88

  29,103

  3·9

  The percentage change in the aggregate Government funding in real terms for the national museums and galleries from 1979–80 to 1987–88 is 19·4 per cent.

  On 5 November last year I announced a cash increase of 15·9 per cent. in the provision for the national museums and galleries for the next three years.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Boston Compact
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information his Department has on the numbers of permanent jobs obtained in the private sector by inner-city school leavers via the Boston compact; and in what ways Her Majesty's Government are assisting local United Kingdom education authorities involved in similar local compacts to obtain private sector jobs for inner-city residents.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Government do not collect such statistics but reports from Boston indicate that in 1987 some 1,007 eligible students obtained employment in the 375 firms which took part in the compact.

  My Department is enthusiastic in supporting LEAs which come forward with plans for introducing the compact scheme and will actively encourage both local employers and LEAs to develop such initiatives.

  Teacher Training (Equipment Purchases)
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any plans to assist students on initial teacher training courses in craft, design and technology with meeting the costs of purchasing equipment needed for their courses.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  As from September 1988 eligible bursary students on initial teacher training courses in craft, design and technology will receive an additional equipment allowance of £200 to help towards the cost of materials and tools needed for their course. This sum will be paid as a one-off grant to each student. I believe this will further improve the attraction of training in CDT.

  Date published

  Local Education Authority

  Proposal

  Decision

  Date of decision

  Unknown but under 1944 Act

  Cheshire

  Crewe Secondary Reorganisation Establish 1 X Tertiary College

  Approved

  17 November 1980

  11 July 1980 (1944 Act)

  Dudley

  Halesowen Secondary Reorganisation Establish 1 X Tertiary College

  Rejected

  4 February 1981

  21 November 1980

  Durham

  Peterlee Secondary Reorganisation Establish 1X Tertiary College

  Approved

  3 August 1981

  10 August 1979

  Dorset

  Weymouth and Portland Secondary Reorganisation Establish 1 X Tertiary College

  Approved with modifications

  10 May 1982

  5 June 1981

  Croydon

  Secondary Reorganisation Establish 1 X Tertiary College

  Rejected

  19 February 1982

  28 August 1981

  Hampshire

  Establish 1 X Tertiary College

  Approved

  22 February 1982

  Four-year-olds
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many four-year-old children in each local education authority in England attend reception classes in primary schools; what percentage of the estimated four-year-old population in each local education area this represents; and what is the average pupil-to-teacher ratio in each local education authority for these classes, for the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Dunn
  Information on reception classes is not collected centrally.

  Tertiary Colleges
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what criteria he uses in deciding whether to approve or reject local education authority proposals for the establishment of tertiary colleges; and if, in the light of proposals contained in the Education Reform Bill, he anticipates any changes in respect of those criteria.

  Mr. Dunn
  As explained in circular 3/87, my right hon. Friend considers any school reorganisation proposal involving the establishment of a tertiary college on its educational merits, and he will continue to do so.

  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the local education authorities whose proposals to establish tertiary colleges since 1979 have been(a) approved, (b) rejected and (c) accepted subject to modification, and the numbers in each category, for the years 1985, 1986 and 1987 and the first two months of 1988.

  Mr. Dunn
  Information is available only from August 1980 when the Education Act 1980 came into force. The table shows those proposals under section 12 of that Act decided since that date which involve the establishment of one or more tertiary colleges, the LEAs concerned, and the decision made by my right hon. Friend or his predecessors. In 1985 one proposal involving the establishment of one or more tertiary colleges was approved and one was rejected; in 1986 five such proposals were approved and two were approved with modifications; and in 1987 two such proposals were approved, one was approved with modifications, four were rejected, and one was withdrawn by the LEA. No such proposals have yet been decided in 1988.
  509

  Date published

  Local Education Authority

  Proposal

  Decision

  Date of decision

  11 September 1981

  Dudley

  Secondary Reorganisation Establish 1 X Tertiary College

  Approved

  21 April 1982

  5 March 1982

  Durham

  Consett Secondary Reorganisation Establish 1 X Tertiary College

  Rejected

  15 February 1983

  18 March 1982

  Essex

  Harlow Secondary Reorganisation Establish 1 X Tertiary College

  Approved

  24 January 1983

  26 March 1982

  Durham

  Bishop Auckland/Newton Aycliffe Secondary Reorganisation Establish 1 X Tertiary College

  Rejected

  14 March 1983

  26 March 1982

  Wiltshire

  Swindon Secondary Reorganisation Establish 1 X Tertiary College

  Approved

  10 November 1982

  30 April 1982

  Humberside

  Grimsby and Cleethorpes Secondary Reorganisation Establish 1 X Tertiary College

  Rejected

  22 December 1982

  10 June 1982

  Lancashire

  Establish 1 X Tertiary College

  Approved

  17 January 1983

  8 July 1982

  Cumbria

  West Cumbria Secondary Reorganisation Establish 1 X Tertiary College

  Rejected

  10 May 1983

  28 July 1982

  Wolverhampton

  Bilston Establish 1 X Tertiary College

  Approved with modifications

  7 April 1983

  30 July 1982

  Harrow

  Establish 3 X Tertiary Colleges

  Approved with modifications

  20 September 1983

  11 August 1982

  North Yorkshire

  Selby Secondary Reorganisation Establish 1 X Tertiary College

  Approved

  6 April 1983

  1 December 1982

  Avon

  Weston Super Mare Establish 1 X Tertiary College

  Rejected

  21 February 1984

  3 December 1982

  Hampshire

  Brockenhurst Establish 1 X Tertiary College

  Authority determined to implement

  15 February 1983

  10 December 1982

  Gloucestershire

  Forest of Dean Secondary Reorganisation Establish 1 X Tertiary College

  Approved with modifications

  3 April 1984

  28 January 1983

  Lancashire

  Rossendale Secondary Reorganisation Establish 1 X Tertiary College

  Rejected

  10 August 1983

  16 February 1983

  Lancashire

  Blackburn Secondary Reorganisation Establish 1 X Tertiary College

  Approved

  8 March 1984

  4 March 1983

  Hampshire

  Fareham Secondary Reorganisation Establish 1 X Tertiary College

  Approved

  24 October 1983

  4 March 1983

  Knowsley

  Prescot Establish 1 X Tertiary College

  Approved with modifications

  29 September 1983

  22 April 1983

  Calderdale

  Halifax Secondary Reorganisation Establish 1 X Tertiary College

  Rejected

  14 November 1983

  30 September 1983

  Durham

  Consett Secondary Reorganisation Establish 1 X Tertiary College

  Approved with modifications

  3 December 1984

  3 November 1983

  Lancashire

  Skelmersdale Establish 1 X Tertiary College

  Approved

  12 April 1984

  13 July 1984

  Staffordshire

  Newcastle under Lyme Secondary Reorganisation Establish 1 X Tertiary College

  Approved

  15 February 1985

  20 September 1984

  Kirklees

  Dewsbury Establish 1 X Tertiary College

  Approved

  28 October 1986

  9 January 1985

  Wolverhampton

  Secondary Reorganisation Establish 2 X Tertiary Colleges

  Rejected

  25 November 1985

  22 April 1985

  Bury

  Establish 1 X Tertiary College

  Approved

  15 April 1986

  31 May 1985

  Manchester

  Establish 2 X Tertiary Colleges

  Approved

  22 April 1986

  6 September 1985

  Oxon

  Establish 1 X Tertiary College

  Approved

  15 September 1986

  30 September 1985

  Sunderland

  Secondary Reoganisation Establish 3 X Tertiary Colleges

  Approved with modifications

  3 November 1986

  24 October 1985

  Sheffield

  Secondary Reorganisation Establish 8 X Tertiary Colleges

  Approved with modifications

  23 December 1986

  14 October 1985

  South Tyneside

  Secondary Reorganisation Establish 1 X Tertiary College

  Approved

  9 October 1986

  30 January 1986

  Gateshead

  Secondary Reorganisation Establish 1 X Tertiary College

  Withdrawn by LEA

  15 May 1987

  16 May 1986

  Essex

  West Essex Secondary Reorganisation Establish 1 X Tertiary College

  Approved

  27 October 1987

  30 May 1986

  Avon

  South Bristol Reorganisation Establish 1 X Tertiary College

  Rejected

  27 January 1987

  23 October 1986

  Dudley

  Secondary Reorganisation Establish 1 X Tertiary College

  Rejected

  5 August 1987

  14 November 1986

  Durham

  Bishop Auckland Secondary Reorganisation Establish 1 X Tertiary College

  Rejected

  10 August 1987

  23 January 1987

  Derbyshire

  Secondary Reorganisation Establish 2 X Tertiary Colleges

  Approved with modifications

  30 November 1987

  5 March 1987

  Northamptonshire

  Establish 1 X Tertiary College

  Approved

  3 December 1987

  22 January 1987

  ILEA

  Hackney Establish 4 X Tertiary Colleges

  Rejected

  27 November 1987

  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the local education authorities which have established tertiary colleges, the names of those colleges and the dates on which they opened.
  510
  Mr. Dunn
  The information for tertiary colleges in England is as follows:
  511

  When opened and authority

  College

  1970

  Devon

  Exeter

  1971

  Devon

  North Devon

  1972

  Lancashire

  Nelson and Colne

  1973

  Somerset

  Bridgwater

  Somerset

  Strode

  1974

  Derbyshire

  South East Derbyshire

  Lancashire

  W. R. Tuson

  Hampshire

  Cricklade

  Somerset

  Yeovil

  1975

  Wigan

  Leigh

  1976

  Lancashire

  Accrington and Rossendale

  1977

  Richmond

  Richmond

  Wigan

  Wigan

  1978

  Shropshire

  Oswestry

  1981

  Wakefield

  Wakefield

  1982

  Chester

  South Chester

  Dudley

  Halesowen

  1983

  Hampshire

  Alton

  Lancashire

  Runshaw

  1984

  Durham

  Peterlee

  Essex

  Harlow

  Hampshire

  Fareham

  Hampshire

  Brockenhurst

  Knowsley

  Huyton/Prescot

  Lancashire

  Blackburn

  Lancashire

  Skelmersdale

  North Yorkshire

  Selby

  Wolverhampton

  Bilston

  1985

  Dorset

  Weymouth

  Gloucestershire

  Forest of Dean

  1986

  Durham

  Consett

  Staffordshire

  Newcastle under Lyme

  Manchester

  North Manchester

  Manchester

  South Manchester

  Cambridgeshire

  Isle College

  1987

  Harrow

  Greenhill

  Harrow

  Weald

  Harrow

  Elm Park

  Bury

  Bury Metropolitan

  Kirklees

  Dewsbury

  Oxfordshire

  Henley

  Education Reform
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are(a) the shortest, (b) the longest and (c) the average periods of time taken by his Department to reach a conclusion on proposals for reorganisation submitted by local education authorities during the last three years.

  Mr. Dunn
  My right hon. Friend's aim is to decide all proposals submitted to him under section 12 to 15 of the Education Act 1980 as quickly as possible after the elapse of the two months allowed for the receipt of objections and the further month for the LEA to comment on these. Some proposals are decided very soon thereafter; the average time taken for decisions on all proposals is currently about seven months.

  Council for Educational Technology (Amalgamation)
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on the proposed amalgamation of the Council for Educational Technology and the Micro-Electronics Education Support Unit.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  I wrote to the chairmen of these two bodies on 7 January 1988 proposing amalgamation [Official Report, 11 January 1988, column 55.] They have since written back indicating their agreement. I have accordingly notified them that the amalgamation will take effect from 1 April 1988.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Consumer Goods
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the total domestic output of video tape (898.31,32), the percentage exported and the share of the domestic market taken up by imports in each year since 1975.

  Mr. Atkins
  The available information in respect of recorded and unrecorded video tape is as follows:

  Video tape

  1983 £ million

  1984 £ million

  Output

  55·9

  60·7

  Imports

  131·3

  113·3

  Exports

  73·2

  79·3

  The figures relate to establishments employing 50 or more people, and therefore figures for export and import ratios are not given as they are likely to overstate the true position.

  No figures are available for other years as they would disclose information about individual firms.

  Imported Furs
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has any plans to introduce new labelling rules to discourage the trade in imported furs from animals caught in steel-jaw leg-hold traps.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  My Department is currently consulting publicly on a proposed order under the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 which would require the labelling of goods made from the fur of certain species to the effect that those
  513
  species are commonly caught by means of leg-hold traps. The purpose of this measure would be to ensure that the consumer has the information necessary to make an informed choice.

  Cameras
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the total domestic output of photographic cameras (881.11), the percentage exported and the share of the domestic market taken by imports in each year since 1975.

  Mr. Atkins
  The information is not available.

  Photocopying Apparatus
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the total domestic output of photocopying apparatus (751.82,759.19), the percentage exported and the share of the domestic market taken by imports in each year since 1975.

  Mr. Atkins
  The available information is shown in the table.

  Photocopying Apparatus

  1982 £ million

  1983 £ million

  Sales 1

  141

  109

  Imports (cif)

  187

  249

  Exports (fob)

  267

  229

  1 Sales date relate primarily to units in the United Kingdom with a minimum employment of 75.

  Calculating Instruments
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the total domestic output of calculating instruments (874.21,29), the percentage exported and the share of the domestic market taken by imports in each year since 1975.

  Mr. Atkins
  The information is not available.

  Domestic Electric Heaters
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the total domestic output of domestic electric heaters (775.82,89), the percentage exported and the share of the domestic market taken by imports in each year since 1975.

  Mr. Atkins
  The available information is as follows:

  Domestic Electric Heaters

  1Sales £ million

  Imports (cif) £ million

  Exports (fob) £ million

  1975

  41

  7

  1

  1976

  40

  11

  2

  1977

  49

  14

  2

  1978

  54

  14

  3

  1979

  70

  15

  5

  1980

  67

  20

  5

  1981

  57

  17

  4

  1982

  74

  17

  7

  1983

  95

  16

  9

  1984

  97

  13

  10

  1985

  120

  17

  17

  1986

  147

  16

  27

  1 Sales data relate primarily to units in the United Kingdom with a minimum employment of 25 up to 1980 and of 100 thereafter.

  Vacuum Cleaners
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the total domestic output of vacuum cleaners, domestic, (775.71), the percentage exported and the share of the domestic market taken by imports in each year since 1975.

  Mr. Atkins
  The available information can be found in the fourth quarter issue of each year of Business Monitors PQ 3460, "Domestic electrical appliances" (previously PQ 368 "Electrical appliances primarily for domestic use"). These publications are available from the Library of the House.

  Dishwashing Machines
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the total domestic output of dishwashing machines (745.22,23,7753), the percentage exported and the share of the domestic market taken by imports in each year since 1975.

  Mr. Atkins
  The information is not available.

  Video Cassette Players
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the total domestic output of video cassette players (763.81), the percentage exported and the share of the domestic market taken by imports in each year since 1975.

  Mr. Atkins
  The information is not available.

  Record Players
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the total domestic output of record players and decks (761.2,763.18), the percentage exported and the share of the domestic market taken by imports in each year since 1975.

  Mr. Atkins
  The available information is shown in the table.

  1Record players and decks

  £ millions

  2Sales

  Export (fob)

  Imports (cif)

  1975

  46

  42

  7

  1 Not including coin operated mechanisms.

  2 Sales data relate primarily to units in the United Kingdom with a minimum employment of 25.

  Gramophone Records
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the total domestic output of gramophone records (898.31,32), the percentage exported and the share of the domestic market taken by imports in each year since 1975.

  Mr. Atkins
  The available information is as follows:

  £ million

  Gramophone Records

  1Sales

  Imports (cif)

  Exports (fob)

  1975

  91

  12

  23

  1976

  90

  12

  33

  1977

  93

  13

  43

  515

  Gramophone Records

  1Sales

  Imports (cif)

  Exports (fob)

  1978

  93

  22

  44

  1979

  107

  23

  34

  1980

  94

  26

  30

  1981

  78

  26

  31

  1982

  69

  22

  34

  1 Sales data relate primarily to units in the United Kingdom with a minimum employment of 50.

  Tape Recorders
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the total domestic output of tape recorders (778.86), the percentage exported and the share of the domestic market taken by imports in each year since 1975.

  Mr. Atkins
  The information is not available.

  Cassette Decks
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the total domestic output of cassette decks (763.88), the percentage exported and the share of the domestic market taken by imports in each year since 1975.

  Mr. Atkins
  The information is not available.

  Theatrical Producers
  Mr. Tom Arnold
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster with which self-regulatory organisation theatrical producers are supposed to register; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  Theatrical producers will only need to be authorised if they are carrying on investment business as defined in the Act. Schemes for pooled investment in theatrical productions fall within the definition of collective investment schemes, and authorisation is required by persons operating or establishing them or 516
  winding them up. Any person may apply to any of the recognised self-regulating organisations whose scope rules cover the relevant investment activities or for direct authorisation by the Securities and Investments Board. If the main investment business is the management of investors' funds they may well find that the Investment Management Regulatory Organisation is the most appropriate organisation.

  British Steel Corporation
  Mr. Holt
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what has been the increase in the productivity of the British Steel Corporation since 1979.

  Mr. Atkins
  The figures for BSC in respect of European Coal and Steel Community treaty activities are as follows:

  Man hours per tonne liquid steel

  Year

  1979–80

  13·2

  1980–81

  14·5

  1981–82

  9·4

  1982–83

  9·3

  1983–84

  7·1

  1984–85

  7·0

  1985–86

  6·3

  1986–87

  6·2

  1987–88

  n/a

  Source: British Steel Report and Accounts 1986–87.

  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask We Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he has received on the future of British Steel's pension scheme.

  Mr. Atkins
  I have received a number of representations from individual pensioners and employees of BSC seeking clarification of the position after privatisation. Both the Government and the corporation are well aware of the concern of those affected by this issue and we hope it will be possible to clarify the position shortly. It has, of course, been the experience of previous privatisations that satisfactory arrangements have been made on this point.

  Regional Offices
  Mr. Franks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what are his Department's plans for the network of regional offices.

  Mr. Atkins
  The White Paper "DTI—the department for Enterprise" (Cm. 278) announced that the Department's presence in the regions is being strengthened and extended. In addition to the seven main regional offices, we plan three major new sub-offices in the south-east and a network of over 20 other offices at which business men can make contact with the Department.

  Cloth and Yarn (Dyeing)
  Mr. Steel
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will take steps to end the provision whereby imported cloth and yarn dyed in Britain qualifies as originating in Britain.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  No. The European Community's non-preferential origin rules at present allow the dyeing and finishing of cloth as an origin-conferring process. Following consultation with the United Kingdom industry, my Department will not be objecting to the retention of the existing rule during current negotiations in Brussels.

  Mr. Peter Luff
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what steps the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry took to satisfy himself before the appointment of Mr. Peter Luff as his special adviser that Mr. Luff had no interests or associations incompatible with his role as a special adviser; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry will dismiss Mr. Peter Luff from his post as special adviser in his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butcher
  The Secretary of State sees no grounds for considering his dismissal. Under the terms of his appointment, he is, amongst other things, required to comply with the general principles of conduct of civil servants, the rules relating to outside activities and the use of official information or experience.

  Animal Furs (Advertising)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will consider outlawing the advertising of animal furs.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  I have no plans to do so. My Department is, however, consulting publicly on a proposed order under the Trade Descriptions Act 1968, to require goods made from the fur of certain species to be labelled to the effect that the animals are commonly caught by means of the leg-hold trap. Under this proposal, advertisements would also be required to contain this information where the prospective purchaser could buy the fur without prior inspection.

  Domestic Upholstered Furniture
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if, pursuant to the statement on 11 January by 518
  the Minister for Corporate and Consumer Affairs, he will now make a statement on the draft regulations for flammability of domestic upholstered furniture.

  Mr. Butcher
  The Draft Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations are being made available today. These, together with a consultation letter inviting comments on the detailed proposals, are being sent to a wide variety of interested organisations. I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Libraries and the Vote Office.

  Lloyd's
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement of the manner in which the Council of Lloyd's proposes to implement recommendation 70 of the Neill committee of inquiry into regulatory arrangements at Lloyd's.

  Mr. Maude
  Yes. I have discussed this with the chairman of Lloyd's. It was the nominated members' proposal that the annual report on the progress of regulation should be adopted by the whole council. He has also assured me that should the nominated members wish to express any reservation that would also be recorded in the Lloyd's annual report and accounts.

  Collective Investment
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he proposes to transfer functions under the Financial Services Act 1986 in respect of collective investment schemes to the Securities and Investments Board.

  Mr. Maude
  My right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry considered carefully the draft regulations and other material sent to him by the Securities and Investments Board in the light of the reports he has received from the Director General of Fair Trading and also of the other representations which have been made to him. He is satisfied that the various conditions laid down under the Financial Services Act for a transfer of functions to the board are fulfilled. I accordingly laid before the House on 24 February a draft order under section 114 of the Act transferring certain functions to the board. The functions in question include most of the transferable functions in relation to collective investment schemes in the Act.

  Belgian Carpet and Polypropylene Yarn (Aid)
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has yet received confirmation of the repayment of aid by a Belgian carpet and polypropylene yarn manufacturer ordered in 1987 by the European Commission.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  [holding answer 29 February 1988]: The recovery of this aid is the responsibility of the European Commission, which has assured us that the repayment will be made.

  Inner Cities
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what meetings he has sought with representatives of local authorities prior to publishing his White Paper on the inner cities; and if he will make a statement.
  519
  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  [holding answer 29 February 1988]: I have many meetings with representatives of local authorities and others to discuss the contribution which they can make to encouraging inner city regeneration.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the future role his Department envisages for local authorities in the regeneration of inner city areas.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  [holding answer 29 February 1988]: Local authorities can play an important role in creating the right conditions for business growth and individual enterprise. For further reading I commend the paper, "The Local Right—Enabling not Providing," by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, published on 29 February by the Centre for Policy Studies (Policy Study No. 92).

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Rural Development
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his strategy for rural development in Northern Ireland; if he will establish a rural development agency; and if he will make a statement.

  In-patient waiting time for admission

  Board

  0 to 3 Months

  4 to 6 Months

  7 to 12 Months

  1 to 2 Years

  2 to 3 Years

  Over 3 years

  Total

  Eastern

  595

  482

  602

  373

  33

  40

  2,125

  Northern

  285

  171

  266

  219

  74

  44

  1,059

  Southern

  309

  12

  1

  —

  —

  —

  322

  Western

  290

  125

  109

  73

  8

  —

  605

  Northern Ireland

  1,479

  790

  978

  665

  115

  84

  4,111

  Stalker Inquiry
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will place in the Library the original terms of reference for the Stalker inquiry into the Royal Ulster Constabulary and its alleged shoot-to-kill policy.

  Mr. Tom King
  [holding answer 25 February 1988]: As is usual practice with police reports covering criminal investigations, neither the report by Mr. John Stalker nor the report by Mr. Colin Sampson will be published. Accordingly, I do not intend to place a copy of the terms of reference for the Stalker inquiry in the Library of the House.

  Salmonid waters
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the rivers and streams in Northern Ireland which have been designated as salmonid waters under European Community directive 78/659/EEC.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 26 February 1988]: The table lists those waters which have been designated as salmonid waters under European Community directive 78/659/EEC.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has any knowledge of
  520
  Mr. Viggers
  The social and economic problems of rural areas in Northern Ireland are fully considered in the annual public expenditure survey process. The continued operation of existing administrative and financial arrangements, including assistance available from the European Community, provides the appropriate means for dealing with rural development in Northern Ireland. I have no plans for the establishment of a rural development agency.

  Tonsillectomy Operations
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the waiting time for tonsillectomy operations in each of the four health board areas in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Needham
  It is not possible to identify tonsillectomy as a separate treatment within waiting list information. Patients waiting for this operation are included in ENT waiting lists.

  The table shows, for each health and social services board, the numbers of in-patients on ENT waiting lists by time spent on lists, at 30 September 1987. These figures are provisional.

  leakage from council dumps in Northern Ireland polluting salmonid waters in Northern Ireland in the last five years; and if he will give details of any such incidents.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 26 February 1988]: The information requested is not collected centrally and could only be assembled at disproportionate cost. Information on the main polluting discharges is however being compiled and I will write to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.

  The following non-tidal waters are designated within Northern Ireland under the terms of the (EEC) directive on the quality of freshwaters needing protection or improvement in order to support fish life (78/659/EEC)

  Primary river basin

  River

  Length of river classified (km) Salmonid Waters

  Burn Dennet

  Burn Dennet

  29

  Mourne

  Mourne

  20

  Derg

  Derg

  33

  Owenkillew

  Owenkillew

  31

  Owenkillew

  Glenelly

  31

  Strule

  Strule

  16

  Fairy Water

  Fairy Water

  25

  Camowen

  Camowen

  32

  Drumragh

  Quiggery Water

  18

  Drumragh

  Owenreagh

  18

  521

  Primary river basin

  River

  Length of river classified (km) Salmonid Waters

  Faughan

  Faughan

  40

  Roe

  Roe

  47

  Roe

  Curly

  10

  Roe

  Owenrigh

  4

  Main

  Main

  Source to River Clogh

  12

  River Braid to Lough Neagh

  18

  Main

  Kells Water with Glenwhirry

  18

  Main

  Braid

  Source to Ballymena

  16

  Main

  Clogh

  12

  Six Mile Water

  Six Mile Water

  15

  Crumlin

  Crumlin

  17

  Upper Bann

  Upper Bann

  Source to Portadown

  56

  Upper Bann

  Cusher

  Source to Tandragee

  17

  Blackwater

  Blackwater

  29

  Source to International Boundary

  International Boundary to Caledon

  Blackwater

  Torrent

  27

  Source to Coalisland

  Coalisland to River Blackwater

  Blackwater

  Callan

  Source to Armagh

  19

  Blackwater

  Oona Water

  22

  Ballindery

  Ballindery

  Source to Cookstown

  18

  Ballindery

  Killymoon

  9

  Moyola

  Moyola

  27

  Lower Bann

  Lower Bann

  42

  Lower Bann

  Ballymoney

  7

  Lower Bann

  Agivey

  21

  Lower Bann

  Clady

  10

  Bush

  Bush

  42

  Lagan

  Lagan

  Source to Magheralin

  33

  Lagan

  Ravernet

  16

  Quoile

  Quoile with Annacloy and Ballynahinch

  Source to Downpatrick

  32

  Newry

  Newry with Clanrye

  31

  Newry

  Bessbrook with Camlough

  7

  Lower Erne

  River Lower Erne

  Rosscor to International Boundary

  5

  Ballinamallard

  Ballinamallard

  21

  Colebrooke

  Colebrooke

  45

  Swanlinbar

  Swanlinbar

  12

  Arney

  Arney

  15

  Sillees

  Sillees

  35

  Total

  1,062

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he knows of any reason why the 522
  Ardilea river, County Down, should not be designated a salmonoid water under European Community directive 78/659/EEC.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 26 February 1988]: I am not aware of any reason why the Ardilea river should not be designated as a salmonoid water under European Community directive 78/659/EEC.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has any proposal to designate the Ardilea river, County Down, as salmonid water under European Economic Community directive 78/759/EEC.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 26 February 1988]: There are no proposals at present to designate the Ardilea river as a salmonid water under European Economic Community directive 78/659/EEC.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects to complete the process of monitoring rivers and streams in Northern Ireland to decide whether they reach the standards set down for salmonid waters in European Community directive 78/659/EEC.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 26 February 1988]: A total of 1,062 km of the main salmonid waters have already been designated and are monitored to ensure that the requirements of European Community directive 78/659/EEC are met. It is the Department's intention to extend designations as resources permit, but, with other priorities, I am unable to give firm dates for completion.

  Water Quality
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether, when planning permission is sought for any development which might lead to the pollution of any lake, river, stream or reservoir in Northern Ireland, the quality of such water is assessed before the development takes place; whether the maintenance of water quality is taken into account in deciding whether planning permission is granted; and whether procedures differ in respect of water which does not before development meet the standards laid down in European directive 78/659/EEC and waters which do.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 26 February 1988]: Any development from which a discharge to a waterway may contain polluting materials requires a consent under the Water Act (Northern Ireland) 1972 and the conditions attached to such consent are designed to ensure that the discharges will not cause pollution. The conditions attached to discharges to salmonid waters are designed to ensure that the standards of these waters, which are regularly monitored, will continue to comply with the standards laid down in European directive 78/659/EEC.

  Ports
  Mr. William Ross
  to ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table in the Official Report to show (a) the imports and (b) the exports from each port in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Viggers
  [holding answer 26 February 1988]: Figures for Northern Ireland imports and exports are not

  523
  separately identified in United Kingdom trade statistics. However figures for the total traffic of goods through Northern Ireland ports which includes imports and exports are available. These are as follows:

  Thousand tonnes

  Year

  Belfast

  Coleraine

  Larne

  Londonderry

  Warrenpoint

  Carrickfergus

  Other ports

  Totals

  (a) Inward Traffic

  1982

  4,485

  169

  2,040

  704

  582

  239

  1,341

  9,560

  1983

  5,014

  168

  1,932

  745

  647

  294

  1,309

  10,109

  1984

  4,580

  70

  2,000

  703

  590

  272

  1,555

  9,770

  1985

  5,227

  144

  2,061

  724

  684

  295

  1,631

  10,766

  1986

  5,255

  140

  2,069

  881

  668

  337

  1,458

  10,808

  (b) Outward Traffic

  1982

  526

  13

  1,125

  93

  79

  —

  170

  2,006

  1983

  556

  8

  1,286

  61

  107

  —

  147

  2,166

  1984

  667

  4

  1,399

  51

  146

  —

  133

  2,399

  1985

  756

  36

  1,536

  51

  127

  —

  182

  2,688

  1986

  876

  54

  1,585

  31

  101

  1

  284

  2,932

  Note:

  (i) The tables give tonnages of goods through the ports and exclude weights of containers and weights of materials shipped for dumping at sea.

  (ii) Inward Traffic refers to all goods taken into Northern Ireland from Great Britain and elsewhere through the Northern Ireland ports. Northern Ireland is not necessarily the ultimate destination for these goods. Similarly Outward Traffic covers all goods taken out through the Northern Ireland ports, destined for Great Britain or for foreign countries. The origin of the goods is not necessarily in Northern Ireland.

EMPLOYMENT

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which travel-to-work areas had the highest level of unemployment in(a) England, (b) Wales and (c) Scotland at the latest available date; and what was the percentage unemployed in each case.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The travel-to-work areas with the highest rates of unemployed claimants in England, Wales and Scotland at 14 January 1988 were Newquay, south Pembrokeshire and Cumnock and Sanquhar. The numbers of unemployed claimants in these travel-to-work areas expressed as a percentage of the number of employees in employment plus the employed were 26·7, 25·1 and 28·9 per cent. respectively.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people leaving school at 16 years found jobs in 1983 and in the most recently available year.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Thirty per cent. of those young people aged 16 on 1 September 1984, who had left school between September 1984 and February 1986, went directly into full-time employment. A further 41 per cent. went into YTS, which has become the major route into work for school leavers and offers high-quality training. This information, drawn from England and Wales youth cohort study, is not available for earlier years.

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the latest figures for those people registered as unemployed in the constituency of Basildon and for the same period in each of the past four years.

  Mr. Lee
  The table shows the number of unemployed claimants in the parliamentary constituency of Basildon in 524
  January of each year since 1984. The comparison is affected by the change in the compilation of the unemployment statistics in March 1986.

  January

  1984

  6,834

  1985

  7,273

  1986

  6,793

  1987

  6,437

  1988

  4,726

  Mr. Duffy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the percentage change in unemployment for the Sheffield travel-to-work area over the past 12 months, and what has been the comparable position for Yorkshire and Humberside as a whole.

  Mr. Lee
  On 14 January 1988, the number of unemployed claimants in the Sheffield travel-to-work area was 40,539, a fall of 14·6 per cent., since January 1987. The comparable figure for the Yorkshire and Humberside region as a whole was 266,031, a fall of 15·9 per cent.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the recent unemployment figures.

  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the current level of unemployment.

  Mr. Lee
  The seasonally adjusted level of adult unemployment fell by 50,800 between December and January, to 2,563,100, the lowest figure on a consistent basis since April 1982. The figure has now fallen by 647,000 since July 1986, the largest sustained fall on record.

  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what were the levels of unemployment and advertised jobs vacancies in Wyre Forest in 1986 and 1987; and what plans he has to improve training links between education institutions and industry in the area.
  525
  Mr. Lee
  The table shows the annual average number of unemployed claimants in the Wyre Forest local authority area and the annual average number of unfilled vacancies (excluding community programme vacancies) at jobcentres1 which cover an area most closely corresponding to the Wyre Forest local authority area for 1986 and 1987. Total numbers of advertised job vacancies are not available, but it is estimated that nationally about one third of vacancies are notified to jobcentres.

  The Government support collaboration between education institutions and employers in developing training to meet local needs. The MSC is, for example, providing funding for such a local collaborative project in Kidderminster which is addressing the training implications of new technology in the carpet industry.

  Wyre Forest local authority area

  Annual Average

  Unemployed Claimants

  Unfilled Vacancies

  1986

  5,324

  408

  1987

  4,469

  403

  1 Kidderminster and Stourport jobcentres.

  Sir Fergus Montgomery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the number of job vacancies registered with jobcentres in the north-west of England.

  Mr. Lee
  On 8 January 1988, the number of unfilled vacancies, excluding vacancies on the community programme, registered at jobcentres in the north-west region was 20,167. This represents an increase of 2 per cent. since January 1987.

  Mr. Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the number of job vacancies registered with jobcentres in Yorkshire.

  Mr. Lee
  On 8 January 1988 the number of unfilled vacancies, excluding vacancies on the community programme, registered at jobcentres in south Yorkshire, north Yorkshire and west Yorkshire was 12,185. This represents an increase of 12.5 per cent. since 1987.

  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were out of work in the Staffordshire, Moorlands parliamentary constituency at the most recent count; and what the figure was two years ago.

  Mr. Lee
  On 14 January 1988 the number of unemployed claimants in the Staffordshire, Moorlands parliamentary constituency was 2,798. The corresponding figure for January 1986 was 3,768. The comparison is affected by the change in the compilation of the unemployment statistics in March 1986.

  Mrs. Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the numbers of job vacancies registered with jobcentres in the northern region of England.

  Mr. Lee
  On 8 January 1988, the number of unfilled vacancies, excluding vacancies in the community programme, registered at jobcentres in the northern region was 10,180. This represents a decrease of 1·2 per cent. since January 1987.
  526
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were in full-time employment in Britain in May 1979; and how many people are in full-time employment today.

  Mr. Lee
  In June 1979 (there are no estimates for May) there were 19,950,000 full-time people in the employed labour force in Great Britain. In September 1978, the latest date for which figures are available the figure was 18,765,000. The employed labour force is the sum of employees in employment, the self-employed and HM forces.

  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the number of people currently in full-time and part-time employment.

  Mr. Lee
  In September 1987, the latest date for which figures are available there were 18,765,000 full-time and 5,741,000 part-time people in the employed labour force in Great Britain. The employed labour force is the sum of employees in employment, the self-employed and HM forces.

  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the figures for registered unemployed persons in all the Greater London travel-to-work areas for(a) the latest available date and (b) the end of December 1987, 1986 and 1985, in actual figures and as percentages.

  Mr. Lee
  The numbers of unemployed claimants in absolute terms and as a percentage of employees in employment plus the unemployed in the Greater London travel-to-work areas at the latest available date, 14 January 1988, and the closest date to the end of December of each of the years requested are as follows:

  London TTW A

  Heathrow TTW A

  Unemployed claimants

  Per cent.

  Unemployed claimants

  Per cent.

  14 January 1988

  302,073

  8·7

  37,123

  5·5

  8 January 1987

  369,066

  10·6

  49,463

  7·3

  9 January 1986

  382,156

  10·9

  52,676

  7·7

  The comparison is affected by changes in the compilation of the unemployment statistics in March 1986.

  Mr. Sackville
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the fall in unemployment over the last 12 months.

  Mr. Lee
  On 14 January 1988, the number of unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom, seasonally adjusted excluding school leavers, was 2,563,100, a fall of 549,100 over the last 12 months.

  Mr. Brandon-Bravo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the number of job vacancies registered with jobcentres in England and Wales.

  Mr. Lee
  On 8 January 1988, the number of unfilled vacancies, excluding vacancies on the community programme, registered at jobcentres in England and Wales was 206,360. This represents an increase of 20 per cent. since January 1987.
  527
  Mr. Roger King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the number of young people aged between 18 and 24 years currently in employment and in January 1987.

  Mr. Lee
  Estimates of the age composition of the employed labour force are available only for June of each year. In June 1987, the estimated number of those in the employed labour force aged 18 to 24 years inclusive in Great Britain was 4,455,000 compared with 4,299,000 in June 1986.

  Mr. Hayward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the number of job vacancies registered with jobcentres in the southwest of England.

  Mr. Lee
  On 8 January, the number of unfilled vacancies, excluding vacancies on the community programme, registered at jobcentres in the south-west region was 16,544. This represents an increase of 13·8 per cent. since January 1987.

  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the changes in unemployment in the Yorkshire region since 1983.

  Mr. Lee
  The numbers of unemployed claimants, seasonally adjusted excluding school leavers, in the Yorkshire and Humberside region in January of each year since 1983 on a consistent basis were as follows:

  Number

  January 1983

  258,700

  January 1984

  267,500

  January 1985

  283,600

  January 1986

  298,200

  January 1987

  295,300

  January 1988

  248,700

  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the number of job vacancies registered with jobcentres in East Anglia.

  Mr. Lee
  On 8 January 1988 the number of unfilled vacancies excluding vacancies on the community programme, registered at jobcentres in the East Anglia region was 7,813. This represents an increase of 32·1 per cent. since January 1987.

  Mr. Lofthouse
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the percentage change in unemployment for the Castleford travel-to-work area over the last 12 months; and what has been the comparable change for Yorkshire and Humberside.

  Mr. Lee
  The following information is in the Library. On 14 January 1988, the number of unemployed claimants in the Castleford and Pontefract travel-to-work area was 8,071, a fall of 11·5 per cent., since January 1987. The comparable figure for the Yorkshire and Humberside region as a whole was 266,031, a fall of 15·9 per cent.

  Mr. Lofthouse
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures for those people registered as unemployed in the constituency of Pontefract and Castleford and for the same date in each of the last four years.

  Mr. Lee
  The following information is in the Library. The table shows the number of unemployed claimants in 528
  the parliamentary constituency of Pontefract arid Castleford in January of each year since 1984. The comparison is affected by the change in the compilation of the unemployment statistics in March 1986.

  Number

  January 1984

  5,487

  January 1985

  5,683

  January 1986

  6,236

  January 1987

  6,222

  January 1988

  5,508

  "Training for Employment"
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received from voluntary organisations concerning the White Paper "Training for Employment".

  Mr. Chope
  None.

  Uniform Business Rate
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received from small business organisations concerning the proposed uniform business rate.

  Mr. Cope
  I have received several representations from small firms organisations about the proposed national non-domestic rate. I have also received representations from small businesses about excessive rates burdens.

  Job Seekers
  Mr. Holt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what new initiatives are planned to assist job seekers to obtain employment in areas of high housing costs.

  Mr. Lee
  My Department is co-operating closely with the Housing Corporation in its planned development of the job movers scheme which has recently been introduced under the auspices of the Department of the Environment.

  Skill Shortages
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he will next meet the general secretary of the Trades Union Congress to discuss skill shortages in British industry.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State hopes to discuss issues including skills demand and supply with fellow members of the National Economic Development Council, including the general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, at the next meeting in April.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which measures the Training Commission is undertaking to clearly identify skill shortages in London and to ensure that the training programmes of the new adult training organisations address those areas of skill mismatch.

  Mr. Cope
  The Manpower Services Commission gathers information on skills demand and supply from a wide range of sources, including its computer-aided local labour market information system, in-depth studies of industries and occupations, surveys of vacancies at jobcentres and from other external sources.
  529
  The White Paper "Training for Employment" emphasises the importance of longer-term unemployed people acquiring skills in demand in local labour markets. The new training programme for unemployed adults will, therefore, be locally planned and delivered both in London and elsewhere and will take account of local labour market conditions including evidence of skill needs.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on skill shortages in the engineering industry.

  Mr. Cope
  The strength of our economy means that some employers, including some engineering employers, are finding it more difficult to meet some of their skill needs through recruitment. But employers can influence the supply of skills they need by providing the proper incentives for individuals to acquire the right skills and experience and by making the necessary investment in training.

  The Government have given a lead by more than doubling their own investment in vocational education and training since 1979. Especially through two-year YTS for school leavers and now, the new £1·4 billion training programme to provide unemployed adults with the skills which today's jobs demand. The Manpower Services Commission also has programmes to encourage employers to recognise and meet their own training needs. Under the engineering science and technology initiative more resources have also been made available to increase relevant higher education opportunities.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on skill shortages in the electronics industry.

  Mr. Cope
  The strength of our economy means that some employers are finding it more difficult to meet some of their skill needs through recruitment. But employers can influence the supply of skills they need by providing the proper incentives for individuals to acquire the right skills and experience and by making the necessary investment in training.

  The Government have given a lead by more than doubling its own investment in vocational education and training since 1979. Especially through two-year YTS for school leavers and now, the new £1·4 billion training programme to provide unemployed adults with the skills which today's jobs demand. The Manpower Services Commission also has programmes to encourage employers to recognise and meet their own training needs and make the necessary provision.

  Under the engineering science and technology initiative, more resources have also been made available to increase relevant higher education opportunities.

  Unemployment (Inner Cities)
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what his Department is doing to obtain permanent jobs in the private sector for inner city unemployed persons, particularly the long-term unemployed.

  Mr. Cope
  The Department of Employment and the Manpower Services Commission provide a wide range of national programmes which aim to equip individuals with the skills and motivation to compete for available jobs. The new training programme for unemployed adults 530
  which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 16 February is designed to help long-term unemployed people gain the skills they need to enter the labour market. This will be of particular help to unemployed inner city residents and is being established with inner city needs in mind.

  Tourism (Inner Cities)
  Sir Marcus Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on his Department's proposals to encourage tourism in the inner cities.

  Mr. Lee
  Inner city tourism will continue to benefit from the English tourist board's section 4 financial assistance, its tourism development action programmes, and other strategic development initiatives. The ETB is participating in the "Great English City Breaks" campaign to promote weekend breaks to the 14 cities currently involved. The British Tourist Authority is also involved in a number of joint marketing schemes to attract foreign tourism to inner cities.

  Manufacturing (North-West Region)
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the change in manufacturing jobs in the north-west region from May 1979 to the latest date for which figures are available.

  Mr. Lee
  Figures for May 1979 are not available. Between June 1979 and December 1987, the number of employees in employment in manufacturing industry in the north-west region fell by 363,000. However, over the past four years the decline in manufacturing employment in that region has been more than offset by rises in employment in services and self-employment.

  Industrial Training
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he will next meet the director general of the Confederation of British Industry to discuss training quality in British industry.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he will next meet the director general of the Confederation of British Industry to discuss skill shortages in British industry.

  Mr. Cope
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State often meets the director general of the Confederation of British Industry to discuss a wide range of issues connected with training, and will continue to do so.

  YTS
  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a further statement on the progress of YTS.

  Mr. Nicholls
  At the end of January 1988 some 413,000 young people were receiving high-quality training on YTS. Of those young people who left YTS schemes between April 1986 and 1987,74 per cent. went into work or further education and training. This is welcome and shows that YTS is now firmly established as a standard method of recruitment and training for many employers.
  531
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many 16 and 17-year-olds are currently undertaking training on the YTS; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  There were some 413,000 young people on YTS at the end of January 1988. Of these, 238,000 were 16-year-old school leavers in the first year of a two-year training programme, 151,000 were 16-year-old school leavers in the second year and 24,000 were 17-year-old school leavers on a one-year training programme. The large number of young people now well into their second year of training in the new two-year programme shows significant progress towards ensuring that all young people under 18 years of age obtain qualifications relevant to work.

  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to raise standards of training at the YTS; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  From April, all YTS providers will have to meet the high standards required of approved training organisations. The Manpower Services Commission has published its priorities for quality development in YTS and is working with these approved organisations to raise standards still further. Meanwhile the Training Standards Advisory Service has begun its programme of carrying out full inspections of all YTS schemes on the ground. A further assurance of quality is the commitment to have vocational qualifications approved by the National Council for Vocational Qualifications in all YTS schemes.

  Local Employer Networks
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the progress of local employer networks.

  Mr. Cope
  The response from employers, employers organisations and others to this important initiative continues to be encouraging. Contracts have been exchanged for 85 networks and a further 40 are expected to be in place by the end of September.

  Government Training Schemes
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people are on Government training schemes in Sunderland.

  Mr. Cope
  At 31 January 1988, there were 3,184 young people in training on YTS in Sunderland.

  Tourist Grants
  Mr. Curry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the amount of money which will be made available for section 4 tourist grants in England in 1988–89.

  Mr. Lee
  The total which will be made available to the English tourist board for payments under the section 4 scheme in 1988–89 is £13·2 million. A rise of 10 per cent. over 1987–88.

  Adult Training
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to meet the chairman of the Training Commission to discuss adult training.
  532
  Mr. Cope
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State often meets the chairman of the Manpower Services Commission to discuss training issues including adult training and will continue to do so.

  Tourism (Employment)
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to encourage the tourism and hotel industries to promote career opportunities for young people; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  I am constantly encouraging the tourism and hospitality industries to promote the excellent and varied career opportunities that they can offer to young people. I am particularly gratified to see the wide range of careers material now being produced by the industry itself.

  Mr. Waller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many new jobs have been created in the tourism sector in the Yorkshire and Humberside region during the past five years.

  Mr. Lee
  Estimates of the number of new jobs created are not available. However, there has been a net increase of 32,000 employees in employment in the hotel and catering industry in the Yorkshire and Humberside region over the period June 1982 to June 1987. This figure does not include the self-employed, for whom a comparable estimate is not available.

  Hotels
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the number of new hotels currently under construction in England.

  Mr. Lee
  The latest English tourist board survey of investment in major tourist projects shows that in December 1987, a total of 37 new hotels were under construction in England.

  Job Clubs
  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many unemployed people have found work through job clubs in the north-east over the last 10 years.

  Mr. Lee
  Between November 1984, when the first job club opened, and December 1987, a total of 4,412 people had found work through job clubs in the north-east. A further 1,345 took up a place on the community programme, a training scheme or the enterprise allowance scheme.

  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the progress of job clubs in placing people in jobs.

  Mr. Lee
  The aim of the job club service is to help long-term unemployed people to help themselves find a job. From April 1987 to December 1987, the latest date for which figures are available, 74,653 people passed through job clubs of which 40,685–54 per cent.—found jobs. A further 10,249 — 14 per cent. — gained a place on the community programme, entered training or took up the enterprise allowance scheme.

  Ministerial Visit (Sweden)
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on his visit to Sweden.

  Mr. Fowler
  I visited Sweden from 22 to 24 November last year, at the invitation of the Swedish Government, in order to study employment and training policies and programmes in that country. During my visit I met representatives of the Swedish Government and industry with responsibilities in these areas. I was also able to see, at first hand, something of the operation of policy both at Government training and employment centres and within private industry.

  Industrial Apprenticeships
  Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what measures he has introduced to encourage the creation of apprenticeships in industry.

  Mr. Cope
  It is for employers in the first instance to ensure the apprenticeship training that their industry needs. The Government encourage them to adopt cost-effective practices such as training to standards instead of wasteful time-serving. They also make a substantial contribution to support apprenticeship training by way of YTS. Through the scheme, the Government have made available more money than ever before for the training of young people—£1,036 million in 1987–88.

  The extension of YTS to a two-year scheme has increased opportunities for all 16 and 17-year-old school leavers to benefit from the structured programme of training and work experience previously available only to those undertaking the limited number of apprenticeships then available.

  Self-employment
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the number of self-employed people in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Cope
  There were 2·9 million self-employed people in the United Kingdom in June 1987. This represents an increase of 1 million on the number of self-employed in June 1979, with an increase of 234,000 between 1986 and 1987 alone.

  Approximately one in nine of the employed labour force is now self-employed. This increase is indicative of the success of the measures we have introduced to encourage and support self-employment.

  Dr. Michael Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what recent representations he has received about the effect of Government policies on the self-employed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  I receive many representations on this subject both from organisations and individuals. The rise in the number of self-employed from 1·9 million in June 1979 to 2·9 million in June 1987 is evidence that the measures we have introduced since 1979 have been effective in encouraging individuals to set up their own businesses and to contribute to the economic revival of the United Kingdom.

  "Training for Employment"
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many representations his Department has received on the proposals contained in the White Paper "Training for Employment".

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received regarding his White Paper "Training for Employment".

  Mr. Cope
  The White Paper sets out the Government's plans for securing continuing reductions in unemployment and for sustaining jobs growth. It calls upon employers, individuals and trade unions to play their part, in particular to equip longer-term unemployed people for the jobs which the economy is generating. We believe that the soundness of the approach set out in the White Paper is widely recognised. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has as yet received no representations about the Government's plans.

  Strikes
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many working days were lost through strikes in 1987 and 1978.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The number of working days lost through stoppages of work due to industrial disputes in 1987 is provisionally estimated as 3,476,000. This compares with 9,405,000 working days lost in 1978.

  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the numbers of work days lost due to strikes in December 1987 and December 1978.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The number of working days lost through stoppages of work due to industrial disputes in December 1987 is provisionally estimated as 38,000. This compares with 542,000 working days lost in December 1978.

  Training
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to reduce the number of young people entering work at 16 years without training.

  Mr. Cope
  The Government will continue to underline the value, to employers and young people alike, of quality training for young recruits. We have asked the Manpower Services Commission to ensure that YTS continues to develop both in quantity and quality so that it becomes the normal route for 16 and 17-year-old school leavers from school to employment. The national expansion of the technical and vocational educational initiative (TVEI) will increase the opportunities to gain vocational skills and qualifications for all those at school from the age of 14–18 years.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the percentage of gross domestic product expended on training for the employed in 1979 and in the last available year.

  Mr. Cope
  I regret that this information is not available. Estimates of the costs of employers' training activities will be available in 1988 as part of the study of the funding of vocational education and training currently being undertaken by the Manpower Services Commission.
  535
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will introduce legislation to make it a duty on all employers to provide training for all employees between 16 and 18 years of age.

  Mr. Cope
  No. The objective of improving the quality and quantity of the training given to young people is more effectively pursued through practical, voluntary measures such as YTS, which offers young people a structured programme of quality training and work experience and is the main route into employment for the under-18 age group.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take steps to increase the numbers of employees receiving regular training and retraining.

  Mr. Cope
  The number of employees receiving training continues to increase according to the labour force survey. Preliminary estimates show that in spring 1987, a total of 2,381,000 employees of working age received training in the last four weeks compared with 1,806,000 in 1984—an increase of over 30 per cent.

  The Manpower Services Commission will continue to develop its policies to encourage employers to train adequately to meet skill needs. These include the development of a framework for training qualifications; the encouragement of industrywide training arrangements where appropriate; support for local collaboration between firms and training providers; the provision of training information and advice; special support for small firms.

  The Manpower Services Commission is also developing a strategy to build employer commitment to training by demonstrating the contribution of training to firms' performance.

  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of the gross domestic product was expended on training for the unemployed in 1979 and in the last available year.

  Mr. Cope
  The inforation is not available in the form requested because some training schemes are available to both employed and unemployed people. However, the total expenditure on training programmes through the Manpower Services in 1978–79 was £380 million and in 1986–87 was £1,400 million. This represents 0·22 per cent. and 0·36 per cent. of gross domestic product respectively.

  Mr. Ron Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people in Lothian secured full-time employment during 1987 as a result of Manpower Services Commission training schemes; and if he will express this number as a percentage of the total unemployment in Lothian.

  Mr. Lang
  I have been asked to reply.

  Information is not available in the form requested. In Lothian and Borders regions for the period April 1986 to August 1987—the latest period for which information is available — 6,090 people left YTS. Of the 3,426 who responded to the survey of leavers, 1,884 were in full-time employment three months after leaving YTS. Of the 836 people who completed old job training scheme courses in the period September 1986 to August 1987, a total of 515 responded to the survey and of those 288 were in full or part-time employment three months after leaving old JTS. Figures are not available in respect of other training
  536
  schemes. As trainees are not unemployed claimants, it would not be appropriate to express the result as a percentage of the total unemployed.

  Tourism
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to meet the chairman of the English tourist board to discuss proposals to increase overseas visitors to the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  I hope to meet the chairman of the English tourist board in the near future to discuss various matters concerning the promotion of tourism in this country.

  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received on the implications for the tourist industry of the Local Government Finance Bill.

  Mr. Lee
  I have received representations on this subject from a number of organisations representing firms in the industry, and also from individual operators.

  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many section 4 tourist grants were made by the English tourist board in 1987; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  In the financial year 1986–87, a total of 630 project applications were approved by the English tourist board. The total of section 4 assistance offered was £13·95 million. Between April 1987 and February 1988, a total of 561 project applications have been approved, with assistance offered totalling £14·12 million.

  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many overseas tourists visited Britain in 1987; and what proportion visited areas of the country outside metropolitan London.

  Mr. Lee
  Figures for the number of overseas tourists are not yet available for the whole of 1987. However, in the first 11 months of 1987 there were 14·9 million visits to the United Kingdom by overseas residents, some 14 per cent. more than in the same period of 1986. It is not possible to say what proportion of these visited areas outside London but 57 per cent. of visits to the United Kingdom in 1986 included at least one night spent outside London.

  Industrial Relations
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to meet the chairman of the Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service to discuss industrial relations in England and Wales.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Ministers from this Department meet the chairman of ACAS from time to time to discuss matters of mutual interest.

  Skill Shortages (Computer Services)
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on skill shortages in the computer services sector.

  Mr. Cope
  The strength of our economy means that some employers are finding it more difficult to meet some
  537
  of their skill needs through recruitment. But employers can influence the supply of skills they need by providing the proper incentives for individuals to acquire the right skills and experience and by making the necessary investment in training. The Government have given a lead by more than doubling their own investment in vocational education and training since 1979, especially through two-year YTS for school leavers and now, the new £1·4 billion training programme to provide unemployed adults with the skills that today's jobs demand. The Manpower Services Commission also has programmes to encourage employers to recognise and meet their own training needs. Under the engineering science and technology initiative, more resources have also been made available to increase relevant higher education opportunities.

  Loan Guarantee Scheme
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many small businesses obtained loans with assistance from the loan guarantee scheme in 1987; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  In the financial year May 1986 to April 1987, a total of 1,050 loans to a value of £40·37 million were made to small businesses under the loan guarantee scheme. In the period from April 1987 to the end of January 1988, a total of 938 loans had been issued to a value of £37·32 million. In January this year simplified administrative procedures for loans up to £15,000 were introduced and are expected to result in a further increase in the use of the scheme.

  Injuries at Work
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest available number of injuries at work; and what figure was in 1979.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The available information is as follows:

  Reported occupational injuries to employees and self-employed persons in Great Britain

  11979

  21986–7p

  number of reported deaths

  615

  405

  number of reported non-fatal injuries leading to absence from work of over 3 days:

  employees

  320,500

  173,251

  self-employed

  ..

  1,693

  of which major injuries to

  employees

  ..

  19,549

  self-employed

  ..

  830

  1 numbers reported to enforcing authorities under various legislation requiring the reporting of accidents at work.

  2 numbers reported to enforcing authorities under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations, 1985.

  p—provisional data for the year commencing 1 April 1986.

  ..—not available.

  Employment Bill
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to meet the general secretary of the Trades Union Congress to discuss the implementation of the proposals contained in the Employment Bill.

  Mr. Cope
  My hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have met representatives of the Trades Union Congress 538
  to discuss the proposals in the Employment Bill on several occasions. The most recent meeting was yesterday. We have no current plans to meet the general secretary to discuss implementation of the Bill.

  New Businesses
  Mr. Richard Page
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the number of new businesses assisted by enterprise agencies in 1987.

  Mr. Cope
  Local enterprise agencies are independent organisations accountable to their own boards and sponsors. This Department does not have comprehensive information on the number of new businesses they assist. Business in the Community's most recent survey of agencies, undertaken in spring 1986, showed that 118 agencies responding to a question on business start-ups claimed to have helped create more than 10,000 new businesses.

  Restart
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if, pursuant to the reply of 2 February,Official Report, column 542, he will explain why some 12 per cent. of people interviewed on the Government's restart programme were not offered positive help in finding a job; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  The circumstances of some people interviewed under restart are such that an offer of help is inappropriate. They include those already on programmes such as job club as well as those who, for a variety of reasons, are about to cease claiming unemployment benefits.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the latest number of people obtaining full-time work after participating in the Government's restart scheme.

  Mr. Lee
  The aim of the restart programme is to help unemployed people into employment by selecting the best way open to them from a wide range of employment, training and job search opportunities available. It is not possible to say how many of those people selected for interview under restart ultimately obtain full-time work, since we do not follow up every participant.

  Enterprise Allowance Scheme
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the progress of the enterprise allowance scheme.

  Mr. Cope
  Since the enterprise allowance scheme began in 1982 more than 320,000 unemployed people have been helped to start their own business. A total of 102,500 places are available this year. Although this figure is likely to be exceeded, a total of 110,000 places will be available next year.

  Enterprise Agencies
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what further plans he has for encouraging enterprise agencies.

  Mr. Cope
  The Government remain firmly committed to the encouragement of local enterprise agencies (LEAs). In the long term, the future of LEAs, which are essentially
  539
  autonomous private sector-led organisations, must rest primarily with their boards and private sector supporters. This Department, through its local enterprise agency grant scheme is continuing to encourage the development in England of a network of viable, private sector-led LEAs capable of surviving without specific Government funding beyond the scheme's five-year duration. The Government also support training for LEA staff and promote broader awareness of LEAs through its grant to Business in the Community.

  Small Firms (Government Contracts)
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what measures are being introduced to assist and to encourage small firms in obtaining contracts from Government Departments.

  Mr. Cope
  We are making considerable efforts to assist and to encourage small firms to obtain Government contracts, primarily by improving the quality of information made available to them. We publish a booklet, "Tendering for Government Contracts", which gives guidance on what Government Departments seek to buy and the names and addresses of the relevant contacts. This information is also available on Prestel. Departments, including the Ministry of Defence and this Department, also publish booklets providing more specific information on the purchasing opportunities within their Departments.

  Government tendering and approval procedures have been greatly simplified and contracts under £10,000 are now exempt from normal approval procedures. Government Departments are also under instruction to pay their invoices promptly.

  Further assistance and information is available from the Department's small firms service which can be contacted by dialling the telephone operator and asking for Freefone Enterprise.

  Blackfriars Consultants Ltd. (Employment Proposals)
  Mr. Bidwell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what study his Department has made of proposals by Blackfriars Consultants Ltd., to reduce unemployment; a copy of which has been sent to him; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  My Department has received no specific proposals from Blackfriars Consultants Ltd.

  Unions (Postal Ballots)
  Mr. Madel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received about clause 13 of the Employment Bill; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  In addition to comments on the proposals contained in chapter 5 of the Green Paper "Trade Unions and Their Members", my Department continues to receive letters and requests for meetings about the provision requiring postal voting for union election ballots and political fund ballots.

  International Labour Statistics
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the most recent percentage unemployment figure for(a) the European Economic
  540
  Community, (b) the European Free Trade Association group of nations, (c) the United States of America and (d) Japan.

  Mr. Lee
  The information requested is given in the table. The figures are not directly comparable because of national differences in definitions and methods of compiling the statistics. In particular, the figures for the USA and Japan are based on surveys rather than registrations at Government offices.

  Percentage rates of unemployment, November 1987 National definitions, not seasonally adjusted

  Percentage

  EEC

  11·5

  1EFTA

  2·8

  USA

  5·6

  Japan

  2·5

  1 Excluding Liechtenstein.

  Workfare
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to set up a pilot workfare scheme.

  Mr. Cope
  We have no plans to set up a pilot workfare scheme.

  Pay Slips
  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will introduce measures to require employers to issue pay slips and detailed information about taxation paid to the Inland Revenue to all employees promptly.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Under sections 8 to 11 of the Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978 most employees already have the right to receive from employers a detailed written pay statement containing this information at or before the time of payment.

  Careers Services
  Mr. Butterfill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what extra assistance he plans to make available to local authorities to enable their careers services to provide extra help to young people arising from the proposed withdrawal of income support from young people under 18 years.

  Mr. Cope
  1,063 posts are currently funded in local authority careers services under this Department's direct grant strengthening scheme. In 1988–89, as foreshadowed in the public expenditure White Paper, an extra 72 posts, directly funded by this Department will be targeted on those local authorities where our present level of support insufficiently recognises the difficulties faced by young people in the labour market.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what steps he has taken to ascertain the level of interference with the success of small businesses caused by paperwork and legal restrictions in providing employees with a note on disciplinary and grievance procedures;
  541
  (2) if he has any statistical evidence to support the Government's view that provision of a note on disciplinary and grievance procedures imposes a burden on small businesses.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 29 February 1988]: There is evidence from a number of surveys that some employers are reluctant to recruit additional staff because of the employment protection legislation.

WALES

  Speech Therapy (Children)
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to increase the availability of speech therapy provision for children in(a) Clwyd and (b) the other counties in the Principality; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  The level of provision of speech therapy for children is a matter for the district health authorities to decide in the light of competing priorities. The number of speech therapists in Clwyd has almost doubled from 12 to 23 between 1979 and 1987 and the numbers in Wales increased similarly during the same period from 64 to 130. In addition, the Department has recently agreed to fund a further two speech therapist posts in Clwyd under the mental health development scheme.

  Nursery Education
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many three and four-year-old children in each local education authority area in Wales are in(a) full-time and (b) part-time nursery education in private nursery schools; and what percentage of the estimated three and four-year-old population in each local education authority area this represents for the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Morriston Hospital (Burns Unit)
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects the burns unit to be established at Morriston hospital.

  Mr. Grist
  Subject to satisfactory progress in planning by the managing health authority, West Glamorgan health authority, and subsequently in construction, I expect the unit to be completed in 1992.

  Rural Areas (Assistance)
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total amount of all central Government assistance to rural areas for the last financial year in Wales on a per capita basis.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  I regret that the information is not available in the form requested.

  Give-as-you-earn
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what information he has as to how many employers in Wales are registered with the give-as-you-earn payroll deduction scheme;
  542
  (2) what information he has as to which charities in Wales have benefited from the give-as-you-earn payroll deduction scheme since its inception; and in each case what has been the actual benefit to the charity concerned.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  I do not have this information.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action has been taken by his Department to make employees in Wales aware of the give-as-you-earn payroll deduction scheme for registered charities.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  That is a matter for the Wales Council for Voluntary Action.

  Speech Therapists
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what information he has as to how many adult speech therapists are employed per 1,000 of the population by each of the social services departments of local authorities in Wales;

  (2) what information he has as to how many adult speech therapists able to carry out their work through the medium of Welsh are employed per 1,000 of the Welsh-speaking population in each of the social services departments of local authorities in Wales;

  (3) what information he has as to how many adult speech therapists able to carry out their work through the medium of Welsh are employed per 1,000 of the Welsh-speaking population in each of the social services departments of local authorities in Wales:

  (4) how many adult speech therapists in each local authority area in Wales are able to carry out their work through the medium of Welsh;

  (5) what is the ratio of child speech therapists able to carry out their work through the medium of Welsh to Welsh-speaking pupils in (a) Wales and (b) each local education authority in Wales;

  (6) what is the ratio of child speech therapists to school children in (a) Wales and (b) each local education authority area in Wales;

  (7) how many child speech therapists able to carry out their work through the medium of Welsh there are in each local education authority area in Wales; and what proportion they represent of the total numbers of speech therapists in each authority area.

  Mr. Grist
  The information requested is not available centrally. However the table shows the number of speech therapists employed by district health authorities in Wales, whose work includes speech therapy in schools.

  as at 30 September 1987

  Health Authority

  Number

  Whole-time equivalent

  Clwyd

  26

  23·3

  East Dyfed

  14

  13·3

  Pembrokeshire

  6

  6·0

  Gwent

  17

  14·9

  Gwynedd

  11

  10·0

  Mid Glamorgan

  17

  17·0

  Powys

  6

  3·8

  South Glamorgan

  30

  27·6

  West Glamorgan

  15

  14·2

  WALES

  142

  130·1

  Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what cases of non-fulfilment of obligations under the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 by social service departments in Wales have been brought to his attention during each year since 1979.

  Mr. Grist
  Cases have been brought to my attention but the detail asked for could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has on the increase in applications and references to local authorities in Wales for the provision of aids, adaptations and modifications in the homes of disabled people under the requirements of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  Information about the numbers of applications and references to local authorities is not held centrally, but details of the provision of such services are published annually by the Welsh Office in "Activities of Social Services Departments".

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has regarding delays in the implementation of provision of services for disabled people by local authorities in Wales under the requirements of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  Representations alleging delays are received from time to time and these are fully investigated by the Department.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will seek to secure for his departmental library a copy of "The Difficulties of Local Authorities in Maintaining Services to People with Disabilities" by W. F. R. Stewart, published by the Disabilities Study Unit, Wildhanger, Amberley, West Sussex.

  Mr. Grist
  Yes.

  Statutory Instruments
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning delays in the publication of statutory instruments laid by him in the present Session.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  I am not aware of any delays.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Fisheries Ministers (Meeting)
  Mr. Harris
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Council of Fisheries Ministers' meeting on 29 February in Brussels; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  Together with my noble Friend the Minister of State, Scottish Office, I represented the United Kingdom at the meeting of the Council of Fisheries Ministers in Brussels on 29 February and 1 March.

  The Council agreed a series of fish tariff quotas which will enable the processing industry in the United Kingdom and other member states to obtain specified quantities of
  544
  some species of fish at reduced rates of tariff from third countries. Last year the Council did not manage to settle this issue until June: reaching an agreement so much earlier this year will help our processing industry to make full use of these quotas.

  The Council also agreed in prinicple a new Community fisheries agreement with Morocco, subject to the opinion of the European Parliament and the completion of national parliamentary scrutiny procedures. This is a very important agreement which ensures that the Spanish and Portuguese fleets can resume fishing in Moroccan waters from which they were excluded at the beginning of this year. The additional cost of this agreement will be met by transfers from within the 1988 budget.

  The Commission's proposed amendments to the basic marketing regulation, which would change the tuna market support regime and introduce regimes for additional species, were again discussed but no conclusion was reached.

  Research and Development
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if the report on agricultural research and development in the United Kingdom will be published;

  (2) what steps he intends to take to enable hon. and right hon. Members, the agricultural industry, consumer groups and other concerned organisations to comment on the report on agricultural research and development in the United Kingdom before decisions based on the report's findings are taken;

  (3) when the report on agricultural research and development in the United Kingdom will be completed.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 29 February 1988]: The current examination of Agricultural Departments' research and development programmes (including work on fisheries and food) is an internal exercise which it would not be appropriate to publish. It is part of the normal process within Government of reviewing policy. I expect to receive a report in a few weeks' time but cannot yet say what consultations might be appropriate in the light of this advice or when any subsequent decisions might be taken. I will, however, keep the House informed of developments.

  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the estimated cost of producing the report on agricultural research and development in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 29 February 1988]: The current internal review of Agricultural Departments' research and development programmes is expected to cost around £40,000.

  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the definition of the term "near market research" that is being used in the report on agricultural research and development in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 29 February 1988]: Near market research is not a term of art and there is no formal definition of it. It is, however, a convenient way of referring to the sort of work of direct commercial

  545
  benefit which Government believe industry should fund more of. Part of the purpose of the review is to seek to identify what should be classified under this heading.

SOCIAL SERVICES

  Meningitis
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if the collection of data on the incidence of meningitis in the Wirral health authority covers all those with Wirral addresses who have been moved to a hospital outside the health authority area.

  Mrs. Currie
  Under the Public Health Acts and Infectious Disease Regulations, the doctor in attendance is responsible for notifying cases of specified infectious diseases, including acute meningitis, to the proper officer in the local government district concerned.

  If patients are admitted to hospital outside the district in which they become ill, the hospital doctor will notify the proper officer of the district in which the hospital is situated. That proper officer will, in turn, send a copy of the notification to the proper officer of the district in which the patient became ill, and the notification will be included in the latter district's return to the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys.

  The statistics of notifications, therefore, relate to the area where the disease is first suspected or diagnosed, which is not necessarily the area of usual residence of the patient.

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many cases of meningitis have been reported in the Wirral health authority area in December 1987 and January of the current year.

  Mrs. Currie
  Information is not available for the exact area requested. Infectious diseases are notified on a local, rather than health, authority basis, and Wirral district health authority covers the whole of Wirral county district and part of Ellesmere Port and Neston county district.

  During the period 28 November 1987 to 1 January 1988 there were two notifications of acute meningitis received from Wirral county district, of which one was meningococcal meningitis. During the period 2 January to 29 January 1988 the figures were six and three respectively.

  During these same periods no notifications of meningitis were received from Ellesmere Port and Neston county district.

  The data should be regarded as provisional; corrected notifications are often received from doctors. Corrected notification figures for December should be available during April 1988 and for January figures during July 1988.

  Mr. Holt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many deaths attributable to meningitis have been recorded in each of the last five years(a) nationally and (b) in Cleveland.

  Mrs. Currie
  Meningitis can be caused by a number of different organisms. I assume my hon. Friend is interested in meningococcal meningitis, deaths from which are shown in the table. The latest year's data available are those for 1986.
  546

  Number of deaths with meningococcal meningitis (ICD 036.0) assigned as underlying cause. 1982–86. England and Wales, usual residents of Cleveland county

  Year

  England and Wales

  Cleveland

  1982

  20

  0

  1983

  20

  0

  1984

  26

  0

  1985

  36

  0

  19861

  52

  0

  1 Provisional.

  Hospital Beds
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish for(a) the Northern regional health authority and (b) Sunderland district health authority lists depicting the average daily number of beds available in 1979 to the latest available date for all specialties and for acute specialties.

  Mrs. Currie
  The information requested is given in the table. The number of in-patient cases treated per available bed by Northern regional health authority has increased from 14·6 to 19, between 1979 and 1986. In Sunderland district health authority the increase has been from 18 to 21·5, over the same period.

  Average daily number of available beds, Northern regional health authority and Sunderland district health authority, 1979–86

  Year

  All specialties

  Acute specialties

  Northern Region

  1979

  25,305·3

  10,509·1

  1980

  25,283·2

  10,638·2

  1981

  24,192·0

  10,388·6

  1982

  24,679·2

  10,243·3

  1983

  24,727·9

  10,281·2

  1984

  24,331·7

  10,107·9

  1985

  23,772·5

  9,698·0

  1986

  23,239·6

  9,499·6

  Sunderland District

  1979

  2,426·3

  1,155·9

  1980

  2,379·3

  1,134·0

  1981

  2,355·9

  1,114·8

  1982

  2,338·0

  1,091·4

  1983

  2,351·1

  1,103·4

  1984

  2,349·1

  1,092·1

  1985

  2,312·1

  1,068·0

  1986

  2,273·1

  1,050·8

  Community Care
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how much money he intends to allocate in 1988–89 for the provision of care in the community, and how much is to be allocated to each(a) region and (b) district.

  Mr. Newton
  In the main the Department does not identify funds for specific purposes such as provision of care in the community within its overall allocations to regions or in its indicative figures for local authority social services expenditure. The allocation of resources to district health authorities is a matter for regions, and it is for regions and districts to determine, within a national framework of health care priorities, and in the light of local needs and circumstances, how all their resources can
  547
  best be used. So far as local authorities are concerned, it is for them to determine the level and balance of their expenditure on the provision of social services.

  Fraud (Prosecution)
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many prosecutions were brought in the Durham constabulary area for social security fraud offences in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Portillo
  The information, in the form requested, is not available. Seven local offices have catchment areas either in full or in part within the Durham constabulary area. The total number of cases authorised for prosecution in respect of social security benefit fraud, including unemployment benefit, for the seven catchment areas in each of the past five years is as follows:

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  140

  121

  89

  142

  141

  War Widows
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what recent representations he has received concerning the plight of pre-1973 war widows;

  (2) whether he has received any representations from overseas concerning the plight of British pre-1973 war widows.

  Mr. Portillo
  Numerous representations have been received recently about the position of pre-1973 war widows, following the circulation of letters by the Royal British Legion and War Widows Association of Great Britain to Members of Parliament and to peers. One person from overseas made representations in 1986.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether he will review his decision to cancel the provisionally arranged meeting with Mrs. Iris Strange of the British War Widows and Associates and representatives of the All-Party Group for pre-1973 War Widows;

  (2) whether, since cancelling the provisionally arranged meeting with Mrs. Iris Strange of the British War Widows and Associates, he has had meetings with representatives of other organisations representing war widows; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  Although my noble Friend, who has special responsibility for war pensions, said in July 1987 that he did not think a meeting with Mrs. Strange would be helpful, he has told my hon. Friend he would be glad to see him to discuss this. Since July 1987 he has not had a formal meeting to discuss war widows pensions with any organisation specifically representing war widows, although he has met representatives of a number of organisations concerned with the interests of war widows and war disablement pensioners.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what information he has concerning the current ages of pre-1973 war widows;

  (2) what estimates he can make of the numbers of pre-1973 war widows who are currently dying each year;

  (3) whether he has any information concerning the numbers of second world war widows who are still alive;
  548
  (4) whether he has any information concerning the numbers of pre-1973 war widows who are still alive and who lost their husbands in service other than during the two world wars.

  Mr. Portillo
  The standard rate of war widows' pension under the war pensions scheme administered by DHSS is the same regardless of when the husband served or died. Records only distinguish between those whose husbands served between 1914 and 1921 and those whose husbands served from 1939 onwards. They do not distinguish pre and post-1973 widows, second world war widows or widows who lost their husbands in service other than during the two world wars. Definitive information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Estimates of the numbers of post-1973 war widows and assumptions about their ages suggest, however, that at December 1987 in the region of 56,000 war widows were pre-1973 widows, of whom about 51,000 were aged 65 or over, and that the number of pre-1973 war widows is currently falling by about 2,000 a year due to death or re-marriage.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has any information concerning the numbers of first world war widows who are still alive.

  Mr. Portillo
  At December 1987, 5,100 first world war widows were in receipt of a war widows pension.

  Sex Change Operations
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many individuals underwent sex change treatment in the last year for which figures are available; and how many of these individuals received that treatment under the National Health Service;

  (2) what is the total number of patients who have so far received either sex change hormonal treatment or surgery under the National Health Service;

  (3) how many courses of sex change treatment were commenced in the latest year for which figures are available by (i) men, (ii) women and (iii) other categories; if he will indicate how many of these commenced courses of treatment which ended up in (a) males remaining male, (b) males becoming female, (c) females remaining female, (d) females becoming male and (e) other outcomes; and if he will make a statement.

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

  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will give a breakdown by region of the numbers of sex change operations performed annually;

  (2) if he will estimate the total cost to the National Health Service of sex change treatment and operations.

  Mrs. Currie
  The numbers involved are so small that no reliable estimate of the operations carried out can be made from normal statistical returns. It is, however, unlikely that the number of operations carried out in England exceed 100 a year.

  A detailed breakdown of costs is not available, but, based on information from the gender reassignment service at Charing Cross hospital, it appears that the cost of the operations involved and associated treatment is

  549
  likely to be about £2,500. It is not possible to identify separately the costs for those patients receiving treatment who do not also have an operation.

  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what steps are taken by his Department to regulate sex change treatments;

  (2) whether there is any restriction on the age of individuals who may undergo sex change treatments (a) under the National Health Service and (b) privately.

  Mrs. Currie
  Transexualism is a clinically recognised condition, for which in certain cases gender reassignment is the most appropriate form of treatment. It is for health authorities to decide the scale of resources allocated for this service and for doctors to decide on criteria for the acceptance of patients and on the treatment procedures in each individual case. The international Gender Dysphoria Association criteria recommend that, in the selection for operation, patients should be over 21 years and under 65 years of age.

  Abortion
  Mr. Lofthouse
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the total number of abortions, under the terms of the Abortion Act 1967, in the Pontefract district health authority area for each year from 1983 up to the latest year for which figures are available; how many of these abortions were performed in emergency to savy the life of the pregnant woman; and what is the latter figure expressed as a percentage of the former.

  Mr. Newton
  The information is shown in the table.

  Number of notifications of abortions performed on usual residents of Pontefract District Health Authority, and number of mentions of ground 51 1983–86

  Year

  Number of Abortions

  Mention of Ground 5

  1983

  346

  0

  1984

  339

  0

  1985

  355

  0

  1986

  408

  0

  1 Ground 5 of the 1967 Abortion Act permits abortions to be performed "In emergency to save the life of the mother".

  Epilepsy
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) when he hopes to be able to announce the location of the two epilepsy units suggested by the report of the working party on services for people with epilepsy;

  (2) when he hopes to be able to respond to the report of the working party on services for people with epilepsy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  I am unable to add to my reply to the hon. Member for East Kilbride (Mr. Ingram) on 18 December 1987 at column 924.

  Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when he hopes to be able to announce arrangements for the implementation of those parts of the 550
  Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986 which have not yet been implemented.

  Mr. Scott
  The Government have always made it clear that implementation of the Act would be phased and dependent upon discussions with the local authority associations to identify resource implications. These discussions are continuing.

  Supplementary Benefit
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many claimants of supplementary benefit at the Bathgate local office of his Department will(a) have their benefit frozen at its current level under the transitional arrangements for the introduction of income support and (b) have their benefits increased at the time of the introduction of income support.

  Mr. Portillo
  I regret that this information is not available.

  Long-stay Patients
  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will make a statement on the social security position of patients discharged from long-stay mental hospitals after 31st March;

  (2) what representations he has received on the treatment in the Income Support Regulations of long-stay mental patients discharged after 31 March;

  (3) how much extra income support patients discharged from long-stay mental hospitals after 31 March will receive, if they are deemed to be receiving higher level supplementary benefit prior to the new regulations coming into force.

  Mr. Scott
  Until 11 April discharged patients will he able to claim supplementary benefit or an increase in it. Where appropriate they may also qualify for an increase in severe disablement allowance or invalidity benefit, or claim attendance allowance. If they have received supplementary benefit, severe disablement allowance or invalidity benefit for 52 weeks or more prior to their discharge, supplementary benefit will be calculated at the long-term rate.

  From 11 April supplementary benefit will be replaced by income support. Claimants under 60 who have been incapable of work for 28 weeks or more, who receive invalidity benefit, severe disablement allowance, attendance allowance or mobility allowance or who are blind will qualify for the disability premium. Claimants aged 60 or more will receive the pensioner premium or, if they qualify for it, the higher pensioner premium. In addition, people living alone who are in receipt of attendance allowance and where no one is receiving invalid care allowance in respect of their care will qualify for the severe disability premium.

  We have received a number of representations about the income support position of people living in institutions on 11 April who are discharged into the community after that date. Information about the extra amount of income support which would be required by patients discharged from long-stay mental hospitals before or after 11 April to maintain an actual or deemed supplementary benefit level is not available.

  Income Support
  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what representations he has received on the treatment in the Income Support Regulations of those recovering from mental illness and seeking work;

  (2) what assessment he has made of the effect the disregard provisions of the Income Support Regulations will have on the ability of industrial therapy units to secure employment for their attenders; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) if he will make a statement on the effect of the disregard provisions of the Income Support Regulations on people recovering from mental illness seeking work.

  Mr. Scott
  Evidence was received from many organisations representing the mentally and physically handicapped during the consultation period for the reform of the income-related benefits, including the British Institute of Industrial Therapy and MIND. Most organisations welcomed the new levels of disregards. People who are returning to part-time work after a mental illness or who attend an industrial therapy unit are able to earn £5 or £15 a week without it affecting their benefit. The higher disregard is available to those people who are receiving the disability premium, lone parents or members of couples who have been in receipt of benefit continuously for two years. We have undertaken to monitor these changes and to review their effect as necessary.

  Disability Premium
  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what will be the financial effect of the loss of disability premium and the reduction in disregard on people recovering from mental illness seeking work.

  Mr. Scott
  People who qualify for the disability premium solely on grounds of their incapacity for work will lose the premium, and they may lose the higher earnings disregard when they become capable of work again. The disability premium will be £13·05 for a single person or lone parent and £18·60 for a member of a couple. The higher earnings disregard will be £15; the normal earnings disregard will be £5.

  Industrial Therapy Units
  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for each industrial therapy unit (a) the total number of attenders in the year for which figures are most recently available and (b) the number of those helped to find employment by the units.

  Mrs. Currie
  I regret this information is not held centrally.

  Charities
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total amount to be distributed to charities as a result of the error in the retail prices index; by what criteria the charities will be selected; and how much will be paid to charities for the benefit of one-parent families, people with disabilities and unemployed people respectively.
  552
  Mr. Scott
  We estimate that the total amount to be distributed to charities in England, Scotland and Wales will be about £7 million. This sum will he paid to charities whose work broadly benefits those who have lost out as a result of the error. We have been discussing with the voluntary sector the way we can best meet this objective and how funds should be distributed and we shall make a further announcement as soon as possible.

  Income Support (General) Regulations 1987
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services why the Income Support (General) Regulations 1987 do not include provisions analogous to regulations 4(6) to (8) of the Supplementary Benefit (Resources) Regulations 1981; and whether this involves any change in the treatment of trust funds in the assessment of entitlement to means-tested benefit.

  Mr. Scott
  As the provisions in regulations 4(6) to (8) of the Supplementary Benefit (Resources) Regulations 1981 to assume a notional resource according to the discretion available under a trust are not present in either housing benefit or family income supplement, we concluded that it would be a simplification not to carry them forward into the new regulations. This is a change which will assist claimants. From April, any resources held in trust to which a person is absolutely entitled will be taken into account from the outset in the income-related benefits. An exception is made where the trust fund is derived from a payment due to a personal injury. Resources held under a discretionary trust, including those arising from personal injury, will be taken into account when the payments are actually made.

  National Quality Assessment Package
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will place in the Library the full results of the 1987 national quality assessment package for local social security offices, of which a summary is given in table 15.28 of the public expenditure White Paper, Cm. 288-II.

  Mr. Portillo
  Yes. This will be done at the end of March 1988.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the annual average real rise in private rents eligible for housing benefit in(a) 1988–89, (b) 1989–90, and (c) 1990–91.

  Mr. Portillo
  The expenditure plans published in Cm. 288 are based on the assumption that, leaving aside the effects of the Government's proposals to decontrol new private lettings, rents paid by private tenants receiving housing benefits will increase in real terms by 3 per cent. in each of the three years 1988–89, 1989–90 and 1990–91.

  Health Authorities (Repossession of Appliances)
  Mrs. Maureen Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on how much money is lost to the National Health Service each year as a result of health authorities not repossessing physical support appliances such as crutches, hearing aids and wheelchairs.
  553
  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 26 February 1988]: Arrangements for the return of items they provide are the responsibility of individual health authorities. No information is available on the revenue which might be lost as a result of non-return of disability equipment. It is known that many health authorities take steps to recover unused items but studies have shown that it is not always cost effective to retrieve and recondition equipment for reasons of expense, safety and hygiene.

  National Health Service Staff (Injuries)
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many Health Service staff have received payments under the National Health Service injury benefits scheme in the last two years, indicating the range of payments and the average payment;

  (2) what action he is prepared to take to improve job opportunities for nurses injured either mentally or physically in the course of their work;

  (3) what statistics and other information are kept by his Department on National Health Service staff injured at work; and whether that information is recorded according to type of injury;

  (4) whether he will set up a working party to consider the introduction of a no-fault compensation scheme for nurses and other National Health Service staff injured at work;

  (5) what advice is given to health authorities on the amount of training which should be given to nurses and other National Health Service staff on the lifting and movement of patients;

  (6) whether he will introduce guidelines for health authorities on the resettling in work of nurses injured as a result of their duties, and on whether such a settlement would be of equivalent income, status and job satisfaction.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 29 February 1988]: While we recognise the physical stresses which may be experienced by nurses and believe that much can be done to prevent injuries through training in lifting techniques, careful selection of staff and an ergonomic approach to working methods and environment, the instruction and training of NHS staff is the responsibility of the health authorities themselves and of the various training bodies.

  The curriculum for nurse learners includes training in the lifting and handling of patients as does the pre-registration training of certain of the professions allied to medicine, such as physiotherapists and occupational therapists.

  All NHS staff, including nurses, who are injured or contract a disease in the course of their employment are covered by the NHS injury benefits scheme. This is a no-fault scheme which compensates those injured at work for loss of earnings and which can provide a pension of up to 85 per cent. of NHS earnings where there is a permanent reduction in a person's earning ability. If an employee is absent from work temporarily on reduced or no pay a temporary allowance is payable.

  The number of new claims for NHS injury benefits during the last two years were:

  1986—821

  1987—896

  Benefits range from a once only lump sum payment of 12 per cent. of annual salary to the pension mentioned
  554
  above plus a once only lump sum of 50 per cent. of annual salary. No figures on average payments or on NHS staff injured at work are held centrally.

  Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act health authorities are responsible for the health, safety and welfare at work of their employees. Current guidance is that staff returning to work after prolonged or repeated sickness may need help and assessment to determine whether changes in working methods, alternative work or rehabilitation are necessary. Appropriate local action is decided in the light of individual circumstances.

  We have no plans to issue new guidelines.

  Chlamydia
  Sir Dudley Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what proposals he has for creating greater public awareness of the incidence of the sexually transmitted disease, chlamydia.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 29 February 1988]: The symptons caused by chlamydia are common to many other infections and consequently diagnosis of it is usually possible only after the analysis of samples taken. This is usually done when a patient attends at a clinic. However, the Health Education Authority's leaflet "Guide to a healthy sex life", which has been made widely available to the public, contains a section on the causes, symptoms and treatment of non-specific genital infections, including chlamydia.

ENVIRONMENT

  LDDC (Labour Statistics)
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has concerning the gross and net losses and gains in employment within the statutory area of the London Docklands development corporation.

  Mr. Trippier
  The LDDC estimates that between 1981 and 1986 10,700 jobs were attracted to docklands, and 7,413 jobs were lost, resulting in a net gain of 3,287 jobs.

  A new survey of employment in docklands was carried out by the LDDC in 1987. Its findings will be published shortly. From what can be seen in docklands, a further growth of employment is likely to be confirmed.

  Vacant Land (Thamesdown)
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all the unused sites owned by public bodies within the borough of Thamesdown, together with their owners and sizes in hectares, as detailed in the Land Register.

  Mr. Trippier
  Information about all the sites, grouped by owner, is listed in the table.

  Site name

  Size in Hectares

  Thamesdown Borough Council

  Land at Groundwell Farm, Cricklade Road, Swindon.

  70·82

  Land on West Side of Swindon to Highworth Road.

  44·52

  Land South West of Akers Way/South East of Purton Road, Swindon.

  41·68

  Land at Sparcells, Roughmoor and Lower Shaw Farm, Shaw, Swindon.

  41·58

  555

  Site name

  Size in Hectares

  Land at Home Farm, Highworth.

  33·19

  Land at Wick Farm, Lydiard and Upper Shaw Farm, Shaw, Swindon.

  12·91

  Land at Broome Farm, Swindon.

  11·74

  Land on North East Side of Kite Hill, Wanborough.

  4·86

  Land on South West side of Kite Hill, Wanborough.

  2·05

  Land at Elm Grove, Shaw, Swindon.

  1·52

  Wiltshire County Council

  Former Moredon Railway Line.

  15·38

  Land at Kingshill, Swindon (Rushey Platt).

  Land at Hughes Street, Swindon.

  9·51

  Land at Dorcan School, Swindon.

  8·22

  Land South of Church Street, Stratton St. Margaret.

  7·49

  Land at Haydon Wick.

  2·21

  Land at the Rear of Beatrice Street, Swindon.

  1·86

  Land at Belmont Farm, Codrington, Near Wroughton.

  1·82

  Land at Ruskin Junior School Annexe, Stratton St., Margaret.

  1·62

  Land at Kingsdown High School, Stratton St., Margaret.

  1·62

  Land at Meadway/Stonehill Green, Westlea Down, Swindon.

  1·60

  Land at Baker's Field, Lower Wanborough.

  1·47

  Land adjoining Attlee Crescent, Stratton St., Margaret.

  1·38

  Park Farm, Moredon, Swindon.

  1·32

  Land at Scarborough Road, Swindon.

  0·66

  Former Queenstown Infant's School/6–10 Turl Street./15–17 Oriel Street, Swindon.

  0·43

  Swindon Health Authority

  Land at Cricklade Road, Gorse Hill, Swindon.

  2·16

  Department of Transport

  Land at Stratton St., Margaret, Swindon.

  5·16

  British Rail

  Land rear of Dean Street, Swindon.

  5·46

  CEGB

  Swindon Power Station, Moredon, Swindon.

  6·88

  Portable Discount Schemes
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment pursuant to the reply of 15 February,Official Report, column 464, to the hon. Member for Gloucester, when he expects to have completed his study into portable discount schemes.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Very soon.

  Crown Suppliers
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has now received applications from employees of the Crown Suppliers to purchase that organisation.

  Mr. Chope
  No, but I am aware that some members of the staff of the Crown Suppliers are assembling a management buy-out team following my announcement on 3 February of the Government's intention to offer the business for sale.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Lofthouse
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate for the community charge for district council areas in Yorkshire and Humberside.

  Mr. Howard
  Illustrative community charge figures based on 1987–88 local authority spending levels were placed in the Library on 29 June 1987. No revisions have been made to these estimates.

  Victoria Park Underpass
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has issued a certificate in relation to the Victoria Park Underpass Side Roads Order, the Victoria Park to Crossflatts Section First Supplementary Compulsory Purchase Order and the Second Supplementary Compulsory Purchase Order, under section 19 of the Acquisition of Land Act 1981; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Certificates under section 19 of the Acquisition of Land Act 1981 in connection with the first and second compulsory purchase orders were issued on 6 November 1987. Any question relating to the compulsory purchase orders should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport.

  Flytipping
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to make the registered owner of a truck stopped when flytipping liable for prosecution.

  Mr. Moynihan
  We are considering the responses to the consultation document on waste disposal law amendments issued in September 1986. Those proposals included measures — a duty of care on waste producers and registration of waste carriers — which would help to combat flytipping. We have no plans at present to extend these proposals on the lines suggested, but we shall consider this possibility.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when his Department commissioned the text of a leaflet explaining homeless people's rights, as part of its series advising the public on aspects of housing; when this was circulated to interested agencies for comments; and when he expects the text of the leaflet will he finalised, published and distributed.

  Mrs. Roe
  April 1986, April 1987 and later in 1988 respectively.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the results are yet available of his Department's 1986 survey of local authority practice and procedure in the operation of the homelessness legislation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Roe
  The analysis has been completed and the report is being finalised.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith),Official

  557
  Report, 20 January, columns 749–52, how many of these additional units local authorities estimate will become available for occupation (a) before 1 April, and (b) after 1 April (i) for England as a whole, and (ii) for each local authority scheme; which will provide additional accommodation for homeless households; and which has been approved for extra housing investment resources during 1987–88.

  Mrs. Roe
  The additional allocations relate to capital expenditure in the current financial year. No systematic information is available on the number of additional dwellings or hostel places that will be ready for occupation by the end of that year.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith),Official Report, 20 January, columns 749–52, how many of these additional units local authorities expect to let to homeless households (i) under licence, as temporary accommodation and (ii) under secure tenancies, as permanent accommodation.

  Mrs. Roe
  The information requested is not available. It is for local authorities to decide the terms on which they offer accommodation to homeless households.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith),Official Report, 20 January, columns 749–52, how many of the additional 2,800 units will be (a) ordinary housing accommodation provided by local authorities by refurbishing their empty dwellings, (b) hostel accommodation, provided by local authorities by buying and converting empty private dwellings, (c) hostel accommodation, provided by housing associations by buying and converting empty private dwellings and (d) other kinds of accommodation.

  Mrs. Roe
  1,745, 616, 12 and 387 respectively.

  Property Services Agency
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the firms of architects, builders and surveyors that the Property Services Agency has removed from its approved list for(a) fraud or (b) poor performance, giving the name of each firm, details of each case of fraud including the amounts of money involved and the number of employees or the instances of poor performance, and the work which the firm previously undertook.

  Mr. Chope
  Any firm convicted of an offence involving fraud against the agency is removed from PSA's approved lists. Any such conviction is a matter of public record. The remaining information requested is commercially confidential.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will enumerate cases where fraud has been alleged against firms of architects, builders and surveyors under contract to the Property Services Agency where the police were not asked to investigate; and if he will summarise the principal reasons for such decisions, over the past five years.

  Mr. Chope
  Any significant allegation of fraud which stands up to initial scrutiny will be referred to the Director 558
  of Public Prosecutions or to the police. No central record is maintained of allegations which initial investigation suggests are either without foundation or incapable of substantiation.

  Houses (Land Slippage)
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to how many homes have been affected by land slippage as a result of the exceptionally wet January weather.

  Mrs. Roe
  Having made inquiries of South Wight borough council the Department is aware of 11 homes affected by a land slip at Luccombe. No other authorities have reported homes affected by land slips.

  Rating Reform
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will extract from the data used in constructing figures 9 to 11 of his Department's note on the relationship between local taxes and income and the distributional impact of the community charge in England (1) the number of households expected to receive community charge bills, (2) the total number of(a) primary and (b) secondary tax units in these households, (3) the total value of the gross bills for (a) primary and (b) secondary tax units in these households, (4) the number of households where one or more members is expected to receive a rebate, (5) the toal value of the net bills for the households receiving such rebates, (6) the total number of (a) primary tax units receiving rebates and (b) secondary tax units receiving rebates in these households, (7) the total value of the rebates for these (a) primary and (b) secondary tax units, and (8) the total value of the net bills for those (a) primary and (b) secondary tax units, the figures to be provided (a)) for all households in England and (b) separately for (i) one adult (non-retired), (ii) one adult (retired), (iii) pensioner couples, (iv) other two adult households, with or without children, (v) three adults, with or without children and (vi) four or more adults, with or without children.

  Mr. Ridley
  [holding answer 22 February 1988]: It is not possible to provide the information in the precise form requested. The tables set out the estimates in the form which is available. Community charge bills and rebates will apply to individuals and not to households. Details of the community charge rebate system have not yet been decided. For the purposes of the exemplifications published on 13 January the arrangements due to come into force on 1 April have been carried forward. The figures are consistent with those exemplifications, but should be treated as indicative only. The estimated value of rebates does not include the benefit of the uprating of income support rates in respect of the 20 per cent. minimum contribution to rates in 1988–89. The net cost of community charges to tax unit types is not, therefore, the difference between gross community charges and the value of rebates.

  Millions1

  Household type

  Single pensioner

  1·5

  Other single adult

  0·7

  559

  Household type

  Two adults

  2·5

  Three + adults

  1·1

  All

  5·8

  Primary tax units

  Tax unit type

  Number paying charge (millions)

  Total gross community charge bills (£ millions)

  Number entitled to community charge rebate (millions)

  Total value of rebates (£ millions)

  Single pensioner

  3·0

  611

  1·8

  251

  One parent family

  0·7

  147

  0·3

  56

  Other single adult

  2·4

  514

  0·5

  74

  Couple—no children

  6·5

  2,592

  1·4

  309

  Couple—1 child

  2·2

  863

  0·3

  76

  Couple—2 children

  2·6

  1,008

  0·3

  81

  Couple—3 or more children

  1·0

  404

  0·2

  65

  All

  18·4

  6,140

  4·8

  912

  Note: Numbers may not add due to rounding.

  Secondary tax units

  Tax unit type

  Number paying charge (millions)

  Total gross community charge bills (£ millions)

  Number entitled to community charge rebate (millions)

  Total value of rebates (£ millions)

  Single pensioner

  0·4

  85

  0·3

  39

  One parent family

  0·1

  18

  0·1

  9

  Other single adult

  3·8

  772

  0·9

  139

  Couple—no children

  0·1

  35

  0·0

  6

  Couple—1 child

  0·0

  15

  0·0

  3

  Couple—2 children

  0·0

  9

  0·0

  3

  Couple—3 or more children

  0·0

  5

  0·0

  1

  All

  4·4

  939

  1·3

  199

  Note: Numbers may not add due to rounding.

TRANSPORT

  M1 (Accidents)
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth,Official Report, 23 February, columns 150–52, what were the principal reasons for the accidents involving cars on the stretch of the M1 referred to.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The principal reasons appear to have been (i) excessive speed, (ii) vehicles travelling too close to each other, (iii) driver fatigue and (iv) bad driving in poor weather conditions such as fog, ice or snow.

  M1-M6 Junction (Lighting)
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to light the junction of the M1 and the M6.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  A recent assessment has indicated that the extension of lighting on the M1 from junction 17 at Watford Gap to, and including, the M1-M6 interchange at Catthorpe (junction 19) is justified. The timing of its installation has still to be determined.
  560
  1 Number of households where individuals are expected to be entitled to a community charge rebate.

  M1 (Traffic)
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport by how much he anticipates traffic to grow on the M1 from its junction with the M6 to junction 1 on the M1 over the next five years.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  South of the M25/M1 intersection, traffic on the M1 is anticipated to grow by between 2 per cent. and 5 per cent. over the next five years. North of the M25, up to the M6 junction, the growth of traffic on the M1 is anticipated to be offset by the relief brought about by the completion of the M40 extension, with projected growth between nought and 6 per cent. over the same period.

  Deputy Secretaries
  Mr. Tom Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the responsibilities of each of the deputy secretaries in his Department and the number and ranks of staff reporting to each.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The Department has four deputy secretaries. Their main responsibilities and numbers of staff will be as follows from 14 March, after a reorganisation:

  i. Road Safety and Licensing and Principal Finance Officer. 10,267 staff: including four grade 3s, one grade 4 and 14 grade 5s.

  ii. Highways and Traffic. 1,770 staff: including four grade 3s, seven grade 4s and 28 grade 5s.

  561

  iii. Aviation, Shipping and International Transport. 1,256 staff: including five grade 3s, four grade 4s and 19 grade 5s.

  iv. Public Transport and Research. 747 staff: including three grade 3s, two grade 4s and 13 grade 5s.

  The numbers of staff shown are based on staff in post at 1 February 1988. Other grades of staff would not normally report direct to a deputy secretary.

  Singapore Airlines
  Sir Marcus Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what evidence he has of Singapore Airlines receiving subsidies from the Singapore Government to promote Singapore Airlines' activities in competition with British carriers.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  None.

  Air Traffic Control
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department has carried out a study into the possible incorporation of conflict alert equipment into the British air traffic control system, as installed at Eurocontrol Maastricht.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  This is a matter for the national air traffic service and the Civil Aviation Authority. I will draw my hon. Friend's question to the attention of the authority's chairman.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when flow control will be introduced into British air space; and for how long it will be a feature of the United Kingdom's air traffic control system.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Air traffic flow management in the United Kingdom is a matter for the national air traffic service and the Civil Aviation Authority. I will draw my hon. Friend's question to the attention of the authority's chairman.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) which European countries will introduce flow control procedures into their air traffic control systems in the current year;

  (2) what plans are being made for co-ordinating management by European countries of air traffic flow management flow control, when it is introduced in the summer.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  I understand from the Civil Aviation Authority that 12 air traffic flow management units co-ordinate on behalf of the International Civil Aviation Organisation air traffic flows at peak periods over the following European countries:

  Austria

  Belgium

  Bulgaria

  Czechoslovakia

  Denmark

  Finland

  France

  Federal Republic of Germany

  German Democratic Republic

  Greece

  Hungary

  Italy

  Luxembourg

  Netherlands

  Norway

  Poland

  Portugal

  562

  Romania

  Spain

  Sweden

  Switzerland

  Turkey

  United Kingdom

  Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

  Yugoslavia

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what annual capital investment in air traffic control equipment is planned by the Civil Aviation Authority for the next five years.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The CAA's planned annual capital investment in air traffic control equipment and associated buildings for this financial year and for the next four years is as follows:

  Capital investment outturn prices

  Financal year

  £ million

  1987–88

  24

  1988–89

  34

  1989–90

  38

  1990–91

  47

  1991–92

  52

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the annual capital investment in air traffic control equipment by the Civil Aviation Authority over the last 10 years.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The Civil Aviation Authority's annual capital investment in air traffic control equipment and associated buildings over the last 10 years was as follows:

  Financial year

  Capital investment £ million

  1977–78

  13

  1978–79

  8

  1979–80

  7

  1980–81

  24

  1981–82

  27

  1982–83

  30

  1983–84

  26

  1984–85

  20

  1985–86

  21

  1986–87

  24

  Aerodromes
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the discussions which have been held with the Airfields Environment Federation and the Aerodrome Owners Association concerning guidelines for aerodrome consultative committees.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  New and improved guidelines for aerodrome consultative committees have been agreed with the Aerodrome Owners Association and the Airfields Environment Federation. A copy has been placed in the Library. The guidelines are not mandatory, but are a voluntary code which has been drawn up with the aim of encouraging useful consultations between aerodrome management and users, on the one hand, and local authorities (where they do not have the management of the aerodrome) and organisations representing local interests, on the other. The guidelines are intended to provide a
  563
  framework to help those setting up consultative facilities. They may also be of use to existing consultative committees whether or not the aerodromes are designated for consultative purposes under section 35 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982.

  Rural Bus Services
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what will be the rate of grant for rural bus services in 1988–89.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  Rural bus grant will be paid at the rate of 3·25p per eligible bus mile.

  Driving Tests
  Mr. Brandon-Bravo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport to what he ascribes the pass rate of under 50 per cent. for the driving test recorded in the test organisation's report for 1986–87.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Too many candidates take the test too soon. If candidates took more tuition, gained more driving experience, and took heed of an honest assessment of their readiness for test from an approved driving instructor the test pass rate would rise and the queues for driving tests would shorten.
  564
  Mr. Brandon-Bravo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ensure that the driver testing organisation is giving value for money to its customers.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The recent review of the driver testing organisation and its own measures over the past year have both been directed to providing a more efficient service to customers. Since the beginning of the current financial year, it has been required to work within unit cost targets designed to improve performance. A major computerisation programme is in hand which will help contain costs and handle the high level of demand for tests. In 1986–87 the unit cost for the L-test rose by only 2·8 per cent. while the retail price index rose by 3·2 per cent. The unit cost of HGV/PSV test fell by 7 per cent. as a result of a rationalisation of the two formerly separate tests into one.

  Mr. Brandon-Bravo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the annual report and accounts for the driver testing and training organisation for the last financial year are available.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  A copy of the driver testing and training organisation's report and accounts for the financial year 1986–87 has today been placed in the Library of both Houses.

  TERRITORIAL SEA LIMITS IN NATO MEMBER STATES
  TERRITORIAL SEA LIMITS IN NATO MEMBER STATES
  STRATEGIC DEFENCE DEPLOYMENT
  STRATEGIC DEFENCE DEPLOYMENT
  EURATOM TREATY: PROVISION OF INFORMATION
  EURATOM TREATY: PROVISION OF INFORMATION
  NUCLEAR WARHEADS REMOVED UNDER INF TREATY
  NUCLEAR WARHEADS REMOVED UNDER INF TREATY
  CIVIL NUCLEAR MATERIAL: SAFEGUARDS AGAINST NON-CIVIL USE
  CIVIL NUCLEAR MATERIAL: SAFEGUARDS AGAINST NON-CIVIL USE
  NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS: SAFEGUARDS INSPECTIONS
  NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS: SAFEGUARDS INSPECTIONS
  INTERCEPTION OF COMMUNICATIONS: CONTROL
  INTERCEPTION OF COMMUNICATIONS: CONTROL