Written Answers of 2 March 1988

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Electronic Surveillance
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he has taken to regulate the purchase and use of devices for electronic surveillance; and what plans he has to introduce further regulations governing this area.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We do not believe that such controls would be an effective way to deal with these issues.

  Government Data Network
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to make a decision as to whether the Government data network is suitable for use by the police national computer; and if he will inform right hon. and hon. Members when his decision is made.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We shall be able to decide whether to use the Government data network for the police national computer when we are satisfied that the Government data network, if implemented, would meet the police national computer's requirements and that the terms and conditions for the supply of the service would be acceptable. We will inform the House at the proper time.

  Summer Time
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the options being considered for the United Kingdom by his Department as a part of the proposals for the harmonisation of summer time in the European Commission.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We hope shortly to announce proposals to enable us to assess support for any changes to summer time arrangements both in respect of harmonisation with other member states and in respect of those who seek extended daylight hours.

  Ms. Inna Badanova
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to ensure that Ms. Inna Badanova of London NW6 will be readmitted to the United Kingdom following her visit to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

  Mr. Renton
  I have replied today to the hon. Member's letter of 12 February giving full details of the steps which Ms. Badanova should take to ensure her readmission to this country.

  Independent Television
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what provisions he plans to make to safeguard the position of drama and live music under any reorganisation of Independent Television;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the future of Independent Television.

  Mr. Renton
  We have been giving careful thought to the recommendations of the Peacock committee on the future of broadcasting and shall announce our conclusions in due course. There will continue to be proper safeguards for the range and quality of programming.

  Press Council (Adjudications)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in the light of the recent adjudication by the Press Council in favour of Professor Colin Blakemore against the Sunday Mirror and the lack of prominence given by that newspaper to the council's findings, he has any proposals to seek to establish a system whereby such adjudications are printed on the same page and in the same format as the original story complained of to the Press Council; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  No. These are matters for the Press Council and the newspaper in question.

  Professor Colin Blakemore
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what response he has given to representations from Professor Colin Blakemore, Wayneflete Professor of Physiology in Oxford, about harassment of scientists engaged in medical and ophthalmic research; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We are aware of the campaign of harassment and intimidation against Professor Blakemore and his family. My right hon. Friend has made clear to Professor Blakemore that we believe all such activities to be disgraceful.

  Immigration
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what categories of applicant for settlement in the United Kingdom will be exempt or subject to reduced fees under clause 8 of the Immigration Bill.

  Mr. Renton
  No firm decision has yet been taken on how the powers in clause 8 of the Immigration Bill might be implemented. Regulations under clause 8 may prescribe different fees for different categories of applicant, including the possibility of exemptions from the fee. At first sight, we think that there may be a case for reductions in the case of refugees and those, such as spouses and fiancé(e)s, who are admitted on conditions specifically with a view to settlement. Final decisions will be taken when we come to draw up regulations under clause 8.

  Local Government Act 1966
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications are pending for funding for section 11 posts under the Local Government Act 1966.
  567
  Mr. John Patten
  [holding answer 1 March 1988]: At 31 January 1988, the latest date for which information is readily available, there were 162 applications for some 1,040 new posts under consideration. In addition, there were five outstanding applications, covering 1,025 posts for replacement of social services posts previously funded under an outdated system relating grant to the size of the local ethnic minority population and seven applications for continued funding of some 1,900 mainly teaching posts arising from reviews of existing section 11 provision.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long on average it takes to respond to local authority applications for funding under section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966.

  Mr. John Patten
  [holding answer 1 March 1988]: Between 1 October 1986, when the current arrangements for the administration of the grant were introduced, and 31 January 1988, the latest date for which information is readily available, the average time taken to complete consideration of an application for grant has been between three and four months. At the latter date, of the 162 outstanding applications for new posts, 58 had been with the Home Office for less than three months; 50 for more than three but less than six months; 48 for more than six but less than 12 months; and six for more than 12 months. These periods include varying times spent waiting for responses from local authorities whose initial applications provided insufficient information for decision making.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long on average it takes to deal with more detailed applications sent in response to an initial refusal of funding under section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966.

  Mr. John Patten
  [holding answer 1 March 1988]: This information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

SCOTLAND

  Fire Retardant Furnishings (Prisons)
  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is his policy on the issue of fire retardant furnishings, in particular bedding and mattresses, to inmates in Scottish prisons;

  (2) how many prisoners in Scottish prisons have been issued with fire retardant furnishings, in particular mattresses and bedding; and what proportion this represents of the Scottish prison population.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information is not available in the form requested. Two establishments are furnished with highly fire resistant mattresses for all inmates, and 12 other establishments have such mattresses for prisoners regarded as at risk. Fire-retardant sheets, pillowslips and mattress covers are being phased in. Appropriate steps are taken to minimise the opportunity of fire raising. Suitable accommodation is provided and precautions taken for known fire raisers.

  Travelling People
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many sites have been established for travelling people in Scotland in the last five years; and what are their locations.
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  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Seven permanent sites and one temporary site. These are located as follows:

  Local authority District

  Site

  Permanent Sites

  Argyll and Bute

  Dunchologan, Lochgilphead

  Clackmannan

  Westhaugh, Alva

  Edinburgh

  Duddingston, Edinburgh

  Falkirk

  Redding, Falkirk

  Glasgow

  Carmyle, Glasgow

  Hamilton

  Swinhill, Larkhall

  Inverness

  Longman, Inverness

  Temporary Site

  Stirling

  Craigforth, Stirling

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the amount of Government expenditure on sites for travelling people in Scotland in each of the last five years; which local authorities were in receipt of Government funds for that purpose; and how much they each received.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information is set out in the tables:

  Expenditure on sites for travelling people 1982–83 to 1986–87

  £

  1982–83

  Nil

  1983–84

  538,350

  1984–85

  487,583

  1985–86

  523,351

  1986–87

  108,299

  TOTAL

  1,657,583

  Local authorities in receipt of grant 1982–83 to 1986–87

  Local authority

  Amount received

  £

  Grampian Region

  256,870

  Perth and Kinross District

  287,900

  Strathclyde Region

  13,440

  Kirkcaldy District

  7,956

  Lothian Region

  466,187

  Central Region

  255,707

  Falkirk District

  261,224

  Cunninghame District

  108,299

  TOTAL

  1,657,583

  Aberdeen Maternity Hospital
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the estimated costs to his Department of the establishment of 28 additional beds at Aberdeen maternity hospital.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The 28-bed development at Aberdeen maternity hospital is a minor capital scheme which Grampian health board is carrying out. I understand that the provisional estimate for the work is in the region of £267,000.

  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the costs to his Department's health budget of the 56-bed additional unit at Aberdeen maternity hospital.
  569
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The estimated cost of the proposed 56-bed unit at Aberdeen maternity hospital is £1·6 million.

  Maternity Consultant Units
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the total costs to the health budget, including the employment of consultants and ancillary staff, of the maternity consultant units in Perth, Melrose and Forfar; and if he will list the total number of births per annum in each of these units, giving an average cost per birth per unit.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  In 1985 (the latest year for which figures are available) the total number of births in the consultant unit at Perth royal infirmary was 1,159 and in the GP unit at the Fyfe Jamieson maternity home, Forfar, was 133. Data for the consultant unit at Melrose are not available because the hospital has not yet been commissioned. I regret that the other information requested is not held centrally.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Newsprint
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what complaints the Office of Fair Trading has received about alleged price fixing in the supply of newsprint; and what action is being taken.

  Mr. Butcher
  The Office of Fair Trading received a complaint from the Newspaper Publishers' Association about apparent collusion in the level and timing of price increases for newsprint. The office investigated this complaint and received assurances from United Kingdom manufacturers and importers that they were not involved in any such agreement. However, the office is keeping the matter under review.

  Photographic Film
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the total domestic output of photographic film (882.22,25), the percentage exported and the share of the domestic market taken by imports in each year since 1975.

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

  Radio and Television Cabinets
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the total domestic output of radio and television cabinets (764.93), the percentage exported and the share of the domestic market taken by imports in each year since 1975.

  Mr. Atkins
  The available information for radio and television cabinets is as follows:

  United Kingdom manufacturers' sales

  Exports

  Imports

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  1975

  33·7

  6·7

  1·1

  1976

  36·3

  5·8

  0·9

  1977

  45·2

  2·1

  1·4

  570

  United Kingdom manufacturers' sales

  Exports

  Imports

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  1978

  46·2

  2·2

  2·2

  1979

  56·2

  1·9

  2·6

  1980

  48·4

  1·2

  2·9

  1981

  43·5

  2·8

  3·9

  1982

  35·7

  2·9

  3·8

  1983

  40·7

  3·2

  5·5

  1984

  40·7

  3·7

  6·6

  1985

  41·9

  2·7

  9·1

  1986

  41·3

  1·9

  12·9

  United Kingdom manufacturers' sales up to and including 1980 are for firms employing 25 or more people for both wooden and plastic cabinets. From 1981 onwards the figures relate to firms employing 50 or more for plastic cabinets and 35 or more for wooden cabinets. Therefore, figures for export and import ratios are not given as they are likely to overstate the true position.

  Sources:

  Business Monitors PQ472 and PQ496 (up to and including 1980). PQ4671 and PQ4836 (from 1981 onwards).

  Definitions:

  United Kingdom manufacturers' sales cover wooden cabinets for radio, TV and gramophone (including combination cabinets); plastic cabinets and lids for radio, TV, gramophone, tape recorder cabinets and lids.

  Exports and imports: The tariff codes used are:

  1975–77

  1978–84

  1945–86

  Cabinets of wood

  8515–6271

  8515–4100

  8515–7700

  8515–6182

  Cabinets of materials

  8515–6271

  8515–4900

  8515–7900

  8515–6588

  Fixed Investment
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries spend a greater proportion of their gross domestic product on fixed investment than the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Maude
  Comparisons for most OECD countries are readily available only for 1985. In that year the following OECD countries spent a greater proportion of their GDP on gross fixed capital formation than the United Kingdom:Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United States. The United Kingdom spent 17 per cent. gross domestic product on fixed investment, compared with an OECD average of 20 per cent., an EEC average of 19 per cent., and 19 per cent. in the United States of America.

  Source: OECD National Accounts.

  Consumer Safety
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans he has to introduce legislation further to extend consumer safety.

  Mr. Butcher
  The safety of consumers has been greatly improved by the implementation of the Consumer Protection Act 1987. From 1 October 1987, under the general safety requirement, it became a criminal offence to supply any consumer product that is not reasonably safe.
  571
  The Act also implements the European Community directive on product liability and means that from 1 March 1988 it will be much easier for people damaged by defective products to obtain redress through the courts.

  In addition to the general safety requirement, the safety of a range of products is covered by specific regulations. New regulations are to be introduced covering the flammability of upholstered furniture and bedding; and it is the intention to introduce further regulations to implement a number of EC directives, including those covering the safety of toys and certain electrical products.

  Eukaryotic Genetic Engineering
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which firms are involved in his Department's newly launched Link collaborative research programme on eukaryotic genetic engineering.

  Mr. Butcher
  Four companies are committed already to collaborative research under the newly launched Link programme, eukaryotic genetic engineering. Glaxo and British Biotechnology are collaborating with the University of Oxford in pharmaceutical application. Dalgetty and Whitbread are collaborating with the University of Leicester in food applications. Six further companies are in discussion of collaboration with institutes of the Agriculture and Food Research Council.

  Business Advertisements
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will introduce a further order to amend the Business Advertisements (Disclosure) Order 1977 so as to require the words "trade sale" to be used in advertisements whenever a sale is conducted in the course of a trade or business; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butcher
  No. the Business Advertisements (Disclosure) Order 1977 already makes it illegal to place advertisements unless it is made reasonably clear that the goods advertised are to be sold in the course of a business.

  Motor Car Sales
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has any proposals to introduce an obligatory code of practice in connection with all motor car sales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butcher
  No. I have no such proposals.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has any proposals for the introduction of a scheme whereby motor traders would be required to provide to purchasers of used motor vehicles essential information concerning history and condition; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butcher
  No. A pre-sales inspection report for each used car offered for sale is already a requirement of the code of practice for the motor industry which is operated by member of the Motor Agents Association, the Scottish Motor Trade Association and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. I have no plans to make this a statutory requirement.

  East Anglia
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement about his Department's facilities serving East Anglian businesses.

  Mr. Atkins
  All the Department's national services are of course available to business in East Anglia. The Department's south-east regional office is responsible for maintaining day-to-day contact with East Anglian business, and in particular for ensuring that the region's industry and commerce are able to take full advantage of the enterprise initiative.

  To ensure close contact with its East Anglia customers, the Department will in the spring be opening a new area office at Cambridge. This office, supported by recently appointed local representatives in Norwich and Chelmsford, will play a leading role in promoting and ensuring the effective application within East Anglia of the policies set out in Cm. 278.

  Consultants
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will give the cost to his Department of employing management or computer consultants for each year from 1983 to 1987.

  Mr. Butcher
  [holding answer 29 February 1988]: My Department's expenditure from 1983 on computer consultants in support of central management services are as follows:

  £000

  1983–84

  1,686

  1984–85

  3,309

  1985–86

  5,488

  1986–87

  5,520

  11987–88

  5,280

  1 Estimated.

  Expenditure on management consultants is not recorded separately from other consultancy spend.

ENERGY

  Petroleum Production
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what are the Government's latest forecasts of levels of United Kingdom petroleum production.

  Mr. Parkinson
  The latest forecasts for United Kingdom petroleum production in the years 1988 to 1992 are as follows:

  Million tonnes

  1988

  150 – 125

  1989

  100 – 120

  1890

  90 – 120

  1991

  80 – 110

  1992

  70 – 105

  As in previous years, the forecasts are presented in the form of a range of outcomes for each year. These ranges take into account the many uncertainties involved. The figures cover forecast production of stabilised crude oil, natural gas liquids (NGLs) and condensates. NGL and condensate production accounts for some 6 million to 9 million tonnes of the annual totals.

WALES

  Perinatal Mortality
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library the replies his Department received from each health authority in Wales requesting information on their needs following the perinatal mortality initiative report.

  Mr. Grist
  There was no requirement on the Department as a consequence of the perinatal mortality initiative report to collect information on maternity service needs. However, health authorities have been invited to submit bids for central funding for essential equipment for special care baby units and have been consulted on proposals for the creation of a regional neo-natal intensive care service. If the hon. Gentleman has a specific query, I would be happy to try to answer.

  Regional Government
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether, since 1979, his Department has instigated any studies into regional government, and regional departments of central Government, in other European Community member states, with a view to formulating proposals for improvements in the structure and administration of the work of his Department; whether he has any plans to instigate any such studies in the near future; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  No such studies have been instigated by my Department and none are proposed.

  Leptospirosis
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on measures being undertaken by his Department to control the incidence of leptospirosis in cattle in Wales.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The Agricultural Development and Advisory Service (ADAS) offers a leptospirosis control programme as part of its cattle health scheme, the aim of which is to provide a pool of cattle herds of recognised health status for domestic and export trade. Farmers may seek either elite herd status, where all cattle are serologically negative for leptospirosis, or controlled herd status, in which infected cattle can become clear of infection by a planned programme of antibiotic treatment and vaccination.

  Any farmer suspecting or concerned about leptospirosis in cattle should consult his local veterinary surgeon.

  Farms (Plant and Machinery)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, for the last year for which full figures are available, what was the level of investment in plant and machinery in farms in Wales; and what are the corresponding figures both at outturn and real prices for each year since 1979.
  574
  Mr. Peter Walker
  Based on the aggregate income calculation for Welsh agriculture, investment in plant and machinery in 1986 amounted to £31 million. For the period since 1979, the corresponding figures in current money terms and at constant 1980 prices were as follows:

  Year

  Current prices

  Constant 1980 prices

  £ million

  £ million

  1979

  29·0

  32·4

  1980

  23·0

  23·0

  1981

  17·0

  16·4

  1982

  29·0

  26·6

  1983

  30·0

  26·3

  1984

  27·0

  23·1

  1985

  30·0

  24·2

  1986

  31·0

  24·7

  Radiation (Compensation)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress is being made towards resolving cases of farmers in Wales affected by the Chernobyl disaster, who have still not been granted compensation; and when he hopes to come to a decision on these cases.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  These cases are being given careful and detailed consideration and I hope to reach a decision soon.

  Milk
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will seek to ensure for Welsh milk producers an increase in the amount of milk they may produce without paying the super levy on excess output similar to those increases secured recently for producers in Belgium, France and West Germany; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  In order to accommodate changes in the pattern of marketing,. EC legislation allows member states to seek approval from the Commission under management committee procedure for the transfer of specified quantities of quota between their direct sale and wholesale allocations. This is what was recently approved for France, Germany and Belgium and similar approvals have been given to other member states, including the United Kingdom, in the past. These transfers do not increase the total amount of quota allocated to any member state. I do not believe that such a transfer would be justified in the United Kingdom under present circumstances.

  Health Authorities
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give for each district health authority(a) the outturn figures for 1986–87, and (b) the estimated outturn for 1987–88.

  Mr. Grist
  The income and expenditure outturn figures for district health authorities in Wales for 1986–87 are as follows:
  575

  District Health Authority

  Revenue Expenditure

  Capital Expenditure

  Total Expenditure

  (£ Thousands)

  (£ Thousands)

  (£ Thousands)

  Clwyd

  82,818

  5,966

  88,784

  East Dyfed

  52,641

  2,561

  55,202

  Gwent

  100,119

  6,970

  107,089

  Gwynedd

  51,389

  1,248

  52,637

  Mid Glamorgan

  119,412

  5,198

  124,610

  Pembrokeshire

  17,550

  2,386

  19,936

  Powys

  23,152

  1,186

  24,337

  South Glamorgan

  134,843

  6,441

  141,284

  West Glamorgan

  83,091

  10,835

  93,926

  WALES

  665,013

  42,791

  707,804

  Note:

  Figures may not add due to rounding.

  Source: Health Authorities' Annual Accounts.

  Income and expenditure data are not collected on a formal or a routine basis in-year since Departmental monitoring of health authorities' expenditure relates to

  District Health Authority

  Revenue

  Capital

  Total

  (£ Thousands)

  (£ Thousands)

  (£ Thousands)

  Clwyd

  90,754

  5,702

  96,456

  East Dyfed

  57,501

  2,203

  59,704

  Gwent

  111,064

  6,457

  117,521

  Gwynedd

  56,229

  3,041

  59,270

  Mid Glamorgan

  130,417

  5,673

  136,090

  Pembrokeshire

  19,897

  2,582

  22,479

  Powys

  26,099

  1,101

  27,200

  South Glamorgan

  150,878

  5,057

  155,935

  West Glamorgan

  91,586

  10,781

  102,367

  WALES

  734,425

  42,597

  777,022

  Source: February Financial Information System Returns.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Southern Africa (Aid)
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what financial aid the United Kingdom now gives to the front-line states in southern Africa.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  In 1986, the latest year for which figures are available, the United Kingdom provided gross bilateral aid totalling over £80 million to the front-line states (Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe).

THE ARTS

  Arts Council
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what information he has on the number of Arts Council employees in(a) 1978 and (b) the current year.

  Mr. Luce
  The Arts Council had 382 employees in 1978. The current figure of 531 includes 175 staff of the South Bank board (excluding the art department), considerably fewer than the staff previously employed by the Greater London council to perform the same functions.
  576
  their statutory duty to contain cash spending within notified cash limits. The latest estimates of cash outturn for 1987–88 are as follows:

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Sherry
  Mr. Whitney
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much extra excise duty would be gained in a fiscal year if British sherry were taxed on the same basis as sherry.

  Mr. Lilley
  British and Spanish sherries are taxed on the same basis, according to alcoholic strength. British sherry may incur less duty either because of a lower alcohol content or through blending after payment of duty.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether there are any changes in the cash limits set for 1987–88 on his Department's Votes.

  Mr. Lilley
  The Vote for 1987–88 for Customs and Excise (class XIX, vote 2), of £441,125,000 is to be reduced by £243,000 to £440,882,000. This is due to a corresponding overspend on the Department's Vote for 1986–87. It is standard practice for such an overspend to be deducted from the following year's cash limit. The small overspend arose mainly as a result of difficulties with a new computerised accounting system.

  Developing Countries (Financial Flows)
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the net financial flows from
  577
  developing countries to developed countries recorded by the World Bank have flowed to the United Kingdom in each of the last four years.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 29 February 1988]: The information is not available.

ENVIRONMENT

  London Docklands Development Corporation
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library a copy of any letter written to the London Docklands development corporation by Messrs Robson Rhodes concerning the annual accounts of the corporation, together with any respective responses which have been made.

  Mr. Trippier
  No. The Department is shortly to discuss with Messrs Robson Rhodes and the LDDC issues arising from the corporation's 1985–86 external audit. I shall then consider what further statement should be made to the House.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library a copy of the 1986–87 performance review of the London Docklands development corporation which was considered by its board in May 1987.

  Mr. Trippier
  No. The document was produced for internal management purposes only. Details of LDDC's performance are published in the corporation's annual reports and accounts, and in its corporate plan.

  Cement and Concrete
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish in the Official Report tables setting out United Kingdom imports and exports of (a) cement and (b) precast concrete products over the past five years.

  Mr. Trippier
  The information is as follows.

  Cement

  1Imports

  2Exports

  Tonnes

  Value

  Tonnes

  Value

  000

  £000

  000

  £000

  1983

  430·0

  15,329

  393·1

  16,434

  1984

  500·5

  17,726

  127·2

  11,285

  1985

  618·9

  23,668

  113·5

  12,059

  1986

  650·2

  29,331

  107·5

  12,288

  1987

  978·3

  37,013

  96·0

  11,841

  Articles of Cement, Concrete and Artifical Stone

  1Imports

  2Exports

  Tonnes

  Value

  Tonnes

  Value

  000

  £000

  000

  £000

  1983

  28·2

  5,033

  97·3

  8,086

  1984

  77·0

  8,863

  93·3

  8,090

  1985

  35·0

  6,353

  72·6

  8,655

  1986

  48·3

  8,694

  69·9

  5,746

  1987

  61·3

  11,095

  81·4

  6,928

  1 Imports C.I.F.

  2 Exports F.O.B

  Source:

  Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom

  Standard International Trade Codes 661·2 and 663·32

  Construction Firms
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department has any information on the numbers employed by construction firms which are subsidiaries of foreign companies.

  Mr. Trippier
  While the Department is aware that some construction companies are subsidiaries of foreign companies, it is not our practice to collect such information in a formal way.

  London Docklands (Compulsory Purchase)
  Mr. Heddle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the reasons for the postponement of his decision on the London Docklands (East Docklands) Compulsory Purchase Order 1985; and when he now expects to announce his decision.

  Mr. Trippier
  The London Docklands (East Docklands) Compulsory Purchase Order is an unusually large order covering 745 acres of urban land and embracing 337 separate plots. A large number of interrelated issues have required resolution. My right hon. Friend expects to announce the decision within the next few days.

  GLC (Country Homes)
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the current position in respect of the disposal of former Greater London council seaside and country homes, and in particular the position in respect of the ownership of the former Greater London council estate at The Parks, Minehead, Somerset.

  Mr. Ridley
  The London Residuary Body expects to complete arrangements for the disposal of the whole of the seaside and country homes portfolio, including The Parks, Minehead, Somerset, to North British Housing Association by the end of March. Necessary consents required in connection with the disposal were issued by my Department on 29 February.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will update the table giving information on sales of dwellings by each local authority in England, referred to in the answer given to the hon. Member for Stamford and Spalding (Mr. Davies) on 11 December 1987,Official Report, column 275.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I have today placed in the Library the latest version of table 2 giving information reported by each local authority in England on the progress of council house sales up to the end of September 1987.

  Southern Water Authority
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has received second responses from the Southern water authority and the six water companies concerned to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission's report on water supply in the Southern water authority area; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I have received the responses. I can confirm that Southern water and the six water companies,
  579
  namely, Eastbourne, Folkestone, Mid Kent, Mid-Sussex, Portsmouth and West Kent have made real progress in taking forward the recommendations made by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. The MMC report stated that Southern were on the whole effectively managed and compared satisfactorily with other public sector bodies. The second response from Southern is thorough and detailed. It has also been positive and constructive and has illustrated well its continuing commitment to improving management and efficiency. The response is most encouraging following Southern's record of achieving recent performance aims.

  Good progress has been made on the setting of regional standards of service, including water supply, sewerage and water quality, culminating in the issue of a standards of service booklet, while survey work on establishing shortfalls continues. The costs involved in rectifying these should be fully assessed by the summer of 1988.

  Southern water's overall record on cost reduction is good, and demanding future performance aims have been set. It has also taken forward the MMC'c recommendations on the management of capital projects, and has reviewed and amended its capital projects procedures.

  The six water companies have generally continued to make progress, particularly with corporate planning, with the exchange of information on levels of service and the setting of medium term quantified targets for meeting service standards, and for cost control.

  Although the companies have shown good progress in their work on corporate planning, it is important that they ensure that current levels of service are identified and clear objectives set for the future.

  I have placed a copy of the second responses in the Library. I shall also draw the attention of other water authorities to the second response from Southern water and invite them to consider the extent to which these responses might be appropriate to their own operations.

  The final response from Southern water and the six companies will be required in April 1989. It will be a final progress report on the recommendations as a whole recording what has been done and setting out the improvements achieved in accordance with the commission's recommendations.

  Water Companies (Privatisation)
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has put proposals to the water industry for modifying the areas of appointed water utility companies after privatisation.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Earlier this year the Department sent a discussion document on water utility company functions and areas to the Water Authorities Association and the Water Companies Association. That document is now under consideration between the Department and the industry, and does not represent policy settled in all its details. I am, however, placing a copy of the document in the Library of the House.

  Maintenance Work
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing the level of outstanding maintenance work from 1979 to the latest date for which data are available.
  580
  Mr. Chope
  Estimates of the cost of outstanding high priority maintenance work on Government Department's civil accommodation have been made only since 1984. For work within the responsibility of the Property Services Agency, the figures are:

  £million

  1985

  96

  1986

  103

  1987

  103

  All estimates are at September 1987 prices. The 1987 assessment of £103 million reflects the transfer of some delegated works responsibilities from PSA to Departments under the property repayment services system.

  Substantial additional provision for civil maintenance was announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in last year's Autumn Statement, and by the Secretary of State for the Environment in the Official Report, at columns 664–66, on 3 November 1987. The provision for maintenance has been increased to 105 million in 1988–89 and £120 million in the following two years.

  Maintenance programmes on the Defence estate are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence.

  Lead-free petrol
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the bodies with which his Department has discussed the conversion of vehicles to operate on lead-free petrol

  Mr. Moynihan
  All aspects of the introduction of unleaded petrol, including the conversion of vehicles to operate on unleaded petrol, are regularly discussed at meetings under my chairmanship with the following bodies:

  Automobile Association

  Association of Car Fleet Operators

  Association of UK Oil Independents

  British Tourist Authority

  British Motorcycle Federation

  British Vehicle Renting and Leasing Association

  Campaign for Lead-Free Air (CLEAR)

  Consumers' Association

  European Year of the Environment (EYE)

  Federation of Petroleum Suppliers

  Highlands and Islands Development Board

  Mid-Wales Development Board

  Motor Agents Association/Petrol Retailers Association

  Motor Cycle Association

  Royal Automobile Club

  Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders

  UK Petroleum Industry Association

  Enterprise Zones
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how his Department assesses the cost of each job created in enterprise zones; what that national figure is currently assessed to be; and what the assessed figure is in each existing enterprise zone.

  Mr. Trippier
  The costs to the Exchequer of the enterprise zones comprise payments to local authorities for rate revenue forgone in the zones; tax revenue forgone as a consequence of allowances claimed for expenditure on industrial and commercial buildings there; and public investment in infrastructure and construction that would not otherwise have been made had the zones not been designated.
  581
  The number of jobs in the zones at the time of designation is deducted from the number present at the time of the assessment to give the number of net additional jobs on the zones.

  The Department commissioned consultants to evaluate the experiment. They estimated that, at the end of 1986, the public cost of each net additional job within the enterprise zones in Great Britain was £8,500. Separate assessments have not been made for individual enterprise zones.

  The consultants report ("An evaluation of the Enterprise Zone Experiment" Her Majesty's Stationery Office 1987) also includes a more refined method of assessing the cost per job, which takes account of the effects of the zones on employment in the areas around them. Copies of this report were placed in the Library on 22 December 1987.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated cost of administering the proposed community charge in inner London.

  Mr. Howard
  The estimates given in the financial memorandum to the Local Government Finance Bill, apportioned in a similar way to the costs of rate collection, would produce a range of between £30 million and £35 million.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he intends to collect the community charge from tramps and vagrants.

  Mr. Howard
  With limited exceptions, every adult will be subject to the personal community charge in the area where he has his sole or main residence. In deciding the scale of resources to devote to registration for and collection of the community charge, local authorities will be entitled to have regard to what can reasonably be achieved.

  Rural Areas (Assistance)
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the total amount of all central Government assistance to rural areas in England on a per capita basis for the last financial year.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Information is not available in the form requested.

  Housing Co-operatives
  Mr. Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply of 17 February,

  Water Authority

  1978–79

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  Water Supply

  North West

  100·00

  109·50

  139·92

  155·07

  164·47

  164·47

  167·37

  190·55

  210·14

  224·39

  Northumbrian

  100·00

  105·32

  127·50

  158·63

  185·46

  209·68

  225·24

  240·97

  251·61

  260·84

  Severn Trent

  100·00

  114·72

  138·40

  164·25

  182·87

  187·20

  194·19

  209·28

  225·54

  241·93

  Yorkshire

  100·00

  110·17

  136·34

  151·26

  167·05

  174·18

  184·50

  206·30

  227·52

  245·45

  Anglian

  100·00

  117·23

  153·88

  176·76

  190·43

  192·55

  201·76

  223·03

  250·32

  266·01

  Thames

  100·00

  113·78

  142·80

  156·81

  171·26

  189·30

  204·26

  224·82

  231·54

  244·20

  Southern

  100·00

  105·26

  136·84

  153·16

  171·58

  178·79

  187·37

  207·95

  226·11

  238·21

  Wessex

  100·00

  123·23

  141·68

  155·56

  163·27

  167·37

  169·70

  184·85

  202·58

  213·33

  South West

  100·00

  114·06

  131·40

  149·23

  162·05

  171·17

  177·10

  184·65

  196·64

  204·40

  English averages

  100·00

  112·42

  140·15

  158·24

  172·38

  181·32

  189·04

  210·21

  225·80

  239·29

  582
  Official Report, column 966, what proposals for the funding of housing co-operatives were discussed when he met the Housing Corporation.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The matters discussed were the Housing Corporation's financial support for AXLE Co-operative Housing Services Limited, and the funding of housing associations which provide agency services for primary co-operatives.

  Departmental Buildings
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the location and status of all buildings within his Department located in London and the annual cost of rents, rates and maintenance of each.

  Mr. Chope
  The Department of the Environment, including the PSA, occupies accommodation in 93 buildings in the Greater London area, ranging from its main HQ building at 2 Marsham Street, down to small stores attached to the PSA's district works offices. Civil accommodation for all Government Departments is held in the name of the Secretary of State for the Environment and managed by PSA. Some properties are held freehold; the rents of leasehold buildings are determined on a strictly commercial, and therefore confidential basis. The total annual rent paid by the PSA to landlords for civil accommodation held in London in 1986–87, the last complete year for which figures are available, was £133 million. Comparable figures for contributions in lieu of rates, and for PSA expenditure on the maintenance of buildings on the civil estate are £116 million and £38 million respectively.

  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the location and status of all buildings within his Department located in London arid the annual cost of rents, rates and maintenance of each.

  Mr. Chope
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him today. In the case of the Department of Energy, the Department occupies accommodation at Thames House South, Millbank SW1.

  Water Supplies
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing the price of water from each water authority from 1978–79 until the latest date available taking the 1978–79 price as a base of 100.

  Mr. Moynihan
  [pursuant to his reply, 9 February 1988, c. 128]: A number of the figures which formed part of the answer were incorrect. The table gives the correct figures.
  583

  Water Authority

  1978–79

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  Welsh

  100·00

  112·83

  135·63

  163·36

  200·84

  209·84

  209·84

  231·59

  242·57

  267·84

  National average

  100·00

  112·43

  139·76

  158·56

  174·72

  183·62

  190·55

  186·97

  227·49

  241·28

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Sessional Index
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will seek the reintroduction in the Library of a sessional running index using the strip index system of written and oral answers in departmental date order of reply.

  Mr. Wakeham
  No. An index by subjects and Members' names of written and oral answers is already provided on POLIS, the Library's Parliamentary On-Line Information System. The reintroduction of the strip-index system referred to, which was discontinued on 1 June 1981 in accordance with the Resolution of the House of 26 January 1978, would have additional staffing implications, and would serve only to duplicate the information already available on the Library's computer-based system.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when next he plans to meet the secretary general of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation to discuss foreign policy issues confronting the Alliance.

  Mr. Mellor
  My right hon. and learned Friend is today attending with my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister the NATO summit meeting in Brussels, at which these issues are being discussed.

  Persian Gulf
  Mr. Archer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will initiate discussions at the United Nations with a view to establishing an international peace-keeping force in the Persian Gulf.

  Mr. Mellor
  No. Discussions in New York are rightly concentrating on finding ways to implement Security Council resolution 598. This may well require the imposition of an arms embargo. Until there is a peace to keep, discussion of a peace-keeping force is entirely premature.

  Mr. Sackville
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement about the situation in the Gulf.

  Mr. Mellor
  The situation in the Gulf remains tense. Although there is currently a lull in the Gulf itself, though not of course in the land war, this year so far there have already been a large number of successful attacks on shipping by both Iran and Iraq. We continue to urge both sides to end these attacks through the implementation of Security Council resolution 598.

  Arms Control
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement about British arms control policy with particular reference to achieving a verifiable worldwide ban on chemical weapons.

  Mr. Mellor
  We continue to play an active role at the negotiations at the conference on disarmament in Geneva for a comprehensive, verifiable and global ban on all chemical weapons. Some progress was made last year. However, complex issues remain to be resolved in order to construct a resilient international security agreement.

  Hong Kong
  Mr. Andrew MacKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next intends to visit Hong Kong to discuss the future of the colony.

  Mr. Eggar
  At present my right hon. and learned Friend has no plans to visit Hong Kong. We are in close touch with the Governor of Hong Kong over all aspects of the territory's future. My right hon. and learned Friend will be seeing him in three weeks' time during one of his regular visits to London.

  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from the people of Hong Kong on the proposed timetable for direct elections.

  Mr. Eggar
  On 10 February the Hong Kong Government published their White Paper announcing the decision to introduce 10 directly elected seats into the Legislative Council in 1991. We have since received no representations from the people of Hong Kong concerning this timetable.

  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will bring forward proposals for human rights legislation in Hong Kong, together with proposals to make it justiciable in the courts of Hong Kong.

  Mr. Eggar
  It is for the Hong Kong Government to introduce legislation in Hong Kong. We are not aware that the Hong Kong Government at present have any intention to introduce such legislation.

  Mr. Allen McKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received on the question of timing of direct elections in Hong Kong since the publication of the White Paper on 10 February.

  Mr. Eggar
  None.

  Kampuchea
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received about Her Majesty's Government's policy towards Kampuchea.

  Mr. Eggar
  We are in touch with various Governments and individuals about our policy towards Cambodia. This policy is clear. We seek the withdrawal of all Vietnamese forces from Cambodia and a settlement which would allow the Cambodian people to determine their own future, free from outside interference, through free and fair elections.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what new steps the United Kingdom Government have taken to encourage the peace process in Kampuchea.

  Mr. Eggar
  Our policy remains as set out in my speech during the Adjournment debate on Cambodia on 21 January.

  Austria
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent communications his Department has had with the Austrian Government about Anglo-Austrian relations.

  Mrs. Chalker
  My Department maintains necessary contacts with the Austrian Government appropriate to maintaining relations between our two states.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a further statement on the current state of relations between the United Kingdom and Austria.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Relations between the United Kingdom and Austria are good and reflect the common interests of our Governments and peoples.

  Falkland Islands
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from other Governments concerning the forthcoming training exercise in the Falkland Islands.

  Mr. Eggar
  A number of Governments in the region have expressed concern about the exercise; we have made absolutely clear that it is a routine exercise, and an integral part of our policy to maintain minimal troop levels in the Falklands as a contribution to reducing tension in the South Atlantic region.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next intends to visit Port Stanley, to discuss political developments in the Falkland Islands.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no current plans to visit Port Stanley.

  Mr. Brandon-Bravo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the governor of the Falkland Islands; and what was discussed.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. and learned Friend saw the governor of the Falkland Islands in London on 28 January 1988. They reviewed recent political and economic developments in the islands and the outlook for the future.

  South Africa
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government have recently made concerning the trial in South Africa of Moses Mayekiso and others; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We made representations on Mr. Mayekiso's behalf in July and December 1986, while he was detained without charge. Now that charges have been laid and the trial has begun, it would not be right for us to make further representations at present. We are following the proceedings closely.

  Mr. John Carlisle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will consider withdrawing any existing sanctions made against South Africa.

  Mrs. Chalker
  As I told my hon. Friend on 21 January 1987, at column 595, the restrictive measures we have adopted are designed to bring home to the South African Government the urgent need for fundamental, peaceful change. Regrettably they is no sign at present that they are prepared to take the steps needed to bring about such change.

  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of South Africa regarding the death sentences on the Sharpeville Six.

  Mrs. Chalker
  After their appeals had been dismissed in December 1987, the German ambassador made an appeal for clemency on behalf of the European Community. We also supported a statement issued on behalf of the United Nations Security Council urging the South African Government to commute the death sentences on the six. We have since reiterated our serious concern direct to the South African Government.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the Government of the Republic of South Africa regarding the Sharpeville Six.

  Mrs. Chalker
  After their appeals had been dismissed in December 1987, the German ambassador made an appeal for clemency on behalf of the European Community. We also supported a statement issued on behalf of the United Nations Security Council urging the South African Government to commute the death sentences on the Six. The British ambassador has since reiterated our serious concern direct to the South African Government.

  European Council
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received about the European Council meeting in Brussels on 11 to 13 February; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Neither my right hon. and learned Friend nor I have received representations about the European Council in Brussels on 11–13 February other than questions raised by hon. Members in the House. The
  587
  results of the Brussels Council confirmed by the Foreign Affairs Council on 22 February represent a very sound outcome for the United Kingdom.

  CND (Representations)
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament since the Washington summit of December 1987.

  Mr. Mellor
  We have received no direct representations from the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament since the Washington summit of December 1987.

  Disarmament Negotiations (Geneva)
  Mr. Ashby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to visit Geneva in connection with arms negotiations being conducted there.

  Mr. Mellor
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no present plans to visit Geneva in connection with arms control talks. We, along with our NATO partners, receive regular briefings from the United States on the progress in the US/Soviet nuclear arms negotiations. The United Kingdom delegation at the conference on disarmament is playing an active role in the negotiations to ban chemical weapons.

  Ethiopia
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on current relations with Ethiopia.

  Mrs. Chalker
  My hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development visited Ethiopia from 7 to 10 January, when he announced the allocation of an additional 40,000 tonnes of food aid. With this allocation our contribution to the current famine relief effort, including our share of the European Community relief programme, now totals over £36 million.

  My hon. Friend also used his visit to underline to Ethiopian Ministers the importance we attach to changes in their agricultural policies, and to our great concern about the continuing detention of political prisoners. We, together with our European partners, will continue to urge progress towards a peaceful solution of the internal conflicts in Ethiopia, which are causing great hardship and impeding the international relief effort.

  Israel (PLO Assassinations)
  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Israeli Government about the assassinations in Cyprus of three members of the Palestine Liberation Organisation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  None.

  Nicaragua
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement about the United Kingdom's relations with Nicaragua.
  588
  Mr. Eggar
  I have nothing to add to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Clydesdale (Mr. Hood) on 4 November, at column 726. The United Kingdom has normal diplomatic relations with Nicaragua.

  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek to pay an official visit to Nicaragua.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no present plans to visit Nicaragua.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any further plans to expand United Kingdom diplomatic representations in Nicaragua.

  Mr. Eggar
  A third United Kingdom-based diplomatic service officer was posted to Managua in February, to act as pro consul. We have no plans to expand our mission further at this time.

  UNCHR (Special Rapporteurs)
  Mr. Clelland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many countries currently have a special rapporteur appointed by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.

  Mr. Eggar
  The 43rd session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights decided in March 1987 to renew the mandates, for a further year in each case, of its special rapporteurs on Afghanistan and Chile and its special representatives on E1 Salvador and Iran. The 44th session now in progress (1 February to 11 March) will decide whether or not to extend these mandates again.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the reappointment of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights' special rapporteurs on Chile and E1 Salvador.

  Mr. Eggar
  We shall be supporting the renewal of the mandate of the special rapporteur on Chile. In the case of E1 Salvador, we shall consider our policy carefully with our European Community partners once a draft resolution has appeared.

  Mr. McKelvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government supported the appointment of a United Nations rapporteur on human rights in E1 Salvador.

  Mr. Eggar
  We voted in favour of the establishment of the mandate of the United Nations special representative on E1 Salvador at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in 1981. We shall consider how to vote in this year's commission once we have discussed the resolution with our European Community partners.

  Disarmament, Security and Confidence Building Conferences
  Mr. Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will report on recent progress at current disarmament, security and confidence building conferences.

  Mr. Mellor
  Progress in negotiations on a final document at the CSCE Vienna meeting remains slow. But
  589
  we remain determined to secure a substantial and balanced outcome on all issues, including confidence and security building measures.

  Reasonable progress is being made in the conventional stability discussions in Vienna. We hope that early agreement on a mandate can be reached and that substantive negotiations can begin later this year.

  Negotiations on chemical weapons at the conference on disarmament at Geneva have made progress. But many complex issues remain. The bilateral talks between the United States and Soviet Union at the Geneva nuclear and space talks are continuing. United States and Russian negotiators are also meeting to discuss nuclear testing; steady progress has been made during the first phase of negotiations aimed at ratifying the threshold test ban and peaceful nuclear explosions treaties.

  Jordan
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Anglo-Jordanian relations.

  Mr. Mellor
  Relations between the United Kingdom and Jordan are excellent. We maintain a close dialogue with King Hussein and his Government on a wide range of issues of mutual interest.

  Turks and Caicos Islands
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealh Affairs if he will make a statement on the elections in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

  Mr. Eggar
  Elections are due to take place in the Turks and Caicos Islands tomorrow, 3 March.

  USSR (Ministerial Visit)
  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealh Affairs whether, during his recent discussions in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, he raised the subject of telecommunications and interference with international radio broadcasts.

  Mr. Mellor
  No. Jamming of the BBC vernacular services to the Soviet Union has ceased. We hope that the Soviet Union will take steps to end all jamming and will continue to make our views known in appropriate fora. My right hon. and learned Friend took the opportunity of his visit to press the need for greater access by Western media to the Soviet public, for example through free circulation of newspapers.

  Dr. Reid
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealh Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent trip to the Soviet Union.

  Mr. Mellor
  My right hon. and learned Friend had full and wide-ranging talks with Mr. Gorbachev, Mr. Shevardnadze and others covering bilateral matters including trade, arms control, human rights and regional issues. He also met human rights activists and was able to put our views directly to the Soviet public in their press and on television. The visit was a further contribution to our active dialogue wth the Soviet leadership and to the improving atmosphere of East-West relations.

  Mozambique
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealh Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of South Africa concerning the situation in Mozambique.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We repeatedly urge the South African Government to exercise restraint and respect the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of neighbouring countries. I made these points to the South African Deputy Foreign Minister during a stop-over on the way to Mozambique in November. We have since reiterated our concerns.

  E1 Salvador
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek to visit E1 Salvador, to discuss human rights.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no present plans to visit E1 Salvador. Her Majesty's embassy in San Salvador monitors the human rights situation closely.

  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the position of British volunteers working at the Calle Real camp in E1 Salvador.

  Mr. Eggar
  Her Majesty's chargé d'affaires in San Salvador has visited the British volunteers at Calle Real and reports that they are well.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek to pay an official visit to E1 Salvador.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no current plans to visit E1 Salvador.

  European Political Co-operation
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the outcome of the meeting he recently attended on European political co-operation.

  Mrs. Chalker
  My right hon. and learned Friend has met his colleagues from the Twelve to discuss European political co-operation matters on 8 February. The Twelve issued a statement expressing concern about the situation in the Occupied Territories, reaffirming support for an international conference, and welcoming recent efforts to inject new impetus into the search for a negotiated settlement to the Arab-Israeli conflict. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House. They had a separate meeting on this subject with His Majesty King Hussein of Jordan.

  The Twelve also exchanged views on East-West relations, Central America and Southern Africa. They approved the seventh synthesis report on the application of the code of conduct by Community companies with subsidiaries in South Africa, which has been forwarded to the European Parliament. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Central America
  Mr. Flannery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress towards a settlement of the outstanding conflicts in Central America.

  Mr. Eggar
  We urge all the Central Americans to fulfil all their outstanding obligations under the Guatemala accord immediately, especially those relating to democratisation.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek to visit Nicaragua to discuss the political situation in Central America.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no current plans to visit Nicaragua. Her Majesty's embassies in Central America monitor the political situation in the region closely. I discussed the situation in Central America with EC/Central America/Contadora representatives at the meeting in Hamburg 29 February-1 March (San Jose IV).

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy towards Arias' peace proposals for Central America in the light of the recent initiatives taken by the Nicaraguan Government.

  Mr. Eggar
  We fully support the Guatemala agreement which aims to achieve a peaceful, negotiated solution to the problems of Central America. We urge the Nicaraguan Government to fulfil without delay the commitments made at the Central American Presidents' summit on 15 January, and to comply with the obligation in the Guatemala accord to introduce full democratic freedoms.

  Third World Debt
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with other Foreign Ministers regarding Third world debt; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  My right hon. and learned Friend and I regularly meet our counterparts from other countries. Debt is often discussed, particularly with the Foreign Ministers of debtor nations and of major creditor nations.

  Cambodia
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's current policy with regard to the participation of the Khmer Rouge in any future Cambodian Government.

  Mr. Eggar
  We withdrew recognition from the Pol Pot regime in December 1979 and have no intention of contributing to its re-establishment. We believe that free and fair elections based on United Nations principles offer the best guarantee that the Khmer Rouge does not dominate any future Cambodian Government.

  Hungary
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when next he plans to seek to meet the Prime Minister of Hungary to discuss Anglo-Hungarian relations.

  Mr. Mellor
  The Prime Minister of Hungary has been invited to visit Britain. We expect the visit to take place in the first half of this year. We look forward to a thorough discussion of bilateral relations, as well as of international topics.

  NATO/Warsaw Pact
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the conventional arms imbalance between North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the Warsaw pact.

  Mr. Mellor
  According to our estimates, Warsaw pact conventional forces in Europe outnumber those of the Alliance in all major areas of combat capability: they have over three times as many tanks and artillery pieces; and almost twice as many combat aircraft.

  UNESCO
  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further representations he has received regarding British membership of UNESCO.

  Mr. Eggar
  We have received no formal representations.

  Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he expects further signatories to the United Nations nuclear non-proliferation treaty; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  We do all we can to persuade non-signatories to adhere to the treaty.

  Turkey
  Mr. James Lamond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has had any recent discussions with the Turkish Government regarding the withdrawal of its troops from Cyprus.

  Mrs. Chalker
  During his official visit to Britain last July my right hon. and learned Friend and I made clear to the then Turkish Foreign Minister, Mr. Halefoglu, our view that his Government should reduce the number of their troops in Cyprus. we continue to press this view on the Turkish Government at every opportunity.

  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next intends to discuss Turkey's accession to the European Economic Community with his counterparts in the Community.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Turkey's application to join the European Community has been referred to the EC Commission, which is preparing its opinion. The European Community Council of Ministers will consider Turkey's application once that opinion is available and it has had the opportunity to study it.
  593
  Mr. Stokes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to support Turkey's application for membership of the European Economic Community.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Turkey's application to join the European Community has been referred to the European Commission, which is preparing its opinion. It would not be appropriate to express a view on the application until that opinion is available.

  South-east Asia
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any plans to visit the countries of south-east Asia.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. and learned Friend expects to visit the region again in due course. Announcements will be made as and when appropriate.

  Foreign Affairs Council
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress was made at the Foreign Affairs Council meeting on 22 and 23 February towards finalising the package of stabilisers foreseen in the European Community communiqué from Brussels.

  Mrs. Chalker
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bexleyheath (Mr. Townsend) on 24 February, at column 209.

  Cyprus
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he or his colleagues have to meet the new President of Cyprus.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Neither my right hon. and learned Friend nor I have any immediate plans to meet Mr. Vassiliou, who was elected on 21 February and assumed office on 28 February.

  Mr. Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealh Affairs if he will make a statement on the latest events in Cyprus.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Following the election of Mr. Vassiliou on 21 February, we hope the United Nations Secretary-General's new permanent special representative will be able to make early progress towards the just and lasting settlement which we all wish to see.

  Middle East
  Mr. Walters
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealh Affairs if he will report on further initiatives aimed at making progress for a middle east peace settlement.

  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealh Affairs if he will make a statement on progress towards an international conference on the middle east.

  Mr. Mellor
  We welcome recent efforts to give new impetus to the search for a negotiated settlement of the Arab/Israel conflict. We and our European partners strongly support an international conference as the suitable framework for negotiations between the parties directly concerned.
  594
  Mr. Cunliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealh Affairs what recent assistance he has given to the proposal for a peace conference initiated by Mr. Shimon Peres and King Hussein.

  Mr. Mellor
  We are in close contact with both King Hussein and with Mr. Peres. We believe that an international conference can provide a suitable framework for negotiations between the parties directly concerned.

  USSR (Human Rights)
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what success the Government have had in persuading the Soviet Union to alter its policy on human rights and emigration.

  Mr. Mellor
  We have established human rights as an important element in our bilateral dialogue with the Soviet authority and their agreement to regular official consultations on the subject will take this process further. We have been encouraged by increases in emigration figures and the release of some political prisoners during the past year but will continue to press for further progress, including the repeal of repressive legislation.

  USSR (Conventional Forces)
  Mr. Madel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, during his discussions with Soviet leaders in Moscow in February, any representations were made as to the need for a reduction in Soviet conventional forces in Eastern Europe; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  In his talks with Soviet leaders, my right hon. and learned Friend underlined the urgent need for a reduction in Soviet conventional forces in Europe, leading to a stable and secure balance at a lower level of forces. He also stressed the need to eliminate massive Soviet conventional superiority in a speech published in the Soviet press.

  Acid Rain (Norway)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from the Norwegian Government regarding the problem of acid rain.

  Mr. Eggar
  We maintain close contact at all levels with the Norwegian Government on a range of environmental issues including acid rain.

  Israel
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Israeli Government about the activities of their armed forces in the occupied territories.

  Mr. Mellor
  We have made clear to the Israeli authorities—both in bilateral contacts and in demarches with our European partners — our view that Israel should refrain from repressive measures which violate international law and human rights standards.

  United Kingdom-Soviet Trade
  Mr. Gerald Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he held on current levels of United Kingdom-Soviet trade during his recent visit to the USSR.

  Mr. Mellor
  My right hon. and learned Friend had a very constructive meeting with Mr. Kamentsev, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the State Foreign Economic Commission, and also touched on this question in his meeting with Mr. Gorbachev. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to achieving the goal of a 40 per cent. increase in trade by 1990 and my right hon. and learned Friend was able to draw attention to a number of major contracts for which British companies are bidding.

  NATO (Naval Arms Control)
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his counterparts in NATO countries about naval arms control proposals; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  My right hon. and learned Friend has regular discussions on all aspects of arms control with his NATO colleagues.

  Mutual and Balanced Force Reduction Talks
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on recent progress at the mutual and balanced force reduction talks.

  Mr. Mellor
  I have nothing to add to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Swindon (Mr. Coombs) on 21 October last year, at column 766.

  West Bank
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the latest situation on the West Bank.

  Mr. Mellor
  The situation remains tense. We advise those proposing to travel to the occupied territories to postpone their journey if possible. We deeply deplore the repressive measures taken by Israel and call on all parties to exercise maximum restraint, in order to reduce the dangerous level of tension.

  EC (Foreign Policy)
  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next proposes to have discussions with his European Community partners concerning the development of common European foreign policies.

  Mrs. Chalker
  My right hon. and learned Friend will be meeting our colleagues from the Twelve to discuss European political co-operation matters at an informal weekend meeting on 5–6 March.

  Arab-Israeli Dispute
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to support American efforts aimed at breaking the impasse in the Arab/Israeli dispute.
  596
  Mr. Mellor
  We welcome United States efforts to give new impetus to the search for peace and keep in close touch with the United States Administration on this issue. The Prime Minister discussed this with Mr. Shultz yesterday.

  Semyon Skalych
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise with the Soviet Government the continued imprisonment of Semyon Skalych, a Ukranian sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for writing anti-Soviet poetry.

  Mr. Mellor
  We regularly make representations to the Soviet authorities on behalf of Soviet prisoners of conscience such a Semyon Skalych. My right hon. and learned Friend drew attention to their plight most recently during talks with the Soviet Foreign Minister in Moscow on 15 February.

  United Nations Commission on Human Rights
  Mr. Burt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when last he visited the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.

  Mr. Eggar
  I addressed the United Nations Commission on Human Rights on 18 February. Copies of my speech have been placed in the Library. This was my second annual visit to the commission.

  Fiji
  Dr. Moonie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the status of the United Kingdom's diplomatic representation in Fiji.

  Mr. Eggar
  With effect from yesterday, we have been represented in the Republic of Fiji by Her Majesty's ambassador. Until that date, his title was high commissioner, the customary title for heads of mission in Commonwealth countries. The change of title does not affect diplomatic status.

  Angola
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his recent discussions in Moscow covered possible moves to secure a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Angola.

  Mrs. Chalker
  My right hon. and learned Friend discussed Southern Africa briefly with Mr. Shevardnardze in Moscow.

  Iran-Iraq War
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent contact he has had with the Government of Iran with regard to the Iran and Iraq conflict: and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  We have intermittent contact at official level with representatives of the Iranian Government in London and at the United Nations in New York. The Iran/Iraq conflict is naturally one of the issues discussed.

  Baltic Peoples
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what instructions have been
  597
  given to the United Kingdom representative to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on its response to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe's resolution 872 (1987) on the situation of the Baltic peoples; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  We were pleased to note that the resolution generally accorded with our policy. We have not recognised de jure the incorporation of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania into the Soviet Union, because of the way in which it was carried out.

  Manchester Airport
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the United States Government's proposal on United States carrier access to Manchester airport was received by the British embassy in Washington; and when it was sent by the embassy to the Department of Transport in London.

  Mr. Eggar
  The United States Government's proposal was received by the British embassy at 10 am local time (15:00 GMT) on Friday 19 February and transmitted to the Department of Transport at 11.40 am local time (16:40 GMT) the same day.

TRANSPORT

  Isle of Wight (Medical Evacuation)
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the tender for search and rescue helicopters for the sea area Wight will include provision for supplying medical evacuation from the Isle of Wight at the request of the district health authority; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  Arrangements for medical evacuation are the responsibility of the district health authority, which can let contracts for the supply of air ambulances or other means of fast transport. The Department's contract helicopter is being provided to meet the needs of maritime and aviation search and rescue arising in a wide area in the central English Channel. It will be possible for it to be made available, at the discretion of Her Majesty's Coastguard, to meet very urgent evacuation needs.

  Bus Services
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will provide statistics on the number of shire counties providing increased support for bus services since deregulation and the total cost thereof.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  Twenty shire counties have budgeted to spend on bus revenue support a total of about £5 million more (in cash terms) in 1987–88 than they did in 1985–86.

  The other counties have budgeted to spend in total £12·6 million less.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he is taking to ensure that regions north of London are able to benefit fully from the opening of the Channel tunnel.
  598
  Mr. David Mitchell
  The opening of the Channel tunnel will make it possible for British Rail to provide through passenger and freight services between regional destinations and the continent. Section 40 of the Channel Tunnel Act requires BR to publish a plan by the end of 1989 setting out its proposals for international rail services through the tunnel. It will be consulting widely with interested parties in the regions in the preparation of this plan.

  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has on any proposals by British Rail for the provision of through services to the north and north-west using the Channel tunnel.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  None as yet. British Rail will be setting out its proposals for Channel tunnel through services to the regions in the plan it is required to publish by the end of 1989 under section 40 of the Channel Tunnel Act. BR will be consulting widely with interested parties in the regions over the preparation of this plan.

EMPLOYMENT

  "Training for Employment"
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received concerning his recent White Paper "Training for Employment', and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what responses have so far been received to the White Paper on "Training for Employment"; and if he will make a statement.

  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. The Secretary of State has as yet received no specific representations about the Government's plans following the White Paper.

  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what would be the gross and net annual costs of doubling the premiums over benefit on the proposed new training for employment programme.

  Mr. Cope
  The Government have accepted the recommendations of the Manpower Services Commission about the level of training allowances which will apply from the time the new programme comes into operation in September 1988. If in all cases the lead over benefit were to be double that recommended by the commission, the additional gross costs in a full year would be about £180 million.

  The training allowance as recommended by the Manpower Services Commission will not be subject to income tax or national insurance contributions. The net cost of increasing it would depend on the tax and national insurance arrangements.

  Skill Shortages (Construction Industry)
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on skill shortages in the construction 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 their 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. Last year the Construction Industry Training Board provided an action plan to increase CITB managed YTS places by 2,000, other YTS places by 1,000 and to provide an extra 1,000 places for adult trainees. 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 programme more resources have also been made available to increase relevant higher education opportunities in those fields.

  Small Businesses
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement about his Department's commitment to the future development of small business and the enterprise culture.

  Mr. Cope
  This Department has specific responsibility for the Government's policies towards small firms. It is our aim to ensure that the strong growth of enterprise and the small firms sector continues, with the assistance of the small firms service, the enterprise allowance scheme and other support from this Department.

  VAT Registrations
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the number of new value added tax registrations in 1987 and the consequences for his policy on small firms.

  Mr. Cope
  During 1986, the latest year for which figures are available, the number of businesses registered for VAT in the United Kingdom increased by 29,000. The number of registrations was 193,000 and of deregistrations 164,000. Overall, since 1979 the number of registered businesses has increased on average by 500 a week. This is a remarkable record and a clear demonstration of the resurgence of the small firms sector in the United Kingdom.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest adjusted and unadjusted figures and percentages for unemployment in Waveney; and if he will give the equivalent figures for a year ago on the most nearly comparable basis.
  600
  Mr. Lee
  Following is the available information, which is also in the Library. On the 14 January 1988 the number of unemployed claimants in the Waveney local authority area was 5,164. The corresponding figure for January 1987 was 6,507.

  Seasonally adjusted unemployment figures are not available below regional level. Also unemployment rates are not calculated for areas smaller than travel-to-work areas.

  Ventilation
  Mr. Brandon-Bravo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what policy initiations he proposes to take in the area of health and safety at work, in the light of the report by Air Conditioning and Ventilation Analysis, a copy of which has been to sent him, about the incidence of poorly ventilated workplaces and contaminated air conditioning systems; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I have not received a copy of the report referred to, but should be happy to do so and to consider the advice of the Health and Safety Executive in due course.

SOCIAL SERVICES

  Isle of Wight (Electorate)
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the 1988 electorate for the Isle of Wight constituency; and what is the 1988 quota for England.

  Mrs. Currie
  Figures relating to electoral registers which came into effect on 16 February 1988 will not be available centrally until April.

  Colonoscopy Examination
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many colonoscopy examinations are carried out within the National Health Service each year; what proportion of these examinations reveal no disease; and what is the average cost to the National Health Service of these examinations.

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

  Leicestershire District Health Authority
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will list the names and occupations of the members of the Leicestershire district health authority; and how many live in Leicestershire;

  (2) if he will list the names and occupations of members of Trent regional health authority, showing how many live in Leicestershire.

  Mrs. Currie
  Information about members of the Leicestershire district health authority is not held centrally. They are appointed by Trent regional health authority and the appropriate local authorities. The hon. Member may therefore wish to seek this information from the chairman of Trent regional health authority.

  The information requested about members of the regional health authority, two of whom live in Leicestershire, is as follows, with the exception of details about occupation which we do not systematically update:
  601
  Trent Regional Health Authority

  Members

  Mrs. J. Dady

  Dr. R. A. A. R. Lawrence

  Dr. P. F. J. Sewell

  Dr. J. A. Birch

  Mr. D. Brown

  Professor R. E. Coupland

  Professor R. Kilpatrick

  Professor D. S. Monro

  Mr. J. F. Pattison

  Mrs. N. M. Collett

  Councillor P. Gaul

  Councillor A O'Brien

  Mr. M. Varcoe

  Mrs. J. Radford

  Mr. M. F. Spungin

  Mr. J. Thierry

  At present there arc three vacancies.

  NHS Land Sales
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what were the proceeds from land sales by the National Health Service for each year from 1978–79.

  Mrs. Currie
  Proceeds from land sales by health authorities in England from 1978–79 have been as follows:

  Year

  Sale receipts £ million (to nearest £0·1 million)

  1978–79

  7·5

  1979–80

  10·0

  1980–81

  15·4

  1981–82

  19·4

  1982–83

  18·2

  1983–84

  31·5

  1984–85

  48·9

  1985–86

  82·9

  1986–87

  146·0

  1987–88

  1246·0

  1 Estimate.

  Durham City Constituency (Electoral Roll)
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the percentage turnover in the electoral roll for the Durham city constituency between 1983 and the last year for which figures were available.

  Mrs. Currie
  Details of the numbers leaving or joining the register of electors in any year are not known centrally, except for the number of attainers1. The percentage change in the number of parliamentary electors and the total number of attainers joining the register for the city of Durham between 1983 and 1987, the latest available year, were as follows:

  1983 register

  1987 register

  Percentage change

  Total number of attainers1

  1983–87

  1983–87

  67,770

  67,363

  -0·6

  5,804

  1 A person who attains age 18 during the currency of the register.

  Alcohol Abuse
  Mr. Burt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what sum of money he plans to make available in 1988–89 to educate young people about the consequences of alcohol abuse.

  Mrs. Currie
  The Health Education Authority plans to commit approximately £400,000 of its central funds to alcohol education in 1988–89. This includes a grant to the Teachers Advisory Council on alcohol and drug education and expenditure on a number of activities particularly designed for young people.

  Alcohol Concern, the national voluntary agency which has been awarded grant-aid of £500,000 for 1988–89, plans to undertake a number of alcohol education activities including initiatives for young people in collaboration with national youth organisations.

  Pensionable Retirement
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has any proposals to establish complete equality in age of pensionable retirement for men and women; and what is his latest estimate of the cost of such a proposal.

  Mr. Scott
  We are still considering all the options for change in pension age, including the question of equalisation. The cost of equal pension ages for men and women would depend on the age at which equalisation took place. Equalisation at 60 would cost over £3,000 million at 1985 benefit rates; at 63 about £800 million; and at 65 there would be a saving of about £500 million. All figures are net of effects on tax and other benefits, but exclude costs to employers who would be obliged under EC directive 86/378 to equalise pension ages in occupational schemes also.

  Pensions
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will list the measures taken since 1979 to more closely approximate the state pension treatment of men and women.

  Mr. Scott
  Men and women who have paid full contributions throughout then working lives have had equal treatment since 1948. From 6 April 1979, the married women's half-test was abolished for women reaching age 60 on or after that date; the half-test was an additional contribution condition requiring married women to have paid full national insurance contributions in at least half the years between the date of their marriage and their retirement in order to receive a pension. The effect of the half-test for women reaching pension age before 6 April 1979 was abolished in the Social Security Act 1983 with effect from 22 December 1984. The Social Security Act 1985 also equalised the rate of pension payable to men, single women and married women entitled to a non-contributory category D pension.

  Benefits
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many applications he has received in each of the years 1983 to 1988 for the treatment of a claim for supplementary benefit as a claim for(a) attendance

  603
  allowance and (b) invalid care allowance in the Leeds metropolitan district council area; and how many such applications were successful in each of those years.

  Number of applications for supplementary benefit claims or other documents to be treated as claims for attendance allowance or invalid care allowance under the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1979 in Great Britain 1983–88.

  Applications made

  Applications successful

  Period

  Attendance allowance

  Invalid care allowance

  Attendance allowance

  Invalid care allowance

  June 1983-December 19841

  590

  59

  190

  52

  1985

  411

  98

  110

  85

  1986

  164

  80

  29

  76

  1987

  167

  125

  31

  54

  19882

  15

  0

  1

  0

  1 Records were not kept before June 1983. This figure cannot be apportioned between the 1983 and 1984 calendar years.

  2 Up to 25 February.

  Pocket Money
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services in what situations his Department's regulations require children's pocket money to be taken into account when assessing a claimant's entitlement to benefit.

  Mr. Scott
  Any payment which an absent parent makes to a child whom he is liable to maintain is normally treated as income and taken into account in full in the assessment of supplementary benefit; such payments will similarly be taken into account under the rules for income support. However, the first £100 of any gift for an occasion, like a birthday, is ignored for supplementary benefit purposes. Under income support any payments made by way of gifts will be treated as capital except that any amount which exceeds in aggregate £250 in 52 weeks will be treated as income and taken into account in full.

  Pocket money paid regularly to a child by a person who is not liable to maintain him or her is treated as a voluntary payment. Under supplementary benefit the first £4 a week is disregarded. From 11 April the disregard will increase to £5 a week under income support. Occasional payments of pocket money are normally treated as capital in supplementary benefit. In income support, the first £250 in any period of 52 weeks will be regarded as capital and any excess treated as income averaged over the number of weeks remaining in that year.

  Family Income Supplement
  Mr. John Garrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many of his Department's staff are eligible for family income supplement.

  Mr. Scott
  Fewer than 300 staff in the Department are currently receiving family income supplement.

  Widowed Fathers (Allowance)
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any plans to introduce a widowed father's allowance in line with that of the widowed mother's allowance; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  We have no plans to introduce a widowed father's allowance. Benefit is paid to widowed mothers because they have frequently been financially dependent on the deceased husband and would find difficulty in maintaining themselves and their children on widowhood. The same difficulties are not normally present for widowed
  604
  Mr. Scott
  I regret that the requested information is not available. The information which is available is set out in the table.

  fathers. The cost of introducing such an allowance would be about £35 million if based on the deceased wife's contributions; most of this would go to men already in full-time work. However, from 1989 a guaranteed minimum pension will be payable to widowed fathers whose wives were in contracted-out occupational pension schemes.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his latest estimate of the number of losers as a result of changed housing benefit regulations to come into effect in April.

  Mr. Portillo
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Derby, South (Mrs. Beckett) on 18 December 1987 at columns 916–18.

  Dental Estimates Board
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total cost of the Dental Estimates Board in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  The total cost of the Dental Estimates Board for England and Wales, in cash terms, in each of the last five years, together with the total gross fees authorised for payment to dentists by family practitioner committees, is given in the table; the total cost of the board as a percentage of the gross fees authorised is also shown.

  Year

  Cost of board

  Gross fees authorised

  Cost/gross fees

  £ million

  £ million

  per cent.

  1982–83

  10·788

  549·741

  1·962

  1983–84

  11·013

  594·406

  1·853

  1984–85

  11·751

  649·785

  1·808

  1985–86

  114·686

  671·000

  2·189

  1986–87

  214·530

  753·096

  1·929

  Notes:

  1 Includes £2·519 million for replacement of the board's computer and early stages of computer redevelopment.

  2 Includes £1·999 million for computer redevelopment.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the unit cost of the Dental Estimates Board annual report for 1986–87, and if he will make a statement.
  605
  Mrs. Currie
  The 1986–87 annual report of the Dental Estimates Board for England and Wales was, for the first time, in two parts.

  The first part contains the board's report to the Secretaries of State and key statistics about the board's work and the general dental service. The unit cost was 99·6p. The cost of publication was met from efficiency savings at the board.

  The detailed "Digest of Statistics for 1986–87", the second part of the board's report, is published as a separate document at a cost of £15 per copy.

  Chiropodists
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has any plans to review the position of unqualified practising chiropodists; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  In the absence of general agreement between the professional associations concerned we have no plans for reviewing present statutory provisions governing the practice of chiropody.

  Contraceptives
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will make a statement outlining the failure rates of condoms revealed by the different world studies referred to in the October 1987 edition of the "Prescribers Journal", published by his Department;

  (2) what assessment he has made as to whether the background information on the failure rates of condoms used to establish a range of 2 to 15 per 100 women years in the "Prescribers Journal" of October 1987 can be used to establish an average failure rate for such contraceptive devices in the developed world;

  (3) whether he will list, by order of frequency of failure, the failure rates of different contraceptive techniques referred to in the "Prescribers Journal" of October 1987; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  The following table, ranking different contraceptive techniques by range of user failure rate, appeared in the "Prescriber's Journal" (Volume 27, Number 5, October 1987):

  Table 1

  User-failure rates for different methods of contraception/100 woman-years

  Range in the world literature1

  Sterilisation

  Male

  0–0·2

  Female

  0–0·5

  Injectable (DMPA)

  0–1

  Combined pills

  0–1

  50 µg oestrogen

  0·1–1

  <50 µg oestrogen

  0·2–1

  IUD

  Lippesdoop C

  0·3–4

  Copper 7

  0·3–4

  Progestogen-only "pill"

  0·3–5

  Diaphragm

  2–15

  Condom

  2–15

  Coitus interruptus

  8–17

  Spermicides alone

  4–25

  Natural family planning

  Pre-plus post-ovulation

  15–30

  Post-ovulation alone

  1–6

  606

  Range in the world literature1

  Contraceptive sponge

  9–25

  No method, young women

  80–90

  No method at age 40

  40–50

  No method at age 45

  c10–20

  No method at age 50

  c0–5

  1 Excludes atypical studies giving particularly poor results, and all extended-use studies.

  Notes:

  1. Ranking of efficacy, but overlap of ranges.

  2. Influence of age: better results are obtained, for any given degree of compliance, in older women.

  The user failure rate for condoms quoted in the table is based on a number of studies over the years in this country and abroad. It is thought to be a reasonable estimate of the position in the United Kingdom, bearing in mind that incorrect use is a significant factor. Because of this, and other variables such as age, experience or motivation of user, it would be misleading to present figures in terms of an average failure rate.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether he will review his policy on the promotion of the use of condoms as part of his safe sex campaign, in the light of the statement in The Lancet of 7 February, a copy of which has been sent to him, that in contraceptive use condoms have a failure rate of 13 to 15 per cent.;

  (2) whether he will commission research into the statistical relationship between the failure rate of condoms in preventing the general exchange of body fluids and their failure rate when used as a contraceptive device; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  I have no plans to commission such research. A significant cause of failure in condoms is thought to be incorrect use. This was quoted as contributing to the failure rate range mentioned in the letter published in The Lancet on 7 February 1987. While it is important to ensure that condoms are of high quality and that there are clear instructions for use, the Government have stressed in their AIDS public education campaign that condoms only reduce the risk of disease transmission; they do not remove it.

  Rabies
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people in the United Kingdom have been immunised against rabies for each year since 1980.

  Mrs. Currie
  This information is not available in the form requested. The number of doses of rabies vaccine supplied through the Department for distribution in England and Wales was as follows:

  Year

  Number

  1980

  2,280

  1981

  9,000

  1982

  8,000

  1983

  5,000

  1984

  5,000

  1985

  6,500

  1986

  6,000

  1987

  8,000

  607
  These supplies will have included initial and booster doses for those groups considered to be at special risk, for example, veterinary and technical staff of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and employees of animal quarantine premises, as well as to travellers returning to this country who might have been in contact with rabid animals.

  Number of notifications of rabies United Kingdom 1980–87

  Year

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  England and Wales

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Scotland

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1—

  Northern Ireland

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1—

  1—

  1— Not available.

  Mr. J. H. Foster
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if the chief adjudication officer has yet completed consideraton of the social security commissioner's decision of 20 February 1987 in respect of Mr. Joseph Hugh Foster of Birmingham.

  Mr. Portillo
  The chief adjudication officer has considered the commissioner's decision and concluded that no amendment to existing guidance is necessary.

  Health Authorities
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give for each district authority and special health authority(a) the outturn for 1986–87 and (b) the estimated outturn for 1987–88.

  Mr. Newton
  For outturn expenditure information by district for 1986–87 I refer the hon Member to appendix D of the Department's annual booklet "Health Authorities' Annual Accounts — National Summary (England)" — copies of which are held in the Library. Equivalent information for 1987–88 will not be available until the autumn.

  The Department has not until recently routinely collected informaton on an income and expenditure basis in-year. The first routine monitoring of health authorities' spending on an income and expenditure basis will cover the period from 1 April to 30 June 1988 although this information is to be collected by region rather than by individual district health authorities.

  Rating Reform
  Sir Brandon Rhys Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether it is his intention that community charge payers entitled to a rebate will receive full reimbursement of the amount of the community charge in all local authority areas through income support or by some other form of relief; and what arrangements will be made in respect of claimants in households with variable incomes.

  Mr. Scott
  Rebates will be available in each local authority up to a maximum of 80 per cent. of community charge liability. Claimants whose incomes are equal to or below their income support levels will be entitled to the maximum rebate, and the entitlement of claimants with incomes above these levels will be calculated by the
  608
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many cases of rabies or suspected rabies were recorded in the United Kingdom for each year since 1980.

  Mrs. Currie
  The available information is given in the table.

  application of a taper. Income support rates will include an amount to help meet the 20 per cent. minimum community charge contribution, reflecting average community charge levels in Great Britain as a whole. Rebate entitlement will be assessed on the basis of the liablity, needs and resources of each individual or couple and will be reassessed when a claimant's circumstances change; it will not be assessed on the basis of the liabilities, needs and resources of households.

  Ambulance Service (Privatisation)
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will identify and provide details of what discussions and considerations are currently being undertaken within his Department with regard to its privatisation of the ambulance service or elements of it.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 29 February 1988]: We published a scrutiny report on the non-emergency sector of the ambulance service in April 1984 when we said that it was open to district health authorities to buy in part of the ambulance service from the private sector if that is more cost effective and provided the quality of service was maintained. Many NHS ambulance authorities already use private contractors, the hospital care service and voluntary aid societies to transport appropriate NHS patients. This has been the case for many years and helps to ensure that skilled ambulance crews, and specialist vehicles are used for those who need the special care and attention which they can provide.

  The Government have no plans centrally for altering the future management or operational arrangements for NHS emergency or non-emergency ambulance services.

  Eli Lilly
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the medicinal products made by Eli Lilly and its subsidiaries which currently have product licences from his Department; and if he will indicate which can be purchased without prescription.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 23 February 1988]: The medicinal products requested are recorded in the following list, which does not indicate whether the products are currently available since marketing decisions are for the licence holder. Humulin and Nu-Seals aspirin are licensed for pharmacy sale without a prescription. All the other products listed are available only on prescription. It

  609
  should be noted that a number of the products have varying strengths and dosage forms which each have separate product licences.

  V-Cil-K

  Penicillin

  Dolasan

  Vancocin

  Fenopron

  Nebcin

  Doloxene

  Kefadol

  Distaclor

  Cinobac

  Dubutrex

  Eldisine

  Progesic

  Sodium Amytal

  Moxalactam

  Cesamet

  Elplat

  Oncovin

  Distalgesic

  Allegron

  Capastat

  Ilosone

  Napalgesic

  Cologel

  Aventyl

  Amytal

  Seconal

  Velbe

  Ilotycin

  Glugacon

  Haelan Tape

  Keflex

  Distamine

  Distaquaine V-K

  Folic Acid

  Cycloserine

  Keflin

  Axid

  Dimelor

  Tuinal

  Haelan

  Brietal Sodium

  Kefzol

  Humulin (P)

  Nu-Seals Aspirin (P)

  Invasive Carcinoma
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women are suffering from invasive carcinoma in the United Kingdom.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 22 February 1988]: I regret that this information is not available in the form

  Reg. No. 4028/86—1st Round

  Applications Received

  Successful

  Region

  Constructions

  Modernisations

  Total

  Number

  Per cent.

  Scotland

  94

  62

  156

  39

  25

  Northern Ireland

  21

  33

  54

  5

  9

  Wales

  7

  8

  15

  3

  20

  South West England

  3

  3

  6

  1

  17

  South East England

  7

  1

  8

  4

  50

  Eastern England

  1

  —

  1

  —

  Nil

  Humberside/Yorks.

  11

  10

  21

  5

  24

  North East England

  3

  2

  5

  1

  20

  Western England

  7

  4

  11

  2

  18

  North West England

  1

  3

  4

  1

  25

  Total

  155

  126

  281

  61

  22

  610
  requested. The numbers of new cases of malignant cancer in women recorded in England and Wales and in Scotland, in each of the last three years for which information is available, are given in the table.

  Numbers of registrations of newly diagnosed cases of malignant neoplasms in women in Great Britain for selected cancers

  England and Wales

  Scotland

  Year 1982

  Breast (ICD Code 174 )

  21,618

  2,513

  Trachae, bronchus and lung (ICE) Code 162)

  9,392

  1,368

  Ovary and other uterine adnexa (ICD Code 183)

  4,433

  498

  Cervix (ICD Code 180)

  3,909

  408

  Remainder2

  57,711

  7,994

  Total

  97,063

  12,781

  Year 1983

  Breast

  21,297

  2,531

  Trachae, bronchus and lung

  9,475

  1,330

  Ovary etc.

  4,521

  515

  Cervix

  3,875

  430

  Remainder2

  58,436

  8,215

  Total

  97,604

  13,021

  1 Year 1984

  Breast

  21,363

  2,525

  Trachea, bronchus and lung

  9,840

  1,448

  Ovary etc.

  4,539

  532

  Cervix

  4,043

  444

  Remainder2

  59,394

  9,095

  Total

  99,179

  14,044

  1 Provisional.

  2 Of which the commonest are stomach, colon, rectum etc. and skin.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Fishing Vessels
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many applications were received, and what proportion were successful, for grants under European Economic Community regulation 4028/86 for fishing vessel construction and modernisation in local regions.

  Mr. Gummer
  The following is the information requested:
  611
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many applications were received from each port in the United Kingdom for grants under EEC regulation 4028/86 for fishing vessel construction and modernisation.

  Mr. Gummer
  The following is the information requested:

  EC Regulation 4028/86—First round—Applications received

  Number

  England

  Grimsby

  6

  Hull

  5

  North Shields

  2

  Sunderland

  1

  Blyth

  1

  Holy Island

  1

  Whitby

  2

  Scarborough

  3

  Bridlington

  5

  Lowestoft

  1

  Folkestone

  3

  Portsmouth

  2

  Lymington

  2

  Eastbourne

  1

  Weymouth

  1

  Brixham

  3

  Salcombe

  2

  Newlyn

  9

  Padstow

  1

  Looe

  1

  Fleetwood

  3

  Maryport

  1

  56

  Scotland

  Stornoway

  4

  Grimsay

  1

  Whalsay

  1

  Lerwick

  8

  Hamnavoe

  1

  Scalloway

  3

  Kirkwall

  2

  Skerries

  1

  Westray

  1

  Benbecula

  1

  Mallaig

  3

  Sheildaig

  1

  Lochinver

  5

  Portmahomack

  1

  Scalpay

  1

  Kinlochbervie

  3

  Wick

  3

  Helmsdale

  1

  Broadford

  1

  Brora

  1

  Balintore

  1

  Fraserburgh

  16

  Buckie

  12

  Banff

  1

  Peterhead

  20

  Aberdeen

  11

  Macduff

  8

  Thurso

  1

  Gourdon

  1

  Whitehills

  2

  Lossiemouth

  1

  Eyemouth

  8

  Leith

  1

  Arbroath

  1

  Girvan

  1

  Ayr

  10

  Campbeltown

  4

  Carradale

  3

  Tayvallich

  1

  612

  Number

  Kirkcudbright

  6

  Tobermory

  2

  Anstruther

  1

  Pittenweem

  1

  156

  Northern Ireland

  Kilkeel

  27

  Portavogie

  18

  Ardglass

  3

  Coleraine

  1

  Donaghadee

  1

  Groomsport

  1

  Ballycastle

  1

  Islandmagee

  1

  Cushendall

  1

  54

  Wales

  Holyhead

  3

  Milford Haven

  9

  Port Talbot

  1

  Swansea

  2

  15

  Broadleaved Trees
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what guidance he is offering for set-aside schemes to involve the planting of broadleaf trees.

  Mr. Gummer
  The Community set-aside scheme agreed by the European Council on 15 February includes provision for land taken out of arable crop production to be used for woodland. As suggested in the consultation document issued earlier, this woodland option might in the United Kingdom be linked to the new farm woodland scheme which, if approved by Parliament, would offer special encouragement for broadleaved trees. I and my colleagues will be considering the point further in the light of the views that have been expressed and the detailed legislative texts on set-aside still to be agreed in Brussels.

  Goats
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he hopes to respond to the Farm Animal Welfare Council's draft welfare code for goats; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  We have asked interested organisations for their comments on the proposed code and will take these into account in preparing a final version. This should be laid before the House later this year.

  New Zealand Butter
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress is being made on European Commission Council of Agriculture Ministers discussions on post-1989 arrangements for New Zealand butter quotas; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The Commission has not yet made a proposal on the arrangements for the import of New Zealand butter from 1 January 1989.

  Dairy Premises (Examinations)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) whether he will consider changing the system charges for examining dairy premises under the Milk and Dairies Hygiene Regulations from a fixed charge to one based on litres produced; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what steps he has taken to ascertain whether an alternative to the present regime might offer a more cost-effective service for examining dairy premises under the Milk and Dairies Hygiene Regulations; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) whether he has considered offering for competitive tender the examination of dairy premises under the Milk and Dairies Hygiene Regulations.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  As I told my hon. Friend the Member for Pembroke (Mr. Bennett) on 26 January, at column 175, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I have arranged for a formal efficiency scrutiny to be carried out with the view to identifying possible economies in the way this work is done. The examining officer has wide terms of reference and he is therefore free to address the options suggested by the hon. Member: he is consulting interested organisations, including the Farmers Union of Wales. His report is due in May and his recommendations will then be carefully considered.

  Milk
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) whether he will seek to secure for milk producers increases in the amount of milk they can produce without paying the super-levy on excess output similar to those increases recently agreed for producers in Belgium, France and West Germany; and if he will make a statement;

  Percentage Distribution of Farm Businesses according to net Farm Income, 1986–87. All types of Farm

  Net Farm Income

  Less than zero

  0 to £10,000

  £10,000 to £20,000

  £20,000 and above

  England

  21

  38

  21

  20

  Wales

  23

  39

  23

  15

  Scotland

  32

  41

  18

  9

  United Kingdom

  24

  39

  21

  17

  Source: Farm Business Surveys

  Notes:

  (a) Figures are derived from data collected in farm business surveys by universities and agricultural colleges in Great Britain and by the Department of Agriculture in Northern Ireland. They relate to full-time farm businesses.

  (b) Net farm income represents the return to the farmer and spouse for their manual and managerial labour and on tenant-type capital in livestock, crops, machinery, and so on, but excluding land and buildings. It is calculated before the deduction of interest on any farming loans. All farms are treated as rented in the derivation of net farm income and an imputed rental value for owner-occupied land is charged as an expense in the accounts.

  Environmental Research
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research he is currently carrying out into environmental topics.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 1 March 1988]: Information on work in these areas is contained in the
  614
  (2) if he will make a statement on the decision of the recent European Community summit in Brussels to ease rules governing milk quotas for producers in France, Germany and Belgium in order that they may produce extra milk without paying the super-levy on excess output.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  In order to accommodate changes in the pattern of marketing EC legislation allows member states to seek approval from the Commission under management committee procedure for the transfer of specified quantities of quota between their direct sale and wholesale allocations. This is what was recently approved for France, Germany and Belgium and similar approvals have been given to other member states, including the United Kingdom, in the past. These transfers do not increase the total amount of quota allocated to any member state. I do not believe that such a transfer would be justified in the United Kingdom under present circumstances.

  Farm Incomes
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the number of farmers in(a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) the United Kingdom whose earnings from agriculture in 1987 were (i) less than £4,000, (ii) between £4,000 and £5,000, (iii) between £5,000 and £6,000, (iv) between £6,000 and £7,000, (v) between £7,000 and £8,000, (vi) between £8,000 and £9,000, (vii) between £9,000 and £10,000, (viii) between £10,000 and £15,000 and (ix) over £15,000.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 1 March 1988]: I regret that this information is not available in the form requested, nor for 1987. The farm business survey does, however, allow estimates to be made of the proportional breakdown of farm businesses according to broad income band and information relating to the 1986–87 accounting year, ending on average in February 1987, is set out in the table.

  "Register of Government-Funded Agriculture/Environment R and D in the United Kingdom" produced by my Department, copies of which I am placing in the Library of the House.

  New Forest (Keepers)
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will seek a meeting with the Forestry Commission to discuss the rent strike by keepers of the New Forest; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 29 February 1988]: The rent strike is a management problem which falls to be dealt with internally by the Forestry Commission.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has on the average rent payable by and wage paid to keepers of the New Forest at the latest available date.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 29 February 1988]: The average rent payable is £24·75 per week. The average gross weekly earnings of keepers are £177·31.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has on the level of rent presently being sought by the Forestry Commission from the keepers of the New Forest.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 29 February 1988]: The commission is seeking an average "fair rent" of £24·75 per week from the keepers.

DEFENCE

  Sovereign Bases (Cyprus)
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots are employed at each of the two sovereign bases in the islands of Cyprus; and what lengths of the Dhekelia base boundary are common with(a) Turkish northern Cyprus and (b) Greek southern Cyprus.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Some 857 Greek Cypriots are currently employed at the eastern sovereign base area (Dhekelia) and some 1,934 at the western sovereign base area (Akrotiri). 322 Turkish Cypriots are employed at Dhekelia.

  The Dhekelia base boundary borders the UN buffer zone for about 3 miles, the Republic of Cyprus south of the buffer zone for about 23 miles, and the so-called Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus for about 27 miles.

  3 Brigade
  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated cost involved in rearranging the command structures within Northern Ireland and creating an operational area for 3 Brigade.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The extra costs associated with the formation of 3 Brigade are estimated to be about £17 million in 1988–89 and about £2 million to £3 million per annum thereafter.

  Barron Report
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the conclusions and recommendations of the Barron report on defence land needs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The so-called "Barron Report" was a technical assessment carried out within the headquarters of 616
  the United Kingdom land forces of the Army's present and future training needs, taking into account the increase in the TA and reserve forces and the considerable increase in weapon danger areas. Much of the detailed information in the study is classified and it cannot therefore be published. Since there appear to be a number of popular misapprehensions about the nature of this document, I am, however, prepared to give an outline of its general conclusions.

  On the basis of the number of company weeks required to train each organisation and unit of the field army, the study concluded that there was currently a shortfall of between 580 and 900 company weeks of dry training each year, depending on the extent to which live firing areas were able to be used for some dry training. In order to meet this shortfall in full, the report estimated that approximately 50,000 additional acres of dry training land might be required overall, although much would depend on the topography of any additional land and the uses to which it could be put.

  The report is not a statement of MOD policy and was not concerned with the ways in which additional land might be acquired, but, in the light of the clear evidence it provides of a significant shortfall in Army land for dry training, MOD will continue with its policy of seeking to acquire suitable land which may become available, particularly where this will allow us to extend an existing training area. Normal planning procedures will he followed in every case.

  Foxhunter
  Sir Antony Buck
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will outline the concept situation relative to negotiations with Marconi Defence Systems with respect to the Foxhunter radar system.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We have now finalised our negotiations with Marconi Defence Systems on a programme of work to bring the radar up to the required standard. We have negotiated taut technical criteria, linked these to strict arrangements for relating payment to achievement, and agreed a firm price to cover the work. Formal contract signature will now proceed.

  Departmental Houses
  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of his Department's houses in(a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland have been declared surplus in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 22 February 1988]: I regret that the information requested is not available broken down by country. The total number of properities declared surplus in each year is as follows:

  Number

  (a) Married Quarters1 2

  15 January 1979 to 14 January 1980

  1,618

  15 January 1980 to 14 January 1981

  2,161

  15 January 1981 to 14 January 1982

  1,189

  15 January 1982 to 14 January 1983

  1,000

  15 January 1983 to 14 January 1984

  506

  15 January 1984 to 14 January 1985

  686

  15 January 1985 to 31 March 1986

  1,595

  1 April 1986 to 31 March 1987

  1,523

  1 April 1987 to 30 November 19873

  1,220

  Total

  11,498

  617

  Number

  (b) MOD Civilian Houses4

  1 April 1979 to 31 March 1980

  5

  1 April 1980 to 31 March 1981

  11

  1 April 1981 to 31 March 1982

  329

  1 April 1982 to 31 March 1983

  526

  1 April 1983 to 31 March 1984

  82

  1 April 1984 to 31 March 1985

  599

  1 April 1985 to 31 March 1986

  305

  1 April 1986 to 31 March 1987

  149

  1 April 1987 to 19 February 19883

  167

  Total

  2,173

  1 Including flats.

  2These figures do not include surplus properties transferred to the Territorial Army, the United States forces in the United Kingdom or which may have been demolished.

  3 Latest recorded figures.

  4 Including demolitions and transfers.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Fair Employment
  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he intends to respond to the report of the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights on fair employment in Northern Ireland (Cm. 237).

  Mr. Tom King
  I have today written to the chairman of the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights giving the Government's response to the commission's report on fair employment and outlining our plans for new legislation in this field.

  The Government are committed to ensuring that all employers in Northern Ireland positively practise equality of opportunity in employment. It is in the interests of all the people of Northern Ireland that there should be, and be seen to be, fair treatment for all.

  I have today published an outline of the Government's proposals for legislation which have been drawn up after wide consultation with interested parties including employers' organisations and trade unions. Copies of the brochure, and of my letter to the chairman of the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights, have been placed in the Library and are available in the Vote Office. I welcome this opportunity to acknowledge the contribution which the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights report has made.

  The main features of our proposals are as follows. All employers in Northern Ireland will be required to practice equality of opportunity. All public sector employers, and all private sector employers with more than 10 employees, will be required to monitor the religious composition of their work force. Failure to do so will be a criminal offence. For a transitional period, the threshold in the private sector will be 25 employees. Employers who fail to meet their obligations will not normally be eligible for Government grants and contracts.

  Employers will be enabled to undertake affirmative action programmes designed to give under-represented groups better access to employment and training opportunities. The Fair Employment Agency will be strengthened and restructured with its educational, promotional and investigative functions concentrated in a new Fair Employment Commission which will inherit the agency's assets, staff and experience. The commission will
  618
  audit the monitoring returns compiled by employers registered with the commission, and it will investigate employment practice and patterns.

  Individual complaints of alleged religious discrimination will be dealt with by a separate tribunal using the same sort of procedures as are already successfully used for employment matters in the existing industrial tribunal structure. In pattern and practice cases, the commission will he able to apply to the tribunal for an order of compliance if its directions are not obeyed.

  We intend to publish a White Paper in the late spring, and new legislation will he introduced at the earliest opportunity.

  Civil Service (Article)
  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on why Mr. Robert Cooper, chairman of the Fair Employment Agency for Northern Ireland, has attempted to block publication of an article in the Journal of Social Policy, written by one of the agency's former consultants, that details how the original report of the agency's investigation of the Northern Irish Civil Service came to be altered by the Civil Service itself.

  Mr. Stanley
  This is a matter for the Fair Employment Agency, which is an autonomous body operating within the terms of the Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act 1976 and independent of the Government.

  Civil Service (Investigation)
  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the investigation of the Northern Irish Civil Service carried out by the Fair Employment Agency, as to why civil servants assisted in the investigations as specialists and why the original recommendations and conclusions of the report were altered; and if he will place copies of the reports of the original consultants in the Library.

  Mr. Stanley
  Matters connected with the preparation of reports arising from investigations under section 12 of the Fair Employment (NI) Act 1976 are the responsibility of the agency, subject to the provisions of that Act. Under Schedule 5 to the Act, the agency must afford those being investigated an opportunity to comment on the matters being investigated and to furnish oral or other evidence respecting them. The Civil Service, as it was fully entitled to do, responded to the opportunity which was thus afforded it.

  International Fund for Ireland
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) for what precise purpose the International Fund for Ireland investment company was established, with particular reference to the provision of venture capital for higher risk projects not likely to attract conventional sources of capital; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) how many projects in Northern Ireland have been allocated financial assistance from the International Fund for Ireland investment company and have (a) received direct grants and (b) received venture capital;
  619
  (3) what proportion of venture capital assigned to the International Fund for Ireland investment company has been set aside to assist new start-up projects; and how much to date has been allocated to new business projects;

  (4) what evidence he has that projects appraised, approved, and supported by the Industrial Development Board are likely to attract support from the International Fund for Ireland investment company; and whether the International Fund for Ireland investment company has an in-house capability to assess projects.

  Mr. Stanley
  Under the terms of article 9 of the agreement between the Governments of the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, concerning the International Fund for Ireland, the board of the fund was enjoined to establish two investment companies, one in each part of Ireland, to identify the risk capital needs of existing or new industrial and commercial enterprises and to provide, on sound commercial criteria, equity capital or loans. The board of the fund has accordingly incorporated two subsidiary investment companies—IFI (Northern) Investments Ltd. and IFI (Southern) Investment Ltd. Although the board of the fund was appointed by the Governments of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, it is independent of them. Accordingly, questions relating to the administration of the fund, including investment policy, are matters for the board of the fund and should be addressed to the chairman.

  Housing Executive
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many architects are presently employed by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive; and how many new housing starts are planned by the executive for 1988, 1989 and 1990.

  Mr. Needham
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. I am advised by the chief executive that the total number of architectural staff employed at 31 December 1987 was 160. This figure is made up of 133 architects (including architectural technicians) 16 architect-planners and 16 landscape architects.

  The information on new starts requested is not available for calendar years. However, the Housing Executive plans to let contracts for 1,500 new dwellings in the financial year 1988–89 and on the basis of the provisional allocations for housing in the public expenditure White Paper (Cm. 288), to sustain this level of new starts in each of the two following financial years.

  National Parks
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has any plans to introduce national parks legislation for Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Needham
  There are no plans to introduce national parks legislation in Northern Ireland as there is already provision in article 12 of the Nature Conservation and Amenity Lands (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 for the designation of national parks.

  Conservation
  Mr. McCrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on conservation and utility management plans for(a) Strangford lough area in south Down and (b) Mournes area.
  620
  Mr. Needham
  It is intended to declare the whole of the shores and parts of the islands in Strangford lough as areas of special scientific interest (ASSIs). The first ASSI has just been declared and declaration of the remainder will follow. The Department is in discussion with the Department of Agriculture with a view to bringing forward a proposal to designate a marine nature reserve in Strangford lough. The production of a comprehensive plan is seen as an integral part of the process of designation and subsequent management. The preparation of such a plan requires a research programme extending over at least a year to gather essential basic information.

  The Department is currently engaged in consultations with all other Government Departments whose functions may affect the landscape and wildlife of the Mournes. This process will produce proposals which will be discussed with district councils and will lead to a co-ordinated statement of policies for the Mournes area of outstanding natural beauty. The overall objectives will be to conserve the natural beauty of the area, to promote its enjoyment by the public and to safeguard the interests of its residents.

  Museums
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he intends to publish a policy statement for museums in Northern Ireland.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I have no plans to do so.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the Irish Museums Association in Ireland about the role of museums in Northern Ireland.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  None.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he intends to provide funding for museums in Northern Ireland other than the Ulster museum.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  In addition to the Ulster museum, the Government provides funding for the Ulster folk and transport museum and the Ulster American folk park. To date it has not been possible to make available resources to other museums.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the budgetary allocation to museums in Northern Ireland in each of the financial years from 1982–83 to 1986–87 inclusive.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information is as follows:

  Recurrent

  Capital

  Purchase grant

  £

  £

  £

  Ulster Museum

  1982–83

  1,745,000

  74,000

  —

  1983–84

  1,800,000

  181,000

  —

  1984–85

  1,897,000

  167,000

  30,000

  1985–86

  2,027,000

  115,000

  45,000

  1986–87

  2,108,000

  280,000

  135,000

  Ulster Folk and Transport Museum

  1982–83

  1,379,000

  76,000

  —

  1983–84

  1,390,000

  107,000

  —

  1984–85

  1,399,000

  85,000

  20,000

  1985–86

  1,527,000

  182,000

  25,000

  1986–87

  1,585,000

  239,000

  55,000

  621

  Recurrent

  Capital

  Purchase grant

  £

  £

  £

  Ulster American Folk Park

  1982–83

  229,000

  9,000

  —

  1983–84

  242,000

  7,000

  —

  1984–85

  261,000

  59,000

  5,000

  1985–86

  267,000

  113,000

  5,000

  1986–87

  303,000

  59,000

  5,000

  Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action is being taken to identify victims of myalgic encephalomyelitis in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  The diagnosis of this condition is a matter for the medical profession.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what financial assistance has been made available to myalgic encephalomyelitis support groups in Northern Ireland to date; and if he plans to fund a professional regional worker in the forthcoming financial year.

  Mr. Needham
  An application from an myalgic encephalomyelitis support group for funding of a development officer is at present being considered along with other competing applications for grants by voluntary organisations. No previous requests for help by such groups have been made to the Department or the health and social services boards.

  Young Children (Education)
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what proportion of four-year-olds in Northern Ireland avails itself of(a) nursery education, (b) primary school education and (c) pre-school playgroup provision;

  (2) what proportion of three-year-olds in Northern Ireland avails itself of (a) nursery education, (b) primary school education and (c) pre-school playgroup provision.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Foyle (Mr. Hume) on 24 February 1988, at columm 190.

  Young Children
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what proportion of (i) the three-year-old population and (ii) the four-year-old population in Northern Ireland are within families with(a) a single parent, (b) both parents unemployed and (c) the parents in receipt of family income supplement;

  (2) what proportion of the population of Northern Ireland is under five years old: and what plans there are to introduce an under-fives initiative to Northern Ireland of the type operating in other regions;
  622
  (3) what financial or other, assistance is given to pre-school playgroups by (a) each health and social services board and (b) each education and library board;

  (4) what is the current population of (a) four-year-olds and (b) three-year-olds in Northern Ireland;

  (5) how many mother and toddler groups operate in Northern Ireland: and what financial, or other, assistance is offered to them, by the Department of Education and by the Department of Health and Social Security.

  Mr. Needham
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the replies given to the hon. Member for Foyle (Mr. Hume) on 24 February 1988, at columns 189–90.

  Royal Ulster Constabulary
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 17 February,Official Report, column 675, if he will institute a review of the command structure of Royal Ulster Constabulary headquarters mobile support units with a view to assessing the adequacy of the accountability systems operating within them; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stanley
  These matters fall within the operational responsibility of the Chief Constable, but, as my right hon. Friend made clear in his statement on 17 February, he has accepted in principle all the recommendations of the McLachlan report, including those designed to ensure the highest standard in the selection of training of members of the special branch; the prevention of overspecialisation; the encouragement of cross-posting both within the RUC and with other police forces; and the further integration of the branch with the other parts of the force.

  In addition, as my right hon. Friend said, Mr. McLachlan stresses that the regional assistant chief constables are now aware of the operations of the special branch within their respective areas, and re-emphasises the importance of their continuing to monitor them.

  Hospital Waiting Lists
  Mr. A. Cecil Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether those patients who have been given a date for admission to hospital are included in the general waiting list; how many patients are currently on the general waiting list in all hospitals in Northern Ireland; and how many patients have been given a date for admission.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 1 March 1988]: General waiting lists include those patients who have been given a date for admission to hospital. At 30 September 1987, there were 25,625 awaiting admission to all hospitals in Northern Ireland.

  Information on the number of these patients who have been given a date for admission could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  UN LAW OF THE SEA COMMITTEE: UK PARTICIPATION
  UN LAW OF THE SEA COMMITTEE: UK PARTICIPATION
  WORLD TV NEWS SERVICE PROPOSAL
  WORLD TV NEWS SERVICE PROPOSAL
  WATER UTILITY COMPANIES: FUNCTIONS AND AREAS
  WATER UTILITY COMPANIES: FUNCTIONS AND AREAS
  SOUTHERN WATER AUTHORITY AREA: RESPONSE TO MMC REPORT
  SOUTHERN WATER AUTHORITY AREA: RESPONSE TO MMC REPORT
  IMMIGRATION BILL PROPOSAL
  IMMIGRATION BILL PROPOSAL
  PATENTS AND TRADE MARKS: ADVISORY COMMITTEES
  PATENTS AND TRADE MARKS: ADVISORY COMMITTEES
  DENTAL EDUCATION: UGC REPORT
  DENTAL EDUCATION: UGC REPORT