Written Answers of 14 March 1988

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Engineering, Physics and Maths (Women Undergraduates)
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportions of undergraduates in engineering, physics and mathematics are women.

  Mr. Jackson
  The information is as follows:

  Full-time United Kingdom domiciled undergraduates at universities in Great Britain

  Per cent women

  1986

  Physics

  16

  Mathematical sciences1

  25

  of which Mathematics

  32

  Engineering and technology

  10

  1 Includes Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Studies.

  Teaching Standards
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any further proposals to ensure that standards of teaching are adequately assessed: and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The intended outcome of pilot work on teacher appraisal in six authorities is a proven set of guidelines which will form the basis of an agreed national framework. The implementation of that framework should lead to a system which will both enhance career development for teachers and raise standards of teaching in our schools.

  Family Partnership Scheme, Salford
  Mr. Terry Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he will reply to Councillor Mrs. P. M. Lea, chair of Salford education committee, who wrote to him on 30 November 1987 about Salford's family partnership scheme.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  I very much regret that councillor Mrs. Lea's letter was mislaid within the Department. A copy has been obtained, and I have replied to her today.

  CERN
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the current level of the United Kingdom contributions to CERN.

  Mr. Jackson
  The United Kingdom subscription to the CERN budget in 1988 is 128·2 million Swiss francs (about £52 million); this represents 16·8 per cent. of the organisation's total budget.

  Exeter Diocesan Education Committee
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will now authorise payment of the £39,086·84 to the Exeter Diocesan education committee in respect of Roborough (Bickleigh Down) Church of England primary school, a claim for which was submitted on 20 February 1987.

  Mr. Dunn
  This sum was paid to the diocese's bank account on 22 February 1988.

  Materials Science (Research)
  Mr. Douglas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the provision he is making for research in materials science.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Science and Engineering Research Council (SERC) is currently funding materials science research in a wide range of academic departments. Present total expenditure on grants, studentships and facilities is just over £30 million. The council will shortly be considering the results of a recently completed review of this support.

  Supply Teachers (Pay)
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science which education authorities have decided not to recognise normal pay increments when employing supply teachers.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The school teachers' pay and conditions document 1987 gave local education authorities greater flexibility in the payments they make to supply teachers, including the possibility of adopting a standard rate for all such teachers. It is for each LEA to decide how to use this flexibility: no information is held centrally about the policies of individual authorities on payments to supply teachers.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Panama
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions Her Majesty's ambassador to Panama has had with the Government of Panama covering the Panama canal treaty.

  Mr. Eggar
  Her Majesty's ambassador in Panama has had no discussions with the Government of Panama on the Panama canal treaty between the United States and Panama.

  E1 Salvador
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contact Her Majesty's ambassador to E1 Salvador has had with human rights, trade unions and non-government parties since 1986.

  Mr. Eggar
  As part of their normal duties, Her Majesty's diplomatic staff accredited to E1 Salvador maintain regular contact with human rights and other organisations including political parties and trade unions.

  RIMPAC Exercises
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been received from any Pacific Government concerning the 1988 RIMPAC exercises.

  Mr. Mellor
  None.

  Argentina
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contacts there have been with the Government of Argentina to discuss the Falklands in the past year.

  Mr. Eggar
  Following my right hon. and learned Friend's statement in the House on 29 October 1986 we received some informal ideas from the Argentines, via the United States Government, which relate exclusively to the co-ordination and the avoidance of incidents in the south-west Atlantic. We replied using the same channel. The exchange continues.

  Chile
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many visits to prisons Her Majesty's ambassador to Chile has made in the past year.

  Mr. Eggar
  The honorary British consul in Concepcion made several visits to one British prisoner, who has since been released on bail. There have been no other British citizens in prison in Chile during the past year. Her Majesty's embassy staff have no consular standing to visit imprisoned Chileans.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings Her Majesty's ambassador has had with human rights, trade unions and opposition parties in Chile in the last year.

  Mr. Eggar
  Her Majesty's ambassador in Chile and his staff have had numerous meetings with human rights groups, trade union representatives and opposition parties during the past year. A full list is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Gibraltar (Shootings)
  Mr. McCusker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is now able to state on what passports the Irish Republican Army terrorists shot in Gibraltar were travelling and in whose names; in what nationality the additional passports were found; and whether any other passports were found.

  Mr. Mellor
  Two British passports in the names of Robert Wilfred Riley and Catherine Alison Harper (amended to Mrs. Smith) and one passport, believed to be Irish, in the name of Brendan Coyne, were found on the bodies. Two Irish passports in the names of John Samuel Miller and Mary Johnston and one British passport in the name of Edward McArdle were found in a Ford Fiesta car found on the Spanish side of the border. No information is yet available on other passports.

  Iraq
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his latest estimate of the chemical weapon capacity of Iraq.

  Mr. Mellor
  Iraq's use of chemical weapons against Iranian forces has been confirmed by several United Nations reports since March 1984. We believe that Iraq has a capacity to manufacture chemical weapons and is capable of using such weapons effectively.

  Soviet Union (Chemical Weapons)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his latest estimate of the chemical weapon capacity of the Soviet Union.

  Mr. Mellor
  As my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Defence told the House on 10 November 1987, the Soviet Union commands the world's largest and most sophisticated chemical warfare capability. It has produced and stockpiled a wide variety of chemical agents and munitions, and has a massive tonnage of nerve agent alone. In December last year the Soviet Union declared that the size of its chemical weapons stockpile was 50,000 tons. This figure is substantially lower than western estimates.

  Nuclear Technology (Export)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the number and nature of notification made since May 1979 by (i) by the Federal Republic of Germany and (ii) France to the European Commission under Euratom treaty articles 103 and 104, regarding draft contracts for exports of nuclear technology and materials to non-European Economic Community member states.

  Mr. Mellor
  The information requested is not readily available, and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. Information is provided directly by individual member states to the Commission and we would not normally be informed of agreements or contracts involving other member states.

  United States (Chemical Weapons)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his latest estimate of the chemical weapons capacity of the United States.

  Mr. Mellor
  As my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces told the House on 3 December 1987, it would be inappropriate to comment in detail on the defence capabilities of an ally. As is well known, the United States has a limited and aging retaliatory chemical weapons capability which it is in the process of modernising.

  "Nuclear Rivals in the Middle East"
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek to obtain for his departmental library a copy of "Nuclear Rivals in the Middle East" by Shyam Bhatia published by Routledge in March.

  Mr. Mellor
  Yes; the book has already been ordered.

  Amirabad Nuclear Complex, Tehran
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he possesses concerning the Amirabad nuclear complex near Tehran in terms of its technical capacity to assist in nuclear weapons production.

  Mr. Mellor
  I assume the hon. Member is referring to the Tehran university nuclear centre which is sited in Amirabad. The centre possesses a research reactor which was designed for the production of medical isotopes. Iran has signed the non-proliferation treaty and has placed all her nuclear materials under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards. We have no evidence to suggest that these are being circumvented.

  Miss Elena Gurevich
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the case of Miss Elena Gurevich in the Soviet Union; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon, South (Mr. Marshall) on 10 March at column 289.

  Mr. Raoul Wallenberg
  Mr. Ken Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his latest information on the case of Mr. Raoul Wallenberg; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  The Soviet authorities have maintained since 1957 that Mr. Wallenberg died in prison in 1947. There have been reports over the years suggesting that Mr. Wallenberg may have been alive and in prison in the Soviet Union considerably later than 1947, but these accounts were never confirmed. We have frequently pressed the Soviet Union for a full account of the fate of Mr. Wallenberg, including, if he did indeed die in 1947, a detailed statement of the manner in which he died. The Soviet authorities have not so far provided adequate information.

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise the case of Mr. Raoul Wallenberg with the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  We have pressed the Soviet authorities on a number of occasions to give a full and frank account of the fate of Raoul Wallenberg and they are well aware of our views in this case.

  South Africa (Oil Embargo)
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures Her Majesty's Government are taking to monitor on behalf of the United Nations the oil embargo on South Africa.

  Mrs. Chalker
  None, since we voted against the United Nations General Assembly resolution establishing the monitoring group. However, our own guidelines, which exclude the export of United Kingdom continental shelf crude oil to South Africa, are effective.

  Arms Control Negotiations
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards dealing with the removal of disparities in the conventional forces of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the Warsaw pact in separate arms control negotiations, before any agreement has been reached on the elimination of chemical weapons.

  Mr. Mellor
  Our policy in the conventional arms control field was set out in the statement issued at the NATO summit on 2 March, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House. Negotiations on the global elimination of chemical weapons are being pursued separately at the conference on disarmament in Geneva. They have made progress, but many complex issues remain to be resolved.

  Nuclear Weapons (Disarmament Negotiations)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether there are any categories of nuclear weapons in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation which cannot be subject to total elimination in disarmament negotiations: and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  The recent NATO summit on 2–3 March confirmed that for the foreseeable future there is no alternative to the Alliance strategy of deterrence based upon an appropriate mix of adequate and effective nuclear and conventional forces, which will continue to be kept up to date where necessary. NATO's immediate arms control priorities are for 50 per cent. cuts in the strategic offensive weapons of the United States and Soviet Union, the conclusion of a global and verifiable chemical weapons ban, and the elimination of the conventional imbalance between NATO and the Warsaw pact in Europe.

  Entry Clearance
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many representations he has received from hon. Members in each of the last five years to date concerning entry clearance into the United Kingdom; and how many representations he has received from hon. Members since five countries became subject to visa control in 1986.

  Mr. Eggar
  Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers have received representations from hon. Members concerning entry clearance into the United Kingdom during the past five years as follows:

  Entry Clearance

  1983

  1,105

  1984

  1,472

  1985

  1,753

  1986

  2,183

  1987

  3,467

  Records of representations received relating specifically to applicants from the five countries for which a visa requirement was introduced in 1986–87 are not available.

  La Belle Discotheque
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library
  419
  such parts of the intercepts relating to the La Belle discotheque bombing on 5 April 1986 as are no longer classified; to whom these intercepts have been shown, when and why; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  No. It is not our practice to comment on intelligence and security matters.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Fine Defaulters
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he anticipates bringing into force section 49 of the Criminal Justice Act 1972 to enable courts to impose a community service order in lieu of a warrant of commitment for failure to pay a fine.

  Mr. John Patten
  Following consultations with a range of interested bodies, we said, in the White Paper on criminal justice published in March 1986, that we were inclined not to implement this section, since it would add to the complexity and reduce the effectiveness of the fine enforcement process and consume probation service resources without appreciably reducing imprisonment for default. We propose to look again at the possibility of implementing this provision and we shall be seeking further views from the interested bodies.

  Sunday Trading
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received about the Sunday trading law.

  Mr. Renton
  Since 18 December 1987 when I last answered a similar question from my hon. Friend the Member for Basildon (Mr. Amess)—column 834 — we have received 100 written representations broadly in favour of Sunday trading and 61 against.

  Shops (Crime Prevention)
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he plans any new initiatives to seek to prevent crime in shops.

  Mr. John Patten
  Advice on the prevention of theft from shops is featured in the handbook "Practical Ways to Crack Crime" which was published on 9 March in support of the Department's national crime prevention publicity campaign. The Home Office is also in touch with officials from the retail trade's main representative bodies — the Retail Consortium, the British Retailers Association and the Association for the Prevention of Theft in Shops — regarding the proposal, which I welcome, that the trade should mount its own national campaign aimed at the prevention of shop theft.

  As an aid to planning effective measures against theft from shops we shall shortly be publishing, as a Home Office crime prevention unit paper, a report prepared by a representative of the Dixon Group plc, working in collaboration with the crime prevention unit, under the title "Retail Crime: Prevention through Crime Analysis".

  Asylum
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average length of time 420
  taken for his Department to deal with cases of application for asylum (a) at ports of entry and (b) made by people who already have leave to enter.

  Mr. Renton
  For applications decided in 1987 it is estimated that the average length of time between the receipt of the application and the decision was 10 months for those applying at ports of entry and 16 months for those already in the United Kingdom.

  Crime Prevention
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what indications he has about the effectiveness of recent crime prevention initiatives taken or encouraged by his Department.

  Mr. John Patten
  We have been encouraged by reports from a number of chief officers of police in urban areas of falls in the recorded level of certain crimes notably burglary, which are often targeted by local crime prevention schemes. The Department will continue to encourage the expansion of these schemes in the light of growing evidence that, when they are properly organised and supported, they can be effective in preventing certain crimes and in reducing the fear of crime more generally.

  A good example of the effectiveness of the multi-agency preventive approach to local crime problems is a burglary reduction project in Rochdale, supported by the Home Office. This has produced a 60 per cent. reduction in that crime over a seven-month period.

  Multi-agency crime prevention projects established as demonstration models in "Five Towns" in 1986 with Home Office funded co-ordinators have each demonstrated their effectiveness in a number of different ways, notably in securing increased public support for crime prevention work, bringing down the figures for particular crimes and in reducing also the public's fear of crime. It is a measure of the success of the "Five Towns" projects that each has gained sufficient local support to continue beyond the period of Home Office funding. The lessons learned in the "Five Towns" projects will be applied to the development of the "Safer Cities" programme.

  Prison Officers
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison officers were in post in England and Wales as at 31 December 1983.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  There were 17,939 staff in the prison officer class on 31 December 1983.

  Exclusion Orders
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were served with exclusion orders under the Prevention of Terrorism Act between 1 and 7 March; who they were; what the provisions of the exclusion orders were; and why they were served with the order.

  Mr. Hurd
  None.

  Terrorism
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act between 1 and 7
  421
  March; who they were; where they were detained; why they were detained; for how long they were held; and what charges were brought against them.

  Mr. Hurd
  Between 1 and 7 March eight people were detained under section 12 of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1984 on suspicion of involvement in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism. All eight were detained in London. Four were detained for 11 hours, 3 days 18 hours, 3 days 23 hours, and 3 days 23 hours, respectively, before being released. The other four were detained for 4 days 19 hours, 4 days 19 hours, 4 days 2 hours and 3 days 22 hours. At that point, on 8 March, I signed orders excluding them from the United Kingdom. They were then detained under article 9(3) of the Prevention of Terrorism (Supplemental Temporary Provisions) Order 1984 for a further 1 day, 1 day, 22 hours and 22 hours respectively, pending their removal from the United Kingdom. No charges were brought against any of those detained.

  It is not our normal practice to name individuals detained under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1984.

  Fire-Service (Clwyd)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will visit the county of Clwyd to meet full time and retained firemen to discuss current and proposed manning levels; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will visit Buckley and Queensferry fire stations; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) whether he has recently visited the county of Clwyd fire service headquarters and fire stations in Clwyd; and if he will make a statement;

  (4) what is the authorised establishment of the Clwyd fire service; how many officers are currently in post; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  My right hon. Friend has not recently visited the Clwyd fire service and has no present plans to do so. The whole time firefighter establishment of the Clwyd fire brigade at 1 January 1988 was 197 and the retained establishment was 240. Staff actually in post were 184 and 227, respectively.

  Political Asylum
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by country of origin the total number of applications for political asylum received by it currently outstanding; and how many of these have been outstanding for(a) more than six months, (b) more than one year and (c) more than two years.

  Mr. Renton
  Information on the total numbers of asylum applications outstanding at the end of 1986 was published by nationality of applicant in "Refugee Statistics, United Kingdom, 1986" — Home Office Statistical Bulletin, No. 13/87—a copy of which is in the Library. Reliable information on the breakdown of these figures by length of time the application had been outstanding could be produced only at disproportionate cost. It is planned to publish a further bulletin relating to 1987 later this year.

  Immigration Laws (Detained Persons)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are currently held in(a) police stations, (b) prisons, (c) remand centres arising from the operation of immigration laws; and what are the comparable figures for March and September of each year since 1983.

  Mr. Renton
  Information in the form requested is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. On 10 March 1988 there was a total of 178 people detained at the two main establishments used for detention arising from the operation of the immigration laws; that is, 90 at Latchmere house and 88 at Harmondsworth.

  British Nationality Act 1981
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for registration under the British Nationality Act 1981 have been(a) received by his Department, (b) fully processed and accepted, (c) acknowledged but not decided upon and (d) awaiting acknowledgement.

  Mr. Renton
  Since 1 April 1987 an estimated 295,000 applications of all types for British citizenship have been received; 43,895 applications have been granted. Some 105,000 applications for registration and naturalisation which have yet to be decided upon have been acknowledged and a further 130,000 packages containing citizenship applications await acknowledgement.

  Equal Opportunities Commission
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether, in the light of the Equal Opportunities Commission's recent report, he will consider introducing an equal treatment Bill giving women positive equality rights in law;

  (2) whether, in the light of the Equal Opportunities Commission's recent report, he will consider introducing legislation banning discrimination in private clubs where there is a male and female membership;

  (3) whether, in the light of the Equal Opportunities Commission's recent report, he will consider seeking to strengthen and widen the Commission's powers to initiate formal investigations;

  (4) whether, in the light of the Equal Opportunities Commission's recent report, he will consider (a) introducing means of improving training in sex discrimination law of tribunal members and (b) including at least one woman member on each panel;

  (5) whether, in the light of the Equal Opportunities Commission's recent report, he will consider legislation to obtain equal pay for work of equal value in the event of forthcoming legal judgments not providing this outcome;

  (6) whether, in the light of the Equal Opportunities Commission's recent report, he will consider seeking to combine the present Equal Pay and Sex Discrimination Acts;

  (7) whether, in the light of the Equal Opportunities Commission's recent report, he will consider introducing legislation to place a duty upon local authorities and other public bodies to operate a system of contract compliance to eliminate sex discrimination.
  423
  Mr. John Patten
  The Equal Opportunities Commission's proposals were published on 8 March. We will be giving its recommendations careful consideration in consultation with colleagues.

  Football Matches (Policing)
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost of policing football matches in England and Wales in each of the last three football seasons.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Darlington (Mr. Fallon) on 10 March, at column 285.

  Prisoners (Police Cells)
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many sentenced prisoners were held in police cells during February in England and Wales.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many sentenced prisoners are currently being held in police cells in England and Wales.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  On Friday 11 March, 191 sentenced prisoners were being held in police cells in England and Wales.

  Heysel Stadium
  Mr. Heffer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the total cost to public funds of the extradition proceedings in connection with the Heysel stadium disaster; if any part of this sum is recoverable from the Belgian Government; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  [holding answer 15 February]: Expenditure so far identified includes about £30,000 incurred by the police and £61,000 by the Crown Prosecution Service. Legal aid costs borne by the Lord Chancellor's Department have yet to be settled. None of this expenditure is recoverable from the Belgian authorities because the extradition treaty provides that the costs incurred in such proceedings are borne by the requested state.

  Professor Colin Blakemore
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information relating to Professor Colin Blakemore's work was improperly disclosed from the animals procedures committee; and why.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 2 March 1988]: I have today written to the hon. Member.

  File (Disappearance)
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 8 February,Official Report, column 41, what police inquiries were carried out into the loss of security classified material from the office of the hon. Member for Southend, East (Mr. Taylor) and what were the conclusions of such inquiries.
  424
  Mr. Hurd
  [holding answer 7 March 1988]: I understand that my hon. Friend the Member for Southend, East (Mr. Taylor) was interviewed by an officer of the Metropolitan police on 10 April 1986 and a file of papers was then recorded as lost property. I further understand that the file was later found and that no other police inquiries were made.

PRIME MINISTER

  Polaris
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will explain the basis on which she stated at a press conference following her visit to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation on 17 February that Her Majesty's Government are modernising Polaris with Trident in accordance with the Montebello resolutions, as stated on page 7 of the Central Office of Information transcript; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  The Government's decision in 1980 to replace Polaris with Trident was taken in order to maintain the effectiveness and credibility of Britain's independent strategic nuclear deterrent well into the next century. The decision is entirely consistent with NATO's commitment, articulated at Montebello in 1983 and also most recently this month at the NATO summit, to maintain effective and up-to-date nuclear forces.

  Non-Proliferation Treaty
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Prime Minister when she next expects to meet with the leaders of the United Kingdom's partner depository states for the nuclear non-proliferation treaty to discuss progress and initiatives under article VI.

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

  NATO Summit (Brussels)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) if, during her meeting with President Mitterrand at the NATO Ministers meeting in Brussels on 2–3 March, she discussed the prospects of France joining the nuclear non-proliferation treaty;

  (2) if, during her meeting with President Mitterrand at the NATO summit in Brussels on 2–3 March, she discussed the joint Anglo-French stand-off air-launched nuclear missile system.

  The Prime Minister
  I had no separate meeting with President Mitterrand at the NATO summit.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Prime Minister if, pursuant to her answer of 7 December 1987 to the hon. Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell),Official Report, column 11, she will detail the changes made for the sake of clarification or completeness in the revised note of guidance on the duties and responsibilities of civil servants.

  The Prime Minister
  Such changes are numerous, but can be readily identified from a comparison of the revised text—Official Report, 2 December 1987, columns 572–75 —with the original text—Official Report 26 February 1985, columns 130–32.

  Educational Testing (Correspondence)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister what steps she is taking to discover the source of the leak of a letter from Mr. Paul Gray to Mr. Tom Jeffrey in relation to educational testing; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  It is not the usual practice to give information on such matters.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Alleged Government Subversion (Prosecutions)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Attorney-General, pursuant to his answer of 22 February,Official Report, column 15, what representations he has received about possible prosecutions in relation to offences concerning alleged attempts to subvert the Government of Lord Wilson; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  Since becoming Attorney-General I have received about 100 letters from Members of Parliament and the public about the "Spycatcher" case. Several of these letters have raised the question of investigations or prosecutions in relation to the allegations to which the hon. Member refers. I have referred correspondents — and also the hon. Member — to the Prime Minister's statement of 6 May.

  "Spycatcher"
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will give the latest estimate of the likely total eventual cost of the legal proceedings and advice in the United Kingdom and abroad in connection with cases to date on "Spycatcher."

  The Attorney-General
  The total amount of costs expended to date is about £660,000. I cannot usefully estimate the total eventual cost.

  Government Legal Actions
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Attorney-General how many civil actions in which Her Majesty's Government are or were the plaintiff have been instituted since May 1979; and in how many cases(a) judgments and (b) costs were awarded against Her Majesty's Government.

  The Solicitor General
  The information sought by the hon. Member is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  Dog Fighting
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Attorney-General how many prosecutions were brought in the past eight years for the unlawful promotion of dog fights and other forms of animal baiting; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  No separate records are maintained by the Crown Prosecution Service of prosecutions brought by that service for such offences. Records of convictions in cases involving cruelty to animals are kept by the Home Office.

  "My Country, Right or Wrong"
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Attorney-General, pursuant to his answer of 9 March, if he will propose to the British Broadcasting Corporation the appointment of an 426
  independent third party with security clearance to examine transcripts of the remaining programmes in the British Broadcasting Corporation series "My Country, Right or Wrong" with a view to establishing to Her Majesty's Government's satisfaction whether the transmission of the programmes would raise any security problems; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  No.

  Family Court (Policy)
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Attorney-General how many officials in the Lord Chancellor's Department are responsible for formulating policy on the introduction of a family court.

  The Solicitor-General
  Currently a specialist lawyer and an executive officer in the Lord Chancellor's Department are engaged full-time, in collaboration with officials in their own and other Departments, on policy formulation relevant to the whole area embraced by the concept of a family court.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Kampuchea
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has met representatives of Oxfam to discuss the provision of aid to Kampuchea; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  This issue, with many others, was discussed when I met the director of Oxfam, Mr. Frank Judd, last December.

  Sub-Saharan Africa (Debt)
  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to assist Commonwealth countries in sub-Saharan Africa with their current problem of external debt.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  The United Kingdom has put forward an initiative to alleviate the debt problems of the poorest sub-Saharan African countries, including those which are members of the Commonwealth. We have also promised major contributions to the IMF's enhanced structural adjustment facility and the World Bank's special programme of assistance, both of which will provide considerable help to these countries.

  Gross bilateral aid for Commonwealth countries in sub-Saharan Africa in 1986 was £200 million.

  Contaminated Foodstuffs
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any information regarding the alleged supply via food aid of European Economic Community radioactive contaminated foodstuffs to Third world countries; and if he will make a statement.

  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any information regarding the alleged supply via food aid of European Economic Community radioactive contaminated food-stuffs to Third world countries; and if he will make a statement.
  427
  Mr. Chris Patten
  We have no evidence that any of the European Community's food aid consignments have exceeded the maximum levels of radioactivity permitted for the Community's exports of foodstuffs; these levels are the same as those permitted for imports from third countries.

  Uganda (Civil Service Pensions)
  Mr. Bidwell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reply he has received to his most recent approach to the Ugandan Government concerning the payment of pensions to a few ex-civil servants now resident in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Our high commission in Kampala raises this matter regularly. It has reported that restoration of pension payments to certain former public servants now resident in the United Kingdom is under investigation by the Government of Uganda.

  Cyprus
  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment Her Majesty's Government made, in deciding on their policy of giving aid for the whole of Cyprus on a Government to Government basis, of the degree of control exercised by Greek Cypriot Government over northern Cyprus and the extent to which it has a mandate to act on behalf of the Turkish Cypriot population.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  We recognise only one Republic of Cyprus. However, as far as education and training awards of benefit to the Turkish community are concerned, the British Council deals directly with the Turkish Cypriot authorities in the educational field.

  Sudan
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many vehicles are currently undertaking relief work in the Sudan, provided under the United Kingdom aid programme.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  In 1987 the ODA provided 20 trucks for the combined agencies relief team (CART) at a cost of £400,000. These vehicles are enabling CART to distribute food in and around Juba.

  In January this year the Sudanese army commandeered 15 of the CART trucks, 14 of which have now been returned. We are awaiting further information on the last truck.

  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what work is being undertaken to ensure that food supplies are reaching southern Sudan.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Donors are working with the Government of Sudan to identify ways of providing relief supplies to the whole of southern Sudan. The ODA responded to a world food programme appeal for 1,400 tonnes of food aid to be airlifted into Juba by providing 400 tonnes, with associated transport costs; the European Community provided a further 600 tonnes. This food is being distributed by ODA-funded trucks. In February, a military-escorted convoy of barges organised by the Sudanese Government delivered 2,600 tonnes of relief aid 428
  to Malakal for the Upper Nile region. Of this the ODA financed 450 tonnes through the Catholic fund for overseas development. The International Committee of the Red Cross is now waiting to receive the agreement of the Sudanese Government and the rebel forces to begin relief work in areas of southern Sudan previously inaccessible because of civil war.

  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assurances have been received that the vehicles for moving food supplies in the Sudan will not be used for other purposes by the Sudan Government.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  On 27 February the Prime Minister of Sudan, Sadiq el Mandi, informed our ambassador in Khartoum that the commandeering of vehicles provided by the ODA had been due to a breakdown in communication. I have accepted assurances that this will not happen again. These trucks are once more being used to distribute food supplies around the Juba area.

  Mozambique
  Sir Russell Johnson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if any United Kingdom aid-supported projects in geographical areas subject to attack or disruption by the Mozambique National Resistance have been disrupted by the Mozambique National Resistance; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  We have had reports of two incidents at or near the sites where teams from the National Railways of Zimbabwe are reconstructing the Limpopo railway from Chicualacuala. In addition work has been disrupted from time to time on the Beira and Nacala railway projects. All aid-financed activities, particularly emergency relief, suffer in varying degrees from the disruption of internal transport caused by the security situation.

  Sir Russell Johnson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will state the level of United Kingdom aid to Mozambique, giving details of(a) the nature of each project supported, (b) the level of support given to each project and (c) the location within Mozambique of each project.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Commitments of United Kingdom aid to Mozambique amounted to £35 million in 1987, of which £15 million was for balance of payments support and £15 million for emergency relief. We are also contributing to transport projects in Mozambique sponsored by the Southern African development co-ordination conference. Details of current capital projects are as follows:

  Project

  Total commitment (£ million)

  Location

  Mozambique bilateral aid

  Prawn fisheries: boat and jetty rehabilitation

  2·515

  Angoche

  Road and bridging material

  0·297

  Various

  Aeronautical telecommunications

  0·721

  Maputo, Beira, Tete

  Leyland trucks for coal industry

  0·660

  Moatize

  SADCC aid

  Limpopo railway

  14·000

  Gaza and Maputo

  Nacala railway rehabilitation

  1·453

  Niassa and Nampula provinces

  429

  Project

  Total commitment (£ million)

  Location

  Beira railway breakdown crane

  1·100

  Beira

  International Development Association
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when negotiations for the ninth replenishment of the International Development Association will commence.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  The association has yet to announce a date, but negotiations will probably begin early in 1989.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  War Stock
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received regarding the repayment of 3½ per cent. war stock; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lilley
  My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations on this subject.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any proposal to raise the advisory cost limit of £200 for answering parliamentary questions.

  Mr. Peter Brooke
  Yes. The advisory figure of £200 was introduced in 1982 as the level at which the likely cost of a full reply to a parliamentary question should be drawn to the attention of Ministers. This figure is now out of date. It is accordingly being raised as from today to £250.

  This does not alter the discretion of individual Ministers to decide that a particular question should be answered partially or in full regardless of cost.

  Third World
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the reduction in tax take for Her Majesty's Government from banks in respect of the current year, as compared with last year, as a result of their write-down of Third world debt.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 29 February 1988]: Tax receipts in the current year are provisionally estimated to be lower by about £270 million as a result of losses incurred by banks on irrecoverable loans to third world countries. The estimate for 1986–87 is £30 million.

  VAT
  Mr. Warren
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has as to which member states apply a positive rate of value added tax to magazines and which also provide a subsidy in the form of tax relief for such publications.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 8 March 1988]: A positive rate of VAT is applied to magazines by Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands and Spain. The supply of periodicals in Italy with a cover price of less than 8,000 lire and sold by persons other than the editor is zero-rated.
  430
  Information on subsidies in the form of tax relief is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Manufacturing
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has as to the annual average percentage increase in (i) gross domestic product at constant market prices, (ii) manufacturing output, (iii) wages per head in manufacturing, (iv) retail prices, (v) manufacturing productivity, (vi) manufacturing investment at constant prices, (vii) wages and salaries per unit of output in manufacturing, over the period 1983 to 1987 in(a) the United Kingdom, (b) the United States of America, (c) Germany, (d) France, (e) Japan, and (f) Sweden.

  Mr. Major
  [holding answer 10 March 1988]: Data on (i) GDP (or GNP) at constant market prices are given in OECD Quarterly National Accounts. Data on (ii) manufacturing output and (iv) retail (consumer) prices are given monthly in OECD Main Economic Indicators. Data on (iii) wages per head in manufacturing are given monthly in the Employment Gazette. Data for (vi) manufacturing investment at constant prices are given in the OECD National Accounts (Volume II: Detailed Tables). Data for (v) manufacturing productivity can be calculated from the series for manufacturing output and employment given in the OECD Main Economic Indicators. Data on wages and salaries for unit of output are not published in any standard international source.

  Investment
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide figures for gross and net investment, as totals per head and as a proportion of gross domestic product for the last five available years in the following countries: Norway, Sweden, Japan, Western Germany, France, the United States of America, Italy and the United Kingdom.

  Mr. John Major
  [holding answer 11 March 1988]: The following three tables give annual data for 1982 to 1986 for gross and for net fixed investment as a percentage of gross domestic product and for gross fixed investment per head of the population in US dollars. Comparable figures, in a common currently, are not available for net investment per head.

  Gross fixed capital formation as a percentage of gross domestic product1

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  United States of America

  17·2

  17·2

  18·0

  18·1

  17·8

  Japan

  29·7

  28·3

  27·9

  27·7

  27·8

  Germany

  20·5

  20·5

  20·2

  19·7

  19·4

  France

  21·4

  20·2

  19 ·3

  19·0

  18·8

  United Kingdom

  16·2

  16·2

  17·3

  17·2

  17·2

  Italy

  22·3

  21 3

  21·2

  21·2

  20·1

  Norway

  25·5

  25·7

  26·0

  21·7

  27·6

  Sweden

  18·8

  18·7

  18·6

  19·1

  18·2

  1 Exact definitions of fixed capital formation vary from country to country.

  Source: Calculated from OECD National Accounts 1960 to 1986.
  431

  Net fixed capital formation as a percentage of gross domestic product1

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  United States of America

  3·1

  3·6

  5·2

  5·4

  5·3

  Japan

  16·2

  14·6

  14·2

  13·9

  14·1

  Germany

  7·8

  7·9

  7·6

  7·1

  7·1

  France

  9·0

  7·8

  7·4

  7·2

  6·8

  United Kingdom

  4·0

  4·1

  5·1

  5·2

  4·9

  Italy

  11·1

  10·2

  10·3

  10·4

  9·2

  Norway

  10 ·3

  10 ·9

  12·2

  8·3

  13·1

  Sweden

  6·9

  6·8

  6·9

  7·5

  6·9

  1 Net fixed capital formation is gross capital formation after providing for depreciation. Estimates of depreciation are subject to a very wide margin of error and are not comparable between countries. Gross domestic product does not provide for depreciation, and is therefore not an appropriate denominator.

  Source: Calculated from OECD National Accounts 1960 to 1986.

  Gross fixed capital formation per head1

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  United States

  2,312

  2,460

  2,827

  2,991

  3,091

  Japan

  2,852

  2,875

  3,074

  3,270

  3,427

  Germany

  2,075

  2,190

  2,306

  2,386

  2,478

  France

  2,206

  2,161

  2,166

  2,226

  2,300

  United Kingdom

  1,472

  1,567

  1,766

  1,882

  1,976

  Italy

  2,066

  2,035

  2,174

  2,291

  2,294

  Norway

  2,794

  3,040

  3,357

  3,041

  4,120

  Sweden

  1,989

  2,092

  2,233

  2,415

  2,387

  1 US dollars, at current prices and OECD estimates of purchasing power parities.

  Source: OECD National Accounts 1960–86.

  Civil Service Functions (Dispersal)
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether there will be full consultation with the Council of Civil Service Unions about any proposals for further dispersal of Civil Service functions.

  Mr. Brooke
  The Council of Civil Service Unions will be given an early opportunity to comment upon developments in the policy on the location of Government work referred to in my answer to the hon. Member for East Kilbride (Mr. Ingram) on 18 February, at columns 475–76. Furthermore, it is normal practice for Departments to consult their trade union sides before undertaking significant relocations.

  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will make an announcement, supplementing the Prime Minister's statement of 18 February, about the further dispersal of Civil Service functions.

  Mr. Brooke
  I expect shortly to be in a position to make the further statement about the location of Government work forcast in my answer of 18 January, at columns 475–76, to the hon. Member for East Kilbride (Mr. Ingram).

THE ARTS

  British Library
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what is his estimate of the current inflation rate of building costs within the British Library project; and if he will make a statement.
  432
  Mr. Luce
  The estimate for the current inflation rate of building costs for the new British Library at St. Pancras is 7 per cent. on an annual basis.

  South Bank Board
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will place in the Library the terms of the trust deed setting up the South Bank Board as an independent body.

  Mr. Luce
  I will place a copy of the trust deed in the Library as soon as it is finalised.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what changes are to be made to the standing and organisation of the South Bank Board.

  Mr. Luce
  Arrangements are being considered whereby the South Bank Board would become an independent charitable trust, under the terms of the Arts Council's charter, from 1 April 1988. The details are not yet complete but I will advise the House of them as soon as decisions are reached.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister for the Arts when he expects to name the new members of the independent South Bank body; and whom he is consulting.

  Mr. Luce
  I have asked Mr. Ronald Grierson to continue as chairman of the South Bank Board with effect from 1 April 1988 for a further three years. Arrangements for other members of the board depend on finalising the details of a new independent charitable trust.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Exports and Imports
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what has been the percentage change in the volume and value of exports from and imports into the United Kingdom of biscuits, chocolate, chocolate and sugar confectionery, respectively, since 1972:(a) with the European Economic Community and (b) with the rest of the world.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The information is given in the table.

  Percentage changes 1972–1978 European Economic Community (as at 1 January 1988)

  Exports

  Imports

  Volume

  Value

  Volume

  Value

  Biscuits (SITC 048.42 (part))

  +218

  +1,485

  +123

  +1,150

  Chocolate and chocolate confectionery (SITC 073.0)

  + 243

  + 1,572

  + 127

  + 1,449

  Sugar confectionery (SITC 062.0)

  + 48

  + 885

  +255

  +1,697

  Rest of the World

  Exports

  Imports

  Volume

  Value

  Volume

  Value

  Biscuits (SITC 048.42 (part))

  + 15

  +419

  + 316

  + 1,442

  Chocolate and chocolate confectionery (SITC 073.0)

  + 19

  + 379

  + 98

  + 904

  433

  Exports

  Imports

  Volume

  Value

  Volume

  Value

  Sugar confectionery (SITC 062.0)

  -31

  +260

  +125

  +950

  Manufacturing Industry (Investment)
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what has been the level of direct investment in overseas manufacturing industry and gross domestic fixed capital formation from private sector United Kingdom manufacturing industry in each year since 1977.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The information is given in the table. It should be noted that net overseas direct investment is a financial concept and is not the same as capital expenditure on fixed assets or the growth in a company's net assets. Direct investment covers only the sums invested in a related concern by the parent company and that concern will then decide how this is to be used, whether on fixed assets, to increase debtors, repay borrowing etc.

  Net United Kingdom direct investment in overseas manufacturing1

  Private sector manufacturing gross domestic fixed capital formation2

  £million

  £million current prices

  1977

  1,077

  4,190

  1978

  1,520

  5,220

  1979

  1,397

  6,163

  1980

  1,427

  6,182

  1981

  2,528

  5,113

  1982

  1,579

  5,260

  1983

  2,126

  5,655

  1984

  2,100

  6,997

  1985

  2,860

  8,443

  1986

  5,663

  8,823

  1 Includes overseas direct investment in manufacturing by public corporations and by non-manufacturing companies in the United Kingdom. Separate figures excluding these categories arc not available.

  2 Excludes assets held on financial lease by manufacturing.

  Racal Ltd
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he has completed his investigations concerning the question of the alleged sale of radio equipment by Racal Ltd. to the Palestine Liberation Organisation in 1981; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  A conclusion to the investigation is expected shortly.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether the current investigation concerning the alleged sale of radio equipment by Racal Ltd. to the Palestine Liberation Organisation in 1981 includes an inquiry into the training of militiamen from the Palestine Liberation Organisation in battleground communications provided by Racal Ltd.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  No.

  British Shipbuilders
  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Sunderland, North concerning Government support for British Shipbuilders sent to him on 4 March.
  434
  Mr Kenneth Clarke
  I have written to the hon Member this morning.

  House of Fraser
  Mr. Ron Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent representations he has received from Lonrho plc about the conduct of the inquiry by his Department's inspectors into the affairs of House of Fraser plc; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  I cannot discuss matters relating to the investigation of the affairs of House of Fraser Holdings plc while it is in progress.

  City Action Teams
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether the City Action team to be located in Leeds will also be responsible for all the Bradford metropolitan district; whether any City Action team officials will be based permanently or temporarily in any part of the Bradford metropolitan district; what action City Action team officials are taking to contact public, private and voluntary agencies in Bradford; and how such agencies in Bradford may make contact with City Action team officials.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The Leeds — Bradford City Action team will cover the Leeds and Bradford urban programme areas. City Action team officials are located in the regional offices of the Departments of the Environment, of Employment and of Trade and Industry which are in Leeds. Officers in all three Departments already have close contacts with organisations and agencies in the whole area the team covers. If any person or agency in Bradford wants to get in touch with the team they should contact one of the three departments.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what budget will be available to the City Action team based in Leeds; what part of that budget represents new financial resources; what proportion of the overall budget will be spent within the Bradford metropolitan district; and who is the responsible accounting officer for City Action team expenditure in Leeds and Bradford.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The total funds which the three City Action team departments estimate they will spend in Leeds-Bradford in 1987–88 is around £100 million. They estimate around £50 million of this will be spent in Bradford. In addition the Government are now making available £0·79 million for the City Action team to spend in 1988–89 on special pump-priming projects involving the private sector and designed to stimulate enterprise and employment. The responsible accounting officer for that special top-up fund is the Permanent Secretary of my Department.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what preference will be given to those living within the Bradford metropolitan district in any employment from projects arising directly or indirectly from activity undertaken or initiated by the City Action team based in Leeds; and what preference Bradford-based companies will be given in the placing of orders or contracts by the City Action team based in Leeds.
  435
  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The Government's City Action team for Leeds-Bradford covers both these cities and its activities will be of benefit to both.

  Competition Act 1980
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what progress has been made in implementing the programme of references under section 11 of the Competition Act 1980 announced on 7 September 1987.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  A reference of the Welsh Water Authority was sent to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on that day and the Post Office counter service at Crown offices was referred on 6 November. I am sending a reference of British Coal's capital and investment activities to the Commission today.

  The remaining reference in the programme announced on 7 September, London Underground, will be deferred until later this year to enable management to concentrate on the investigation into the King's Cross disaster and any follow-up action needed. Its place in the programme will be filled by a reference relating to British Rail's provincial sector which will be made later in the spring.

  I then propose to announce a further programme of references for the remainder of 1988 and early 1989.

  Action for Cities
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many Action for Cities working breakfasts will take place; where they will be held; which Ministers will be involved; how many business people will be involved; and what will be the total cost.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  My present intentions are to hold six working breakfasts in Newcastle, Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool and London. They will be attended by my hon. Friend the Member for Northavon (Mr. Cope) — the Minister of State, Department of Employment — my hon. Friend the Member for Rossendale and Darwen (Mr. Trippier) — the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment—my hon. Friend the Member for South Ribble (Mr. Atkins) — the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Industry — and myself as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister responsible for the co-ordination of Government inner city policies.

  An audience of 200 to 250 senior representatives of industry and business will attend each presentation. Final costs are not yet known, but are expected to be in the region of £0·5 million.

  Enterprise Initiative
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he has any proposals to extend to advertising the range of advice offered by his Department or financed by grants for consultancies under the enterprise initiative.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  [holding answer 11 March 1988]: The subject of advertising is already addressed by the marketing initiative.

  Research and Development
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will provide figures for the total amount 436
  per head of population spent on research and development for the last five available years in the following countries: Norway, Sweden, Western Germany, France, the United States of America, Japan, Italy and the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  [holding answer 11 March 1988]: The available information is given in the table.

  Gross expenditure on research and development per head of the total population1

  2£ per head

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  Norway

  71

  81

  93

  109

  120

  Sweden

  117

  n.a.

  151

  n.a.

  200

  West Germany

  126

  139

  151

  n.a.

  184

  France

  101

  115

  125

  139

  153

  United States of America

  167

  186

  206

  235

  270

  Japan

  100

  115

  132

  150

  177

  Italy

  41

  46

  51

  58

  70

  United Kingdom

  110

  n.a.

  123

  n.a.

  146

  n.a. Data not available.

  1 For 1985, where this was not available that for the nearest year has been taken.

  2 Exchange rates at purchasing power parities calculated by OECD have been used to convert foreign currencies to sterling.

  Source: OECD.

  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will provide figures for the proportion of gross domestic product spent on research and develop-ment for the last five available years in the following countries: Norway, Sweden, Western Germany, France, the United States of America, Japan, Italy and the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  [holding answer 11 March 1988]: The available information is given in the table:

  Gross expenditure on research and development as a percentage of gross domestic product

  Per cent.

  Country

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  Norway

  1·29

  1·37

  1·41

  1·51

  1·53

  Sweden

  2·22

  ..

  2·46

  ..

  2·79

  West Germany

  2·45

  2·51

  2·54

  ..

  2·66

  France

  2·01

  2·10

  2·15

  2·25

  2·31

  United States of America

  2·45

  2·60

  2·62

  2·69

  2·83

  Japan

  2·14

  2·23

  2·36

  2·45

  2·62

  Italy

  1·01

  1·04

  1·12

  1·19

  1·33

  United Kingdom

  2·42

  ..

  2·27

  ..

  2·33

  .. = data not available.

  Source: OECD.

  Internal Market
  Mr. Robertson
  To asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list all the proposals for completion of the internal market currently under consideration by the Council of Ministers.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  [holding answer 8 March 1988]: the 1988 presidency action programme on the single market lists more than 140 individual measures for discussion by the Council this year. Copies of the programme are available in the Library of the House.

  GATT
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if there have been recent meetings of the general agreement on tariffs and trade textile working group; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  [holding answer 29 February 1988]: The GATT textiles committee last met on 4 December 1987. The committee undertook the annual review of the operation of the multi-fibre arrangements, as required by article 10.4, and considered the membership of the GATT textiles surveillance body for 1988. The committee next meets on 14 March.

SCOTLAND

  Student Grants
  Mr. McTaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each Scottish university the number of students in receipt of fees only grants for the current academic year; and if he will express these figures as a percentage of the total student numbers.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The latest available complete figures are set out below. They relate to the academic session 1986–87 and are in respect of those students at each university who are assisted by the Scottish Education Department.

  University

  Aberdeen

  1,018 students (28 per cent.

  Dundee

  368 students (21 per cent.)

  Edinburgh

  1,604 students (32 per cent.)

  Glasgow

  1,948 students (25 per cent.

  Heriot-Watt

  491 students (28 per cent.)

  St. Andrews

  369 students (34 per cent.)

  Stirling

  222 students (15 per cent.)

  Strathclyde

  1,286 students (24 per cent.)

  Prisons (Overcrowding)
  Mr. McTaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the transfer of prisoners back to Barlinnie from Low Moss remand centre, and what further steps he will take to relieve overcrowding in Scottish prisons.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  On 26 January 1988 a number of inmates at Low Moss began to destroy furniture and fittings. When the incident was under control 24 inmates from one dormitory were transferred to HM prison Barlinnie. There was significant damage to property. No injuries were sustained.

  The Scottish Home and Health Department is currently reviewing the revised use of capacity in its establishments. A further hall will become available at HM prison Shotts in the near future.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated cost of production and distribution of his booklet: "You and the Community Charge: A Step by Step Guide."

  Mr. Lang
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Dundee, East (Mr. McAllion) of 7 March.

  Health Boards
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he has any plans to instruct health boards to set up a register of interests showing all shareholdings, directorships and consultancies of health board members; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he has any plans to instruct health board members to declare their interest in private health insurance schemes; and if he will make a statement.

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

  Football Matches (Policing)
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost of policing football matches in Scotland in each of the last three football seasons.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  This information is not held centrally.

  Cervical Cytology
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when his Department's report on the cervical cytology services in Scotland will be(a) published and (b) implemented.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The report of a working group set up by the scientific services advisory group of the Scottish Health Services Planning Council was issued to health boards on 10 December 1987. I have placed in the Library a copy of the report and of the Scottish Home and Health Department's letter of the same date asking health boards to review their cervical cytology services and establish by the end of 1988 a computerised call and recall system which will ensure that all women in the age range 20 to 60 receive an invitation to attend for a smear test by 1993.

  Dog Registration Scheme
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he proposes to introduce a scheme to enable local authorities in Scotland to operate a dog registration system in accordance with an amendment to the Local Government Bill.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  There are no plans for the introduction of such a scheme in Scotland.

  Islay
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many members of his Department's agricultural staff have visited Islay during the past 12 months.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Ten members of staff of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland have visited Islay during the past 12 months.

  White-fronted Geese
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will detail the type of damage caused to crops and grassland by the feeding habits of white-fronted geese on Islay.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Typical damage to root crops is a widespread breaking in to the roots which leads to deterioration and rotting. Livestock feed is lost and damaged turnips are unmarketable for human consumption.

  Continual grazing pressure on improved grassland causes a loss of valuable winter and spring grazing for livestock.

  Health Boards (Finances)
  Sir Hector Monro
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what financial allocations he has made to health boards for 1988–89.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I have allocated £1,661 million1 to health boards to meet their gross recurrent expenditure commitments on hospitals and community health services in 1988–89. After expected income is taken into account, the net cash limited allocations to individual health boards are as follows:

  Recurrent expenditure (net)

  Health board

  £ million

  Argyll and Clyde

  118·305

  Ayrshire and Arran

  88·548

  Borders

  25·675

  Dumfries and Galloway

  42·528

  Fife

  82·835

  Forth Valley

  77·570

  Grampian

  152·266

  Greater Glasgow

  430·705

  Highland

  62·292

  Lanarkshire

  136·332

  Lothian

  266·427

  Orkney

  4·667

  Shetland

  5·724

  Tayside

  153·124

  Western Isles

  8·517

  1,655·515

  1 Includes £19·06 million allocated for specific commitments including national cardiac surgery services, lithotripsy and AIDS.

  Forestry Commission (Kielder Forest)
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of staff employed by the Forestry Commission in the Kielder forest district in 1985 to 1987 440
  in (a) supervisory and administrative grades and (b) industrial grades; and in each category, how many staff are employed in (i) planting and maintenance, (ii) harvesting, (iii) nursery work, (iv) research, survey and environmental work and (v) forest work.

  Mr. Gummer
  I have been asked to reply.

  The information, which is based on average figures, is as follows:

  Year

  Supervisory and administrative grades

  Industrial grades

  1985

  34

  149

  1986

  33

  144

  1987

  33

  136

  The above figures do not include directly employed private contractors; the number of such contractors at 31 March 1987 was 22.

  Most staff are employed on a range of duties in the course of a year. It is not practicable, therefore, to break down the total numbers of staff employed into the listed areas of work.

  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total area of Forestry Commission land in Kielder Forest district in each of the years 1985 to 1987; and what was the area of(a) land under trees, (b) unplanted land, (c) land planted and(d) land harvested, in each of those years.

  Mr. Gummer
  I have been asked to reply.

  The information is set out in the table:

  Total Area of Land (hectares)

  Land under Trees (hectares)

  Unplanted Land (hectares)

  11985

  50,675

  40,180

  10,495

  11986

  50,671

  40,180

  10,491

  11987

  50,369

  40,177

  10,186

  Planting (hectares)

  New planting

  Restocking

  Timber Production 000 m3 2

  11985

  4

  393

  135

  11986

  —

  313

  160

  11987

  6

  513

  174

  1 Year (at 31 March)

  2 Timber production is measured by volume and not in terms of area.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Exports
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list for each year since 1979, the total tonnage and value of exports of(a) wheat, (b) barley, (c) oats, (d) oilseed rape and(e) the total tonnage and value for all four commodities.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The data requested are set out in the table.
  441

  Exports of Wheat, Barley, Oats and Rape (including Colza Seed) 1979–87

  Wheat

  Barley

  Oats

  Rape and Colza seed

  Total

  Quantity

  Value

  Quantity

  Value

  Quantity

  Value

  Quantity

  Value

  Quantity

  Value

  1979

  134

  16,353

  830

  76,683

  6

  815

  2

  552

  972

  94,403

  1980

  1,055

  11,596

  1,638

  160,221

  2

  370

  186

  2,695

  272,373

  1981

  1,511

  168,121

  3,127

  305,785

  2

  341

  1

  393

  4,641

  474,640

  1982

  2,354

  278,051

  2,302

  250,976

  5

  672

  14

  3,958

  4,675

  533,657

  1983

  1,400

  175,476

  2,523

  288,252

  2

  267

  106

  33,980

  4,031

  497,975

  1984

  2,215

  264,516

  3,868

  444,396

  1

  110

  166

  49,658

  6,250

  758,680

  1985

  1,890

  218,190

  3,014

  319,652

  71

  294

  86,877

  5,198

  624,790

  1986

  3,987

  452,556

  4,119

  426,172

  1

  174

  496

  149,915

  8,603

  1,028,817

  1987

  24,122

  312,354

  3,088

  207,102

  9

  1,405

  296

  80,988

  7,514

  601,849

  Quantity='000 tonnes.

  Value = £000

  1 000 Rape and Colza Seed are not separately distinguished.

  2 Provisional estimates.

  Source: HM Customs and Excise.

  Oils and Fats
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the percentage change in the United Kingdom consumption per head of butter and other edible oils and fats, respectively, since 1972.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Estimates based on the national food survey data indicate that household consumption per head of butter in the United Kingdom fell by 55 per cent. between 1972 and 1987. Over the same period per capita consumption of edible oils and fats increased by 25 per cent.

  Public Analyst Service
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his policy towards the funding of the public analyst service, with particular reference to the relative priority to be accorded to laboratory tests performed by the public analysts on behalf of local authority trading standards officers, environmental health officers and other inspectors operating in the field of consumer protection; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Local authorities are responsible for determining their own priorities for the enforcement of consumer protection legislation. Under the Food Act 1984, each food and drugs authority has to appoint a public analyst, but it is not the policy of this Government to interfere with the funding arrangements between an authority and its public analyst nor with the authority's decisions on the relative importance of the services to be carried out by the public analyst.

  Price Increases
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the annual average percentage increase in(a) agricultural produce, (b) food and (c) general prices in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The average annual percentage increases were as follows:

  Agricultural Producer Prices

  Food Prices

  General Prices

  1979

  10·2

  12·0

  13·4

  1980

  5·4

  12·1

  18·0

  1981

  10·9

  8·4

  11·9

  1982

  7·8

  7·9

  8·6

  442

  Agricultural Producer Prices

  Food Prices

  General Prices

  1983

  5·2

  3·2

  4·7

  1984

  0·2

  5·6

  5·0

  1985

  -1·6

  3·1

  6·1

  1986

  1·3

  3·3

  3·4

  1987

  1·8

  3·1

  4·2

  1988 (January)

  1·0

  2·9

  3·3

  Source:

  1 Index of Producer Prices of Agricultural Products, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

  2 Food component of Retail Price Index, Department of Employment.

  3 All items, Retail Price Index, Department of Employment.

  Forestry
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give details of the outstanding forestry planting grant and felling licence applications referred to him by the Forestry Commission; when each was so referred; when he expects to be able to announce a decision for each one; and for which cases further consultation is still being considered.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 10 March 1988]:My right hon. Friend is considering one forestry planting grant application to which objections have been raised. This application relates to 60 hectares of land at West Stotley, Northumberland and was referred to him on 25 November 1987. He has consulted his right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for the Environment, and intends to advise the forestry commissioners of his views shortly.

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he proposes to review the prescriptions for existing environmentally sensitive areas; and if he will consider extending to them the management options available in new environmentally sensitive areas.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 8 March 1988]: I have no plans to review prescriptions for environmentally sensitive areas before the effects of existing ones have been assessed. The additions to the range of options available in new ESAs were designed specifically for those areas and it would not be appropriate to extend them.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will clarify the procedures
  443
  adopted by monotoring steering committees operating in each environmentally sensitive area; and if he will give details of the extent to which representatives from bodies outside his Ministry are involved in monitoring programmes.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 8 March 1988]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 7 March at column 15.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether all applications from farmers in the first tranche of environmentally sensitive areas have now been processed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 8 March 1988]: In 1987, a total of 1,421 applications to participate in ESA agreements in England were received, of which all but 12 have been fully processed.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will provide details of staffing allocations for each environmentally sensitive area; and when he expects all farms presently involved in the programme to have received visits from project officers.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 8 March 1988]: Each environmentally sensitive area has an appointed project officer from ADAS together with an assistant. They are supported by other staff from my Department as necessary. Most holdings are visited before an agreement is concluded and all will be visited at least once during the period of the agreement.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what arrangements he is making to enforce management prescriptions on relevant farms within environmentally sensitive areas; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 8 March 1988]: A sample of holdings will be visited each year to ensure that management prescriptions are being complied with. Every holding with a management prescription will be visited at least once during the period of the agreement. Provisions as to breach of agreements are set out in the designation orders.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how he proposes to secure the cooperation where relevant of water authorities and internal drainage boards in furthering environmentally sensitive area objectives.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 8 March 1988]: My Department, jointly with the Department of the Environment, will shortly be issuing revised conservation guidelines for drainage authorities. These guidelines cover the responsibilities of water authorities and internal drainage boards for environmental protection and specifically refer to ESA objectives.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  International Fund for Ireland
  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland under what circumstances the International Fund for Ireland seeks guidance from his Department on decisions relating to the disbursement of funds; and on how many occasions this occurred in 1987.
  444
  Mr. Viggers
  The International Fund for Ireland is administered by an independent board appointed by the United Kingdom and Irish Governments. All questions pertaining to the disbursement of funds are a matter for the board and should be addressed to the chairman. Article 3 of the agreement establishing the fund provides that"disbursements shall be consistent with the economic and social policies and priorities of the respective Governments"
  To assist in its work, the board has an advisory committee, comprised of senior civil servants of the two Governments, which meets regularly. In addition, the board has delegated to specialist agencies, including some Government Departments, responsibility for the ad-ministration of its various programmes within criteria and operating arrangements specified by the board. The activities of administering agencies in respect of their responsibilities for fund programmes are closely monitored by the board

  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the economic and social policies and priorities that guide decisions on disbursements from the International Fund for Ireland.

  Mr. Viggers
  The International Fund for Ireland is administered by an independent board appointed by the United Kingdom and Irish Governments. All questions pertaining to the disbursements of funds are a matter for the board and should be addressed to the chairman. However, article 3 of the Agreement to establish the International Fund for Ireland provides that"The need to maximise the economic and social benefits of the Fund in Ireland shall be an overriding consideration in making disbursements from its resources and these disbursements shall be consistent with the economic and social policies and priorities of the respective Governments".

  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table all those projects in Northern Ireland in receipt of funds from the International Fund for Ireland.

  Mr. Viggers
  The International Fund for Ireland is administered by an independent board appointed by the United Kingdom and Irish Governments. All questions pertaining to projects in rejects of funds from the International Fund for Ireland are a matter for the board and should be addressed to the chairman.

  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the decision by the International Fund for Ireland to refuse support to Conway Community Development Enterprise Ltd., and the criteria used to reach this decision.

  Mr. Viggers
  Article 3 of the agreement to establish the International Fund for Ireland provides that disbursements from the fund"shall be consistent with the economic and social policies and priorities of the respective Governments".

  The United Kingdom Government have advised the board of the International Fund for Ireland that provision of support to Conway Community Development Enterprise Ltd. in respect of activities at the Conway street mill is not consistent with the Government's economic and social policies and priorities.

  Terrorism
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the estimated percentage of the total arms shipped illegally into Ireland which have been recovered to date.

  Mr. Tom King
  Since the beginning of 1987, 807 firearms, some 18,000 lbs of explosives, including almost 900 lbs of commercial explosives, and nearly 180,500 rounds of ammunition have been recovered by the security forces on both sides of the border. It is not possible to determine precisely what proportion this represents of the firearms and explosives which have been shipped illegally to terrorists.

  Persons serving indeterminate sentences released on licence since 1980

  Life

  Secretary of State's Pleasure

  Year

  Loyalist

  Republican

  Others

  Loyalist

  Republican

  Others

  Totals

  1980

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  2

  1981

  1

  1

  1

  —

  1

  —

  4

  1982

  1

  —

  5

  —

  —

  1

  7

  1983

  1

  —

  1

  2

  —

  —

  4

  1984

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  1985

  2

  2

  —

  5

  2

  —

  11

  1986

  1

  2

  11+(1)

  5

  5

  —

  114+(1)

  1987

  8

  7

  2

  4

  7

  —

  28

  1988 (to date)

  1

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  3

  Totals

  17

  13

  111+(1)

  18

  15

  1

  175+(1)

  Average years served

  11·89

  11·25

  9·86

  10·56

  10·47

  10·33

  1 One person originally released on licence in August 1977 had his licence revoked in February 1983: he was subsequently re-released on licence in October 1986.

  Note: The classifications in the table are based on the believed paramilitary affiliations of the prisoners at the time of their arrest.

  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many prisoners there are(a) presently serving life sentences and (b) detained under his pleasure in Northern Ireland prisons; how many in each category have been given release dates; and how many in each category are classified as (i) Loyalist, (ii) Republican and (iii) undifferentiated.

  Mr. Tom King
  The information is as follows:

  Persons Serving Indeterminate Sentences as at 4 March 1988 Life

  Number

  Loyalist

  218

  Republican

  160

  Others

  32

  Total

  410

  Secretary of State's Pleasure

  Loyalist

  7

  Republican

  24

  Others

  3

  Total

  34

  Overall Total

  444

  Prisoners (Statistics)
  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (i) life sentence prisoners and (ii) prisoners detained under his pleasure have been released on licence in each year since 1980; how many in each category were(a) Loyalist, (b) Republican and (c) undifferentiated; and what was the average length of service in each of these classifications.

  Mr. Tom King
  The information is as follows:

  Those included in the above figures who have been given provisional release dates

  Number

  Loyalist

  12

  Republican

  5

  Others

  3

  Total

  20

  Secretary of Suite's Pleasure

  Loyalist

  3

  Republican

  3

  Others

  —

  Total

  6

  Overall Total

  26

  Note: the classifications in the table are based on the believed paramilitary affiliations of the prisoners at the time of their arrest.

  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (i) life sentence prisoners and (ii) prisoners detained under his pleasure have been given release dates in each year since the setting up of the Northern Ireland life sentence review board; and how many in each category have been classified as(a) Loyalist, (b) Republican and (c) undifferentiated.

  Mr. Tom King
  The information is as follows:
  447

  Persons serving indeterminate sentences given release dates since the present life sentence review

  Life

  Secretary of State's pleasure

  Year

  Loyalist

  Republican

  Others

  Loyalist

  Republican

  Others

  Totals

  1983

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1984

  1

  —

  —

  3

  3

  —

  7

  1985

  1

  1

  1

  7

  5

  —

  15

  1986

  7

  8

  2

  6

  6

  —

  29

  1987

  5

  6

  4

  2

  3

  —

  20

  1988 (to date)

  9

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  11

  Totals

  23

  15

  7

  19

  18

  —

  82

  Notes:

  1 This table does not include one prisoner released on medical grounds in 1984.

  2 The classifications in the table are based on the believed paramilitary affiliations of the prisoners at the time of their arrest.

  Mr. Brendan Burns and Mr. Brendan Moley
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will call for a report from the Chief Constable as to those matters about which the Royal Ulster Constabulary wished to interview the late Brendan Burns;

  (2) if he will call for a report from the Chief Constable as to those matters about which the Royal Ulster Constabulary wished to interview the late Brendan Moley.

  Mr. Tom King
  [holding answer 7 March 1988]: No.

EMPLOYMENT

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement about the changes in the level of unemployment in the London borough of Barnet over the last two years.

  Mr. Lee
  The number of unemployed claimants in the Barnet local authority area at the latest date available and in the previous two years was as follows:

  January 1986

  11,256

  January 1987

  10,821

  January 1988

  8,685

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

  Mr. Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total number of people benefiting from special employment and training measures at the latest available date in the Swindon area; and if he will list the measures and the numbers involved in each case.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The number of people participating in special employment and training measures funded by my Department including Manpower Services Commission programmes and schemes in the Swindon area on 31 January 1988 was as follows:

  Number

  YTS

  1,160

  Community Programme

  953

  New Job Training Scheme

  30

  Voluntary Projects Programme

  11

  Other adult training

  1524

  Total

  2,678

  448
  1 Figures for all other adult training schemes are not available. The figure refers to the number of people who have entered some such schemes since 1 April 1987.

  National Dock Labour Scheme
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many permanent registered dock workers in the London labour board area in each year from 1980 to 1986 have been dismissed by their employer for an offence justifying summary dismissal under the disciplinary provisions of the dock labour scheme; and how many of these men have been reinstated by order of the local dock labour board and appeal tribunals.

  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many permanent registered dock workers in the Hull and Goole dock labour board area in each year from 1980 to 1986 have been dismissed by their employer for an offence justifying summary dismissal under the disciplinary provisions of the dock labour scheme; and how many of these men have been reinstated by order of the local dock labour board and appeal tribunals.

  Mr. Roger King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many permanent registered dock workers in the Tyne and Wear local dock labour board area in each year from 1980 to 1986 have been dismissed by their employer for an offence justifying summary dismissal under the disciplinary provisions of the dock labour scheme; and how many of these men have been reinstated by order of the local dock labour hoard and appeal tribunals.

  Mr. Wood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many permanent registered dock workers in the Grimsby and Immingham local dock labour board area in each year from 1980 to 1986 have been dismissed by their employer for an offence justifying dismissal under the disciplinary provisions of the dock labour scheme; and how many of these men have been reinstated by order of the local dock labour board and appeal tribunals.

  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many permanent registered dock workers in the West Scotland local dock labour board area in each year from 1980 to 1986 have been dismissed by their employer for an offence justifying summary dismissal under the disciplinary provisions of the dock labour scheme; and how many of these men have been reinstated by order of the local dock labour board and appeal tribunals.
  449
  Mr. Nicholls
  The information requested is maintained at the office of the local dock labour board for the area concerned. I have asked the board to assemble the information and will reply in substance as soon as it becomes available.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what discussions he has had with unions representing staff at Department of Employment offices in London concerning staff levels, conditions and transfers since January.

  Mr. Lee
  There have been a number of extensive discussions between senior officials in the employment service and CPSA union officials since some CPSA members started strike action in Camden towards the end of December 1987. On 9 March there was a meeting between the general secretary and deputy general secretary of the CPSA and senior officials in my Department and it was agreed a further meeting should take place.

  Equal Opportunities Commission
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) whether, in the light of the Equal Opportunities Commission's recent report, he will consider seeking to repeal the two-year qualifying period for unfair dismissal;

  (2) whether, in the light of the Equal Opportunities Commission's recent report, he will consider introducing legislation to prevent employers from imposing qualifying periods of employment for a woman to have the right to return to work after pregnancy.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Equal Opportunities Commission's proposals were published on 8 March. I shall be giving them careful consideration.

  Mr. McTaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has on the number of long-term unemployed people in(a) Glasgow, (b) Scotland and (c) the United Kingdom, who have difficulty returning to employment because of problems of literacy, numeracy or language.

  Mr. Nicholls
  [holding answer 3 March 1988]: The information is not available in the form requested.

  Information collected in January 1987 through the restart programme revealed that in Scotland 6 per cent. of those unemployed for six months or more seen by restart counsellors and 11·9 per cent. of those on restart courses had problems with literacy and numeracy. Those problems may have contributed to their difficulty in returning to employment. Comparable figures for Great Britain are 10·3 per cent. of those counselled and 25·2 per cent. of those on restart courses. Separate figures are not available for the Glasgow area. The restart survey also suggested that language problems were experienced by unemployed people, particularly in large conurbations.

WALES

  Surgical Operations (Cancellations)
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what information he has as to the number and 450
  percentage of operations in Wales which are cancelled clue to the absence of the consultant surgeon; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what estimate he has as to the number and percentage of operations and out-patient treatments which are cancelled in each Welsh health district on 1 March as a result of the trade unions' day of action.

  Mr. Grist
  This information is not available centrally.

  Milford Haven Enterprise Zone
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will consider extensions to the Milford Haven enterprise zone to include areas adjacent to the zone including Front street, Pembroke Dock.

  Mr. Grist
  Any application to extend the zone will need to be considered against the background to the Government's future policy for enterprise zones, as indicated by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment in his written answer of 17 December 1987 to the Member for Banbury (Mr. Baldry), at columns 618–19.

  Ysgol Morgan Llwyd, Clwyd
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will visit Ysgol Morgan Llwyd, Clwyd, to meet the board of school governors, parents and staff to discuss the need for extra financial resources to enable school visits, related to the new General Certificate of Secondary Education examinations, to be undertaken; and if he will make a statement on progress in implementing the General Certificate of Secondary Education scheme.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  I have no plans to visit the school. The distribution of general certificate of secondary education funding to each secondary school is a matter for Clwyd local education authority to determine in the light of local circumstances.

  Evidence from Her Majesty's inspectorate in an interim report on the general certificate of secondary education published on 8 March shows that encouraging progress is being made in introducing the examination in Wales.

  St. Tydfil's Hospital, Merthyr
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when his Department was first notified of the possibility of the closure of the high dependency unit at St. Tydfil's hospital, Merthyr; when it was told that a decision to close it had been taken; and how many representations he has received about the closure.

  Mr. Grist
  The Department was first notified of the possibility of the temporary closure of the high dependency unit at St. Tydfil's hospital in December 1987 and was told in January that a decision to close had been taken. Since the closure is temporary, there was no requirement on the authority to obtain my approval. I have received three representations about the closure.

  Derelict Land Clearance
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what role has been played by Government Departments other than the Welsh Office in derelict land clearance in the south Wales valleys since 1969; and when.
  451
  Mr. Peter Walker
  I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the reply given to him on 8 March 1988 by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, at columns 120–21.

ENERGY

  Electricity Industry
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the number of people employed in the public sector of the electricity supply industry.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The average number of people employed in the electricity supply industry in England and Wales during 1986–87 (the latest year for which figures are available) was 132,000.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if, during preparation of the proposals for privatisation of the electricity supply industry, any estimate has been made by his Department of (i) the present value of Connah's Quay power station and (ii) the cost of refurbishing it to produce power while meeting current environmental standards; and if he will make a statement on the policy he will require the Central Electricity Generating Board to adopt towards the disposal of redundant power stations prior to privatisation.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The value of individual power stations and the cost of refurbishment are matters for the CEGB.

  Coal Industry
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the number of full-time employees in the coal industry; and what proportion of the number so employed eight years ago this represents.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The number of full-time employees in the coal industry at the end of February 1988 was 123,822, which is 43 per cent. of the corresponding number eight years previously.

  Dounreay
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many inspection person days Euratom has spent in each year since May 1979 at the Dounreay nuclear power development establishment.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Euratom inspectors visit Dounreay very frequently. Precise details could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what information the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority at Dounreay gives to Euratom and International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors on the content of nuclear materials sent from Dounreay to Sellafield by ship and from Dounreay and Sellafield and elsewhere by plane.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Site operators inform Euratom and the International Atomic Energy Agency of all movements of civil nuclear materials.
  452
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how often Euratom safeguards inspectors forward safeguards reports on Dounreay to the Euratom headquarters.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Euratom safeguards inspectors report for each inspection made at Dounreay.

  Radioactive Tritium Gas
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what quantities of radioactive tritium gas have been licensed for handling processing at the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, Harwell facility in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  No licence is required for the storage and use of tritium at UKAEA sites. I understand that very small quantities of tritium gas are stored at the Harwell laboratory for civil research purposes.

  Power Companies (Plutonium)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has given any consideration to introducing legislation to require the proposed private power companies owning plutonium to make this available for defence uses.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  No.

  BNFL (Draft Contracts)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if any draft contracts between British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. and OKG Aktiebolag in Sweden have been notified to the European Commission under article 103 of the Euratom treaty.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  I am advised that these contracts do not fall within the scope of article 103 of the Euratom treaty. They were notified under article 105 upon the United Kingdom's accession to the European Communities in January 1973.

  Nuclear Waste
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if any decision has been taken to substitute a radiologically equivalent amount of higher level wastes for lower level wastes when returning such materials from British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. storage after reprocessing to originators of nuclear wastes in Sweden.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. has not entered into any contracts for the reprocessing of material from Sweden since 1976. The arrangements for the disposal of wastes arising from pre-1976 contracts are as set out in the reply given by my hon. Friend the Member for Eddisbury (Mr. Goodlad) to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) on 2 May 1986 at columns 502–3.

  Nuclear Reactors
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what representations he has received concerning the general trend towards the development of smaller nuclear reactors; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what information he has on the design features of smaller nuclear reactors with low power densities and their implications for safety; and if he will make a statement.
  453
  Mr. Michael Spicer
  My Department, with the advice and assistance of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, keeps abreast of developments in nuclear reactor technology. Safety is fundamental to the design, construction and operations of all nuclear reactors in the United Kingdom.

ENVIRONMENT

  Disabled People (Access)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment under what powers a local authority may act in offering financial assistance to the owner of a sports club to make it accessible to disabled people.

  Mr. Chope
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Crown Suppliers
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the progress of the privatisation of the Crown Suppliers.

  Mr. Chope
  The Government's intention to invite bids for those of the Crown Suppliers' businesses, which can be undertaken on a normal commercial basis, was announced on 3 February. We expect soon to appoint a financial institution to advise on the best method of effecting the sale.

  Rents
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the effect on rent levels as a consequence of the implementation of the Housing Bill; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Any estimates of the effect of our deregulation proposals on rent levels would at this stage be purely speculative.

  Drinking Water (Nitrate Levels)
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what cases there have been of drinking water in the Yorkshire and Humberside region containing nitrate in excess of the EEC recommended levels in the past 12 months.

  Mr. Moynihan
  During 1987 one supply provided by Yorkshire water authority and four supplies provided by Anglian water authority exceeded the EC drinking water directive standard for nitrate of 50 milligrams per litre. Two other Yorkshire water authority supplies exceeded the directive standard for a few days. However, none of these supplies contained nitrate at a level which was considered to be a public health risk.

  Richmond House
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the access provisions for disabled people at the new Department of Health and Social Security building, Richmond house.

  Mr. Chope
  Disabled people may enter Richmond house by a level corridor from the underground car park to the main bank of lifts. Alternatively, they may use a special wheelchair entrance adjacent to the main entrance in Whitehall.
  454
  Further measures are in hand to provide access through the main entrance and foyer.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received concerning the replacement of rates by the community charge in respect of self-catering accommodation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  We have received representations from and on behalf of the self-catering industry about the treatment of self-catering accommodation in the new local government finance system. It is our intention that holiday-let self-catering accommodation which includes services and facilities similar to those provided in a hotel should remain in rating. We are considering further the precise boundary between the domestic and non-domestic sectors in the light of the representations that have been made.

  Housing (Nottingham)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 7 March about housing in Nottingham, what was the error to which he refers.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  There was an error in the appointment by my Department of the estimate of private sector dwellings in disrepair between authorities in the East Midlands region. As I have previously explained, this had no bearing on the Housing Corporation's allocations for 1988–89. Corrected figures have been passed to the Housing Corporation and incorporated in its final housing needs index which will be one of the factors to be taken into account in drawing up future plans for investment in housing association schemes.

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

  Mr. Trippier
  The information requested for unused and underused sites entered on the land register for the district of north Wiltshire is set out below:

  Owner and site address

  Area in hectares

  North Wiltshire district council

  Reids Piece, Purton

  1·10

  Redhill, Broad Town

  1·07

  Harris road, Ashton Keynes

  1·50

  Cemetery field, London road, Chippenham

  2·29

  Thamesdown borough council

  Land at Purton and Cricklade, Wiltshire forming part of the site of the former railway line from Swindon to Cricklade

  9·72

  Wiltshire county council

  Rylands, Wootton Bassett

  2·30

  Noremarsh, Wootton Bassett

  0·49

  Knockdown road, Sherston

  0·81

  Lower Beversbrook farm, Oxford road, Calne

  6·34

  The Green, Christian Malford

  4·49

  455

  Owner and site address

  Area in hectares

  Cricketts lane, Chippenham

  1 95

  British Railways Board

  Adjoining former goods yard, Hullavington

  1·52

  North side of Bristol to Paddington main line, Thingley

  1·01

  Badminton—adjoining Chippenham to Malmesbury road—approximately 1¼ miles east of former station

  4·45

  Adjoining former station, Hullavington

  1·52

  Former goods yard, Corsham

  1·01

  Former goods yard, Dauntsey

  1 21

  Bath district health authority

  Land at Malmesbury Hospital

  1·45

  Land at Chippenham Hospital

  0·51

  Land at St. Andrew's Hospital, Chippenham

  0·92

  Land at Greenways hospital, Chippenham

  3·76

  Rates
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the implications for rates of the judgment delivered on 11 February in the House of Lords in the case of Clement v. Addis Ltd.

  Mr. Howard
  My right hon. Friend did so on 9 March.

  Rushmoor (Redevelopment)
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the redevelopment package for Totland Close, Prospect Estate, Rushmoor, will be allowed capital expenditure within Rushmoor's housing investment programme allocation; and if it will be subject to the current programme for 1988–89 or subsequent years.

  Mrs Roe
  Rushmoor borough council has the sole responsibility for decisions on local housing matters of this kind.

  Government Offices and Staff (Wales)
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the number of Government offices and the number of staff employed in them, excluding military personnel in (i) Pembrokeshire, (ii) Dyfed and (iii) Wales.

  Mr. Chope
  The numbers and total areas of Government offices in the locations to which the hon. Gentleman refers are as follows:

  Numbers

  Area

  (a) Pembrokeshire

  22

  (8,393m2)

  (b) Dyfed

  67

  (31,732m2)

  (c) Wales

  386

  (414,000m2)

  These figures do not include military establishments and it will be appreciated that offices vary significantly in size and can be occupied by more than one Government Department.

  Records of staff numbers in these areas are not held centrally either by the Welsh Office or PSA and to obtain them would entail disproportionate costs.

  Council House Sales (Delays)
  Mr. Gerald Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, pursuant to his answer of 20 456
  January, Official Report, column 753, he has received any further information as to the reasons for the continued delay in the purchase by Mr. W. B. Hammond of his home at 12b Mount Adon Park, London SE22, from Southwark council.

  Mrs. Roe
  The Department is continuing to press the council to explain the reasons for the delay in this case. I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as the information is available.

  Mr. Gerald Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what information he has as to the reasons for the delay in the purchase by Mr. and Mrs. Harman of their home at 10 William Margrie Close, London SE15, from Southwark council;

  (2) what information he has as to the reasons for the delay in the purchase by Mr. and Mrs. Mico of their home at 185 Brenchley Gardens, London SE23, from Southwark council;

  (3) what information he has as to the reasons for the delay in the purchase by Mrs. Cheryl Sanders of her home at 353 Friern Road, London SE22, from Southwark council;

  (4) what information he has as to the reasons for the delay in the purchase by Mrs. Grace Davies of her home at 36 Avondale Rise, London SE15, from Southwark council.

  Mrs. Roe
  The Department is taking up with the council the cases mentioned.

  Planning (Public Inquiries)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to alter the public inquiry system into major planning schemes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Government's response to the fifth report, Session 1985–86, from the Environment Committee, "Planning: Appeals, Call-in and Major Public Inquiries: CM43", contained proposals for revised rules of procedure at public inquiries, and for a new code of practice on preparing for major inquiries. Following consultations with the Council on Tribunals and a wide range of other organisations, we expect shortly to submit the revised rules to the Lord Chancellor for making, and to bring the new code of practice into operation.

  Planning Applications
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by London borough the total number of planning applications(a) called in by him or (b) referred to him on appeal by the applicant and the number of cases where he (i) upheld the local planning decision and (ii) varied it; and if he will also list the comparable figures for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The information requested is in tables A and B below; 1984 is the earliest year from which this information is readily available.

  Planning applications called in by the Secretary of State

  Table A

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  City of London

  —

  1

  4

  —

  Barking and Dagenham

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Barnet

  —

  1

  —

  —

  457

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  Bexley

  —

  —

  2

  —

  Brent

  —

  1

  2

  1

  Bromley

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Camden

  1

  5

  2

  2

  Croydon

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Ealing

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Enfield

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Greenwich

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Hackney

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Haringey

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Harrow

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Havering

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Hillingdon

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Hounslow

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Islington

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Kensington and Chelsea

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Kingston upon Thames

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Lambeth

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Lewisham

  —

  —

  8

  1

  Merton

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Newham

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Redbridge

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Richmond upon Thames

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Southwark

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Sutton

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Tower Hamlets

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Waltham Forest

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Wandsworth

  —

  —

  —

  —

  City of Westminster

  2

  —

  —

  1

  Table B

  Planning appeals 1984

  Borough

  Recorded

  Dismissed

  Allowed

  City of London

  12

  6

  2

  Barking and Dagenham

  10

  4

  2

  Barnet

  74

  38

  16

  Bexley

  49

  29

  14

  Brent

  47

  11

  15

  Bromley

  196

  85

  39

  Camden

  139

  55

  44

  Croydon

  85

  39

  18

  Ealing

  65

  31

  16

  Enfield

  87

  47

  28

  Greenwich

  54

  12

  14

  Hackney

  25

  9

  9

  Hammersmith

  71

  15

  24

  Haringey

  39

  17

  7

  Harrow

  59

  22

  20

  Havering

  58

  25

  17

  Hillingdon

  60

  25

  15

  Hounslow

  78

  22

  12

  Islington

  43

  14

  15

  Kensington and Chelsea

  79

  34

  13

  Kingston upon Thames

  74

  23

  29

  Lambeth

  40

  12

  9

  Lewisham

  16

  2

  4

  Merton

  38

  16

  6

  Newham

  44

  8

  7

  Redbridge

  75

  39

  38

  Richmond upon Thames

  70

  28

  17

  Southwark

  46

  17

  15

  Sutton

  43

  16

  12

  Tower Hamlets

  20

  4

  7

  Waltham Forest

  34

  10

  8

  Wandsworth

  40

  14

  10

  City of Westminster

  122

  45

  19

  Table B

  Planning appeals 1985

  Borough

  Recorded

  Dismissed

  Allowed

  City of London

  5

  4

  —

  Barking and Dagenham

  12

  8

  4

  458

  Borough

  Recorded

  Dismissed

  Allowed

  Barnet

  91

  40

  28

  Bexley

  36

  22

  13

  Brent

  50

  25

  19

  Bromley

  182

  120

  78

  Camden

  133

  38

  59

  Croydon

  116

  52

  34

  Ealing

  58

  32

  30

  Enfield

  80

  47

  27

  Greenwich

  62

  21

  44

  Hackney

  35

  18

  8

  Hammersmith

  65

  30

  32

  Haringey

  47

  26

  17

  Harrow

  76

  27

  23

  Havering

  49

  33

  17

  Hillingdon

  81

  35

  29

  Hounslow

  122

  53

  45

  Islington

  46

  23

  14

  Kensington and Chelsea

  107

  42

  26

  Kingston upon Thames

  74

  36

  30

  Lambeth

  36

  13

  15

  Lewisham

  20

  10

  6

  Merton

  57

  22

  16

  Newham

  37

  21

  21

  Redbridge

  79

  24

  32

  Richmond upon Thames

  85

  45

  27

  Southwark

  73

  13

  26

  Sutton

  43

  19

  23

  Tower Hamlets

  17

  6

  7

  Waltham Forest

  40

  19

  11

  Wandsworth

  47

  22

  18

  City of Westminster

  164

  54

  49

  Table B

  Planning Appeals 1986

  Borough

  Recorded

  Dismissed

  Allowed

  City of London

  6

  4

  2

  Barking and Dagenham

  9

  3

  4

  Barnet

  111

  29

  27

  Bexley

  50

  13

  20

  Brent

  64

  15

  20

  Bromley

  254

  101

  88

  Camden

  205

  46

  51

  Croydon

  114

  48

  45

  Ealing

  87

  29

  21

  Enfield

  111

  53

  35

  Greenwich

  92

  16

  32

  Hackney

  21

  7

  9

  Hammersmith

  85

  27

  16

  Haringey

  73

  20

  18

  Harrow

  120

  49

  29

  Havering

  66

  23

  19

  Hillingdon

  73

  25

  26

  Hounslow

  123

  44

  51

  Islington

  51

  18

  14

  Kensington and Chelsea

  102

  46

  40

  Kingston upon Thames

  72

  29

  34

  Lambeth

  58

  11

  13

  Lewisham

  22

  9

  5

  Merton

  48

  30

  21

  Newham

  39

  13

  21

  Redbridge

  78

  33

  33

  Richmond upon Thames

  86

  30

  37

  Southwark

  81

  26

  19

  Sutton

  58

  17

  12

  Tower Hamlets

  18

  7

  9

  Waltham Forest

  57

  23

  16

  Wandsworth

  47

  19

  13

  City of Westminster

  181

  41

  53

  Table B

  Planning appeals 1987

  Borough

  Received

  Dismissed

  Allowed

  City of London

  13

  2

  1

  Barking and Dagenham

  10

  5

  4

  459

  Borough

  Received

  Dismissed

  Allowed

  Barnet

  186

  71

  46

  Bexley

  55

  29

  22

  Brent

  80

  32

  38

  Bromley

  330

  117

  89

  Camden

  210

  65

  78

  Croyden

  133

  52

  52

  Ealing

  102

  38

  49

  Enfield

  141

  67

  40

  Greenwich

  98

  31

  49

  Hackney

  49

  20

  11

  Hammersmith

  135

  45

  49

  Haringey

  88

  42

  23

  Harrow

  115

  70

  37

  Havering

  57

  29

  27

  Hillingdon

  107

  48

  31

  Hounslow

  143

  70

  37

  Islington

  98

  24

  19

  Kensington and Chelsea

  102

  57

  42

  Kingston upon Thames

  83

  37

  32

  Lambeth

  67

  28

  39

  Lewisham

  36

  15

  11

  Merton

  42

  24

  7

  Newham

  42

  15

  8

  Redbridge

  68

  32

  31

  Richmond upon Thames

  115

  55

  31

  Southwark

  62

  20

  45

  Sutton

  52

  31

  26

  Tower Hamlets

  43

  9

  6

  Waltham Forest

  68

  31

  20

  Wansworth

  65

  33

  13

  City of Westminster

  199

  49

  55

  Local Authorities (Debt)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report the amount of debt accumulated by each local authority in England (a) in total and (b) per head of the population, in each local authority area.

  Mr. Chope
  A copy of the table showing the information requested has been laid in the Library of the House. The figures relate to 31 March 1987 and are based on those published in the CIPFA publication "Capital Expenditure and Debt Financing Statistics".

  Birtenshaw Farm, Bolton
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what recent representations he has received against development at Birtenshaw farm, Bolton; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) when he will be announcing his decision about the Ashworth covenant at Birtenshaw farm.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Since the turn of the year, 29 local residents have made representations to the Department seeking a decision on the application to remove the restriction contained in the covenant. The Department has sought and is awaiting information and views from Bolton borough council on the status of the covenant. When they are received, I hope we shall be able to proceed to a decision.

  Land
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will identify by previous owner the land recorded on the land register system which has been sold or brought into use since 1981.
  460
  Mr. Trippier
  Detailed information for the period up to 31 December 1983 is not available.

  Information from 1 January 1984, in the form of a schedule of owners showing the amount of land each has sold or brought into use and detailing some 39,000 acres of land, will be available shortly when 1 will place it in the Library of the House.

  Public Sites
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the public sites disposed of following the exercise of statutory powers by Her Majesty's Government.

  Mr. Trippier
  The following sites, formerly owned by public bodies, have been disposed of following the exercise by my right hon. Friend of his powers under section 98 of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980:

  Alfred street/Oak Bank, Harpurhey, Manchester

  Barmpton lane, Darlington

  Boothroyden "A" site, Blackley, Manchester

  Doxford Park way, Sunderland

  Fiddlers Green lane, Cheltenham

  Freely lane, Bramham, Leeds

  Hall Farm road, Doxford Park, Sunderland

  Keswick lane, Bardsey, Leeds

  Kirkfield lane, Thorner, Leeds

  Land at Congleton road, Macclesfield

  Land between Nos. 2 and 4 Meadow way, Offley, Hertfordshire

  Land at Surbiton Lagoon, Surbiton

  Ling way, Coltishall, Broadland

  Lyndon road, Bramham, Leeds

  Old Market street/Grant street, Blackley, Manchester

  Oozewood road, Royton, Oldham

  Pleckgate road, Blackburn

  Primrose lane, Boston Spa, Leeds

  261–281 Regents Park road, London, N3

  Richmond road/Dawsons corner, Pudsey

  Roewood lane, Higher Hurdsfield, Macclesfield

  South Park drive, Blackpool

  South street/Parkhouse street/Wood street, Openshaw, Manchester

  Stocks Park drive, Horwich

  Thames road north, Barking

  The Grange, Southgate circus, Enfield

  Whiteley croft, Otley

  Willow avenue, Clifford, Leeds

  Urban Development Grant
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the location of the £580 million of investment arising from urban development grant and urban regeneration grant.

  Mr. Trippier
  The private sector investment that will be attracted by urban development and urban regeneration grant now stands at £592 million. The regional breakdown is as follows:

  Region

  1 £ million

  East Midlands

  44

  London

  95

  Merseyside

  52

  Northern

  79

  North West

  95

  South East

  1

  West Midlands

  181

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  45

  TOTAL

  592

  1 Private sector investment.

  461
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the location and distribution of the 28,50(1 jobs and 7,000 homes attributed by Her Majesty's Government to the urban development grant and urban regeneration grant.

  Mr. Trippier
  A regional breakdown of the jobs and homes attributed to approved urban development grants and urban regeneration grant schemes is as follows:

  Region

  Jobs

  Homes

  East Midlands

  1,990

  780

  London

  6,220

  90

  Merseyside

  3,040

  600

  Northern

  2,210

  1,860

  North West

  5,610

  490

  South East

  50

  0

  West Midlands

  8,490

  2,040

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  1,260

  1,420

  TOTAL

  28,870

  7,280

  Richmond Yard
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) which company undertook the valuation of the Crown premises at Richmond yard; and what was the cost to the Government of that valuation;

  (2) what estimate the Property Services Agency has made of the cost of undertaking the valuation of the Crown premises at Richmond yard by in-house staff;

  (3) why the valuation of the Crown property at Richmond yard was carried out by a private company.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 1 March 1988]: The valuation of the Crown premises at Richmond yard was undertaken by Messrs. Cluttons, chartered surveyors. The fee for the service was negotiated on a strictly commercial and therefore confidential basis. The decision to appoint a private sector valuer was made in view of the importance of establishing the true commercial rent for the property. No in-house assessment was made.

SOCIAL SERVICES

  Hospital General Managers
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any plans to increase the degree of management control which hospital general managers have over doctors in hospitals.

  Mr. Newton
  No, but the resource management initiative is based on, and intended to assist, more effective co-operation between managers and clinicians.

  Drug Tenders
  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what guidance is given to health authorities on the use of discount cash flow methods for assessing drug tenders.

  Mr. Newton
  A range of guidance has been issued to health authorities on investment and option appraisal. This guidance has incorporated relevant Treasury rules on Government accounting and covers both mandatory requirements and good practice—including the use of discounted cash flow methods. This technique would not generally be applicable to the assessment of drug tenders.
  462
  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what guidance is given to health authorities on the costs of storage in evaluating tenders for drugs.

  Mr. Newton
  The Department commissioned a recent study by management consultants—MMM Consultancy Group Ltd. —which considered the options available to health authorities in dealing with their purchasing, distribution and storage of pharmaceuticals. The report subsequently circulated to health authorities carried recommendations relating to storage of drugs of high value and high throughput. Authorities are currently reviewing their arrangements for the purchasing and storage of pharmaceuticals in the light of these recommendations.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when the East Anglian regional health authority last invited tenders for the supply of drugs to the authority.

  Mr. Newton
  The regional health authority went out to tender in August 1987 for a distributive service for all product lines where the expenditure within the region was less than £5,000 per annum.

  Tenders for some pharmaceutical products where expenditure exceeds £5,000 per annum were issued in January 1988.

  Hospital Laboratory Service
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any plans to reorganise the hospital laboratory service in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement on the level of services for the public and the remuneration structure and conditions of service for the staff.

  Mr. Newton
  We have no present plans to reorganise the hospital laboratory service. The remuneration structure and conditions of service for hospital laboratory staff are matters for the appropriate Whitley councils. I understand that the management side of the Professional Technical Staffs B Whitley Council, the body that deals with medical laboratory scientific officers, is to put proposals for a comprehensive grade restructuring to the staff side at a meeting on 19 April. In the longer term, consideration will also be given to decisions made in response to the Management Advisory Service's report on pathology services staffing which is currently under consideration by the National Health Service Management Board. Any proposed changes will pay full regard to the need to maintain a high standard of service for the public.

  Plans for Wales are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  National Haemoglobinopathy Card
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he is taking to ensure that screening and counselling services are accessible to all people at risk from inherited blood disorders when he introduces the national haemoglobinopathy card.

  Mrs. Currie
  The introduction of the national haemoglobinopathy card will not in any way change existing medical practices. The purpose of the card, to be introduced around April, is to ensure

  (i) appropriate treatment for those with the disease,

  463

  (ii) that people identified with the trait should receive the appropriate counselling,

  (iii) for those screened and found to be "normal", reassurance and avoidance of duplicate screening.

  Individuals identified as being "at risk" from inherited blood disorders are offered counselling as part of the existing process.

  Pensioners (Investment Income)
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has on the trend in pensioners' investment income over the past 15 years.

  Mr. Scott
  The latest date for which information is available is 1985. Pensioners' weekly investment income, expressed in 1985 prices, rose on average from £11·20 in 1970 to £12·80 in 1985, a real terms increase of £1·60, or over 14 per cent. The upward trend has, however, not been constant.

  Occupational Pensions
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many retirement pensioners are in receipt of an occupational pension, and what is the average occupational pension.

  Mr. Scott
  In 1985, the latest date for which information is available, 51 per cent. of all pensioners and 70 per cent. of recently-retired couples had an occupational pension. The average weekly amount then in payment was £37.

  Hospitals (Fire Safety)
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how often hospital fire safety checks are made; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  Health authorities are required to have fire precautions policies and programmes agreed with local chief fire officers. Within the framework of these policies and programmes it is for health authorities to decide the type and frequency of checking applicable to specific fire precautions, having regard, where appropriate, to departmental and other guidance. For example, guidance on the maintenance and testing of fire alarm and detection systems is given in health technical memorandum 82. We attach great importance to the maintenance of effective fire precautions in all National Health Service units particularly as many patients are frail or immobile. We therefore require health authorities to be scrupulous in their observance of fire precaution regulations and guidance.

  Children (Drownings)
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children, under the age of 18 years, were drowned in each of the last 10 years.

  Mrs. Currie
  The information is show in the table. The latest year for which data are available is 1986.

  Registrations of deaths with drowning (ICD1 994.1) as underlying cause of death. Persons 0 to 17 years of age, England and Wales 1977 to 86

  Year

  Number

  1977

  167

  1978

  162

  464

  Year

  Number

  1979

  151

  1980

  128

  1981

  139

  1982

  131

  1983

  130

  1984

  97

  1985

  95

  21986

  90

  1 International Classification of Diseases, 8th and 9th Revision.

  2 28 days and over, provisional.

  AIDS
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the total sums allocated to Bloomsbury health authority for services related to AIDS, and the projects which have thereby been funded by the health authority; and from which sources the Tottenham Court road Brook advisory centre has received funding as a result of the AIDS allocations.

  Mr. Newton
  This information is not held centrally. The hon. Member may like to contact the chairman of Bloomsbury health authority.

  Staff Transfers
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what discussions he has had with unions representing staff at Department of Health and Social Security offices in London concerning staff transfers.

  Mr. Portillo
  There have been no discussions with unions representing staff at Department of Health and Social Security offices in London concerning the permanent transfer of staff.

  Staff Turnover
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list, by grade, the staff turnover figures for the Department of Health and Social Security offices at(a) Finsbury Park, (b) Highgate and (c) Hoxton for each year since 1983.

  Mr. Portillo
  The following tables give the staff turnover figures, in each grade, for the Department of Health and Social Security local offices at(a) Finsbury Park, (b) Highgate and (c) Hoxton during the period I October 1985 to 31 December 1987.

  Turnover is defined as the loss and movement of staff due to resignation, retirement, dismissal, death, transfer, promotion and reversion.

  The information requested is not available prior to 1 October 1985.

  a. Finsbury Park Local Office

  Grade

  Staff turnover of local office

  1 October 1985 to 31 December 1985

  1 January 1986 to 31 December 1986

  1 January 1987 to 31 December 1987

  LOI

  1

  23

  5

  LOII

  4½

  40

  10

  AA

  1

  14

  5

  Typist

  Nil

  1

  1

  Other

  Nil

  3

  5

  TOTAL

  6½

  81

  26

  465

  b. Highgate Local Office

  Grade

  Staff turnover of local office

  1 October 1985 to 31 December 1985

  1 January 1986 to 31 December 1986

  1 January 1987 to 31 December 1987

  LOI

  1

  9

  11

  LOII

  3

  26

  34

  AA

  2½

  11

  17

  Typist

  Nil

  3

  Nil

  Other

  2

  5

  4

  TOTAL

  8½

  54

  66

  c. Hoxton Local Office

  Grade

  Staff turnover of local office

  1 October 1985 to 31 December 1985

  1 January 1986 to 31 December 1986

  1 January 1987 to 31 December 1987

  LOI

  3

  8

  4

  LOII

  4

  19

  22

  AA

  Nil

  17

  16

  Typist

  1

  Nil

  Nil

  Other

  2

  3

  4

  TOTAL

  10

  47

  46

  Social Fund
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what considerations of the role of local charities will be given in assessing the social fund allocation to each Department of Health and Social Security office.

  Mr. Scott
  None.

  Abortions
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the number of abortions under nine weeks gestation, between nine and 12 weeks, between 13 and 16 weeks and over 16 weeks performed on women resident in each regional health authority and each district health authority area in England and Wales for the latest 12-month period for which figures are available.

  Mr. Newton
  I regret that the exact information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, data on gestation period for usual residents of district health authorities are currently being produced for 1986, which the hon. Member may find useful, and I will place these in the Library when they become available.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the numbers of abortions performed on women in each regional health authority and district health authority in England and Wales, expressed(a) in age bands, numerically and as a percentage of the total number and (b) by grounds, expressed numerically and as a proportion of the total number, for the latest 12-month period for which figures are available.

  Mr. Newton
  I regret that the exact information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Statistics are not released for district health authority of termination, but table 24 of abortion statistics does show the age distribution for usual residents of regional and district health authorities. A copy of this publication for 1986 may be found in the Library.

  Family Planning
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has as to the proportion of people, receiving contraceptive help and advice from Camden and Islington family planning clinics, who are under 25 years and as to the corresponding figures for the Tottenham Court road Brook advisory centre and the community clinics run by Bloomsbury health authority.

  Mr. Newton
  The available information is not precisely in the form requested. Figures are not collected centrally for under-25s, only for under-20s and those aged 20 to 34. Some family planning clinics in Camden come within Bloomsbury and some within Hampstead district health authority. The available information is given in the table:

  Family Planning Clinic Services 1986 Community and Hospital Clinics—Patients seen: Numbers

  District Health Authority

  Under 20 years

  20 to 34 years

  Islington

  1,210

  8,143

  Hampstead

  202

  3,150

  Bloomsbury of which

  3,865

  28,866

  Tottenham Court Road Brook Centre

  3,369

  16,608

  1 Relates to persons aged 20 to 35 years.

  Great Ormond Street Hospital
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the expected date of completion of the external works on the cardiac block at Great Ormond street.

  Mrs. Currie
  This scheme, which is mainly concerned with landscaping and does not affect the use of the new facilities, is now planned for completion in May.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total cost to date of the restoration works undertaken on the cardiac block at Great Ormond street hospital.

  Mrs. Currie
  So far about £17·25 million has been paid in fees and construction costs.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated final total cost of restoring the cardiac block at Great Ormond street hospital expressed in 1982 prices and current prices.

  Mrs. Currie
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 23 November 1987, at column 82.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated cost of equipping the restored cardiac block at Great Ormond street hospital.

  Mrs. Currie
  Our estimate of a net cost of £650,000 has not changed since my reply to the hon. Member on 23 November 1987, at column 82

  National Health Service Review
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the health authorities that have made submissions to the Government's review of the National Health Service.
  467
  Mr. Moore
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave to the hon. Member for Leeds, Central (Mr. Fatchett) on 7 March, at column 18.

  Committee on Safety of Medicines
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many members of the Committee on Safety of Medicines are women; and if he will name them.

  Mr. Newton
  One woman is currently a member of the Committee on Safety of Medicines:Dr. Elizabeth Mayne, MD, FRCP, FRCPath, Department of Haematology, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast.

  Four women are members of sub committees of the Committee on Safety of Medicines:
  Dr. Linda Beeley, MA(Oxon), FRCP, Consultant Clinical Pharmacologist, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Edgbaston;
  Dr. Joyce Davidson, MB, BS, FRCGP, General Practitioner, Cardiff;
  Dr. Elizabeth Miller, MB, BS, BSc, Principal Microbiologist, Communicable Diseases Surveillance Centre, Colindale;
  Dr. Sheila Wallace, FRCP, DObst, RCOG, Consultant Paediatric Neurologist, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff.

  Tranquillisers
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will set up a sub-committee of the Committee on Safety of Medicines to make a study of benzodiazepine, to include members co-opted from voluntary and community organisations active in the field of counselling patients who have become addicted to tranquillisers.

  Mr. Newton
  It is for the Committee on Safety of Medicines to decide whether or not to set up a subcommittee on any issue. In relation to benzodiazepines, the committee has recently completed a review of the problem of dependence, leading to the advice to doctors in "Current Problems No. 21", which is in the Library.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what further instructions he has given to the doctors of his Department's regional medical services following the publication by the Committee on Safety of Medicines of "Current Problems No. 21", in which the dangers of overprescribing benzodiazepine are mentioned.

  Mr. Newton
  Doctors of the Department's regional medical service regularly attend prescribing seminars at which current issues and matters of interest are discussed. These include discussions on articles such as the one providing recommendations on benzodiazepines contained in "Current Problems No. 21". All doctors in the regional medical service have had their attention drawn to this article by the provision of a personal copy to each of them.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what savings he expects to accrue to the National Health Service when general practitioners act upon the advice given about benzodiazepine in "Current Problems No. 21"; and if he will consider using such savings to assist in the funding of voluntary organisations counselling patients who have suffered from addiction to such tranquillisers.

  Mr. Newton
  "Current Problems No. 21" contains recommendations about the use of benzodiazepines and 468
  implementation would depend on the responses by individual patients to the courses of treatment advised by their own general practitioners. It is not possible to quantify the savings that might accrue. A number of voluntary organisations helping tranquilliser users have received central funding as part of a widespread expansion of counselling services.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he takes to ensure that general practitioners understand the importance of the yellow card report system as the means of notifying their concern about the suspected adverse reactions of patients to the administration of benzodiazepine.

  Mr. Newton
  The Committee on Safety of Medicines is very concerned to ensure that doctors are well aware of the importance of the yellow card system as for reporting suspected adverse reactions to all medicinal products, including benzodiazepines. The committee's leaflet, "Current Problems", sent two or three times a year to all doctors, invites reports of suspected adverse drug reactions and includes detailed advice on how, where and what to report. Similar advice is also included in the British National Formulary, which the Department sends free of charge to all doctors, and in the ABPI's data sheet compendium. Yellow cards are sent regularly with "Current Problems" and are also provided at the back of doctors' prescription pads, and in the BNF and data sheet compendium. They can also be obtained by ringing CSM Freephone.

  Last year the CSM and the drug safety research unit jointly launched a red alert scheme to encourage doctors to report suspected serious adverse reactions to new drugs, using a yellow card with red triangles.

  As a result of all these measures, the number of yellow card reports received by the CSM has increased steadily to 16,431 in 1987. The CSM is exploring further initiatives to increase doctors' awareness of adverse drug reactions and the yellow card reporting system.

  Cervical Cancer
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the percentage of failure in the detection of cervical cancer by the present test system used by his Department.

  Mrs. Currie
  Estimates of the false negative rate for cervical smear tests vary widely. In some cases an inadequate sample of cells is captured by the person taking the smear; in others cellular changes may be missed by the laboratory in which the smear is examined. That is why health circular (88)1 issued in January 1988 includes guidance on the quality of smear-taking and on internal quality control and external quality assessment in laboratories.

  No screening test or screening programme can achieve 100 per cent. accuracy. Nevertheless, studies by the World Health Organisation's International Agency for Research on Cancer show that women who have a smear test every five years between the ages of 20 and 64 are 84 per cent. less likely than unscreened women to develop invasive cervical cancer.

  Yellow Card Reports
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if, pursuant to his answer of 3 March,Official

  469
  Report, columns 697–8, in respect of the use of yellow card reports by general practitioners, he will give a breakdown on the nature of the yellow card reports submitted by general practitioners to the Committee on Safety of Medicines during 1987.

  Mr. Newton
  An article by the Committee on Safety of Medicines analysing yellow card reports received in 1986 and 1987 will appear very shortly in the CSM update series in the British Medical Journal.

  NHS Performance Indicators
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the reasons why the National Health Service performance indicators for 1986–87 have not yet been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Newton
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to him on 11 February 1988 at column 355. The 1986–87 Health Service indicators will be published in March, and a set will be placed in the Library.

  Psychiatric Care
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when he intends to publish the report by the social services inspectorate on the provision by local authorities of psychiatric care; why there has been a delay in the publication of this report; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  A report prepared by the Department's social services inspectorate following an inspection of personal social services for mentally ill people in eight local authorities is in draft form and has not yet been submitted to Ministers.

  In the meantime, a report on local arrangements has been made available to each participating local authority.

  Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how he monitors the implementation by local authorities of their statutory obligations under the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970.

  Mr. Scott
  I am unable to add to my reply on 8 March 1988 to the hon. Members for Ealing, Southall (Mr. Bidwell), for Mansfield (Mr. Meale), for Dumbarton (Mr. McFall) and for Kirkcaldy (Dr. Moonie) at columns 159–60.

  RPI (Error)
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the charities to which funds will be donated arising out of the retail price index computer error; what is the total amount which will be donated to each of these charities; and which charities located in the north-west of England will benefit.

  Mr. Scott
  Details of the arrangements for the payments to charities are still being considered and will be announced in the near future.

  Press Releases
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services for what reasons all local authority welfare rights 470
  officers and other non-journalistic outlets were dropped from the mailing list of his Department's press release section in September 1987; whether this was done with any notification; whether he will reinstate the former mailing list; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Department's press office has riot stopped sending press notices to any one group of recipients. It does, however, review its long press lists from time to time. It works on the principle that press notices are designed and intended for the press and this is where they are mainly sent. The last review took place in October and November last year. Recipients were not notified. Because few of the recipients have made inquiries about this action, I do not consider it necessary to restore the former mailing list. However, several welfare rights units have expressed concern about their removal; a small mailing list will be established to provide them with the social security benefits information in which they are interested.

  Ministerial Offices
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will provide a breakdown of the £17,000 cost of the fixtures and fittings in his new private office; arid if he will provide similar information for the private offices of his junior Ministers.

  Mr. Moore
  Expenditure incurred on furniture, office equipment and floor covering as the result of the move to Richmond house totalled £12,400 for furniture and £4,600 for floor coverings.

  Furniture and fittings for the two restored historic room suites used by Ministers were provided in a style compatible with the restoration and not with individual Minister's or staff requirements. Such furniture was inherited for the use of the Department on occupancy of the building. The remaining three Ministers utilised furniture and equipment from the previous accommodation.

  Meridian (Member's Correspondence)
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when he intends to reply to the letters sent to him by the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton on 6 November 1987, 15 December 1987 and 3 February 1988 with regard to financial assistance to Meridian, following the reference to him of this correspondence by the Home Secretary in October 1987.

  Mr. Moore
  I regret that, despite extensive inquiries, we have no trace of this correspondence. If the right hon. Member will furnish me with copies of the correspondence, I will look into it immediately.

  Whitley Hospital, Coventry
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to the answer of 9 March, if he will instruct the Coventry district health authority not to enter into any further financial or other commitments with Coventry Church housing association, in relation to Whitley hospital, pending the outcome of his consideration of the health authority's proposal to close the hospital; on what basis commitments have already been entered into; and if he will make a statement.
  471
  Mrs. Currie
  We are currently considering Coventry district health authority's proposal to close the Whitley hospital and we expect to take a decision shortly. The health authority cannot enter into any commitments relating to the Whitley hospital while a decision on its future is pending.

  Waiting Lists (Eastbourne)
  Mr. Gow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the current waiting lists for in-patients and out-patients at the district general hospital, Eastbourne, and at Saint Mary's hospital, Eastbourne, in each specialty for(a) examinations, (b) treatment and (c) operations; what were the comparable figures on the same dates in 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1987; and what proposals he has to reduce these waiting lists.

  Mr. Newton
  Our available information is given in the table. We do not hold information centrally on numbers awaiting out-patient appointments. It should be noted that in certain specialties a hospital may maintain a waiting list which is common to more than one hospital within a district health authority.

  Number of patients on in-patient waiting list at 31 December for years 1984 to 1986 (latest available)

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Eastbourne district general hospital

  General surgery

  263

  252

  357

  Ear, nose and throat

  428

  329

  294

  Traumatic and orthopaedic

  681

  793

  925

  Ophthalmology

  86

  168

  206

  Urology

  375

  259

  221

  Oral surgery

  49

  52

  148

  Gynaecology

  643

  629

  772

  Total all specialties

  2,525

  2,482

  2,923

  Total surgical specialties

  2,525

  2,482

  2,923

  St. Mary's hospital, Eastbourne

  General medicine

  —

  1

  —

  Dermatology

  2

  1

  —

  Rheumatology

  6

  4

  2

  Geriatrics

  6

  6

  2

  Total all specialties

  14

  12

  4

  Total surgical specialties

  0

  0

  0

  In the current financial year, we have made £110,000 available to Eastbourne district health authority to use spare ward capacity to treat 100 additional patients from the orthopaedic waiting list. In 1988–89, we shall make £155,000 available to the health authority to treat 150 additional gynaecology patients, mainly for hysterectomies, and an additional 250 adults and children for ear, nose and throat surgery.

  Social Security Reform
  Mr. Gow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people living in the Eastbourne parliamentary constituency are currently in receipt of(a) housing benefit, (b) family income supplement and (c) supplementary benefit; and what is his estimate of the number of those in category (a) whose entitlement to benefit will be reduced under the new system which is to be introduced in April.

  Mr. Portillo
  The information requested is as follows:
  472

  Number

  (a) Housing benefit

  11,600

  (b) Family income supplement

  Not available

  (c) Supplementary benefit

  111,188

  1 Latest available figure—17 November 1987.

  Notes

  The figures for (a) and (c) relate to Eastbourne borough council and Eastbourne local office respectively. The boundaries are not conterminous with the parliamentary constituency.

  I regret that the additional information requested is not available for individual areas.

  Consultants' Contracts
  Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report the contents of a consultant's contract with the National Health Service.

  Mr. Newton
  I have placed a copy of the recommended form of contract in the Library.

  Bronchitis and Emphysema
  Mr. Charles Wardle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has accepted the findings of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council's recent report on bronchitis and emphysema; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lofthouse
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what response he proposes to make regarding the recommendations of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council's report into the cause of emphysema among mineworkers.

  Mr. Scott
  I have accepted the report's conclusions and arrangements are being made for its publication. The council's main finding is that there is insufficient evidence to warrant prescription, according to the criteria laid down in section 76(2) of the Social Security Act 1975, of bronchitis and emphysema in their own right. The council also calls for further research in this field, especially studies on populations of non-smoking, dust-exposed workers.

  Doctors (Financial Interests)
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any plans to introduce regulations requiring doctors and consultants to declare any financial interests they may have in private hospitals and clinics in a form accessible to prospective patients; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 10 March 1988]: No; but the matter is one which is covered by the General Medical Council's code on professional conduct and discipline.

  Patient Costs
  Mr. Conway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the average annual expenditure per patient in 1986–87 by Shropshire health authority.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 23 February 1988]: For 1986–87, hospital costing returns submitted by the Shropshire health authority show average costs per patient treated as follows:
  473

  Hospital

  In-patients

  Out-patients

  A and E patients

  Day patients

  Day cases

  4£

  5£

  6£

  7£

  6£

  7£

  6£

  7£

  6£

  Type

  Acute 1–50 beds

  42·82

  619·16

  18·28

  58·35

  11·31

  18·26

  1n.a.

  n.a.

  1n.a.

  Acute over 300 beds

  87·75

  562·98

  31·57

  112·12

  26·37

  27·39

  1n.a.

  n.a.

  1n.a.

  Mainly acute

  50·45

  557·84

  15·64

  35·13

  12·77

  19·89

  1n.a.

  n.a.

  1n.a.

  Partly acute

  52·01

  708·39

  18·95

  49·29

  1n.a.

  n.a.

  26·50

  939·98

  n.a.

  Mainly long stay

  38·76

  2—

  15·36

  47·34

  10·25

  14 ·87

  1n.a.

  n.a.

  1n.a.

  Long stay

  69·40

  2—

  1n.a.

  n.a.

  1n.a.

  n.a.

  1n.a.

  n.a.

  1n.a.

  Geriatric

  36·61

  2—

  1n.a.

  n.a.

  1n.a.

  n.a.

  1n.a.

  n.a.

  1n.a.

  Mental illness

  42·56

  2—

  1n.a.

  n.a.

  1n.a.

  n.a.

  22·20

  2,886·35

  1n.a.

  1 No patients of this type were treated during the year.

  2 Average costs per in-patient case in respect of hospitals providing long-stay treatment are not routinely calculated.

  3 "Other hospitals" (hospitals not clearly falling into any of the standard types) have been excluded: average costs are not calculated for such hospitals.

  4 Cost per I/P day.

  5 Cost per case.

  6 Cost per attendance.

  7 Cost per new case.

  Invasive Carcinoma
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services which socio-economic group is most affected by invasive carcinoma in the United Kingdom.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 22 February 1988]: The latest available information on socio-economic groups affected by malignant neoplasms is given in the table which shows information for Great Britain on mortality for all malignant neoplasms by socio-economic group for the years 1979–80, 1982–83. Data for later years, and for the United Kingdom as a whole, are not available.

  Standard Mortality Ratios (SMRs) for malignant, neoplasms (ICD 140–208) by socio-economic group (S.E.G.), Great Britain 1979–80, 1982–83.

  S.E.G.

  Description

  SMR

  1

  2

  1.1, 2.1

  Employers in industry, commerce etc. large and small establishments

  107

  111

  1.2, 2.2

  Managers in industry, commerce etc. large and small establishments

  79

  95

  3

  Professional workers self-employed

  51

  69

  4

  Professional workers employees

  74

  94

  5.1

  Intermediate non-manual workers Ancillary workers and artists

  69

  88

  5.2

  Intermediate non-manual workers foremen and supervisors

  134

  148

  6

  Junior non-manual workers

  85

  98

  7

  Personal service workers

  122

  121

  8

  Foremen and supervisors manual

  104

  107

  9

  Skilled manual workers

  118

  115

  10

  Semi-skilled manual workers

  119

  120

  11

  Unskilled manual workers

  156

  133

  12

  Own account workers other than professional

  82

  77

  13

  Farmers employers and managers

  82

  126

  14

  Farmers own account

  57

  67

  15

  Agricultural workers

  101

  97

  16

  Members of armed forces

  127

  127

  17

  Inadequately described and not stated occupations

  17

  25

  1: SMRs for males aged 20 to 64, 100 = All Males 20 to 64.

  2: SMRs for all single and married women aged 20 to 59, 100 = all single and married women.

  Notes:

  Single women's coding is based on own occupation.

  Married women's coding is based on husband's occupation.

TRANSPORT

  British Rail (Financial Support)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to change present levels of financial support for British Rail, in the light of increasing demand for rail services.

  Mr. Snape
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he is satisfied that present levels of financial support for British Rail are adequate in the light of increasing demand for rail services.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  I have repeatedly made it clear that I shall approve any worthwhile additions to British Rail's investment programme which are needed to meet the quality standards on subsidised services.

  Transport Services (Financing)
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the chairmen of nationalised transport industries concerning the financing of transport services.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  I meet each of the chairmen from time to time to discuss various matters, including financial issues.

  London Assessment Studies
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what public transport projects will be assessed as part of the London assessment studies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The study consultants have been in touch with BR and LRT, boroughs and other organisations about their ideas for improving public transport in the study areas. They will then develop a wide range of options for assessment. Currently planned projects are not being delayed by the studies. The studies will also consider the needs of pedestrians, and other vulnerable road users.

  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress is being made with the London assessment studies; what representations he has received on them in the last six months; and if he will make a statement.
  475
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We have received comments about various aspects of the assessment studies from local authority associations, London Planning Advisory Committee, individual boroughs, national and local groups and members of the public.

  Channel Tunnel (Railway Development)
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set up an inquiry into the potential benefits of electrifying railway lines to south Wales and the west of England in the light of the Channel tunnel development.

  Mr. Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will investigate the potential benefits of electrifying railway lines to south Wales and the west of England, in the light of the Channel tunnel development.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn).

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has received any proposals from British Rail to electrify the London Midland railway line in the light of the Channel tunnel development; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  I have received no such proposal.

  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his latest discussions with British Rail about Channel tunnel rail infrastructure.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  As my hon. Friend knows, we have asked British Rail for a report by June on its study of the possible need for additional capacity. It would be premature to hold further discussions with the board until we have received that report.

  M4 (Central Barriers)
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the cost of replacing the central barriers on the M4 between London and Bristol, junctions 1 to 20; and what is his estimate of the date of completion of this work.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Work on the M4 commenced in 1982 and the Department is continuing to replace or upgrade all safety fencing to modern-day standards. The work is estimated to cost some £6 million and to be completed by 1990.

  Work currently in hand is at junctions 2 and 4 and between junctions 14 and 15. It should be completed by mid May.

  Works planned for this year include junctions 10 to 12 and 6 km between junctions 16 and 18 as part of the major maintenance scheme.

  Ferry Safety
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with ferry company managers about ferry safety.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  I have had, from time to time, individual meetings with directors and other managers of ferry companies.

  Roll-on/Roll-off Vessels
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress his Department has made in assessing the structural safety of roll-on/roll-off vessels.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  Work is in hand to check the stability of existing passenger roll-on/roll-off ferries, particularly the older ones. My Department is also undertaking a programme of research into ferry safety, including possible ways of reducing the risk of capsize if water reaches the car deck.

  Manchester Airport
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next intends to visit Manchester airport to discuss the future of the airport.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  My right hon. Friend has no immediate plans for a visit.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last met the staff of Manchester airport to discuss the future of the airport.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  My noble Friend the Minister with responsibility for aviation met a delegation of board members and officers of Manchester Airport plc on 8 February.

  Transport Services (Safety)
  Ms. Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will bring forward a White Paper on safety in transport services; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  Safety is an essential element of all our policies, which are developed in White Papers, consultative documents and other statements. So I do not consider that a separate White Paper is needed.

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about safety levels on transport services in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  It would be impractical to record centrally the many contacts and exchanges of views my Department has day by day with organisations and individuals on all aspects of transport safety.

  Drink-Driving
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to be able to estimate changes in drink-driving behaviour in 1987.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Monitoring is continuous and aims to assess not only immediate effects but also the longer term impact. We shall release significant findings, including final results of last year's Christmas campaign, as they become available.

  Mr. David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of car drivers and motor cyclists who die in crashes and collisions between 10 pm and 4 am are over the legal limit of alcohol.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The proportion of car drivers and motor cycle riders who die in road accidents between 10 pm and 4 am and who have a blood alcohol level in excess of the legal limit is 58 per cent. and 60 per cent., respectively.

  Motorway Repairs
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of motorway were repaired last year.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We estimate that 84 miles have been renewed during 1987–88.

  Passenger Transport Authorities
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the future of the passenger transport authorities in the former metropolitan counties.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  I am not at present contemplating any changes to the existing passenger transport responsibilities in the metropolitan areas.

  Road Safety
  Mrs. Ray Mitchie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what new road safety initiatives his Department plans for the next year.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We intend to announce later this year the outcome of the consultations that we have had following publication last year of the report "Road safety — the next steps", and our plans for implementing its recommendations so as to accelerate the reduction in road accident casualties.

  Major initiatives so far have been the publication in February of our proposals for improving the training and testing of motor cyclists, and the review of motorway safety which we announced at Christmas—the results of which we expect to publish in the early spring. Tackling drinking and driving remains a major priority, as does the safety of all vulnerable road users, particularly children and pedestrians of all ages.

  Smoke Hoods
  Mr. Patrick McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Civil Aviation Authority has yet produced its specification for passenger smoke hoods; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The Civil Aviation Authority is wholly responsible for aviation safety regulation. The CAA has informed us that it has produced a further draft of its specification for passenger smoke hoods which has been circulated to interested parties for comment. The CAA expects to be able to finalise the specification in April.

  Mr. Aspinwall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he intends to introduce regulations regarding the retail sale of airline passenger protection smoke hoods.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The sale of smoke hoods, whether for use by airline passengers or the public at large, is a commercial matter. There are no plans to introduce regulations governing their sale to airline passengers. The sale of any consumer product is now covered by the general safety requirement under the Consumer Protection Act 1987, which makes it a criminal offence to supply any consumer product that is not reasonably safe.

  Passenger Safety
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, in the light of recent prosecutions arising from attacks on women in or near railway stations, he will be issuing, or revising guidelines to organisations providing public transport, concerning staffing levels, operating procedures and user's personal safety; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  Staffing levels and operating procedures are for public transport operators to determine in the light of their business objectives and statutory obligations. The policing of BR and LUL stations is a matter for the British Transport police who maintain close links with the operators.

  Transport Funding
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with local authorities concerning transport funding.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has had no discussions recently with local authorities about transport funding, although he did attend an Association of County Councils' function on 17 February at which he spoke on the need for greater spending on highway maintenance.

  I met representatives of the Association of Metropolitan Authorities on 2 March to discuss the proposed change of PTAs to billing bodies from 1990–91.

  Deregulation
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a further statement on the effect of deregulation on the quality of public road transport.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  Deregulation continues to have a beneficial effect on road passenger transport. Bus mileage has increased; there is competition and innovation in many areas of the country; the number of operators has gone up and services are more closely geared to passengers' needs; costs have been reduced and local authorities have made substantial savings in revenue support for subsidised services.

  Transatlantic Routes (Manchester)
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received about the licensing of transatlantic air routes from Manchester.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  A number of representations have been received concerning improved access for United States carriers to Manchester. The licensing of those carriers is a matter for the United States Government, not Her Majesty's. The United States Government do not have the necessary traffic rights under the United States/ United Kingdom air services agreement. It is necessary for them to seek to negotiate for these additional rights. Officials from the Department will be meeting a delegation from the United States Government in London later thin week to try to make progress on this matter.

  Irradiated Fuel (Transport)
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has received a copy of the London borough
  479
  nuclear policy committee report "Transportation of Irradiated Fuel", by Large and Associates; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 3 March, at column 656, to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Dr. Thomas).

  Severn Crossing
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how long the consultation period on the second Severn crossing will be; what discussions he is having with local representatives; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The consultants for the project (W. S. Atkins and Partners and G. Maunsell and Partners) are making good progress. A public exhibition has been held at nine different centres on both sides of the estuary and consultations are now under way with affected parties. These consultations will continue during the coming months. The Department and the Welsh Office are in touch with local representatives in the areas affected by the proposals.

  The consultants are proceeding with the further technical investigations needed. We hope to be in a position to finalise the proposals in 18 to 24 months.

  Public Transport Improvements
  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what improvements in public transport he expects to implement during the next financial year.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  I refer the hon. Member to the 1988 public expenditure White Paper (Cm. 288) which gives details of the Government's planned levels of financial support to public transport services.

  London Regional Transport
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he now expects to publish further objectives for London Regional Transport.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  I expect to announce new objectives shortly after the findings of the formal investigation into the King's Cross fire are known.

  Road Maintenance
  Mr. Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps are taken to ensure that road maintenance and repairs are undertaken with minimum inconvenience to drivers and passengers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We aim to minimise inconvenience to road users by careful programming of works, improving traffic management arrangements and by getting works completed more quickly—particularly by greater use of lane rental contracts which are achieving an acceleration of 33 per cent. on average. Further measures are being considered. We hope to make an announcement on 1988–89 programme shortly.

  Local Public Transport Services (Funding)
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has any plans to improve the funding mechanisms of local public transport services.
  480
  Mr. David Mitchell
  We have already brought about a substantial improvement by the deregulation of bus services and the introduction of competitive tendering for subsidised services. In the metropolitan areas precept control has also contributed to reducing the cost to the ratepayer of local public transport services, and we are now considering the responses to a proposal to replace the present precepting system for the passenger transport authorities by a system of billing on metropolitan districts.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Dunnachie
  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.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Halifax (Mrs. Mahon) on 2 March, at column 599.

  A30 (Improvements)
  Mr. Neale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will report on progress on the planning, design and construction of the various improvement schemes to the A30 from Launceston to Mitchell.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We are making good progress on the six schemes in the national programme between Launceston and Mitchell. Together they will provide over 27 miles of dual carriageway at an estimated cost of some £35 million. The detailed position on each is:

  Launceston to Plusha
  The statutory procedures were completed in February. Construction is expected to start later this year.

  Plusha to Bolventor
  Revised proposals were published in October 1987. A public inquiry is to be held in April. The programmed start of contruction is in the period April 1989 to March 1991.

  Shallowater Hill improvement
  Added to the national programme in April 1987 with a programmed start of construction in the period April 1991 onwards. Preliminary studies and investigations are now in hand.

  Bodmin to Indian Queens
  Added to the national programme in April 1987 with a programmed start of construction in the period April 1991 onwards. A design agent is to be appointed shortly.

  Indian Queens/Fraddon/St. Columb road bypasses
  Public consultation of further options was held in January/ February. Comments received are now being studied. A preferred route is expected to be announced later this year. The programmed start of construction is in the period April 1991 onwards.

  Penhale to Carland Cross improvement
  A public inquiry was held in February and the inspector's report is awaited. The scheme, which would bypass Summercourt and Mitchell, is programmed to start construction in the period April 1989 to March 1991.

  Mr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will report on progress on the planning, design and construction of the various improvement schemes of the A30 from Mitchell to Long Rock, Penzance.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We are making good progress on the two schemes in the national programme between Mitchell (Carland Cross) and Long Rock.
  481
  The detailed position is:

  Zelah bypass
  Revised proposals were published in November 1987. An announcement about a public inquiry is to be made shortly. The programmed start of construction is in the period April 1989 to March 1991.

  Black water bypass
  Construction is expected to be completed this summer. Work has also started on the final phase of the safety improvements on the A30 at Crowlas.

  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will report on progress on the planning and design of the A30 improvement from Okehampton to Launceston; and what is the intended year for the start of its construction.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Survey and detailed design work on this £21·8 million scheme is now nearly completed. Proposals are expected to be published in draft orders towards the end of the year. The planned start of construction is in the period April 1991 onwards. Given satisfactory progress with the statutory and administrative procedures we hope to start work early in that period.

  Driver Testing
  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he is taking to implement the review of driver testing report.

  Mr. Channon
  I have approved the programme of detailed departmental action drawn up to implement the key measures recommended. The object will be to make the best use of existing resources and to give customers a better service with reduced waiting times for tests. A new service, providing Saturday morning tests, will be offered on a trial basis at selected centres throughout the country in the next few months.

  Computerisation of test appointments over the next 18 months will offer customers a speedier and better booking service. In the light of the high costs and inflated queues for tests that the review has identified flowing from last-minute cancellations that cannot be reallocated, I propose to amend regulations to require 10 clear working days' notice to cancel or rebook without loss of fee.

  Driving instructors play a key role in preparing people to cope with today's vehicles and road conditions. Learners should take their advice about when they are ready to take a driving test. We are continuing discussions with the associations of approved driving instructors about maintaining high standards and the publication of information to help customers seeking professional tuition. Avoiding accidents means not just a high level of driving skills, but constant awareness and consideration for other road users.

  I am placing copies of the Department's "Plan for Implementation" in the Libraries of both Houses.

  British Rail (Electrification)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next expects to meet the chairman of British Rail to discuss its electrification programme and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  Electrification from London to Edinburgh is due to be completed on target in 1991. I understand that BR has no plans for further major route electrification.

  Plutonium (Transport)
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if there are any proposals to use Prestwick airport for the transportation of plutonium; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  I understand that British Nuclear Fuels' current preferred option is to use Prestwick airport for returning reprocessed plutonium oxide to Japan. This traffic will not take place until the mid-1990s and no firm decisions have yet been taken.

  Major Road Schemes
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to change the public inquiry system concerning major road schemes proposed by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We are satisfied that for the vast majority of road proposals the present inquiry system works well. The procedures continue to be kept under review and all suggestions for change are given careful consideration.

  The Government's concern to safeguard the rights of those affected limits the scope for change.

  Archway Road, London
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy that at the completion of the London assessment studies a public inquiry into the A1 (Archway road) section will be held.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  A decision on how to deal with the problems on the A1 Archway road will be taken after public consultation following completion of the east London assessment study. The statutory procedures for trunk road improvements include provision for public inquiries to be held.

  Wrexham-Bidston Railway
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has received from British Rail on the case for improving services on the Wrexham-Bidston railway line and for investing in train sets that are capable of giving reliable transport; whether he has received any proposals for special measures to bring back the class 142 pacer units; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Channon
  I have received no such proposals. These are essentially management matters for British Rail to consider.

  Coastguard Stations (Devon)
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of Transport how many coastguard stations there are in Devon; how many have breeches buoy equipment; and what would be the annual cost of continuing the use of breeches buoy equipment in coastguard stations where the equipment has already been bought.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  There are 21 coastguard stations in Devon of which 11 hold breeches buoy equipment. The annual cost of continuing to make use of the equipment in those 11 stations would be about £11,500. However,
  483
  development costs for replacement of obsolescent rocket apparatus would also have to be incurred in the near future.

  Harbours
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish information on the value of European Economic Community aid and other grants awarded to each harbour authority in the United Kingdom in each of the last five years, including brief details of projects undertaken.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  I regret that the answer to this question could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. I shall write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to which harbours in the United Kingdom are(a) privately owned and (b) managed by companies which have shipping interests.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  Three shipping groups own and manage ports in the United Kingdom. Sealink UK has seven (Fishguard, Folkestone, Harwich (Parkeston Quay), Heysham, Holyhead, Newhaven, Stranraer); P&O three (Cairnryan, Felixstowe and Larne); and Caledonian MacBrayne (Scottish Transport Group) has 17 small ports in Scotland. Some other firms with shipping interests operate individual wharves or docks.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether it is a condition of European Economic Community aid to ports that berthing facilities may not be monopolised by a single shipping company; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  I understand that the European Commission accords low priority to applications to aid projects which serve a single user. So in practice such projects do not usually receive grants from the European regional development fund.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will undertake an inquiry to establish whether ports and harbours which have been in receipt of public funding are being managed in the public interest; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  No. Harbour authorities must run their harbours in accordance with the duties and powers conferred on them by Parliament in their local legislation.

DEFENCE

  Hunter Aircraft
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Hunter aircraft operated by the fleet requirements and air direction unit are owned by his Department; and if they have any civilian role.

  Mr. Freeman
  All FRADU-operated Hunter aircraft are owned by the Royal Navy. They do not have a civilian role.

  RAF Stornoway
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many Phantom aircraft will be deployed at RAF Stornoway during Exercise Elder Forest 88;
  484
  (2) how many Tornado aircraft will be deployed at RAF Stornoway during Exercise Elder Forest 88;

  (3) how many Canberra aircraft will be deployed at RAF Stornoway during Exercise Elder Forest 88;

  (4) how many Hunter aircraft will be deployed at RAF Stornoway during Exercise Elder Forest 88;

  (5) how many Falcon aircraft will be deployed at RAF Stornoway during Exercise Elder Forest 88;

  (6) between which dates RAF Stornoway will be activated for Exercise Elder Forest 88;

  (7) if any simulated air attacks on RAF Stornoway will take place during Exercise Elder Forest 88;

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  There are no plans to activate RAF Stornoway during Exercise Elder Forest, nor for any of the participating aircraft to operate from, or make simulated attacks upon, that airport.

  Chile
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what regular contacts there are between representatives of Her Majesty's armed forces and those of Chile.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  Our diplomatic representation in Chile includes a defence element. United Kingdom defence personnel have regular contact with representatives of the Chilean armed forces, both in Chile and in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British armed forces personnel have visited any military facility in Chile in the last year.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  In addition to visits by military personnel attached to the British embassy in Santiago, five serving officers from the United Kingdom visited Chilean military facilities in the last year. There were also three visits by Royal Navy ships.

  General Purpose Machine Gun
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what instructions are given to Army personnel serving in Northern Ireland concerning the use of the safety catch on the GPMG whilst on patrol or guard duties.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  Instructions given to personnel lay down that, except in the act of firing, the safety catch on the GPMG is to be applied at all times when the weapon is cocked. The safety catch cannot be applied unless the weapon is cocked, nor can the weapon be fired except when cocked.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the normal training period for the use of a GPMG; and what is the minimum age a recruit can undertake such training.

  Mr. Freeman
  The normal training period in the use of the GPMG is some 30 hours over a period of about three months.

  Adult recruits undertake GPMG training after they have completed their common military syllabus (recruit) training which lasts eight weeks. The minimum age of entry for an adult recruit is 17 years. For junior soldiers and junior leaders, however, GPMG training is not carried out within the first 14 weeks after entry. The minimum age of entry for a junior soldier is 16 years and 6 months; and for junior leaders, 16 years in England and Wales, and 15 years 8 months in Scotland.

  Aidan McAnespie
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the armed forces serving in Northern Ireland are facing disciplinary charges following the death of Aidan McAnespie.

  Mr. Freeman
  None. It would be inappropriate to initiate any disciplinary action until the trial of Guardsman Holden is concluded.

  HMS Vulcan, Dounreay
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether Euratom safety inspectors have access to the HMS Vulcan reactor at Dounreay.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  No.

  Short Range Nuclear Weapons
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he possesses concerning the use to which the United States intends to put the nuclear materials from the warheads withdrawn under the 1983 NATO Montebello decision on unilateral removal of short range nuclear weapons.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The use of materials from United States nuclear warheads withdrawn from Europe as a result of SACEUR's 1985 proposals to implement the Montebello decision is a matter for the United States Government.

  "Today" and "A Week in Politics"
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will arrange for a transcript of his interview on the Radio 4 "Today" programme broadcast on 3 March to be placed in his departmental library;

  (2) if he will place in (a) the Library and (b) his Department's library a transcript of his interview on "A Week in Politics" broadcast on Channel 4 on 2 March.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 11 March. Channel 4 programmes remain the copyright property of the production company which produces them and are not available on the open market.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will seek to obtain for his Departmental library a copy of the transcript of the interview given by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation General Secretary, Lord Carrington, to the BBC Radio Four "The World Tonight" programme concerning the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation summit on 3 March.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The library of the Ministry of Defence seeks to obtain all publications relevant to the working needs and interests of the Department where such material can be satisfactorily published on the open market. Transcripts of programmes transmitted by the BBC are deposited with the BBC written archives centre and are not normally available on the open market.

  NATO (Defensive Weapons)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all "smart" defensive weapons currently deployed by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation in the European land, air and sea military theatres.
  486
  Mr. Ian Stewart
  There is no formal NATO definition of a "smart" weapon, although the term is in general used to describe weapons with an autonomous navigation and target acquisition capability. There are a number of such weapons in the inventories of our allies, but it would be for them to provide details of the capabilities of their own weapon systems. The United Kingdom's major equipment programmes are described in successive Statements on the Defence Estimates.

  Soviet Union (Weapons Systems)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all the categories of weapons and support systems the Soviet Union has modernised since Mr. Gorbachev became Soviet leader, based on information available to his Department at 2 March.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on the NATO summit on 4 March at columns 1279–80 which emphasised that there has been no let-up in the Soviet Union's extensive military modernisation programme. For example, new cruise missiles have recently been flight-tested, while a new road-mobile ICBM has been deployed and a rail-mobile ICBM should be deployed shortly. In addition, a long-range strategic bomber has been introduced, a modified battle tank has been developed and a new mobile surface-to-air missile system is under development.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has on the Soviet weapons systems code named(a) AS-9 (Kyle), (b) AS-x-10 (Karen), (c) AS-11 (Kilter), (d) AS-12 (Kegler) and (e) AS-l4 (Kedge), in terms of their intended deployment, capability and range.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  All the Soviet weapon systems referred to are tactical air-to-surface missiles. They are intended for use by tactical air forces in early conventional attacks on targets such as air defence radar and missile sites, command and control centres and airfields.

  The AS-9 (Kyle), AS-11 (Kilter) and AS-12 (Kegler) are anti-radiation homing missiles and can be carried by the SU-23 (Fencer), SU-17 (Fitter) and Mig 23 (Flogger) aircraft. The AS-10 (Karen)—which is now operational—and AS-14 (Kedge) are electro-optical homing missiles and are carried on the same range of airframes.

  The AS-9 carries a 150 to 200 kg high explosive warhead and can also be equipped with a nuclear warhead. The AS-10 and AS-12 each carry a 100 kg high explosive warhead. We believe the AS-11 and AS-14 to be updated versions of the AS-9 and AS-10 respectively. The ranges of these missiles vary from a limited range up to about 100 km.

  Chemical Weapons
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has on progress in the development of binary chemical weapons in the United States of America.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The US Department of Defence has said that final assembly of 155mm artillery shells commenced in December 1987 and that the construction of production facilities for the Bigeye air delivered bomb has also recently been authorised.
  487
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether there is any military role which is specific to chemical weapons alone; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  Chemical weapons have a particular property that the mere threat of their use by an aggressor requires the defenders to wear protective equipment which imposes severe physiological degradation. That is why, although NATO affords a high priority to the protection of forces against the effects of chemical weapons, all its members are committed to the early conclusion of a global ban.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the implications of the total elimination of chemical weapons for the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's strategy of flexible response; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  A verifiable global elimination of chemical weapons would remove a major imbalance in East/West military capabilities.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the retention of a limited chemical warfare capability by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation forces is an integral part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's strategy of flexible response.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  There are no chemical weapons declared to NATO. However, in the absence of a comprehensive and verifiable ban on chemical weapons, and in the light of the massive Soviet CW capability, the modernisation of the limited United States retaliatory capability will contribute to upholding NATO's deterrent strategy of flexible response.

  La Belle Discotheque
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the implications for the safety of military installations in West Berlin of recent discoveries in connection with the bombing of La Belle discotheque on 5 April 1986 arising out of the trial of Christina Endrigkeit.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  No charge has been brought against Frau Endrigkeit in connection with the La Belle discotheque bombing. The security of all military installations is kept under regular review in the light of all relevant circumstances.

  Nuclear Warheads (Tests)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many underground tests are required to develop a new nuclear warhead;

  (2) whether the frequency of the United Kingdom's underground nuclear tests provides statistically significant evidence of the safety of the entire stockpile of the United Kingdom's nuclear warheads; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) whether underground nuclear tests will remain necessary for as long as the United Kingdom retains its nuclear weapons; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  It has been the policy of successive Governments not to disclose the purpose of individual underground nuclear tests, beyond saying that they are required 488
  "to maintain the effectiveness of the United Kingdom's nuclear deterrent".

  AOR Support Vessels
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many new AOR support vessels will be operational with the Royal Navy by the mid-1990s.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The two auxiliary oiler replenishment vessels currently on order will be in service by the mid-1990s. The operational dates of subsequent vessels will depend on the size and timing of future orders.

  Upholder Class Submarines
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is his Department's most recent estimate of the research and development and first-of-class costs for the new Upholder class submarine;

  (2) what is his Department's most recent estimate for the unit cost of the new Upholder class submarine.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 14 January, at column 373. Similar considerations apply to the detailed breakdown requested. However, information about the total cost of the programme was published in table 3.2 of volume 2 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1987" (Cm. 101-II).

  NATO Meeting
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the next annual meeting of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation at Oberammagau is to be held; and who will be representing Her Majesty's Government.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The NATO defence planning symposium normally takes place in Oberammagau in January each year. The United Kingdom is normally represented by officials from the Ministry of Defence and other Government Departments, as well as staff of the United Kingdom delegation to the North Atlantic Council and the United Kingdom military representative at NATO. No firm arrangements have yet been made for next year's conference.

  Bomb Transporter (Accident)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the accident of 4 March when a number of bombs fell from an American transporter on to the M25 motorway between junctions 15 and 16.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  It is not our policy to comment on the cargoes carried by military vehicles, but I am informed that no munitions fell on to the M25 from a United States transporter on 4 March.

  Ocean Surveillance Information Centre
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the number of staff employed at the joint ocean surveillance information centre; and what is their eligibility to belong to the trades unions.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 7 March, at column 62.

  RIMPAC Exercises
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British troops, ships and planes will be involved in the 1988 RIMPAC exercises.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  There are no plans for British service participation in a RIMPAC exercise in 1988 should any such exercise be arranged.

  Exercise Fire Focus
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultations there have been with the United States armed forces in preparation for operation Fire Focus.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  Exercise Fire Focus is a United Kingdom national exercise to practise the reinforcement of the Falkland Islands. There was therefore no need to consult the armed forces of the United States or any other foreign country in preparation for it.
  490
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the troops involved in Exercise Fire Focus are normally based in the Falklands.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  Troops of the existing Falklands garrison are of course not part of the reinforcement, but will participate in a joint-force exercise and limited training exercises in the Falklands once the Fire Focus reinforcement is complete. It would not be in the interests of security to comment on the size of the garrison.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total number of(a) Royal Air Force, (b) Army and (c) Royal Naval personnel involved in Exercise Fire Focus in the Falklands.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The military personnel being sent to the Falkland Islands in Exercise Fire Focus number fewer than 1,000, mostly from the Army. It would not be in the interests of security to reveal detailed numbers.

  ATTENDANCE CENTRE AND PROBATION HOSTEL: COSTS
  ATTENDANCE CENTRE AND PROBATION HOSTEL: COSTS
  STUN GUNS IN UK
  STUN GUNS IN UK
  STUN GUNS: BATTERIES
  STUN GUNS: BATTERIES
  EUROPEAN FOUNDATION PROPOSAL: FUNDING
  EUROPEAN FOUNDATION PROPOSAL: FUNDING
  AUSTRALIAN CITIZENS: UK WORK PERMITS
  AUSTRALIAN CITIZENS: UK WORK PERMITS
  AEROSPACE: MoD RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COSTS
  AEROSPACE: MoD RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COSTS
  LOCAL VETERINARY INSPECTORS: MAFF STATISTICS
  LOCAL VETERINARY INSPECTORS: MAFF STATISTICS
  VETERINARY SURGEONS: MAFF FEES
  VETERINARY SURGEONS: MAFF FEES
  PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS: ADVISORY COST LIMIT
  PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS: ADVISORY COST LIMIT
  DRIVING TESTS: REVIEW REPORT
  DRIVING TESTS: REVIEW REPORT