Written Answers of 16 March 1988

WALES

  North Wales Newspapers Ltd.
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the amount and type of each grant made available to North Wales Newspapers Limited to assist in the relocation and re-equipping of the company's premises from Oswestry in Shropshire to Mold, Clwyd; what information he has as to the proportion of the company's costs for(a) rebuilding, (b) relocating and (c) new plant and equipment which were met by such aid; if the company gave any information or undertakings on the creation of new jobs as a result of the move or about the continued employment of existing staff after the company's relocation; and if any assurances or undertakings were given on the maintenance of terms and conditions of employment, including trade union recognition, for existing staff after the company's relocation.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Details of regional selective assistance offers (exceeding £5,000 and regional development grant payments cumulatively exceeding £25,000 in any quarter) to individual companies are published in British Business following a payment under the grant concerned. No information has been published about grants payable to North Wales Newspapers Ltd. in respect of this project. Both the RSA and RDG schemes are linked to the provision of employment opportunities but aspects relating to the terms and conditions of employment and trade union recognition are not subject to the formal criteria of the schemes.

  Wales Tourist Board
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total grant to the Wales Tourist Board in cash terms and expressed at constant 1988 prices in each of the past 10 years.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The information is as follows:

  Net expenditure for Wales tourist board

  (£ thousand)

  Year

  Current prices

  1Constant 1987–88 prices

  1978–79

  3,200

  6,507

  1979–89

  3,400

  5,916

  1980–81

  4,000

  5,870

  1981–82

  4,887

  6,530

  1982–83

  5,362

  6,682

  1983–84

  4,827

  5,746

  1984–85

  6,177

  7,039

  1985–86

  7,579

  8,151

  1986–87

  7,746

  8,075

  1987–882

  8,707

  8,707

  1 The figures have been converted to 1987–88 prices using the gross domestic product (market price) deflator.

  2 Estimate of likely outturn.

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  Wales Tourist Board—Welsh Development Agency
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what arrangements are in place for liaison and co-operation between the Wales Tourist Board and the Welsh Development Agency; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The Wales Tourist Board and the Welsh Development Agency work closely on a wide range of issues.

  Community Nursing
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total annual expenditure and the number of staff employed in the community nursing service in each Welsh health district.

  Mr. Grist
  The information requested is set out in the following table:

  District Health Authority

  Community Nurising Expenditure 1986–87 £ Thousand

  Community Nursing Staff Whole-Time Equivalents

  Clwyd

  5,309

  375

  East Dyfed

  3,574

  244

  Pembrokeshire

  1,467

  111

  Gwent

  6,407

  415

  Gwynedd

  3,478

  235

  Mid Glamorgan

  7,160

  489

  Powys

  1,617

  112

  South Glamorgan

  5,348

  425

  West Glamorgan

  5,076

  366

  Total Wales

  39,436

  2,772

  Notes:

  1. Community nursing expenditure includes both salary expenditure and other associated non-staff expenditure such as travel and subsistence expenditure.

  2. Community nursing staff whole-time equivalents as at 30 September 1986 including school health nurses.

  Integrated Operations Programmes
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Caernarfon of 10 December 1987,Official Report, column 216, what progress has been made in securing an early and favourable decision by the European Community Commissioner on the integrated operations programme for Dyfed, Gwynedd and Powys.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  I went to Brussels on 3 February to discuss integrated operations programmes with Commissioner Varfis and I understand that he intends to consult the other Commissioners about the Dyfed, Gwynedd and Powys programme before the end of this month.

  PICKUP
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the progress of PICKUP in Wales.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The Welsh Office joined the PICKUP programme in 1984 with the appointment of the PICKUP agent for Wales. I am pleased to be able to report that progress to date has been steady and continuous. A second full-time officer was appointed in September 1987
  565
  who is primarily engaged in the development of in-service training for college lecturers involved with running PICKUP courses.

  The eight local education authorities in Wales have appointed PICKUP co-ordinators with funding from education support grant arrangements and six of the colleges of the University of Wales have received Welsh Office funding to promote and develop PICKUP provision through the appointment of co-ordinators.

  Major advances have been achieved through the local collaborative project programme, funded jointly with the MSC, with a total of 30 projects being commissioned during 1986–87 involving some 140 firms and 24 colleges. An important feature of the LCP programme was the launch in 1987 of the Technology Centre for Wales, located with WINTECH, the first of its kind in the United Kingdom, and the Language Exports Centre for Wales based at University College, Swansea.

  The Wales Advisory Body has also been actively concerned with the development of PICKUP activities, allocating funds to the Polytechnic of Wales and five higher education institutions to fund the appointment of PICKUP co-ordinators. Also, three of the colleges of the University of Wales have successfully bid for PICKUP funding from the University Grants Committee.

  The response from participants has also been encouraging. A survey of PICKUP activities in colleges undertaken in November 1986 indicated that some 6,800 individuals were receiving updating/re-training during that month. The last two years have seen increases of about 40 per cent. in the number of PICKUP courses provided and 100 per cent. in the number of students benefiting from those courses.

THE ARTS

  Arts Council (Equal Opportunities Policy)
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Minister for the Arts by what means and at what annual cost the implementation of the Arts Council's equal opportunities policy is monitored.

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 4 March 19881: As regards council staff, an equal opportunities policy is part of the council's personnel work, and monitored by its senior management. In respect of its clients the council looks at their equal opportunities policies as part of its evaluation procedures.

  No separate account is kept of the cost in either case.

  National Theatres and Opera Houses (Ethnic Minorities)
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Minister for the Arts how many(a) black, (b) Asian and (c) other ethnic minority people are employed (i) full-time and (ii) part-time in the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre, the Royal Opera House and the English National Opera as (1) artists, (2) administrators, (3) secretaries and (4) cleaners, caretakers and caterers.
  566
  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 4 March 1988]: This information is not held centrally.

  Arts Council (Ethnic Minority Employees)
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Minister for the Arts how many(a) black, (b) Asian and (c) other ethnic minority people are employed (i) full-time and (ii) part-time at the Arts Council in (1) executive, (2) clerical and secretarial and (3) ancillary, cleaning, caretaking and catering grades.

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 4 March 1988]: The reply is based on ethnic monitoring questionnaires voluntarily completed by staff; not all questionnaires were returned. Answers relate only to full-timers; no part-timers were identified in any ethnic minority group.

  Blacks

  Asians

  Other ethnic minorities

  Executive

  5

  1

  1

  Clerical

  5

  3

  3

  The Arts Council employs no ancillary grades directly.

  Office of Arts and Libraries (Ethnic Minority Employees)
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Minister for the Arts how many(a) black, (b) Asian and (c) other ethnic minorities people are employed (i) full-time and (ii) part-time at the Office of Arts and Libraries in (1) executive, (2) clerical and secretarial and (3) ancillary, cleaning, caretaking and catering grades.

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 4 March 1988]: The reply is based on ethnic monitoring questionnaires voluntarily completed by staff in post on 1 October 1987; not all questionnaires were returned.

  Black

  Asian

  Other ethnic minorities

  Executive

  0

  0

  0

  Clerical

  11

  21

  0

  1 Full-time.

  2 Part-time.

  The Office of Arts and Libraries has only a small staff and employs no ancillary grades directly.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Income Tax
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has about the starting rates and top rates of income tax and the level of gross income at which those rates become payable in(a) Canada, (b) France, (c) Germany, (d) Italy, (e) Japan and (f) the United States of America, for a married couple with no children.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The information requested is given in the table:
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  Country

  Starting rate Per cent.

  Starting rate threshold

  Top rate Per cent.

  Top rate threshold

  £

  £

  Canada

  25·5

  5,003

  43·5

  25,000

  France

  12·8

  6,698

  56·8

  53,463

  Germany

  22

  3,439

  56

  65,670

  Italy

  22

  3,358

  62

  253,924

  Japan

  17·5

  4,286

  78

  152,607

  United States of America

  15

  5,086

  34·7

  22,086

  United Kingdom

  25

  4,096

  40

  19,301

  Notes:

  1. The figures relate to 1988 (1988–89 in the case of the United Kingdom).

  2. It is assumed that the income of the married couple is wholly employment income of the husband.

  3. Conversions to sterling were made at the purchasing power equivalent of sterling in July 1987 (the latest date for which we have figures). The purchasing power equivalents are calculated on the basis of updating OECD figures. Purchasing power parities give a better indication of real values than exchange rates as they are calculated by reference to prices of the same basket of commodities.

  4. In determining gross income levels, personal reliefs, employment income reliefs and other standard reliefs have been taken into account. Where social security contributions are deductible in computing taxable income they have also been taken into account (France, Germany, Italy, Japan).

  5. The figures in the tables reflect national taxes and, where applicable (Canada, Japan and the United States), local income taxes at typical rates.

  Share Ownership
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a further statement on the level of share ownership in Great Britain.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  A joint Treasury/stock exchange survey carried out in January and February this year shows that:Nine million people, or 20 per cent. of the adult population, now own shares, compared to 19·5 per cent. one year ago, and seven per cent. in 1979.
  13 per cent. hold shares in privatised companies, and six per cent. own only privatised shares.
  Three per cent, hold shares in the company for which they work.
  The increase in share ownership is widely spread; two thirds of British shareholders come from outside the ranks of managers and the professions; similarly, two thirds come from outside the south-east.

  I am placing copies of the survey report in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Independent Taxation
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the total reduction in income tax liability from introducing independent taxation in 1990–91; and how that reduction will be distributed amongst taxpayers at different levels of income.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The proposals for independent taxation of personal income outlined in the Budget are estimated to reduce income tax liability by about £670 million in a full year at 1990–91 levels of income and reduce income tax receipts by £500 million in 1990–91. The distribution of the full year cost by income of the individual taxpayers who benefit is as follows:

  Income £000s

  Cost £ million

  0 to 5

  260

  5 to 10

  100

  10 to 15

  60

  15 to 20

  50

  20 to 25

  50

  25 to 30

  50

  30+

  100

  All

  670

  568
  The costs are estimated by comparing tax liabilities on husbands' and wives' incomes separately before and after independent taxation. Liability on the wife's income before independent taxation is estimated by treating her income as the top slice of the couple's income. The calculations assume that the 1988–89 income tax regime is indexed to 1990–91 by the statutory formula, and the composite rate of tax on bank and building society interest does not change between 1989–90 and 1990–91. Estimates are based on a projection of the distribution of the incomes of husbands and wives in the 1985–86 survey of personal income and are therefore provisional.

  Public Service Pensions
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the charities which are to receive donations from the Government in respect of the underpayment of public service pensions, indicating the sums likely to be received by each.

  Mr. Brooke
  Pursuant to my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Croydon, South (Sir W. Clark) on 18 December at columns 845–6, the arrangements have yet to be settled, but I hope to make a statement in the near future.

  Credit Union Act 1979
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received concerning possible amendment of the Credit Union Act 1979; and what response he has given.

  Mr. Lilley
  I have recently received four letters enclosing a copy of the same letter from the acting secretary of Glasgow Licensed Taxi Trade Credit Union, who seeks increases in the limits in the Act on the amount of shares in which a member of a credit union may have or claim an interest and in the total amount on loan to a member of a credit union at any time. I will be replying to the representations in due course and I will also write to my hon. Friend.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Land Ownership
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Attorney-General what steps Her Majesty's Government will take to make information about land ownership more publicly accessible; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  The Land Registration Act 1988, which implements the Law Commission's recommendation in the report Law Corn. No. 148 that the register of title at the Land Registry should be made open to public inspection, received Royal Assent on 15 March. The Act will be brought into force by commencement order made by the Lord Chancellor.

PRIME MINISTER

  Nuclear Warheads
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to her oral reply to the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Foot),Official Report, 4 March, column 1284, if she will set out the basis for her statement that the Soviet Union probably has more nuclear warheads than any other country.

  The Prime Minister
  My reply to the right hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Foot) reflected the fact that, while there is broad parity in the number of strategic systems held by the Soviet Union and the United States, in the intermediate and short-range category the Soviet Union has many more nuclear capable forces deployed than NATO, as indicated in figures 15 and 16 in annex A to the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1987, a copy of which is in the Library.

  No estimate of warhead numbers can be precise, particularly because we cannot assess the number of nuclear warheads held in reserve by the Soviet Union, but on the basis of the number of deployed launchers the Soviet Union retains a considerable advantage over all NATO countries.

  Lease-back Transactions
  Mr. Heffer
  To ask the Prime Minister whether she will provide particulars of all lease-back transactions entered into by Government Departments or agencies since 1 June 1979 showing(a) capital sums received from leases in respect of the assets comprised in the transaction, (b) the time terms of the leases concerned (c) the annual lease rental payable to the leasors by lease-back agreements and (d) the date of the respective transactions.

  The Prime Minister
  Guidance to Departments emphasises the importance of avoiding unconventional financing which does not provide benefits sufficient to offset any extra costs. Records of departmental assets are not held centrally.

  Broadcasting Standards Council
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister what criteria Her Majesty's Government proposes to use in making appointments to the Broadcasting Standards Council; and if she will make a statement.
  570
  The Prime Minister
  These appointments, as in other such cases, will be made on the basis of personal distinction, experience and ability.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister what factors are delaying an announcement of the membership of the Broadcasting Standards Council; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary hopes to make an announcement before long.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Infantry Radars (Export to Sudan)
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether the implications for development will be taken into account when consideration is given to granting a licence for the export of infantry radars to the Sudan.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  It has been the practice of successive Governments not to discuss their consideration of export licence applications for individual export orders. However, each application is judged on its merits taking into account all relevant factors including the nature of the equipment, its destination and end use.

  Westminster Property Group
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if, in the light of the statement by Sir Nicholas Browne-Wilkinson in the High Court on 9 March in connection with the Westminster Property Group, he will again refer the papers relating to the group's activities to the Crown Prosecution Service.

  Mr. Maude
  Sir Nicholas Browne-Wilkinson has directed that a copy of his judgment be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions for him to reconsider whether any criminal charges can properly be formulated against Mr. Raper. The Director of Public Prosecutions will contact my Department on this matter if necessary.

  Cosmetics (Labelling)
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce legislation to require labelling of cosmetics to indicate whether or not they have been tested on animals.

  Mr. Butcher
  I have no plans to do so.

  "Action for Cities"
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of lancaster what steps were taken to ensure delivery to the House of Her Majesty's Government's brochure entitled "Action for Cities"; what requests were made to his Department in this respect; when copies first were supplied to the Vote Office of the House; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Copies of the Government's "Action for Cities" document were placed in the Library of the House by 11 am on 7 March. One hundred copies of the document were delivered to the Vote Office before 3 pm that day, a further 200 copies were delivered at 3.30
  571
  pm, and 200 more on 8 March. In addition, on 7 March I sent personal copies with a letter to 200 hon. Members with urban constituencies.

  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what has been the estimated cost to the Government of producing the booklet and accompanying materials of "Action for Cities".

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The total estimated cost of producing the 37,000 copies to date of the "Action for Cities" document and the associated press notices issued by Government Departments on 7 March is £72,900. This expenditure is designed to attract further involvement and financial commitment to the inner cities from the private sector, and is a small part of the approximately £3,000 million each year already committed by the Government to a wide range of policies to help regenerate our inner cities.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the total print of the documents associated with the Government's campaign "Action for Cities"; and what was the final cost.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The print to date is 37,000 copies of the document "Action for Cities", 2,000 press notices on each of the 12 announcements about new action by Government Departments and 2,000 press notices summarising these announcements. The total cost is about £72,900. This expenditure is designed to attract further involvement and financial commitment to the inner cities from the private sector, and is a small part of the approximately £3,000 million each year already committed by the Government to a wide range of policies to help regenerate our inner cities.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Pupils (Enrolment)
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in view of the fact that Easter is a movable feast, he will take steps to fix 1 May each year as the eligibility date for pupils where entitlement to start school depends on the start of the summer term.

  Mr. Dunn
  No. The Government have no plans to alter the requirement for schools to admit children at the beginning of the term following their fifth birthday. It is open to local education authorities and schools to admit children earlier than this and it is clear that most are doing so.

  Church School Authorities (Finance)
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to speed up the payment of section 2 moneys due to church school authorities.

  Mr. Dunn
  My right hon. Friend is aware that there have been delays in the making of orders under section 2 of the Education Act 1973. Officials are considering a number of measures to improve the present regrettable situation.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Mentally Disordered Offenders
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from local authorities and other bodies in Durham concerning the release into the community of mentally disordered offenders; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have received no such representations. If, however, the hon. Member has a particular case in mind I would be ready to consider his views about it.

  Political Asylum
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on Amnesty International's call for a major review of current Home Office procedures for dealing with applications for political asylum in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Renton
  I met representatives of Amnesty International on 11 February to discuss their proposals. I stressed at that meeting that the United Kingdom will continue to carry out its obligations under the 1951 refugee convention and that since 1979 we have granted refugee status to over 8,000 applicants and admitted 20,000 Vietnamese refugees as well as allowing over 7,000 applicants who did not qualify for refugee status to remain here on an exceptional basis. Moreover, much of what Amnesty proposes represents current Home Office practice. There does, however, have to be an effective procedure for distinguishing between applications which meet the requirements of the UN convention and those which do not and, in this context, I cannot accept Amnesty's main recommendation that those who are refused asylum on arrival at a port should have a right of appeal exercisable before removal. The experience of other European countries reinforces our view that such a system would be likely to encourage abuse of our asylum procedures.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to review the use by local authorities of moneys granted under section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  Improved arrangements for monitoring the use made by local authorities of posts funded under section 11, introduced in the Home Office circular of 1 October 1986, now apply to all posts approved or reviewed since that date and are being extended to all other funded posts. We shall be considering whether any further changes are needed.

  AIDS
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to screen all prisoners at the reception stage for HIV-1 and HIV-2.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Screening of all prisoners at the reception stage is already undertaken in the form of medical inquiry and investigation. Routine blood testing is not practised and there are no plans to introduce it.

  Polyester Security Glazing Film
  Sir Eldon Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what studies he has made of recent developments in polyester security glazing film; and if he intends to encourage the use of this form of window protection for police cars and police stations.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Two studies of the resistance of various types of glazing, with and without the addition of polyester film, were conducted in 1986 and their findings were made available to chief constables. Further related work is now in progress.

  Since 1977 the Home Office has recommended that wherever necessary windows in new police stations should be shatter-proof or protected by film.

  Police (Firearms)
  Sir Eldon Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the present facilities for tactical weapons training; whether he has yet established common physical standards for firearms officers in all English forces; how many forces still lack counselling facilities for officers who may suffer post-shooting traumas; and what response he has made to the recommendation at paragraph 130 of the Home Office working group on police use of firearms that a chief superintendent with knowledge of firearms be seconded to assist Her Majesty's Inspectors of Constabulary.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Home Office working group on the police use of firearms made 36 recommendations for the improvement of policy and procedures relating to the issue to and use by the police of firearms in England and Wales, all of which we support. The majority of recommendations have already been implemented, but there are some on which further work is still required. A working party of the Association of Chief Police Officers is giving urgent attention to identifying a suitable site for a tactical training facility. A second ACPO working group is considering how best to develop a range of physical fitness and medical standards to meet the requirements of each category of firearms specialisation. Although there are some forces where work is still in progress to build into operational contingency plans provision for counselling facilities for officers involved in shootings, most of those forces have made interim arrangements for such counselling to be provided. The suggestion that a chief superintendent with knowledge of firearms should be seconded to assist Her Majesty's Inspectors of Constabulary is being actively pursued by the inspectorate.

  Gibraltar (Shooting)
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the powers contained in the Prevention of Terrorism Act were used at any time in the events leading up to the shooting of three people in Gibraltar; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hurd
  No.

  Fire Prevention Officers
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the lack of outstanding initial, re-inspection and routine fire 574
  prevention inspections in each county in the United Kingdom as an annual figure expressed in officer man years for each of the last 10 years;

  (2) if he will list the lack of outstanding initial, re-inspection and routine fire prevention inspections for private residential homes in each county in the United Kingdom as an annual figure expressed in officer man years for each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. John Patten
  This information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Forensic Science Service
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps have been taken by the Home Office forensic science service to improve the quality of scientific evidence provided by the service in criminal cases.

  Mr. Hurd
  Substantial improvements have been made. Since 1979, there have been formal arrangements to monitor the quality of work in the Home Office forensic science service. These are based on a regular series of open and "blind" trials, organised both within each laboratory, and centrally by the service's research establishment. They cover the problems normally found in case work in a range of disciplines. The results of such trials are thoroughly reviewed, with a view to further improvements in case work procedures; in 1986 a general review of the quality assurance arrangements concluded that they were effective and economical.

  These are supplemented, first, by regular inspections of the major Departments of each laboratory by senior officers from other laboratories in the service, and, secondly, by a scientific advisory group, chaired by Sir Ronald Mason FRS, and comprising eminent scientists, which was established in 1986, to advise the service on the development of its scientific standards.

  Linked to the efforts to improve the quality of the service's work is an extensive training programme at the service's training unit at Birmingham. This provides an induction course for all newly appointed scientific staff; courses on specific techniques and instruments; and a course to prepare staff to give evidence in court. In 1987, 214 staff received training at the unit, varying from a day to a week.

  Parole
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convicted rapists have been paroled during the past 10 years; and how many have committed subsequent offences.

  Mr. John Patten
  [holding answer 15 March 1988]: The table shows the numbers of persons with a principal offence of rape who were paroled from determinate sentences (excluding life) between 1977 and 1986, together with the numbers considered. To provide information on the number of these parolees who were reconvicted subsequently, whether for rape or any other offences, would involve disproportionate cost. Since 1983, prisoners given sentences of more than five years for rape have been granted parole, other than in wholly exceptional circumstances, for only a few months towards the end of the sentence where this seems likely to reduce the long-term risk of reoffending.
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  Prisoners serving determinate sentences for rape who were considered for parole: by outcome, 1977–86

  Number of persons

  Considered for parole

  Released on parole1

  1977

  374

  137

  1978

  385

  170

  1979

  390

  149

  1980

  445

  211

  1981

  496

  253

  1982

  359

  146

  1983

  422

  186

  1984

  489

  213

  1985

  545

  201

  1986

  587

  177

  1Including those deported on release.

  Juvenile Boys
  Mr. Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes he proposes to make to the arrangements for the remand in custody of juvenile boys.

  Mr. John Patten
  [holding answer 29 February 1988]: It is the Government's policy, consistent with the terms of the Bail Act 1976, that remands in custody should be restricted to those cases where they are unavoidable, given all the circumstances of the case. There is a particularly strong argument for keeping untried juveniles out of custody wherever possible, especially when they might otherwise have to be held in an overcrowded local prison. The scope for remanding juveniles in custody has been progressively restricted. After careful consideration and having due regard to the need to maintain adequate safeguards for the public, the Government propose to restrict further the circumstances in which juveniles may be remanded in custody.

  The only juveniles who may now be remanded in custody are 15 and 16-year-old boys certified by the courts as being too unruly to be safely remanded to local authority care. The unruliness certification procedure is available for two categories of boys; those charged with or previously convicted of an offence of violence or charged with an offence carrying a penalty of at least 14 years imprisonment; and those remanded in care who have persistently absconded or been seriously disruptive. Under the Government's proposals, the procedure will still be available for 15 and 16-year-old boys but the categories will be narrowed. The first will he limited to boys charged with or previously convicted of an offence carrying a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, the second to those remanded in care who pose a substantial risk to themselves or others. Certain other changes to the procedure are also proposed. The changes will reduce the numbers of juveniles remanded in custody, while ensuring that the courts retain all necessary powers for the protection of the public. The details of the proposals are set out in a consultation paper published today.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Irish Republic (British Ambassador)
  Mr. McCusker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times the British ambassador to the Irish Republic has been called 576
  to the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin during the past three months; and what matters the Government of the Irish Republic expressed concern about.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  The British ambassador to the Republic of Ireland regularly visits the Department of Foreign Affairs, at his request or at that of the Department. A variety of subjects of interest to both Governments have been raised at these meetings. He has been summoned to the Department only once in the past three months, to discuss the operation of the Prevention of Terrorism Act on 7 March.

  Consultative Documents
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy that responses received to consultative documents issued by his Department be made publicly available in his Department's library, except where the respondent has specifically asked that this not he done; and if he will arrange for this procedure to be made clear when future consultative documents are issued.

  Mr. Eggar
  Although Foreign and Commonwealth Office consultative documents are few in number we have a clear policy to make as much information available as possible while preserving the confidentiality essential to the effective working of Government.

  NATO (Brussels Demonstration)
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has regarding the arrest of 14 British citizens in Brussels during a demonstration outside the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation headquarters on 2 March; and if he will make representations to his counterpart in Belgium regarding the conditions of their detention.

  Mr. Eggar
  A group of British citizens were taken into custody by the Brussels town police on 2 March 1988 and held for between eight and 10 hours. They were detained under normal police procedures for reasons of security and public order.

  We have no evidence to suggest that their conditions of detention were different from those which a Belgian citizen could expect if detained in similar circumstances.

  Nuclear Materials
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has as to the evidence given on 10 March, by the EEC Energy Commissioner to the European Parliament special inquiry committee on nuclear materials mismanagement in the EEC, on the specific current location and present safeguard arrangements for(a) 180 kg of United Kingdom origin civil plutonium exported to Belgium under an agreement of 3 May 1968, and (b) 200 kg of United Kingdom civil origin plutonium exported to NUKEM, at Hanun in the Federal Republic of Germany under an agreement dated 4 August 1969.

  Mr. Mellor
  As far as we are aware, no evidence was given on either of these exports.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he
  577
  possesses on the statement and hearing by the EEC Environment Commissioner before the European Parliament special inquiry committee into nuclear waste and nuclear materials transport in the EEC, held at Strasbourg on 10 March.

  Mr. Mellor
  Mr. Clinton Davies, Commissioner for the Environment, stated that the Commission had so far found no irregularities in the mode of transport or of the containers used in the transport of radioactive material between Belgium and Federal Germany and Commission experts had found that the radioactivity of discharges from Mol had remained within Community public health limits. However, there had been irregularities in the labelling and recording of nuclear waste sent from Mol and the Commission would now consider the need for Community legislation in this area.

DEFENCE

  Soviet Missiles
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what evidence he has, and from what source, of Soviet development of tactical air-launch cruise missiles; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The Soviet Union deploys a wide range of tactical air-launched cruise missiles and continues to develop new and more advanced weapons systems of this type. It would not be in the interests of security to comment on the source of this information.

  Soviet Territorial Waters
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements he has made to ensure that British vessels do not sail within Soviet territorial waters without authority; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The commanding officers of Royal Navy vessels are, of course, made fully aware of our obligations under international law and are issued with such other instructions as are considered appropriate for the areas to which they may be deployed. The details of such instructions are classified.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his NATO allies to ensure that none of the member states' vessels sail within Soviet territorial waters without authority; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  My right hon. Friend regularly has discussions with his NATO colleagues on a wide range of defence matters of mutual interest. It is not our general practice to disclose the details of such discussions.

  South Atlantic
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the conduct of the recent military exercise in the South Atlantic.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  Exercise Fire Focus, designed to practise the reinforcement of the Falkland Islands, is still in progress, and it would be premature to comment on its conduct.

  French Defence Minister
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his most recent discussion with his French counterpart on matters of mutual interest.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  When my right hon. Friend met M. Giraud in the context of the Anglo-French summit on 29 January they discussed a range of issues including equipment collaboration and European security co-operation. The talks were a valuable continuation of the close bilateral dialogue which we enjoy with France on defence matters.

  Falkland War Widows
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any plans to review the benefits paid by his Department to Falkland war widows: and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  I have no plans to do so.

  HMS Resolution
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will place in the Library a copy of the report on the causes of the electrical malfunction affecting the cooling system of the nuclear reactor of the submarine HMS Resolution on 26 January.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  No. Since it is not generally our practice to comment on matters affecting the operation of Her Majesty's submarines, the report in question will be classified.

  Binary Munitions
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his North Atlantic Treaty Organisation counterparts regarding the deployment of binary munitions in western Europe.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  My right hon. Friend has regular discussions with his NATO counterparts on a full range of defence issues. I have nothing further to add to the reply of my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen) on 24 July 1986 at column 490.

  Armed Forces (Shooting Inquiry)
  Sir John Biggs-Davison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the normal procedure of inquiry when someone is killed or injured as a result of opening of fire by a member of the armed forces.

  Mr. Freeman
  Cases of death or serious injury in the United Kingdom as a result of a service man opening fire would normally be investigated by the civil police and, in the case of death, by a coroner's inquest. The services would, of course, co-operate with the civil authorities in these investigations. The procedure for the investigations of incidents overseas will depend upon the jurisdictional arrangements that apply in the country concerned.

  The form of any separate service inquiry would depend on the cirumstances of the particular incident. Where one was required the service police would carry out an initial investigation which would, if necessary, be followed by a service board of inquiry.

SCOTLAND

  Scottish Development Agency
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total expenditure in cash terms and at constant 1988 prices of the Scottish Development Agency on the tourism industry in each year since the establishment of the Scottish Development Agency; and what percentage these figures represent of the total expenditure of the Scottish Development Agency in each of these years.

  Mr. Lang
  The Scottish Development Agency's activity in tourism is concerted with the Scottish Tourist Board, the Highlands and Islands Development Board and other interested bodies in Scotland. The agency has provided loan and equity finance for tourism projects which meet its normal investment criteria, and has also funded tourist projects under the local enterprise grants for urban projects scheme and the programme for rural initiatives and developments. Expenditure on tourist projects from these sources is as follows:

  Expenditure on tourism by SDA

  Cash terms £ million

  Per cent. SDA expenditure

  Real terms £ million

  Per cent. SDA expenditure

  1983–84

  0·143

  0·17

  0·170

  0·17

  1984–85

  0·240

  0·3

  0·273

  0·3

  1985–86

  0·235

  0·3

  0·253

  0·3

  1986–87

  4·62

  6·4

  4·82

  6·4

  The above table represents 14 investments. Prior to 1983–84 separate figures were not kept. In addition, the SDA funds feasibility studies, land engineering and property development projects which may have a tourist element.

  Infertility
  Mr. McTaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will instigate a survey by the Scottish Home and Health Department into the extent of infertility in Scotland and the case for increased staff at infertility clinics in each health board area.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Government have for some time recognised the importance of developments in the alleviation of infertility. We shall consider the need for a review of infertility services in Scotland when consideration has been completed of the Warnock report on human fertilisation and embryology.

  Acute Surgical Beds
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the number of acute surgical beds in each hospital in each health board in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information requested is given in the table.
  580

  NHS hospitals—average available staffed beds in acute surgical1 specialties: year ending 31 March 1987

  Hospital-health board

  Average available staffed beds

  Argyll and Clyde health board

  Dunoon and district general hospital

  31

  Hawk head hospital

  44

  Inverclyde Royal hospital

  216

  Paisley district general hospital

  104

  Royal Alexandra infirmary

  81

  Royal Alexandra infirmary annexe

  31

  Royal Victoria eye infirmary

  16

  Thorn hospital

  21

  Vale of Leven district general hospital

  116

  Victoria infirmary, Helensburgh

  22

  Victoria hospital, Rothesay

  9

  West Highland hospital

  33

  Health board total

  724

  Ayrshire and Arran Health Board

  Ayr County Hospital

  97

  Ballochmyle Hospital

  158

  Heathfield Hospital

  31

  Crosshouse Hospital, Kilmarnock

  330

  Seafield Sick Childrens Hospital

  31

  Health Board Total

  647

  Borders Health Board

  Peel Hospital

  126

  Health Board Total

  126

  Dumfries and Galloway Health Board

  Cresswell Maternity Hospital

  8

  Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary

  241

  Carrick Hospital, Stranraer

  22

  Health Board Total

  271

  Fife Health Board

  Adamson Hospital

  15

  Cameron Hospital

  25

  Dunfermline and West Fife Hospital

  131

  Hunter Hospital

  28

  Milesmark Hospital

  40

  Randolph Wemyss Memorial Hospital

  12

  St. Andrew's Hospital

  25

  Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy

  256

  Health Board Total

  532

  Forth Valley Health Board

  Clackmannan County Hospital

  41

  Falkirk and District Royal Infirmary

  226

  Stirling Royal Infirmary

  167

  Health Board Total

  434

  Grampian Health Board

  Aberdeen Royal Infirmary

  506

  Chalmers Hospital, Banff

  14

  Dr. Gray's Hospital, Elgin

  66

  Glen O'dee Hospital

  54

  Huntly Jubilee Hospital

  9

  Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital

  95

  Woodend General Hospital

  221

  Health Board Total

  967

  Greater Glasgow Health Board

  Belvidere Hospital

  62

  Canniesburn Hospital

  125

  David Elder Infirmary

  12

  Elder Cottage Hospital

  29

  581

  Hospital-health board

  Average available staffed beds

  Gartnaval District General Hospital

  291

  Glasgow Royal Infirmary

  521

  Mearnskirk General Hospital

  129

  Philipshill Hospital

  99

  Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Drumchapel

  10

  Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Yorkhill

  149

  Royal Samaritan Hospital for Women

  54

  Southern General Hospital

  368

  Stobhill Hospital

  289

  Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow

  267

  Western Infirmary

  284

  Health Board Total

  2,688

  Highland Health Board

  Belford Hospital, Fort William

  30

  Bignold Hospital

  15

  Caithness General Hospital

  11

  Dunbar Hospital, Thurso

  10

  Lawson Memorial Hospital

  15

  Mackinnon Memorial Hospital, Broadford

  19

  Raigmore Hospital, Inverness

  299

  Ross Memorial Hospital, Dingwall

  10

  Town and County Hospital, Nairn

  1

  Town and County Hospital, Wick

  7

  Health Board Total

  416

  Lanarkshire Health Board

  Hairmyres Hospital

  265

  Law Hospital

  325

  Monklands District General Hospital

  244

  Stonehouse Hospital

  181

  Health Board Total

  1,014

  Lothian Health Board

  Astley Ainslie Hospital

  85

  Bangour General Hospital

  225

  Beechmont Hospital

  29

  Bruntsfield Hospital

  46

  Chalmers Hospital, Edinburgh

  32

  City Hospital, Edinburgh

  130

  Eastern General Hospital

  90

  East Fortune Hospital

  18

  Edenhall Hospital

  9

  Leith Hospital

  51

  Liberton Hospital

  4

  Longmore Hospital

  17

  Northern General Hospital

  26

  Princess Margaret Rose Orthopaedic Hospital

  228

  Roodlands General Hospital

  40

  Royal Hospital for Sick Children

  68

  Royal Infirmary, Including Eye Pavilion

  453

  Royal Victoria Hospital

  7

  Simpson Memorial Maternity Hospital

  8

  Western General Hospital

  178

  Health Board Total

  1,743

  Orkney Health Board

  Balfour Hospital

  42

  Health Board Total

  42

  Shetland Health Board

  New Gilbert Bain

  38

  Health Board Total

  38

  Tayside Health Board

  Blairgowrie and Rattray Cottage Hospital

  1

  Bridge of Earn Hospital, Perthshire

  116

  Dundee Royal Infirmary

  258

  582

  Hospital-health board

  Average available staffed beds

  Forfar Infirmary

  16

  Kings Cross Hospital, Dundee

  10

  Ninewells Hospital, Dundee

  260

  Perth Royal Infirmary

  105

  Stracathro Hospital, Brechin

  162

  Health Board Total

  928

  Western Isles Health Board

  Daliburgh Hospital2

  10

  Lewis Hospital, Stornoway

  44

  Health Board Total

  54

  Note: Components may not sum exactly to totals due to rounding.

  1These specialties comprise: general surgery; orthopaedic surgery; ENT surgery; ophthalmology; urology; orthodontics and paediatric dentistry; oral surgery and oral medicine; restorative dentistry; paediatric surgery; gynaecology; acute mixed; neurosurgery; cardiothoracic surgery; plastic surgery and accident and emergency. Obstetric specialties are not included.

  2 Figures for year ending 30 September 1986.

  Under-Sixes (Education)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will make a statement on the provision of education for the under-sixes;

  (2) what was the cost of producing the review of education provision for the under six-year-olds prior to its abandonment;

  (3) why his Department cancelled the review of education provision for the under six-year-olds; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The review was discontinued to allow resources to be concentrated on more urgent matters. Work on it formed part of the overall functions undertaken by Her Majesty's inspectorate of schools and professional staff in the social work services group, and was not separately costed. I see no case at present for changing the existing arrangements under which regional and Islands councils have discretion over the extent and content of provision for pre-school children.

  Fife Health Board
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number of(a) physiotherapists, (b) speech therapists, (c) radiographers, (d) chiropodists, (e) occupational therapists, (f) dieticians and (g) laboratory technicians employed by Fife health board in the last five years for which information is available; and what current vacancies, if any, there are.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information requested on numbers of staff employed by Fife health board is shown in the table. The number of vacancies is not available centrally.

  Qualified staff in post in Fife Health Board at 30 September

  Whole-time equivalent

  Staff Group

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  11987

  Physiotherapists2

  49·5

  52·7

  61·4

  63·2

  66·9

  Speech therapists

  22·0

  21·5

  23·7

  25·3

  26·0

  Radiographers

  36·3

  35·3

  36·6

  37·5

  38·3

  Chiropodists

  43·8

  43·7

  44·0

  44·3

  46·1

  583

  Staff Group

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  11987

  Occupational therapists

  11·0

  11·5

  19·8

  28·1

  32·5

  Dieticians

  6·0

  6·0

  7·0

  7·0

  10·0

  Medical laboratory scientific officers

  65·0

  62·0

  64·4

  66·5

  70·6

  1 1987 data are provisional

  2 Includes one remedial gymnast in 1985

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the members of Fife health board, their respective dates of appointment and their respective periods of appointment.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 3 November 1987 at columns 687–8 to the hon. Member for Cumbernauld and Kilsyth (Mr. Hogg). All members of Fife health board are currently on four-year periods of appointment.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list(a) the capital expenditure and (b) the revenue expenditure incurred by Fife health board in the last five years for which information is available; and what is the projected capital and revenue expenditure in the current year.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information is as follows:

  Nursing, staff Doctors and Paramedical staff employed by Fife health hoard at 30 September

  Whole-time equivalent1

  Staff Group

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  31987

  Nursing staff

  3,253·9

  3,261·1

  3,444·2

  3,548·6

  3,549·0

  —qualified

  1,811·9

  1,848·0

  1,920·8

  2,025·7

  2,060·7

  —in training

  591·0

  581·0

  620·5

  625·0

  586·0

  —unqualified

  851·0

  832·1

  902·9

  897·9

  902·3

  Paramedical Staff2

  204·5

  212·4

  237·4

  249·5

  271·5

  General Medical Practitioners1

  186·0

  187·0

  193·0

  192·0

  194·0

  Hospital Doctors

  190·9

  194·1

  197·6

  197·3

  202·4

  1General medical practitioners are shown as head count.

  2Includes qualified and unqualified staff.

  31987 data are provisional

  Kidney Dialysis
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many patients are currently undergoing kidney dialysis, by each health board area.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This information is not available in the form requested. Only five health boards provide renal dialysis services. The number of patients being treated by the various forms of dialysis by each of those boards at 31 December 1986 is as follows:

  Number

  Grampian

  59

  Greater Glasgow

  384

  Highland

  24

  Lothian

  147

  Tayside

  74

  688

  584

  Hospital and community health services

  £ thousands

  (a) Capital expenditure

  (b) Net recurrent expenditure

  1982–83

  7,564

  49,999

  1983–84

  5,968

  57,399

  1984–85

  6,171

  62,250

  1985–86

  4,968

  67,310

  1986–87

  2,921

  73,264

  1987–88

  14,580

  178,808

  1 Estimated final allocations (including supplementary allocations); actual expenditure by hoard is not yet known.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the numbers of(a) nurses, (b) paramedical staff, (c) general practitioners and (d) hospital doctors employed by Fife health board in the last five years for which information is available; and what current vacancies there are.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information requested on numbers of staff employed by Fife health board is shown in the table below. The number of vacancies is not available centrally.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many patients are awaiting kidney dialysis, by each health board area.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  All patients who are referred to consultants for treatment for end-stage renal failure receive renal dialysis timeously provided that it is the consultant's clinical judgment that they would benefit from it.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is the average number of nurses available for each kidney dialysis machine in each health board area;

  (2) what is the percentage of time that kidney dialysis machines are either being used or are being prepared for use in each health board area.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This information is not centrally available.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he intends to provide extra funding to provide for
  585
  nursing staff to allow the kidney dialysis machines at Edinburgh Western general infirmary to operate at maximum capacity.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  For 1988–89 Lothian health board has been allocated £266·427 million for net revenue expenditure on hospital and community health services, an increase of 5·3 per cent. over the equivalent figure for 1987–88. It is for individual boards, in the light of their knowledge of local needs, to decide on the provision of particular services and priorities between services. I understand that the board is preparing a report on the future provision of renal services in their area and that some neighbouring boards are also considering provision of this service.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many kidney dialysis machines there are in each health board area; and in which hospitals.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Information on the number of kidney dialysis machines in hospital use is not available centrally. Hospitals with renal units where dialysis is carried out are listed below. Many patients are dialysed outside hospital, either on a machine in their home or using the continuous peritoneal ambulatory dialysis technique. My officials are at present considering the geographic coverage provided by the service.

  Aberdeen Royal Infirmary

  Dundee Royal Infirmary

  Edinburgh Royal Infirmary

  Glasgow Royal Infirmary

  Raigmore Hospital, Inverness

  Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Yorkhill, Glasgow

  Stobhill Hospital, Glasgow

  Western General Hospital, Edinburgh

  Western Infirmary, Glasgow

  Private Hospitals
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, further to his reply of 24 February,Official Report, column 237, which health boards have met which private hospital operators.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This information is not available centrally.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report all public and quasi-public body appointments for which he is responsible.

  Mr. Rifkind
  The bodies to which I make appointments are listed in "Public Bodies—1987" which is available in the Library of the House.

  Forestry
  Sir Hector Monro
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether any modifications to the Government's forestry policy policy are envisaged as a result of the changes to the forestry tax and grant arrangements announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Budget Statement.

  Mr. Rifkind
  The changes to the tax and grant arrangements announced by my right hon. Friend are designed to provide a simpler and more widely acceptable system of support for private forestry. There has not,586
  however, been any fundamental change in the Government's policy for encouraging forestry, in an environmentally acceptable way. This is reflected in the Forestry Commission's statutory duty to endeavour to achieve a reasonable balance between forestry and environmental considerations.

  My right hon. Friends, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretary of State for Wales, and I remain of the view that a healthy forestry industry is in the national interest and that long term confidence in both forestry and wood processing industries in this country is fully justified. Last year in the context of new policies for alternative land use we announce an expansion of the forestry programme to 33,000 hectares of new planting a year, with particular emphasis on the private sector and with due regard to environmental considerations. The planting of a higher proportion of trees on low ground of better quality was also to be encouraged.

  These policies remain unchanged, and to this end planting grants will be substantially increased. The expansion of planting in recent years has led to a significant and welcome growth in the United Kingdom of a modern wood processing industry through developments such as the Shotton Paper Company in Wales and Caledonian Paper in Scotland. The industry will in turn help to meet the growing demand for wood products and, together with the new planting programme, this will ensure that forestry contributes to employment in rural areas. Increased planting on better land will also provide an alternative-to agricultural production and thereby assist in the reduction of agricultural surpluses.

  4. The environmental effects of the changes will be positive for a number of reasons. First, the new arrangements for Government financial assistance for planting will strengthen the careful scrutiny and consultation procedures undertaken by the Forestry Commission, because it is very unlikely that any sizeable scheme will go ahead unless the commission has approved it for grant purposes. In considering applications the commission will continue to observe its published management guidelines relating to broadleaved woodland and will introduce similar guidelines for all types of woodland as part of the new scheme. Its procedures for dealing with applications for planting grants should thus gain in effectiveness as a means of controlling the environmental impact of forestry and ensure that the right trees are planted in the right places.

  5. Second, the increased planting grants will incorporate a substantial differential in favour of broadleaved planting, so that the share of broadleaves in total planting can be expected to continue to increase. Third, there will be a new supplement for planting on arable or improved grassland. Full details of a new Forestry Commission grant scheme reflecting these new arrangements will be announced next week.

  6. Finally, the increased grants will be available for replanting in existing forest areas. In considering applications for replanting grants the Forestry Commission will follow policies which are designed to convert forests of an even age into attractive and more varied landscapes with a mixture of types and ages of tree.

  7. The changes that have been announced, together with the new grant scheme to be announced next week, are designed to encourage the achievement of the Government's aims for forestry in a manner which is acceptable in environmental and land use terms and which

  587
  appeals to a wider range of interests. Forestry has an important role to play in the well being of this country. The industry has the support of this Government and has an assured future.

  8. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for the Environment, is today making a separate announcement on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and himself, about environmental guidance on the approval of grant applications for afforestation in England.

  Job Training Scheme (Dundee)
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give for the Manpower Services Commission area manpower board covering Dundee, the most recent monthly statistics for new JTS showing entrants in the latest available period, and the number of cumulative entrants since the scheme started and a breakdown of entrants which shows how many were male and female, the length of time they had been out of work, their ethnic backgrounds and whether or not they had any disabilities.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 10 March 1988]: The new job training scheme figures for Grampian and Tayside area manpower board are given in the table.

  Number

  Number of entrants in February 1988

  244

  Cumulative entrants April 1987 to February 1988

  1,585

  Table 1

  Unemployed six months or more in January each year Travel-to-work areas in Tayside

  Previous TTW As

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  Arbroath

  339

  343

  506

  850

  914

  Blairgowrie

  138

  170

  224

  320

  398

  Dundee

  4,167

  4,223

  6,159

  8,976

  8,945

  Forfar

  128

  113

  255

  537

  538

  Montrose

  226

  214

  436

  496

  513

  Perth

  695

  769

  1,024

  1,654

  1,811

  Tayside

  5,693

  5,832

  8,604

  12,833

  13,119

  Current TTW As

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  Arbroath

  819

  757

  909

  965

  828

  Blairgowrie and Pitlochry

  657

  690

  706

  784

  599

  Brechin and Montrose

  591

  642

  714

  819

  761

  Crieff

  179

  218

  225

  235

  198

  Dundee

  9,962

  10,036

  10,318

  9,797

  8,512

  Forfar

  618

  550

  635

  684

  561

  Perth

  1,470

  1,465

  1,662

  1,865

  1,480

  Tayside

  14,296

  14,358

  15,169

  15,149

  12,939

  Table 2

  Unemployed 6 months or more in January each year. Jobcentre areas in Tayside

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  Arbroath

  339

  343

  506

  850

  914

  1,085

  1,050

  Blairgowrie

  138

  170

  224

  320

  398

  451

  465

  Dundee

  4,167

  4,223

  6,159

  8,976

  8,945

  9,767

  9,837

  Forfar

  128

  113

  255

  537

  538

  610

  545

  Montrose

  226

  214

  436

  496

  513

  547

  575

  Perth

  695

  769

  1,024

  1,654

  1,811

  1,802

  1,862

  Tayside

  5,693

  5,832

  8,604

  12,833

  13,119

  14,262

  14,334

  588

  Number

  of which:

  Male

  1,176

  Female

  409

  6–12 months unemployed

  732

  13–24 months unemployed

  461

  Over 2 years unemployed

  392

  White

  1,509

  Black, African or Caribbean descent

  2

  Indian subcontinent descent

  8

  Others

  52

  Chose not to answer the question

  14

  Disabled

  72

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give, for each of the last 10 years, the total number of long-term unemployed in each travel-to-work area and jobcentre area in Tayside, indicating the resultant fall since the introduction of the restart programme.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 10 March 1988]: Table 1 shows the number of people unemployed for six months or more in travel-to-work areas in Tayside in January of each year since 1979.

  Table 2 shows the number of people unemployed for six months or more in jobcentre areas in Tayside in January each year from 1979 to 1985. Figures by jobcentre areas are not available after 1985.
  589
  Due to the various changes which have taken place in the compilation of the statistics during the period, the figures are not directly comparable.

  It is not possible to determine how many unemployed claimants left the count as a direct result of the restart programme, which began in Dundee in January 1986 and was extended nationally in July 1986.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give for the Manpower Services Commission area manpower board covering Dundee, the most recent monthly statistics for new JTS showing (i) the number of trainees in the latest available period who entered work placements, (ii) the cumulative total of how many are in work places at the latest available date, (iii) trainees who left the scheme in the latest available period, and (iv) the number of cumulative leavers since the scheme started.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 10 March 1988]: The new job training scheme figures for Grampian and Tayside area manpower board area are given below.

  Number

  (i) Number of trainees who entered work placements/directed training in February 1988

  44

  (ii) Cumulative total of trainees in work placements/directed training from April 1987 to February 1988

  277

  (iii) Trainees who left the scheme during February1988

  124

  (iv) Number of cumulative leavers from April 1987 to February 1988

  1,295

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give for the Manpower Services Commission area manpower board covering Dundee, the most recent monthly statistics for new JTS showing for all those trainees who have left the scheme how many (i) found work, (ii) failed to attend, (iii) went on to another course of training or education, (iv) completed the course, (v) left for sickness and (vi) went back into unemployment; and what is the total number of currently filled places.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 10 March 1988]: This information is not available. An independent follow-up survey to collect data on the destination of trainees leaving the new job training scheme has been commissioned and the results are expected to be available in the next few months.

  There are currently 277 trainees on new JTS in the Grampian and Tayside area manpower board area.

EMPLOYMENT

  Benefit Fraud
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the estimated cash saving accrued to his Department in the last year as a result of the activities of his Department's benefit fraud investigators in the Seaham and Peterlee areas during that period; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  The estimated gross benefit saving from my Departments investigation work in the Seaham and Peterlee areas in 1987 is £232,000.

  Jobcentres
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will establish a jobcentre at the business efficiency centre on the Isle of Dogs.

  Mr. Lee
  The area is already covered by jobcentres at Poplar and in the library building on the Isle of Dogs. We are currently considering whether any changes to the facilities are needed to improve the services to unemployed people in the area. If we do decide to relocate our jobcentres we would certainly wish to look at a number of possible locations.

  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will establish jobcentre facilities for the people of Silvertown and Canning Town.

  Mr. Lee
  Silvertown and Canning Town are already well covered by our Plaistow jobcentre. This office deals with all jobseekers in the E13, E6 and E16 postal areas.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Intervention Stores
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the location of European Community intervention stores within the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 14 March 1988]: As at 1 March 1988, intervention product was in store at the following locations, in various quantities:

  Skimmed milk powder

  Craigavon

  Telford

  Exeter

  Chard Junction

  Butter

  Aberdeen

  Frome

  Annalong

  Gillingham

  Avonmouth

  Glasgow

  Aylesford

  Glenrothes

  Ballymena

  Goole

  Banbridge

  Grantham

  Banbury

  Great Harwood

  Belfast

  Grimsby

  Birmingham

  Hereford

  Blairgowrie

  Heywood

  Bloxwich

  Hull

  Bristol

  King's Lynn

  Buxton

  Leeds

  Cannock

  Leek

  Cardiff

  Lisburn

  Chard Junction

  Liverpool

  Cheltenham

  Llangadog

  Coleraine

  London

  Colnbrook

  Londonderry

  Craigavon

  Lowestoft

  Cullompton

  Luton

  Cumbran

  Manchester

  Dagenham

  Merthyr Tydfil

  Derby

  Newport

  Doncaster

  Newtown Abbey

  Droitwich

  Northallerton

  Dundee

  Northshields

  Dungannon

  Nuneaton

  Eastleigh

  Omagh

  Easton

  Oswestry

  Edinburgh

  Peterborough

  Eglington

  Plymouth

  Evesham

  Pontefract

  Exeter

  Preston

  Fleetwood

  Reading

  591

  Retford

  Swansea

  Rhyl

  Swindon

  Rochdale

  Tamworth

  Scunthorpe

  Taunton

  Sevenoaks

  Tewkesbury

  Sheffield

  Thetford

  Sherborne

  Truro

  Shrewsbury

  Warrington

  Southshields

  Warwick

  St. Helens

  Wigan

  Stoke

  Wigston

  Stonehouse

  Wolverhampton

  Stourport

  Yate

  Strabane

  Sutton-in-Ashfield

  Beef

  Aberdeen

  King's Lynn

  Antrim

  Leeds

  Avonmouth

  Leicester

  Ballymena

  Lisburn

  Banbury

  Liverpool

  Belfast

  London

  Bishops Stortford

  Londonderry

  Blackburn

  Lowestoft

  Bridge of Allan

  Maidstone

  Bristol

  Manchester

  Bourne

  March

  Bury St. Edmunds

  Newtownabbey

  Cannock

  Newry

  Cardiff

  Omagh

  Coleraine

  Oswestry

  Colnbrook

  Paddock Wood

  Craigavon

  Peterborough

  Cullumpton

  Peterhead

  Dagenham

  Plymouth

  Doncaster

  Pontefract

  Droitwich

  Portadown

  Dundee

  Reading

  Dungannon

  Retford

  Eastleigh

  St. Asaph

  Edinburgh

  St. Helens, Merseyside

  Exeter

  Scunthorpe

  Felixstowe

  Sheffield

  Fleetwood

  Sherborne

  Fraserburgh

  Shrewsbury

  Frome

  Strabane

  Gateshead

  Strathclyde

  Gillingham

  Stourport-on-Severn

  Glasgow

  Truro

  Glenrothes

  Walsall

  Grantham

  Warwick

  Great Harwood

  Wigan

  Hereford

  Wigston

  Hull

  Wolverhampton

  Inverness

  Yate

  Cereals

  Airdrie

  Gainsborough

  Bardney

  Glenrothes

  Belford

  Gloucester

  Birmingham

  Halesworth

  Braintree

  Hartlebury

  Bressingham

  Heybridge

  Chipping Warden

  Honeybourne

  Christchurch

  Hull

  Cleveland

  Huntingdon

  Clifton, Yorks

  Ipswich

  Clopton

  Keith

  Coventry

  Kentford

  Doncaster

  Kidderminster

  Driffield

  Kings Lynn

  Dumfries

  Kirkcaldy

  Duns

  Linton

  Dysart

  Louth, Lincs

  Ely

  Maldon

  Felixstowe

  Market Rasen

  Foulsham

  Misson

  592

  Newcastle

  Staughton

  Newmachar

  Stowmarket

  Newmarket

  Stracathro

  Ormiston

  Telford

  Penicuik

  Tranent

  Raydon

  Turriff

  Retford

  Watford

  Ringwood

  Whitchurch, Salop

  Royston

  Whittlesford

  Salisbury

  Wimblington

  Scunthorpe

  Wisbech

  Snetterton

  Witney

  Thames Flood Plains
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will place a copy of the Thames water authority's map of the river Thames flood plains in the Library.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 10 March 1988]: I have arranged for a map of the river Thames flood plains to be placed in the Library of the House. More detailed versions may be inspected at Thames water authority's offices or in those of appropriate local authorities.

ENERGY

  Nuclear Reactors (Decommissioning)
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has received regarding the ending of Central Electricity Generating Board participation in research programmes into decommissioning nuclear reactors.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The UKAEA is in touch with my Department about the implications of the CEGB's position.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many nuclear reactors he estimates will be decommissioned before the year 2000; and which ones they will be.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  This is a matter for the Central Electricity Generating Board. I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether the conduct of research into the decommissioning of nuclear reactors will be a managerial matter for the appropriate privatised electricity generation company.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Yes. Other organisations may of course also wish to undertake research into decommissioning.

  Electricity Distribution
  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has received regarding the monopolistic position of electricity distribution hoards; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  My right hon. Friend and I have received representations on numerous aspects of electricity distribution. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State told the House on 25 February 1988, the distribution of electricity is largely a natural monopoly, in which it would not be economic to duplicate resources.

  However, it will be possible for adjacent distribution companies to compete with one another to supply large users near their common borders, and there will be scope

  593
  for large users to buy their supplies direct from generators. There is, in addition, substantial room for competition in the generation of electricity by power stations.

  Uranium (Imports)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) for what purpose natural uranium was imported from Durban to Southampton on 28 February 1987; and if that material was under safeguards arrangements;

  (2) what is the final destination and intended end-use of the uranium hexafluoride from Houston, received at Felixstowe on 22 April 1987; and if this material is under safeguards arrangements;

  (3) for what purpose natural uranium was imported from Houston to Felixstowe on 15 May 1987; and if this uranium was under safeguards arrangements;

  (4) for what purpose yellow cake uranium was imported from Houston to Liverpool on 17 June 1987; and if this material was under safeguards arrangements;

  (5) for what purpose natural uranium was imported from Houston to Felixstowe on 24 June 1987; and if this material was covered by safeguards arrangements;

  (6) for what purpose yellow cake uranium was imported from New Orleans to Felixstowe on 7 September 1987; and if this material was covered by safeguards arrangements;

  (7) for what purpose uranium hexafluoride was imported from New Orleans to Felixstowe on 2 December 1987; and if this material was under safeguards arrangements;

  (8) for what purpose natural uranium was imported from Savannah, Georgia, to Felixstowe on 2 December 1987; and if this material was covered by safeguards arrangements.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Uranium imported on the dates specified by the hon. Member was for processing in plants operated by British Nuclear Fuels plc. All material processed by BNFL for civil purposes is under safeguards.

  Magnox Reactors
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will call for a report from (i) the Central Electricity Generating Board in the United Kingdom and (ii) the Health and Safety Executive's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate about what implications the closure of the Magnox reactor at Latina in Italy has for the British Magnox programme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on Thursday 10 March 1988 at column 349.

  Mr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what information he has on the statement made by the EEC Environment Commissioner before the European Parliament on 9 March in Strasbourg concerning the applicability of Euratom treaty article 34 to present Central Electricity Generating Board plans to conduct safety tests on their Magnox reactors.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  I have noted the points made by the Commissioner.

  Regional Electricity Boards (Credit Sale Agreements)
  Mr. Heddle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish in the Official Report what information
  594
  he has on the real rates of interest charged by each of the regional electricity boards in England and Wales on credit sale agreements.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The setting of interest rates on credit sales agreements is a matter for the electricity industry. I have asked the chairman of the Electricity Council to write to my hon. Friend.

  Oil and Gas Projects
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the oil and gas projects in the North sea waiting for annex B approval; and if he will give the dates since which each of these projects has been waiting approval.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  The Department is currently discussing with operators 16 North sea developments (new fields and incremental projects). Examination of development plans is undertaken on a confidential basis. I am unable to specify which projects are under consideration, and, as I said in my reply of 18 January 1988, column 506, it is not my practice to comment on timing.

  Nuclear Materials
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on his Department's policy towards submitting evidence to the European Parliament committee of inquiry on nuclear materials safeguards in the European Economic Community, with particular regard to the managing and packaging of nuclear materials sent from the United Kingdom to Mol in Belgium and Hanau in the Federal Republic of Germany.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  No request for evidence has been received by my Department.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what information he possesses on the statement, and subsequent cross-examination, of the EEC Energy Commissioner before the European Parliament special inquiry committee into nuclear materials mismanagement and transport in the EEC held in Strasbourg on 10 March.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Mr. Mosar, Commissioner for Energy, made a presentation to the committee stating that following re-examination of previous checks on nuclear material at Hanau and Mol, the Commission had found no evidence of illegal exports. Mr. Mosar noted that the International Atomic Energy Agency had reached the same conclusion.

  Nuclear Accidents
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what national plan he has for dealing with a Chernobyl type accident in Britain.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The Chernobyl accident occurred because of a combination of design weaknesses in the reactor system, as the Russians themselves acknowledged, and deliberate failures of staff to observe prescribed safety procedures. The Chernoblyl reactor was of a completely different design from any operating in, or proposed for, the United Kingdom.

  The precautions taken in the design and construction of nuclear installations in this country, and the very high standards applied in operating and maintaining them,

  595
  make it highly unlikely that accidents will occur which might significantly affect the public. But, however remote that possibility, Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectorate requires, as a condition of its site licences, that emergency plans are prepared and tested regularly in exercises. The Health and Safety Executive believes that a balance needs to be struck between detailed plans that are sufficiently extensive to cope with a serious accident and the unjustified use of resources involved in planning for improbable accidents.

  Plutonium
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if any safeguarded plutonium, originating in the United Kingdom and exported to Belgium since 1979, was sent to the MOL nuclear centre.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  [holding answer 22 February 1988]: Total exports of safeguarded plutonium sent to the MOL nuclear research centre since 1979 have amounted to significantly less than 1 gram.

ENVIRONMENT

  Unused Land
  Mr. Madel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will consider further action to improve the performance of local authorities in disposing of unused land.

  Mr. Ridley
  In replying to my hon. Friend, the Member for Banbury (Mr. Baldry) on 7 March, I said that I intend that local authorities should regularly publish information about the unused and underused land that they own, in order to stimulate improved management of their land and contribute to their public accountability.

  Property Advisory Group
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what issues are being investigated by the Property Advisory Group.

  Mrs. Roe
  The Property Advisory Group provides advice on a wide range of matters relating to land and property development, and is at present examining the problems of vacant land in inner cities.

  Forestry
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about the measures the Government intend to apply to prevent further damage to forests in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Ridley
  The Forestry Commission's 1987 survey established a benchmark of tree health, not evidence for damage. This is a point which the few representations my Department has received on the topic fail to understand.

  Forestry (Grants)
  Mr. Gow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what environmental guidance the Government propose to give to the Forestry Commission about the approval of grant applications for afforestation in England.
  596
  Mr. Ridley
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland is making a general statement about forestry policy in Great Britain in the light of the Budget changes. Both in its own forestry operations and in considering applications for planting grants, the Forestry Commission has statutory duty to endeavour to achieve a reasonable balance between forestry and environmental considerations. In cases where the appropriate balance is in doubt, because an objection has been made by the relevant public or local authority and has not been resolved by the commission's regional advisory committee, the commission has since 1974 been directed by forestry Ministers to seek their views before approving the application, or proceeding with the scheme, as the case may be. In England, I am consulted in appropriate cases.

  My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and I have decided that it would be helpful for the Forestry Commission also to have general guidance from the Government about fulfilling its statutory duties in relation to the environment in England. This guidance will be contained in a letter which the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food will be sending to the chairman of the Forestry Commission. The main features of the guidance will be as follows:
  A large proportion of the land in England has been used for agriculture as either arable or improved grassland. We therefore attach a high value to conserving, and where necessary restoring, the habitats which the remaining unimproved land provides, including the uplands and ancient woodlands. While we see some scope for broadleaved and mixed woodlands, approval should not normally be given in the uplands of England for new planting which consists predominantly of conifers. The only exception would be small areas where it is clear that such planting would be environmentally acceptable.
  The main potential for afforestation in England lies on arable land and improved grassland which may no longer be needed for food production. It has already been decided that the farm woodland scheme should be targeted on land previously in agricultural use. This concept is incorporated in the Farm Land and Rural Development Bill currently before Parliament. The new grant rates will provide additional incentives for the planting of broadleaved trees and for planting on improved land.
  In existing forested areas, the granting of felling licences by the Forestry Commission to private owners is normally subject to the condition that replanting should be carried out. In future, however, the Forestry Commission will be expected to follow policies which will convert forests of an even age into attractive and more varied landscapes with a mixture of types and ages of trees.

  Water Industry (Privatisation)
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what response he has received from the Water Companies Association about the consultation papers relating to how the present structure of statutory water companies will be safeguarded in any future plans for privatisation.

  Mr. Ridley
  We are discussing with the association its constructive response to the two papers which outline our proposals for the future of the water companies.

  Olympic Games (Funding)
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the British Olympic Association regarding the funding of high level competitors.

  Mr. Moynihan
  None.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the number of single old-age pensioners likely to lose financially from the introduction of the poll tax.

  Mr. Howard
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East (Mr. Nellist) some moments ago.

  Opencast Mining
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations he has received regarding planning policy in relation to opencast mining.

  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to revise further his planning policies towards opencast coal mining; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ridley
  The Department issued revised draft guidelines for opencast coal mining for consultation in April last year. We received a number of representations and these are being considered. We propose to publish revised guidelines in the near future.

  Nuclear Waste
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from foreign Governments on Britain's nuclear waste disposal programe.

  Mr. Moynihan
  My right hon. Friend has received no recent representations from foreign Governments on Britain's nuclear waste disposal programme. However, the disposal options currently under consideration have been discussed at various international meetings.

  Warrington-Runcorn New Town
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement regarding the progress of Warrington-Runcorn new town in allocating factory space.

  Mrs. Roe
  Warrington and Runcorn development corporation continues to make good progress in attracting private investment for industrial development. In disposing of development land for new factories, the corporation is required to achieve the best consideration reasonably obtainable.

  Homeless Children
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give his estimate of the number of children in homeless accommodation and their approximate length of stay.

  Mrs. Roe
  This information is not collected by the Department.

  Badgers
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations he has received concerning the protection of badgers setts.

  Mr. Moynihan
  We have received a number of representations from right hon. and hon. Members and 598
  members of the public on this matter. The badger already receives a substantial degree of protection under the Badgers Act 1973 and the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, as amended. We have no plans at present to amend the current statutory provisions.

  Housing Action Trust
  Mr. Litherland
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the Housing Action Trust areas.

  Mrs. Roe
  My right hon. Friend has yet to decide where he intends to seek designation of the first housing action trust areas. We shall announce our proposals while the Housing Bill is before Parliament.

  Houses (Asbestos)
  Mrs. Maureen Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what evidence he has of the number of local authority houses which have been identified as having sufficient asbestos content in their heating systems and service ducts to warrant remedial action.

  Mrs. Roe
  The joint central and local government working party on asbestos attempted to estimate the extent to which asbestos has been used in local authority properties, including its use in heating systems. The working party concluded that there was insufficient information for a meaningful estimate to be made. Furthermore, my Department and the working party take the view that the amount of asbestos is not an appropriate criterion for deciding on remedial action. Such actions should be based on an assessment of the condition of the asbestos and of its potential to release fibres. This can only be done locally and on a case by case basis.

  Local Government Staff
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the trends in numbers employed in local government over the last 10 years.

  Mr. Howard
  The numbers employed in local government fell from a peak of 1,975,200 full-time equivalents in June 1979 to 1,887,200 full-time equivalents in June 1982. There followed a period of relative stability until June 1985. Since then every quarterly survey of the Joint Manpower Watch has shown a year-on-year increase. This increase accelerated and by June 1987 the numbers had risen to 1,923,500 full-time equivalents.

  Control over staff numbers should be a routine part of good management in local government. There is certainly scope for substantial staff reductions in local government without any loss in the quality of the services provided.

  Local Authority Housing
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give financial incentives to local authorities to build new dwellings for rent for groups in the population with special needs.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  No. It is for local authorities to determine their own priorities for capital spend. But they may find increasingly that they get better value for money by assisting other providers of housing for rent, including providers of housing for those with special needs, rather than by direct provision themselves.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authority homes were sold in 1987(a) to sitting tenants and (b) as empty properties.

  Mrs. Roe
  English local authorities sold 90,000 homes to sitting tenants and 2,900 vacant dwellings in 1987. In addition, the London residuary body transferred some 5,500 dwellings to Thamesmead Town Limited.

  Local Authority Services
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of work in the services to be put to compulsory tender he estimates will remain in-house once the Local Government Bill becomes law, in(a) Scotland and (b) England and Wales.

  Mr. Howard
  There is no way of predicting who will be successful in competition. My Department has therefore made no such estimates.

  Camden Council
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last met the leader of Camden council; and what was discussed.

  Mr. Chope
  On my right hon. Friend's behalf, I met representatives of Camden council, including the leader, Councillor Dykes, on 28 January to discuss my right hon. Friend's proposal for Camden's rate limit for 1988–89.

  My hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning also met the council, including Councillor Dykes, on 9 February to discuss homelessness in the borough.

  Flying Lessons
  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment under what powers local authorities may provide free flying lessons.

  Mr. Chope
  Local authorities have powers under section 19 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 to provide such recreational facilities as they think fit, inside or outside their area.

  London Docklands Development Corporation
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the existing and any known future vacancies in the offices, hoard or any senior executives of the London Docklands Development Corporation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  There are five vacancies on the LDDC board—for the deputy chairman, the chief executive and one other; and for two members with special knowledge of the locality. The corporation's staffing structure and organisation are matters for the board.

  Planning Applications
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of planning applications are approved by his Department, following refusal by local authorities and subsequent appeal.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The average planning appeal success rate is currently about 37 per cent.

  Derbyshire and Staffordshire County Councils
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what will be the level of rate precept levied by Derbyshire county council and Staffordshire county council in 1988–89.

  Mr. Chope
  The county precepts in Derbyshire and Staffordshire in 1988–89 will be 297·5p and 215p respectively.

  Nirex
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he next intends to meet the chairman of Nirex to discuss matters relating to the management of nuclear waste.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend gave to him on 17 February at column 673.

  Empty Council Properties
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the number of empty council properties in England.

  Mrs. Roe
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, North-East (Mr. Thurnham) on 28 October 1987 at column 276.

  Ozone Layer
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a further statement on recent Government action to protect the ozone layer.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I refer to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Argyll and Bute (Mrs. Michie).

  Rate Support Grant
  Mr. Butterfill
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his provisional rate support grant settlement for 1988–89 took account of the cost of meeting the teachers' pay awards.

  Mr. Chope
  Yes.

  Conservation Areas (Building Demolition)
  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any proposals for bringing demolition of buildings in conservation areas under the control of the planning system; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Most demolitions of any significance already require conservation area consent under the Town and Country Planning Act 1971. Similarly demolitions of listed buildings require listed building consent.

  Waste Disposal
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the public health implications of his decision to leave to the discretion of local authorities whether they collect or dispose of waste from non-domestic premises; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The decisions on the classification of commercial and industrial waste reflect the existing
  601
  collection practices of the majority of local authorities. Because of this, we do not believe that the decisions on classification carry any public health implications.

  Homeless People
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he has given to ways of relaxing the duties of local authorities with respect to homeless persons; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Roe
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to amend the duties of local authorities towards the homeless. But we do not rule out discussing with them ideas about the way they are carried out.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many homeless families have been placed in bed-and-breakfast accommodation in England and Wales in the current year so far; and what is his latest estimate of the cost.

  Mrs. Roe
  At 31 December 1987, the latest quarter for which information is available, there were 10,370 households in bed-and-breakfast accommodation placed there by local authorities in England. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales has responsibility for these matters as they affect the Principality. Information on the number of households placed in bed-and-breakfast accommodation during the financial year 1986–87 and on related expenditure is contained in "Homelessness Statistics, 1986–87 Actuals" published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, copies of which are in the Library.

  Empty Council Houses
  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will initiate legislation concerning empty council houses.

  Mr. Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will be tabling amendments to the Housing Bill requiring local authorities to make better use of empty properties.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I am considering whether to introduce legislation to make better use of empty local authority dwellings.

  Nitrogen Emissions
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment why, at a United Nations meeting on nitrogen emissions in February, his officials supported a draft agreement which would only freeze nitrogen oxide emissions at the current level by the end of the 1990s; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  A draft agreement in the terms described by the hon. Gentleman was not raised at the February meeting of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe working group on nitrogen oxides. Negotiations are proceeding on a protocal to the UŃECE convention on long-range transboundary air pollution, on the reduction of nitrogen oxide emissions. The United Kingdom is playing a full part in these negotiations, along with other parties to the convention, and I hope that early agreement will be reached.

  Veterinary Premises (Waste)
  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will outline the reasons for his proposal to classify clinical waste from veterinary premises as industrial, rather than commercial waste.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Clinical waste arises in many different circumstances and we do not think it appropriate to lay an additional duty on local authorities to collect it, which would be the effect of classification as commercial waste. At present, the majority of authorities do not collect clinical waste and do not have the facilities to do so. Classification as industrial waste enables authorities which currently collect clinical waste from veterinary practices to continue to do so.

  Defective Housing
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further financial support he will offer to local authorities with defective housing.

  Mrs. Roe
  The annual housing investment programme allocations take into account local authorities' needs for expenditure under the housing defects legislation. Those authorities with particular housing defects problems have also been able to bid for a share of the £20 million reserve put aside nationally for 1988–89. My right hon. Friend expects to decide these additional allocations within the next few weeks.

  Density Planning Controls
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to seek to change the existing density planning controls available to local authorities under town and country planning legislation.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  No. Density policies are a matter for local planning authorities and should normally be contained in their development plans. They should have sound planning justification. My Department's advice is that county structure plans should give general guidance on the densities expected; more detailed density policies are a matter for local plans. Where planning decisions are based on those policies, they should be well reasoned if they are to be secure against successful appeal.

  Sports Policy
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will next meet the chairman of the Sports Council to discuss issues affecting sports policy during the coming year.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I meet regularly the chairman of the Sports Council to discuss issues affecting sports policy. I have met him on two occasions recently, on 3 March and 8 March, and I look forward to seeing him at other times in the near future.

  M20 (Hollingbourne)
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he has received on the planning implications of the proposal to site a motorway service area at Hollingbourne on the M20.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Department of Transport's and Esso Petroleum Company Limited's proposals to
  603
  construct a motorway service area on the same site on the M20 at Hollingbourne were considered at a public local inquiry held last month. Fifty two representations on the proposals were received by Maidstone borough council and an additional three by the Department. Others may have been made at the inquiry, but until the inspector's report is received I am unable to say how many representations were made on planning grounds.

  District Councils
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he next intends to meet the representatives of district councils as planning authorities; and what he intends to discuss.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I met representatives of the Association of District Councils on 2 February, and my hon. Friend the Member for Broxbourne (Mrs. Roe) met the National Development Control Forum on 18 February. No further meetings are fixed at present, but I have no doubt that they will take place as necessary.

  Council Housing Accounts
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the treatment of balances in council housing accounts.

  Mrs. Roe
  In 1980 we removed from local authorities the restriction on the extent of credit balances for which they could budget in housing revenue accounts. We also permitted transfers of part or the whole of any balance to the general rate fund, a counterpart to the existing discretion to make contributions from the rate fund to the HRA. The obligation to make good any deficit in the HRA has not been altered. We are currently reviewing the financial regime for local authority housing.

  Planning Gain Deals
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in the light of the Royal Opera House case, he will review current planning legislation, with particular reference to the effect of planning gain deals on approved local plans.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  General policy guidance on planning gain is given in the Department's circular 22/83. We are considering whether any change is needed to the current legislation.

  Rates
  Mr. Stevens
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will meet members of the Association of County Councils to discuss the level of rates in the coming financial year.

  Mr. Chope
  The Association of County Councils will have an opportunity to discuss this with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State at the next meeting of the Consultative Council on Local Government Finance.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to respond to the recent paper issued by the Association of London Authorities on its preferred alternative to the community charge.
  604
  Mr. Howard
  I do not intend to comment in detail on the ALA's suggestions, which I assume are directed primarily towards helping the Labour party find a local government finance policy. The Government's own proposals are presently before Parliament and received a large majority in this House on Second Reading.

  I have, however, noted that the ALA advocates a combination of domestic rates and local income tax. Such a system would fail to provide accountability, be very volatile, produce big changes in Bills, and he extremely complicated and expensive to administer.

  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated financial effect of the introduction of the community charge on a pensioner living on his own in(a) Stockport and (b) England and Wales as a whole.

  Mr. Howard
  In England and Wales as a whole we estimate that 80 per cent. of single pensioners living alone would have gained if the community charge had been introduced in full on the basis of 1987–88 local authority spending. Projections for individual local authority areas are not possible because of the limitations of the sample survey data on which the estimate is based.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he is taking to reduce the demand on homeless accommodation provided by the London borough of Newham.

  Mrs. Roe
  We are encouraging Newham to return to use as many as possible of its 2,500 empty dwellings by a combination of improved management and better targeting of resources. In 1987 we increased the HIP allocation by £1·2 million to enable 67 voids to be returned to use and provide 103 hostel places, all for homeless families. For 1988–89 we have increased Newham's initial HIP allocation to over £18 million with a further £3 million resources in prospect for estate action schemes.

  Rate Increases
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further research he intends to commission into the possible correlation between rate increases and job losses; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  I have no doubt that the excessive rates imposed by some councils can have serious consequences for employment opportunities. Many cases have been drawn to my attention where high business rates are reported to have affected the location of investment and employment by individual firms. The national non-domestic rate will soon be in place which will prevent high levels of business rates and damaging year-to-year variations. My right hon. Friend has no plans at the moment to commission further research into the correlation between rate increases and job losses.

  Hampstead Heath
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will outline his Department's policies to safeguard the future of Hampstead heath.

  Mr. Chope
  The London residuary body will shortly be making recommendations to my right hon. Friend as to
  605
  the future ownership and management of the heath. In accordance with undertakings given during the passage of the Local Government Act 1985, my right hon. Friend's policy is to ensure that Hampstead heath is managed as an entity.

  Lambeth (Housing Investment Programme)
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the housing investment programme allocation for Lambeth for 1988–89.

  Mrs. Roe
  The initial HIP allocation for 1988–89 is £29·4 million but there is a possibility of further allocations in support of estate action schemes.

  Hooliganism
  Mr. John Carlisle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is considering recommending to the football authorities any further measures to combat hooliganism; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I hold regular meetings with the football authorities. Measures to combat hooliganism are under continuous review.

  Land Register
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the area of land on the Land Register; and what was the area in 1983.

  Mr. Trippier
  On 29 February 1988 the registers of unused and underused land owned by public bodies contained details of 90,000 acres of such land. At the end of February 1983, details of 108,000 acres were recorded.

  Horses (Breeding, Keeping and Stabling)
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has for redesignating the breeding and keeping of horses and associated stabling as an agricultural activity for planning purposes.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We have at present no proposals for altering the extent to which the general development order exempts development involving horses from the need for specific planning permission. Breeding and keeping horses for the working of the land or as agricultural livestock is not development for the purposes of the planning Acts.

  Parliamentary Bills (Planning Permission)
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many parliamentary Bills his Department has introduced in the last five years in relation to the construction of projects which would normally require planning permission; and what is his policy towards the use of legislation, rather than the planning system for this purpose.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My Department does not itself promote private Bills. A private Bill may usually only be used as a means of securing planning permission (by virtue of class XII of the Town and Country Planning General Development Order 1977) if the scheme requires other authorisations which only Parliament can provide. If such a Bill is required, it is reasonable for Parliament to 606
  consider the planning issues at the same time. These matters are among those at present being considered by the Joint Committee on Private Bill Procedure.

  Sheffield (Economic Regeneration)
  Mr. Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last met members of Sheffield council to discuss their policies for encouraging economic regeneration.

  Mr. Trippier
  I met members of Sheffield city council on 7 December for this purpose. Also I was in Sheffield earlier this week to announce that the Secretary of State is setting up an urban development corporation in the lower Don Valley area. This will make a major contribution towards urban regeneration.

  Merseyside Urban Development Corporation
  Mr. Day
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made by Merseyside urban development corporation in regenerating the urban development corporation area.

  Mr. Trippier
  In 1981 the Merseyside development corporation was charged with the regeneration of 865 acres of derelict and disused docklands. Progress has been spectacular: 380 acres of land have been reclaimed; 1·5 million sq ft of buildings have been refurbished including the Albert dock, the largest collection of grade 1 listed buildings in the country. Factory units have been provided in Bootle and in particular at the Brunswick business park in the south docks where 500,000 sq ft has been let. Over 1,600 jobs have been created, 1,100 safeguarded and another 1,000 jobs provided on construction and related projects. Two hundred and forty residential flats are being provided by refurbishment and conversion schemes in partnership with the private sector at Albert dock and Wapping warehouse, another historic listed building. £47 million of private sector investment has been secured with another £67 million in the pipeline. In seven years MDC has transformed its area and the Secretary of State's announcement on 7 March to extend the designated area will enable a larger area of Liverpool and Wirral to benefit from MDC's direct and determined approach.

  Council House Starts
  Mr. Haynes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many council homes were started in 1987; and how many were completed.

  Mrs. Roe
  Provisional figures of local authority and new town house-building in 1987 appear in table 3 of this Department's press release No. 68 issued on 5 February, a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Urban Initiatives
  Mr. Andrew Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his Department's budget in the next financial year for urban initiatives.

  Mr. Trippier
  Planned expenditure in 1988–89 on my Department's urban group of programmes totals £593 million. The group includes urban development grant and urban regeneration grant (to be replaced from 2 May by city grant), the urban development corporations, derelict
  607
  land grant (part of which will be incorporated in city grant) and the urban programme. Provision has also been made for £140 million additional resources for local authorities' estate action schemes, and for £5 million spending by housing action trusts. The level of provision for the urban group, estate action and housing action trusts combined is £120 million higher than in 1987–88.

  Local Authority Land
  Mr. Summerson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to ensure that every local authority(a) keeps a publicly available register of parcels of all land it owns, (b) is obliged to sell such land at valuation on request unless it proves to his satisfaction a genuine need to retain it for its own use, and (c) shall be forbidden to sell such land to any other public or official bodies without his consent.

  Mr. Chope
  My right hon. Friend announced on 7 March, at columns 75–76, in response to my hon. Friend the Member for Banbury (Mr. Baldry), that he intends that public bodies should regularly publish information about the unused and underused land they own.

  There is immense scope for local authorities to improve the management of their property, including sales of surplus or underused assets particularly to the private sector. The Audit Commission's recent report on property management gives local authorities detailed guidance and I hope that they will follow up the recommendations in the report in the interests of their ratepayers.

  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his statement on Wednesday 16 March,Official Report, columns 325–6, in what circumstances local authorities will be allowed to pass land over to a housing association and then to lease back any houses that are built by that housing association.

  Mr. Chope
  The measures announced on 9 March will not prevent local authorities disposing of land to housing associations or acquiring leases of houses built by housing associations. Prescribed expenditure will, however, now be scored when a lease of three or more years is acquired and authorities which wish to acquire such leases will need to make appropriate provision within their prescribed expenditure limits.

  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will list in the Official Report those local authorities which have entered into negotiations on, but have not yet concluded, leaseback schemes with housing associations of the type which will be prevented by the legislation announced in his statement on Wednesday 9 March, Official Report, column 325.

  Mr. Chope
  Local authorities are not obliged to inform my right hon. Friend that they have entered into, or concluded, negotiations with housing associations and in general do not do so. The information requested is therefore not available.

  Tree Preservation Orders
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if in the light of the recent decision of the Court of Appeal, he has plans to introduce legislation to protect councils from claims for compensation from 608
  developers in relation to the effect of tree preservation orders, where the proposed development lies outside the Town and Country Planning Acts.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I understand that the local planning authority concerned are considering whether to petition the House of Lords for leave to appeal against the decision of the Court of Appeal. Until the judicial process is complete in would be inappropriate for me to comment on this issue, but we are keeping in touch with developments.

  Council House Rents
  Mr. Forth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the average council house rent for each region of England.

  Mrs. Roe
  Estimates of the average rents, net of charges for amenities and rates, in each English region were published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy in "Housing Rents Statistics at April 1987," a copy of which is in the Library.

  Moorings
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received seeking an explanation of the different treatment of swinging moorings, as defined in the new schedule on Non-Domestic Rating: Exemption to the Local Government Finance Bill, and mooring between piles and in marinas; and what response he has sent.

  Mr. Howard
  I have received one such representation. The Bill, as amended, preserves the existing exemption from rating for "swinging" moorings consisting of a buoy attached to a weight or anchor. Permanent moorings, including those in marinas or between piles, will continue to be rated unless they are used for a boat which is someone's sole or main residence.

  National Rivers Authority
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what responses he has had to date to the proposals to set up the National Rivers Authority; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 17 December 1987, at columns 619–21, to my hon. Friend the Member for Banbury (Mr. Baldry). Copies of responses to the consultation paper on the National Rivers Authority, which respondents agreed could be published, were placed in the Libraries of both Houses. Further details of our policy were given in a memorandum issued at the time of the statement. The Public Utility Transfers and Water Charges Bill, which is currently before Parliament, will confer on the water authorities an express power to prepare for privatisation, including preparations for the setting up of the National Rivers Authority. Once the Bill has received Royal Assent, guidelines will be issued to the authorities about the preparation of schemes of organisation.

  Beaches (East Anglia)
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made on bringing beaches in East Anglia into line with European Economic Community standards; and if he will make a statement.
  609
  Mr. Moynihan
  In the Anglian water authority area, 28 waters are identified as within the scope of the bathing water directive (76/160/EEC). Twenty of these waters met the directive's standards in 1986, and provisional results for 1987 suggest that 22 now meet these standards. Major improvement schemes are under way at Great Yarmouth, Heacham and Cromer, and Anglian water authority plans to spend some £18 million over the next four years on schemes related to the improvement of bathing waters.

  Rainfall (Radioactive Fallout)
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures the Government have now adopted for early detection of rainfall which may be carrying radioactive fallout.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The Government's proposals for implementing their national response plan for detecting and responding to future nuclear incidents like Chernobyl were published in January (reference: "The National Response Plan and Radioactive Incident Monitoring Network (Rimnet). A Statement of Proposals"). Copies of the statement have been placed in the Library of the House. Annex 3(iv) sets out the proposed procedures for detecting radioactivity in rainwater.

  Mortgages
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to the proportion of mortgages which have gone to first-time buyers in inner cities in 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1987.

  Mrs. Roe
  The information available is for 42 authorities which are urban programme areas in London and the English metropolitan counties and the four which comprise the county of Cleveland. In these areas, first-time buyers received 58 per cent. of mortgages advanced for house purchase by building societies in 1984, 59 per cent. in 1985, 58 per cent. in 1986 and 53 per cent. in 1987.

  Construction Industry
  Mr. Kirkhope
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last met representatives of the construction industry; and what was discussed.

  Mr. Ridley
  The Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Rossendale and Darwen (Mr. Trippier), met the group of eight last July when issues of current concern such as work load, training, research and development and inner cities were discussed. In addition, I met construction industry representatives at numerous functions organised by the industry's organisations and institutions over the year.

  Water Charges
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied that the water authorities are taking sufficient steps to produce a new and fair system of levying charges after the disappearance of rateable values; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Water authorities are actively considering alternatives to replace the present rateable value basis of water charges. Whatever new methods of charging they decide to introduce will have to comply with 610
  the statutory requirements, in section 30 of the Water Act 1973, that in fixing their charges water undertakers must have regard to cost, and must not show undue preference to or undue discrimination against any class of persons.

  Water Industry (Privatisation)
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the expenditure in preparation for privatisation with regard to the water industry.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The latest estimates of expenditure in 1987–88 by the Department on preparation for the privatisation of the water authorities are as follows:

  £

  DOE staff and office services:

  760,000

  Advisers' Fees

  650,000

  These figures do not include certain other costs, such as accommodation, which are borne centrally. The first item includes the costs of the present system of financial control of the water authorities.

  Information on water authorities' own expenditure in relation to privatisation is not available centrally.

  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much aid from the EEC regional fund has been received by the English water authorities in each year since 1980; how many applications are projected for each year until 1993; and whether water authorities will continue to be eligible for such grants before and after the privatisation of the water industry.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The total amounts of grant aid awarded to English water authorities from the European regional development fund since 1980 are:

  £

  1980

  13,778,150

  1981

  16,286,365

  1982

  18,748,630

  1983

  26,085,600

  1984

  31,662,700

  1985

  17,481,406

  1986

  84,594,532

  1987

  48,200,842

  I would expect future applications to come forward at broadly the present level. Water authorities will be eligible to apply before and after privatisation.

  Rate Support Grant
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will show for each local authority the rate support grant paid in each year since 1979, expressed in(a) cash terms and (b) real terms at 1987–88 prices; and what percentage of the council's total expenditure in each year this represented.

  Mr. Ridley
  [holding answer 15 March 1988]: I have today placed this information in the House of Commons Library.

  Government Property
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which Government property assets have been the subject of sale and lease-back agreements with private institutions since 1979.
  611
  Mr. Chope
  We do not keep records as far back as 1979. But we certainly know of no such cases during the last three years involving properties on the civil estate held in the name of my right hon. Friend.

SOCIAL SERVICES

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is now in a position to estimate how many student nurses will be eligible for a rebate under the poll tax.

  Mr. Scott
  It is not possible to make such an estimate. The details of the community charge rebate scheme have yet to be decided and benefit rates for 1989 (when the community charge is introduced in Scotland) and 1990 (when it is introduced in England and Wales) have not yet been set. Whether individual student nurses will be entitled to rebate will also depend on their resources, their age and family circumstances, and on the level of community charge set by the local authority in the area in which they live.

  South East RHA
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the average cost per accident and emergency attendance and per new accident and emergency case in each hospital in the South East regional health authority area in the last year.

  Mrs. Currie
  The information for 1986–87 in respect of those hospitals in the South East Thames region which undertake treatment of accident and emergency patients is as follows:

  Accident and emergency patients

  Health District and Hospital

  Cost per Attendance £

  Cost per New Case £

  Bexley

  Erith and District

  11·96

  21·15

  Queen Mary's

  22·80

  29·59

  Brighton

  Royal Sussex County

  19·09

  20·77

  Bromley

  Beckenham

  10·02

  22·18

  Bromley

  20·73

  25·04

  Orpington

  22·38

  31·10

  Camberwell

  King's College

  18·38

  22·72

  Canterbury & Thanet

  Kent and Canterbury

  22·17

  25·67

  Thanet District General Hospital

  17·83

  19·28

  Dartford and Gravesham

  Gravesend and North Kent

  13·57

  17·93

  West Hill

  23·30

  26·62

  Eastbourne

  Eastbourne District General Hospital

  17·02

  31·74

  Uckfield

  3·35

  8·44

  Greenwich

  Brook General

  20·71

  26·19

  Greenwich District General Hospital

  17·43

  21·70

  612

  Health District and Hospital

  Cost per Attendance £

  Cost per New Case £

  Hastings

  Royal East Sussex

  15·08

  20·80

  Lewisham and North Southwark

  Guy's

  15·17

  22·17

  Lewisham

  26·18

  33·70

  Sydenham

  13·40

  21·25

  Maidstone

  Maidstone

  16·89

  20·72

  Medway

  Medway

  18·51

  18·55

  Sheppey General

  15·15

  16·18

  South East Kent

  Buckland

  17·38

  23·90

  Royal Victoria (Folkstone)

  9·44

  13·84

  Victoria (Deal)

  11·64

  18·01

  William Harvey

  26·99

  33·31

  Tunbridge Wells

  Kent and Sussex

  18·92

  21·67

  West Lambeth

  St. Thomas'

  37·20

  41·83

  NHS (Land)
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total amount and value of surplus land owned by each district and regional health authority; and how much land has been disposed of by each district and regional health authority between(a) 1974 and 1979 and (b)

  Mrs. Currie
  The amount of surplus land held and disposed of by regional health authorities in the years in question is as follows:

  Surplus Land Disposed

  Region

  Surplus Land held as at 31 March 1987

  1974–75 to 1978–79

  1979–80 to 1986–87

  acres

  acres

  acres

  Northern

  407

  131

  262

  Yorkshire

  978

  247

  827

  Trent

  873

  231

  880

  East Anglian

  102

  36

  123

  North West Thames

  454

  50

  485

  North East Thames

  277

  66

  214

  South East Thames

  541

  362

  181

  South West Thames

  130

  107

  287

  Wessex

  75

  69

  524

  Oxford

  148

  18

  408

  South Western

  645

  360

  1,125

  West Midlands

  491

  413

  543

  Mersey

  873

  39

  429

  North Western

  104

  181

  602

  Figures for district health authorities and the value of surplus land currently held are not kept centrally.

  Cervical Cancer
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average length of time between screen testing and the attainment of test results relating to cervical cancer in(a) the Northern regional health authority and (b) Sunderland district health authority.
  613
  Mrs. Currie
  This information is not available centrally. The hon. Member may therefore wish to contact the chairman of the Northern regional health authority for the information he requires.

  In the recently issued Health Circular HC(88) on 12 January, we asked health authorities to ensure that laboratories report the results of smear test within one month. Health authorities not meeting this target are asked to explain what action they are taking to remedy the situation.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what new cervical cancer smear tests have been tried by his Department; and how these compare with the effectiveness of the present test systems.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 14 March 1988]: The Department keeps under review all scientific and technological developments that might improve the effectiveness of cervical cancer screening. Its procurement directorate recognises the importance of finding a practical system that will improve routine laboratory examination of cervical smears. Applications for research funding that are endorsed by independent referees as having scientific merit are giving high priority in the competition for funds. The active involvement of British industry is sought to ensure that any potentially successful system can be made commercially available and brought into NHS use as rapidly as possible.

  The Government have contributed towards the cost of developing and evaluating several automated systems for cervical cancer screening. In recent months a number of applications have been received by the Department for funds to support other possible developments. These applications were reviewed on 26 February by an expert panel chaired by the Department's chief scientist, Professor O'Grady, and are now receiving final consideration in the light of the panel's views.

  Intermediate Treatment Projects
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what the cost of grants to intermediate treatment projects have been since their implementation; how many people have attended intermediate treatment projects; and what he estimates the savings were to the Exchequer of keeping young people on intermediate treatment projects rather than in custody or borstals.

  Mrs. Currie
  By the end of March 1988 the Department will have made grants to voluntary organisations in England under the intermediate treatment initiative (launched in 1983) totalling some £13·1 million. These grants were to provide intensive schemes of intermediate treatment for young offenders as direct alternatives to care or custodial disposals. One hundred and ten such schemes have been established capable of providing intensive IT programmes for some 3,400 juvenile offenders a year.

  Information about the number of young people attending such projects is not held centrally, nor is information available about comparative costs or possible savings. We have commissioned Dr. Martin Knapp (University of Kent) to undertake a research study to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of various forms of intermediate treatment compared with other court disposals, both custodial and non-custodial, but the results of his work are not yet available.

  Mental Handicap Services
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what assessment he has made of the value to mental handicap services of improvements in co-ordination and co-operation between various agencies involved, rather than a single agency taking lead responsibility; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  Sir Roy Griffiths addresses the general issue here, among others, in his report on community care published today. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State said in his reply to the hon. Member, the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Morris) and the hon. Member for Ynys Môn (Mr. Jones) on 8 March at column 171, the Government will be considering Sir Roy's proposals, taking account also of the report of the committee chaired by Lady Wagner, and of reactions to both reports; and will bring forward their own proposals in due course. But clearly it will always be important to develop co-ordination and co-operation between the wide range of agencies involved in the provision of care for mentally handicapped people.

  Mental Handicap Nurses
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what evaluation has been made by his Department of the contribution of qualified mental handicap nurses to the success of community care initiatives relating to mental handicap and the use of such qualified nurses by local services in these initiatives.

  Mr. Newton
  Departmentally sponsored evaluations of community care initiatives for mentally handicapped people take account of the contribution by all categories of care and support staff. A recent survey of centrally funded schemes providing alternative health care in the community for long-stay children from mental handicap hospitals pays particular attention to the role of qualified mental handicap nurses, along with other care staff. A copy of this survey "Out of Hospital", by Anne Leonard, department of social policy and social work, University of York, will be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on his policy with regard to trained mental handicap nurses.

  Mr. Newton
  The Chief Nursing Officer's letter of 18 December 1985 (CNO(85)5), a copy of which has been placed in the Library, discusses the developing role of mental handicap nurses in the light of the shift to community care and the contribution they can make to the support of people in their own homes or in a range of residential and other settings in the community.

  Mental Hospitals
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what information he has regarding district health authorities which have decided on mental hospital closures before the full implementation of appropriate community services;

  (2) what guidance he has issued to district general managers concerning the time scale of mental hospital closures in cases where appropriate alternative community services have not been fully implemented.
  615
  Mr. Newton
  Guidance in the relevant policy paper sent to all districts says:"New facilities must be available before old facilities are dispensed with."
  We do not fix any time scales on closure plans and I am not aware of any health authority which has closed facilities without the provision of appropriate alternative services. We see the closure of mental illness and mental handicap hospitals as a consequence of the current development of comprehensive locally-based community-oriented services and not vice versa.

  Maternity Units
  Mrs. Rosie Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many general practitioner maternity units have been closed in England since 1983

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 15 March 1988]: Twelve general practitioner maternity units were approved for closure between 1983 and December 1986.

  Mentally Ill People (Day Centres)
  Mr. McCrindle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list those district health authorities in England and Wales which do not have a day centre for mentally ill people.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 10 March 1988]: Day centres for mentally ill people are usually provided by local authorities. In England only Trafford, Suffolk, Hounslow, Gloucestershire and City of London did not report having day centre places for mentally ill people in 1986. Additionally the following district health authorities in England did not report attendances at mental illness day hospitals in 1986:

  Hartlepool

  Darlington

  Scarborough

  North Lincolnshire

  West Norfolk and Wisbech

  Winchester

  Torbay

  Herefordshire

  Halton

  Rochdale

  North Tyneside

  Northallerton

  Dewsbury

  Rugby

  East Birmingham

  However, all except the last five in the list reported attendances at mental illness day facilities at the main hospital in 1986.

  Information for Wales is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Teachers of the Deaf
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many teachers from Northern Ireland are being trained as teachers of the deaf; and if he is satisfied that sufficient qualified teachers are available to meet the needs of hearing impaired children in Northern Ireland.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Thirteen student teachers are on specialist courses of initial training for teachers of the 616
  hearing impaired. In addition, eight serving teachers have engaged over the past two academic years in a range of courses of in-service training.

  I am satisfied that sufficient qualified teachers are available.

  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he has taken in response to the recommendations of the Northern Ireland Assembly report on the education of hearing impaired children (March 1985) concerning the training of teachers of the deaf.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Consideration is being given to the best means, in the long term, of providing training in counselling for teachers at one of the training institutions. In the meantime, a short course has been included in the 1988 summer school programme to cater for any immediate demand.

  Advertising Costs
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the cost of his Department's advertising campaign currently being screened on television and broadcast on radio.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The cost of the present, television only, campaign from its inception on 18 January 1988 to 14 March 1988 is £136,000, including £73,600 for production of the commercial.

  The BBC did not use the commercial but did broadcast a supporting public information message on radio and television; only minor production costs were met by the Northern Ireland Office.

  War Memorials
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many names of Ulster Defence Regiment members murdered by terrorists have been added to war memorials in Northern Ireland to date.

  Mr. Needham
  War memorials are the responsibility of individual district council and other bodies and no central records are maintained of the names recorded on them.

  University Courses
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information he has as to how many four-year courses at(a) the University of Ulster and (b) Queen's University, Belfast, have been cut to three-year courses over the past three years.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  No such reductions have been made at the University of Ulster. Owing to changes in course structure and subject options at Queen's University, it is not possible to provide the information in the form requested.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information he has as to how many Gaelic-oriented courses exist at(a) the University of Ulster and (b) Queen's University, Belfast; and what increase in the number of such courses has taken place over the last five years.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Three at the University of Ulster arid six at Queen's University. There has been an increase of three in the last five years.

  Single Payments
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) claims for single payments and benefit and (b) appeals currently await decisions arising from claims lodged at Department of Health and Social Security offices in Larne, Carrickfergus and Newtownabbey.

  Mr. Needham
  At 4 March 1988 the information was as follows:

  Larne

  Carrickfergus

  Newtownabbey

  Single Payments

  141

  430

  816

  Supplementary Benefit

  18

  133

  183

  Unemployment Benefit

  60

  96

  182

  Appeals

  7

  5

  8

  Belfast Urban Area Plan
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give his best estimate of the cost of preparation of the Belfast urban area plan including the involvement of staff, consultants, reports, publications and so on; and what additional expenditure he envisages in the process up to the public inquiry.

  Mr. Needham
  Much of the work on the plan was carried out by officials of the Department of the Environment (NI) over a period of three years, and it is not possible to cost this input without disproportionate effort. Work by consultants up to the commencement of the public inquiry is estimated to cost a total £1·9 million of which £1·2 million relates to transportation. Other costs, including grants to community technical aid, amount to £200,000.

  Farmland
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the average price paid per acre for farmland taken into public ownership for the building of Craigavon; how much land was taken; how much was subsequently sold back to its original owners; and what was the average price of the land resold to each category of owner as set out in the legislation to deal with such resales.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 14 March 1988]: Some 6,200 acres of land was vested for Craigavon new town in 1966 at an average price per acre of £650. To date 560 acres of the surplus land has been sold to former owners. The average price of land sold to former owners who are still on the land is £1,565 and the average price for land sold to former owners who left the land is £1,765.

  Nurses
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how long the system of 12 hour shifts for nurses has been in operation in the Western health and social services board area; and whether he can give a comparison of wages and salary costs of the personnel involved in the 12 hour shifts as opposed to the previous eight hour shifts.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 14 March 1988]: The 12-hour shift system for nurses in the Western health and social services board has been implemented progressively
  618
  since the summer of 1986; information on the comparative costs of wages and salaries is not readily available at present but I will write to the hon. Gentleman with this information as soon as possible.

  Health and Social Services Boards
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table showing for each unit of management in the Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western health and social services boards the number of new beds, the bed complement and the number of permanent bed closures for (i) strategic, (ii) rationalisation and (iii) financial reasons in the last three years.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 14 March 1988]: This information is not available in the form requested.

  Ardilea River, County Down
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will now take urgent steps to designate the Ardilea river, County Down as a salmonid river under the EEC directive 78/759/EEC; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 15 March 1988]: The Ardilea river will be considered along with other rivers for future designation under the EEC directive 78/659/EEC. As I pointed out to the hon. Gentleman on 1 March 1988, at column 524, further disignations will be made as resources permit. I am unable at present to say when further designations will be made.

  Road Works Carrickfergus
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, further to his answer of 18 January,Official Report, column 549, when he anticipates work will begin on the shore road between Carrickfergus and Whiteabbey, County Antrim.

  Mr. Needham
  No start date has been allocated. However, proposals for the work remain in the Department of the Environment's current major works programmes.

  Schools and Colleges (Insurance)
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish the arrangements made by Her Majesty's Government for the insurance of(a) controlled schools and colleges, (b) maintained schools and (c) voluntary schools.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Property insurance policy is as follows:

  Controlled Schools and Colleges

  These properties are not insured against fire and special perils which is in line with current Government practice for publicly-owned properties.

  Voluntary (including Maintained) Schools

  School authorities are required, as a condition for receipt of grant, to insure these properties adequately against fire, flood and other risk.

  Electricity (Privatisation)
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with Northern Ireland Electricity about the privatisation of the company; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Viggers
  None as yet. However, NIE is aware of the Government's commitment to the privatisation of the electricity supply industry throughout the United Kingdom and that it is our intention to examine the prospects of privatising NIE after a decision has been taken on the next phase of generating capacity in the Province.

  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to publish a White Paper on the privatisation of electricity in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Viggers
  None at present. Our immediate priority is the determination of the current competition between Antrim Power Company Limited (a private consortium) and Northern Ireland Electricity for the provision of the next phase of generating capacity in the Province.

TRANSPORT

  Motor Cycles (Leg Protectors)
  Mr. Beaumont-Dark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many organisations or individuals have notified his Department that they are wholly in favour of the introduction of leg protectors for motor cycles;

  (2) how many organisations have been consulted on his proposals to introduce leg protectors on motor cycles;

  (3) what extent the research into proposed leg protectors for motor cycles has established that they will not, in the event of accidents, subject the rider to greater danger in terms of injury or death;

  (4) if he will make a statement on the extent of the research into leg protectors for motor cycles carried out by his Department, particularly that research relating to the transfer of injuries to parts of the body other than the lower leg.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  A draft specification for leg protectors was sent to 26 organisations for comment. Of the 13 who responded three expressed support for the principle of leg protectors. The TRRL's research which includes over 50 impact tests so far, took as a main objective the avoidance of injuries to other parts of the body, including the head. The specification fully achieves this objective. We are making some detailed amendments in the light of comments received. I will send a video of the tests to my hon. Friend shortly and make a copy available in the Library.

  Manchester Airport
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what arrangements have now been made for negotiations with the United States Government on United States carrier access to Manchester international airport; what consideration was given in arranging a date for the negotiations to the letter dated 2 February from Northwest Airlines sent to him by the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe; and if he will make a statement.
  620
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Officials from the Department of Transport will be meeting a delegation from the United States Government in London tomorrow. The discussions are planned to last two days. All relevant representations were, of course, taken into account in seeking a meeting with the United States Government on this subject.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what emphasis he will be giving, in the impending negotiations between the United Kingdom and United States Governments on United States carrier access to Manchester international airport; to improving access to the United States for British airlines flying from Manchester; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  In negotiating wider access for United States carriers to Manchester international airport, the Government are committed, by the 1985 airports policy White Paper, to securing benefits of equivalent value for United Kingdom carriers in return. British airlines already have substantial opportunities under the United Kingdom/United States air services agreement to serve the United States from Manchester. The emphasis placed on obtaining further improvement access from Manchester must remain a matter to be decided in the course of the negotiations.

  Motor Cyclists (Eye Protectors)
  Mr. Roger King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has received any representations about the difficulty that motor cyclists with prescription-lensed goggles have in complying with the eye protector regulations.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Yes. I understand that prescription-lensed goggles meeting the British Standard in full are not yet available. Since existing prescription-lensed goggles will generally be of good quality, we propose to amend the regulations to allow the continued use of existing goggles of this special type and to postpone the requirement for new ones to be BS approved and marked, for a further year. The Department is circulating for comment appropriate draft amendments to the regulations. The amendments also permit the use of glass-lensed goggles approved to an earlier version of the standard which did not require marking with the letter A to show abrasion resistance.

  Pedestrian Areas
  Sir Brandon Rhys Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he plans to issue up-to-date guidance on ways in which traffic and parking in pedestrian areas can be better regulated; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  All county, borough and district councils in England and Wales are being sent a local transport note—"Getting the Right Balance—Guidance on Vehicle Restriction on Pedestrian Zones". This will also be sent to national and other organisations who responded to our earlier consultation on the subject.

  The guidance to local authorities and others stresses the need for a careful balance to be drawn where ideas are being considered for pedestrian zones. Traffic restriction measures can increase safety and convenience for many pedestrians, and improve the attractiveness of a street or

  621
  area. The importance of providing access for essential vehicle movements, including servicing and for mobility handicapped people is emphasised strongly.

  Copies of the note have been placed in the Library, and are available for sale at HMSO.

  Dual Carriageways
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has on the estimated cost, first year rate of return and net present value for the dualling of the current roads(a) between Lydden and Whitfield (A256), (b) Whitfield to Deal road (A258) and (c) Deal road to Eastern docks in Dover; and if he has any further information on those road projects.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The following provisional estimates for dualling the A2 between junctions were prepared in 1985:

  £ million—1979 prices

  Cost

  Net present value1

  Lydden to Whitfield (A256)

  5·1

  -1·0 to -0·7

  Whitfield to Deal Road (A258)

  3·2

  -0·7 to -0·5

  622
  1 Discounted to 1979.

  We have no proposals to improve the A2 between Lydden and Dover. We shall keep the position under review. The A2 and the improved A20 routes, taken together, should be able to cope with predicted traffic beyond the turn of the century.

  VED (Evasion)
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to reduce the level of evasion of vehicle excise duty on heavy goods vehicles.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Reducing the level of excise duty evasion on heavy goods vehicles is central to the Department's enforcement strategy. In addition to the attention given to goods vehicles in day-to-day enforcement they are subject to special roadside inspections by the Department's traffic examiners which include checks to ensure that they are fully licensed.

  BBC LOCAL RADIO IN THE INNER CITIES
  BBC LOCAL RADIO IN THE INNER CITIES
  JUVENILES: REMAND IN CUSTODY
  JUVENILES: REMAND IN CUSTODY
  DELTA 181 EXPERIMENT
  DELTA 181 EXPERIMENT