Written Answers of 17 March 1988

THE ARTS

  Museum Training
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what developments there have been on museum training following the publication of the Museums and Galleries Commission working party report on museum training and career structure.

  Mr. Luce
  The Museums and Galleries Commission working party report on museums training and career structure was published in July 1987.

  I am grateful to the working party and to its chairman Sir John Hale for the thoughtful and detailed consideration which they have given to the important subject of the training which is required by those who work at all levels and in all sectors and all aspects of our museums. At a time of opportunity for museums, and when the number and diversity of museums, and the number of those who visit and use them are increasing, it is important that staff employed in museums are equipped with the skills they need, in management and marketing as well as in the more traditional and still essential areas of museum activity.

  The Hale working party produced a wide-ranging report, and I thought it appropriate for my Department to consult widely on its findings. I am grateful to all those who submitted their views. I have now considered the report's recommendations in the light of the comments and advice which my Department received.

  There is general agreement about the need for a fresh look at training for museum work to make that training better reflect the skills which are needed and will be needed by those working in museums. The necessary first step in this process is an examination of the needs of the museum industry for key skills and competences. It is desirable, in order to facilitate the development of new provision for museums training, for such a study to proceed quickly and on an industrywide basis taking account of the needs of the main sectors of the museum world and of the relevant areas of the heritage sector. I am pleased to announce that my Department with the Manpower Services Commission will be providing support and financial assistance for a needs assessment study for which the principal agent will be the Museums Association. This six-month study will represent phase I of a programme which is intended by the Museums Association to result in the production of new modules for the training of those currently or prospectively working in museums.

  The needs assessment study, to be carried out by consultants experienced in the field of training assessment and provision, will be overseen by a steering committee on which the major interests in the museum community—the Museums and Galleries Commission, the Museums Association, the area museum councils, the national museums and galleries, the independent and the local
  624
  authority museums—will be represented. The steering committee will be chaired by the Office of Arts and Libraries.

  Beyond the first phase of this programme, I shall take a continuing close interest in the development of museum training. I think it right, however, that the primary responsibility for museums training should rest with the museums industry itself, and that the continuing developments in this area should be overseen and guided by a consortium representing the main sectors of the museums industry. It is not my intention to set up a museums training council with regional panels in the form recommended by the Hale report. I shall be consulting further about the composition of the consortium of interests which I have in mind, with a view to its establishment later this year. I should be prepared to provide limited funding on a pump-priming basis for a museums training consortium, for a period of up to five years, but I should expect the museums industry and employers to contribute an increasing share of the costs of this group and, following a substantial public investment by my Department and the MSC in an initial programme of development of museum training. I shall expect the provision and further development of museum training to become self-financing. I attach importance to the development and application of skills in management and marketing within the museums sector, and to the transfer of skills between institutions. I hope that the development of new training modules which are relevant to all sectors of the museums industry will help to increase the scope for mobility and exchanges of staff between museums.

  The Museums and Galleries Commission working party report on museums training has provided a useful foundation on which the various sectors of the museums world, with the Government's help, can build in partnership. I am pleased that an ambitious but realistic programme of development of museums training, with the Government's backing, is now under way.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  VAT (Greece)
  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what action he proposes to take following the introduction on 1 January by the Government of Greece of a value added tax structure which increases rather than diminishes discrimination in favour of locally produced spirits and against imported products.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The discriminatory VAT rates operating in Greece are already under challenge in the European Court of Justice: the EC Commission has brought proceedings under article 169 of the treaty. The Commission is in no doubt that the United Kingdom attacahes the greatest importance to this case.

  Inner City Initiative (Publicity)
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the cost to public funds of the press conference and associated publicity for the Government's inner city initiative announced on 7 March; what part of the charge to public funds is attributable to the cost of providing a blue stage setting and furniture; and how many persons other than civil servants took part in the arrangements.
  625
  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  About £34,400, including £4,238 for the stage setting. The document "Action for Cities" costs about £68,970 for a print run of 37,000. The press conference was arranged by the Central Office of Information. This represents a very small part of the Government's expenditure of around £3,000 million on inner cities programmes and the presentation of those programmes is an important part of the process of establishing a partnership with the private sector and local government to help deliver them.

  "Action for Cities" (Breakfasts)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if, pursuant to his answer of 14 March, he will provide a detailed breakdown of his estimate of the cost of the six working breakfasts planned.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The estimated expenditure on the working breakfasts covers all the production and management costs of a professional presentation to senior industrialists and business men, whose commitment and support we are seeking. The total costs will include the preparation of audio-visual material, the hire of halls, printing and the issue of invitations, transport and storage. Catering will cost under £5 per person.

  City Action Teams
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will consider setting up a new office in Bradford, staffed by officials of the Departments of the Environment, Employment and Trade and Industry, to administer that part of the recently announced city action team programme of benefit to Bradford.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  No. City action teams are operating successfully from the regional offices of the three Departments, including in those areas where the city action team also covers an adjacent city.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much he plans to spend on giving breakfasts in Bradford under his city action team programme; how many such breakfasts he intends to organise in Bradford,; who is to be invited; where the breakfasts will be held; and when the first breakfast will take place.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  My present plans do not include a presentation in Bradford. However, a working breakfast will be held in Pudsey on 26 April for about 250 senior business men and industrialists from the west Yorkshire urban area, including Bradford in order to seek their commitment to and support for the Government's programmes of urban regeneration in Leeds and Bradford.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his reply of 14 March, if he will list broad expenditure heads for the estimated expenditure by the city action team in Bradford of about £50 million in 1987–88; and if he will specify how much of the money to be spent in Bradford is a new allocation of funds.

  Mr Kenneth Clarke
  As I indicated in my reply to the hon. Member's question of 14 March at column 434, the total estimated expenditure in Bradford of the three city action team departments in 1987–88 is about £50 million. The broad areas of expenditure are:
  626

  million £

  Housing

  13

  Regeneration of land and buildings

  6

  Employment, Training and Industry

  34

  Total

  53

  This is existing expenditure through main departmental programmes. In addition, the Government are making a further £0·79 million available to the Leeds/Bradford city action team to be spent in the area the team covers, without prior allocation to particular districts.

DEFENCE

  Military Personnel (Wales)
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the location and number of(a) military personnel and (b) non-military personnel employed in (i) Pembrokeshire, (ii) Dyfed and (iii) Wales.

  Mr. Freeman
  It would not be in the public interest to provide details of the number of personnel in individual defence establishments. The total numbers of personnel, military and non-military, in the areas specified are shown in the table. The figures relate to 1 July 1987, and those for Pembrokeshire cover establishments in the Preseli and South Pembrokeshire local authority areas.

  Total

  Service Personnel

  Civilian Personnel

  (i) Pembrokeshire

  1,884

  797

  1,087

  (ii) Dyfed

  3,040

  831

  2,209

  (iii) Wales

  12,040

  6,076

  5,964

  European Fighter Aircraft
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made on deciding on the radar system for the European fighter aircraft; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  As my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces said on 11 February 1988 at column 592, revised bids for the EFA radar have been received. The assessment of these bids is in hand, but will take some time and a decision is unlikely until the summer.

  Trident
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of the sub-headings of expenditure in the Trident miscellaneous budget.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The sub-headings of expenditure in the miscellaneous element of the Trident budget are functional machinery, logistic and other support costs, and additional intramural costs.

  Soviet Weapons
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of Soviet modernisation of their conventional weapons; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  I refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime
  627
  Minister on the NATO summit on 4 March at columns 1279–80 which emphasised that there has been no let-up in the Soviet Union's extensive military modernisation programme, covering both the improvement of existing platforms, weapons and equipment and also the introduction of new ones. For example, among major items a new version of the T-72 tank has recently appeared and a new heavy lift aircraft has been introduced, while new attack helicopters and a range of new missiles are under development. Further information is given regularly in the annual "Statement on the Defence Estimates".

  Territorial Army
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on current levels of recruitment and retention into the Territorial Army.

  Mr. Freeman
  Recruitment arid retention figures for the Territorial Army are, of course, subject to seasonal variations. The overall strength reached a temporary peak of over 78,000 in May 1987. Essentially the main concern lies in retaining experienced volunteers, rather than in attracting new recruits, although the latter is, of course, closely monitored. We have implemented a number of initiatives aimed at improving retention, most recently agreement to the funding of a major media campaign recommended by the National Employer Liaison Committee, details of which I gave in the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Hampshire, East (Mr. Mates) on 29 February 1988 at column 142.

  Army Trucks
  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what refurbishing work is to be carried out on the Army's existing 4-tonne trucks; and when he plans to order a replacement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We have no plans to refurbish the Army's existing 4-tonne truck fleet. A competition to select a new 4-tonne vehicle is currently in progress. The new vehicles will be ordered in 1989 and will begin to enter service in 1990. Consideration is also being given to a further order for the existing model as an interim measure.

  Chemical Weapons
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration and discussions have taken place within the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation in respect of the possibility of retaining safety margins of chemical weapons; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  There are no chemical weapons declared to NATO, although the United States possesses a minimal retaliatory capability. It is the aim of all NATO states to achieve a comprehensive, verifiable and global ban on all chemical weapons, as was confirmed at the meeting of the Heads of State and Government of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation in Brussels on 2–3 March.

  Bearer Parties
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence under what circumstances bearer parties are provided for the coffins of deceased military personnel on arrival in the United Kingdom from overseas.
  628
  Mr. Freeman
  Bodies returning to the United Kingdom from overseas normally arrive on scheduled aeroplanes at civil airports where provision of a bearer party might cause difficulties or be inappropriate. In those cases the body is met and taken from the airfield by a civilian undertaking. Whether or not to supply a bearer party in other circumstances rests with the regiment and the wishes of the family.

  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether bearer parties were provided for the officers killed on duty off Portugal on the return of their bodies to the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Freeman
  The bodies of Lt. Cdr. Davies and S/Lt. Cawthorne, who were tragically killed while on duty on 10 March, were returned to the United Kingdom on board the RFA Engadine. The ship docked at Portland naval base. The bodies were piped from the ship in accordance with naval custom. Royal Navy personnel were used to deliver the bodies into the custody of the coroner for Dorset. The question of bearers does not therefore arise until the funeral service where a naval bearer party will be provided if the next-of-kin so request.

  Loan Service Personnel Programme
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the names of countries to which Britain has military personnel on loan currently under the loan service personnel programme.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  Members of Her Majesty's armed forces have served in the following countries and territories on loan or secondment terms during the current financial year:

  Australia

  Kuwait

  Bahrain

  Lesotho

  Bangladesh

  Mauritius

  Barbados

  New Zealand

  Belize

  Nigeria

  Bermuda

  Oman

  Brunei

  Qatar

  Dominica

  Saudi Arabia

  Fiji

  St. Lucia

  Gambia

  St. Vincent

  Ghana

  Sudan

  Hong Kong

  Swaziland

  Indonesia

  Uganda

  Jordan

  United Arab Emirates

  Kenya

  Zimbabwe1

  1 Since January 1986 a wing of the British military advisory and training team has been specifically allocated to train Mozambican troops within Zimbabwe.

  HMS Tireless
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the purpose of the visit of HMS Tireless to the port of Southampton; how often visits of this type are made; what are the criteria for deciding the timing and location of such visits; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  HMS Tireless made a routine visit to Southampton from 9–15 March in order to give her crew a period of rest and recreation and an opportunity to meet local organisations, including the sea cadet corps. The timing of such visits is largely determined by the operational programme of HM submarines and the availability of suitable port facilities. In my reply to the
  629
  hon. Member for Cardiff, South and Penarth (Mr. Michael) on 9 March at column 216, I gave the number of United Kingdom nuclear powered submarine visits to United Kingdom non-naval ports since 1970.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the local public safety scheme was activated in response to the visit of HMS Tireless to the port of Southampton; what class of berth the submarine is using; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The procedures for notifying the appropriate local authorities, emergency services and other civilian agencies of an impending visit of a nuclear submarine, specified in the Southampton special safety scheme, were carried out prior to the recent visit of HMS Tireless to the port. The berth used by HMS Tireless is categorised as a Z berth.

TRANSPORT

  Road Maintenance (Northern Region)
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the expected increase in real terms to be allocated for road maintenance in the northern region.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We have increased the 1988–89 allocation for the maintenance of motorways and trunk roads in the northern region by 3·2 per cent. in real terms compared with the initial allocation for 1987–88. We are maintaining provision for local road maintenance in England at £1,264 million for 1988–89. This represents an increase of 8·4 per cent. in real terms on what local authorities have budgeted to spend in 1987–88. This provision is not broken down by region.

  Dual Carriageways (Central Reservations)
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what mileage of steel barriers was erected in the central reservations of dual carriageway roads and motorways during the last financial year; and what mileage has been contracted for in the present financial year.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The information requested is not held centrally. I shall write to my hon. Friend.

  Highway Authorities (Underspending)
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations have been made to his Department by the Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors regarding alleged underspending by highway authorities on road building or maintenance; what statistical evidence is available to him in that regard; and what action he is taking.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors wrote to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 16 September enclosing a copy of its submission to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on roads and bridges expenditure. This contained representations on expenditure by highway authorities on road building and maintenance. The issues raised in their submission were discussed with my right hon. Friend on 26 November.

  Statistical evidence on highway authorities' spending on roads comes from their budget and expenditure returns
  630
  to the Department of the Environment. In the last three financial years public expenditure provision for local authority roads capital spending was not underspent. Local authorities' budgets for 1987–88 show £148 million underspending on road maintenance, despite the poor state of local roads. Public expenditure provision for 1988–89 allows for a 13 per cent. increase on these budgets. If 1988–89 budgets show continuing underspend, we shall need to consider, with the local authority associations, what further steps may be needed to ensure adequate road maintenance by local authorities.

  Panama Canal
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when his Department last consulted British shipping interests concerning the situation in the Panama canal zone; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 4 March, at column 740. We continue to keep the situation under review in close consultation with British shipping interests.

  Al2 Bypass (Emergency Telephones)
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received regarding the installation of emergency telephones on the Al2 bypass at Chelmsford; what proposals there are to install such telephones; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Representations have been received from two local residents. The A12 Chelmsford bypass is one of a number of lengths of trunk road identified by the Department as meriting installation of emergency telephones when funds can be made available.

  I hope to announce shortly a list of sites at which installation is proposed in 1988–89 and 1989–90.

  Arms Shipments
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has on the cargo of arms carried by an aircraft owned by Great Southern Airways which stopped over at Prestwick airport on a flight from France to the United States of America on 24 November 1987; what notification is required of such arms shipments; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Great Southern Airways sought routine permission for a technical refuelling stop at Prestwick on 14 November 1987 under articles 43 and 44 of the air navigation order. The application was fully in order and permission was granted.

  Breeches Buoy Equipment
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many coastguard stations have breeches buoy equipment; when it was installed; why he has decided to remove existing equipment from use; if he will make a statement as to the cost involved of(a) withdrawal of the equipment and (b) leaving it in place; and how the need formerly met by breeches buoy will henceforth be met.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  There are 263 coastguard stations which hold breeches buoy equipment. The majority of this
  631
  equipment has been in place since the mid-19th century, although some modifications have taken place in the intervening years.

  The existing equipment is to be removed because its use as a method of rescuing stranded mariners has progressively declined and its retention for use by Her Majesty's coastguard can no longer be justified.

  The only costs involved in withdrawing this equipment will be in transportation. These costs have not been calculated although they are expected to be minimal. Any time spent by coastguards on this task will be part of their everyday working and no extra expenditure will be incurred.

  The costs involved in retaining the equipment would be in the region of £230,000 per year. This includes replacement, maintenance costs and care of equipment payments to auxiliary coastguards. However, development costs for replacement of obsolescent rocket apparatus would also have to be incurred in the near future.

  The need formerly met by breeches buoys is now met by search and rescue helicopters provided by my Department and the Ministry of Defence and lifeboats provided by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. The cliff rescue capability which is also provided by my Department may also be appropriate in certain cases.

  Manchester Airport
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations his Department has received from British airlines on the matters to be negotiated by the British and United States Governments in regard to United States carrier access to Manchester international airport; what response he has made; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  A number of representations have been received from British airlines in regard to wider access for United States carriers to serve Manchester international airport. Their representations, together with all other representation received on this issue, will be taken into account in the forthcoming negotiations with the United States Government, scheduled for 17–18 March.

  Wortley (Rail Services)
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received to the effect that the notice, published by the British Railways Boad on 10 March, concerning a proposal to discontinue railway passenger services between Wortley South and Wortley West junction, is invalid in that it fails to meet the requirements of section 56 of the Transport Act 1962; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  None. That is not a matter for me.

  Vehicle Number Plates
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether proposals have been made to impose a common design vehicle number plate throughout the EEC.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  It has been made clear to the Commission that any proposals which prejudiced the high standards of clarity and readability of the current United Kingdom design would be opposed.
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  Officials in the Commission are considering the possibility of harmonising the size and design of number plates throughout the Community as part of a common transport policy. The Government have not received any formal proposals for harmonisation.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  United Nations Children's Fund
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contribution was made by Her Majesty's Government to the United Nations Children's Fund in each financial year since 1978–79 in both current and actual prices.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  The information is as follows:

  Contributions at current prices

  1986–87 prices

  (£ million)

  (£ million)

  Year

  General fund

  Special appeals

  Total

  General fund

  Total

  1978–79

  4·5000

  0·664

  5·164

  8·8

  10·1

  1979–80

  15·800

  1·751

  7·551

  9·7

  12·6

  1980–81

  4·300

  1·456

  5·756

  6·0

  8·1

  1981–82

  5·900

  0·083

  5·983

  7·5

  7·6

  1982–83

  5·900

  0·069

  5·969

  7·0

  7·1

  1983–84

  6·000

  0·025

  6·025

  6·8

  6·9

  1984–85

  6·000

  1·000

  7·000

  6·6

  7·6

  1985–86

  29·550

  1·338

  10·888

  9·8

  11·2

  1986–87

  3·250

  6·570

  9·820

  3·3

  9·8

  1 Special increase to mark International Year of the Child

  2 £3·25 million, originally planned to be paid in April 1986, was paid in March.

  Departmental Grants
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the non-governmental organisations in receipt of grants from his Department during 1987–88; and what is the size of each grant.

  Mr. Eggar
  Current information about the total of grants committed in 1987–88 by the Overseas Development Administration to particular nongovernmental organisations under arrangements for the joint funding of development projects, support to volunteer and other agencies and support for refugee relief and related development projects is given below.

  £

  Accord

  410,000

  Action Aid

  434,876

  Afghan Aid

  370,000

  Aga Khan Foundation

  39,287

  Appropriate Health Resources and Technologies Action Group

  90,194

  Aid for India

  33,345

  Boys Brigade

  10,996

  British Executive Service Overseas

  306,000

  British Red Cross Society

  728,966

  Care (UK)

  138,465

  Cerebral Palsy Overseas

  28,500

  Catholic Fund for Overseas Development

  440,000

  Catholic Institute for International Relations

  811,152

  Centre for World Development Education

  100,000

  Christian Aid

  1,197,283

  Christians Abroad

  16,000

  Christian Outreach

  30,000

  Commonwealth Ecology Council

  7,666

  Commonwealth Trade Union Council

  32,332

  633

  £

  Concern

  250,000

  Cooperation for Development

  17,250

  Duke of Edinburgh's Award

  64,233

  Euro Action Accord

  289,539

  Food Agriculture Research Mission

  18,189

  Friends Urambo Mwanhala

  8,832

  Hand in Hand

  15,000

  Health Unlimited

  23,500

  Help the Aged

  8,000

  Institute of Cultural Affairs

  4,168

  International Extension College

  50,000

  International Medical Relief

  54,500

  International Planned Parenthood Federation

  6,600,000

  Intermediate Technology Development Group

  1,242,000

  International Voluntary Service

  657,108

  International Year of Shelter for the Homeless Trust

  57,775

  Leonard Cheshire Foundation

  37,000

  Leprosy Mission

  15,748

  Mission Aviation Fellowship

  15,000

  National Children's Homes

  33,150

  Ockenden Venture

  230,000

  Overseas Development Institute

  245,000

  Oxfam

  2,055,704

  Plan International

  108,500

  Population Concern

  88,957

  Population Services

  146,903

  Quaker Peace and Service

  30,000

  Regional Conference on International Voluntary Service

  4,400

  Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind

  147,394

  Richmond Fellowship

  87,000

  Ryder Cheshire Mission

  25,000

  Save the Children Fund

  1,265,000

  Sandy Gall's Afghanistan Appeal

  49,000

  Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund

  79,318

  Scottish Education and Action for Development

  6,000

  Scouts

  25,000

  SOS Sahel International

  10,318

  Sport Aid

  45,000

  St. John's Ambulance

  4,476

  Tanzania Development Trust

  8,000

  Tear Fund

  289,170

  Uganda Society for Disabled Children

  127,644

  United Nations Association International Service

  400,000

  Universities Educational Fund for Palestine Refugees

  13,000

  Voluntary Service Overseas

  7,114,000

  Water Aid

  269,929

  World Vision

  134,000

  World University Service

  95,000

  World Wildlife Fund

  251,800

  Y-Care

  33,500

  You and Me

  20,000

  Young Womens Christian Association

  3,000

  Total

  28,098,067

  Note: excludes disaster relief and food aid channelled through nongovernmental organisations.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Departmental Grants
  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list those voluntary organisations in the current financial year in receipt of grants from his Department including the amount of grant in each case and the work for which the grant has been made available.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The following grants were given towards the headquarters activities of national voluntary youth organisations under section 20(1)(b) of the Education (Grant) Regulations 1983:
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  Organisation

  Grant in 1987–88

  Army Cadet Association

  5,160

  Association for Jewish Youth

  25,260

  Baptist Union of Great Britain and Ireland

  24,420

  Boys' Brigade

  34,920

  British Council of Churches

  24,000

  British Red Cross Society

  9,780

  British Trust for Conservation Volunteers

  35,700

  Campaigners

  13,620

  Catholic Youth Services

  18,000

  Church Army

  12,240

  Church Lads' Brigade and Church Girls' Brigade

  11,040

  Church of England Board of Education

  37,920

  Co-operative Union

  4,320

  Council for Environmental Education

  22,680

  Covenanters

  4,920

  Da'watul Islam: United Kingdom and Eire

  6,780

  Drake Fellowship

  27,420

  Duke of Edinburgh's Award

  66,600

  Endeavour Training

  28,920

  Forest School Camps

  1,620

  Frontier Youth Trust

  11,940

  Girl Guides Association

  47,460

  Girls' Brigade

  21,060

  Girls' Venture Corps

  23,640

  Horse Rangers Association

  1,800

  Inter-Action

  17,460

  International Voluntary Service

  1,200

  Jewish Lads' and Girl's Brigade

  5,520

  JMB Development Training

  4,920

  Lubavitch Foundation

  5,040

  Methodist Association of Youth Clubs

  87,540

  National Association of Boys' Clubs

  149,160

  National Association of Muslim Youth

  15,360

  National Association of Youth Clubs

  255,360

  National Elfrida Rathbone Society

  22,800

  National Foundation of 18+ Groups

  32,640

  National Federation of Gateway Clubs

  35,340

  National Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs

  78,960

  National Organisation for Work with Girls and Young Women

  17,760

  National PHAB

  49,080

  National Youth Assembly

  7,500

  National Youth Choir

  1,020

  National Youth Orchestra

  4,560

  National Youth Theatre

  40,380

  New Testament Church of God

  10,080

  Ocean Youth Club

  12,300

  Outward Bound Trust

  13,680

  Quaker Home Service

  13,560

  Reform Synagogues of Great Britain

  7,740

  Royal Society for the Protection of Birds

  4,440

  Sail Training Association

  5,580

  St. John Ambulance Brigade

  7,200

  Salvation Army

  12,720

  Scout Association

  49,800

  Sea Cadet Association

  14,220

  SPLASH

  4,740

  Union of Maccabi Associations

  6,600

  UK Federation of Jazz Bands

  6,300

  United Reformed Church

  35,940

  Woodcraft Folk

  10,020

  Young Christian Workers

  24,240

  Young Men's Christian Association

  149,160

  Young Women's Christian Association

  88,080

  Youth Hostels Association

  41,640

  In addition, grants have been allocated to the following national associations under section 19 of the Regulations in respect of expenditure incurred in providing educational services:

  Association

  Grant in 1987–88 (£)

  British Chess Federation

  36,400

  British Theatre Association

  13,900

  635

  Association

  Grant in 1987–88 (£)

  Educational Centres Association

  6,200

  National Association of Women's Clubs

  26,400

  National Federation of Community Organisations

  25,300

  National Federation of Women's Institutes

  15,600

  National Housewives' Register

  5,700

  National Union of Townswomen's Guilds

  13,600

  Pre-Retirement Association

  71,800

  University of the Third Age

  3,800

  Workers' Educational Association National Office1

  104,300

  1 Of which £53,500 is allocated for in-service training.

  Under section 17 of the regulations grants were given to the following voluntary organisation in support of their activities:

  Organisation

  Grant in 1987–88 (£)

  Association for All Speech Impaired Children

  11,000

  British Association for Early Childhood Education

  4,610

  Community Service Volunteers: Advisory Service

  26,960

  Council for Education in World Citizenship

  37,000

  National Educational Resource Centre for Hearing Impaired Pupils

  37,000

  Pre-School Playgroups Association

  108,000

  National Association for Gifted Children

  10,000

  National Bureau for Handicapped Students

  30,750

  Students (Records)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he intends to issue a consultation document on the keeping and disclosure of records concerning students in further education establishments; and when he intends to table regulations.

  Mr. Jackson
  My right hon. Friend plans to issue a consultation paper on this subject later this year and will deal then with the making of regulations.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he intends to issue a circular to local education authorities on the keeping and disclosure of pupil records; and when he now expects regulations to be tabled in Parliament.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Our intention is to make regulations by the end or 1988. Guidance will be issued at the same time to local education authorities.

  Primary and Secondary Schools (Expenditure)
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will show the amount spent per pupil on education in(a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools in the counties of Staffordshire and Derbyshire.

  Mr. Dunn
  The latest information is provided in the table.

  Net institutional recurrent expenditure1 per pupil—1986–87

  Primary Schools £

  Secondary Schools £

  Staffordshire

  878

  1,257

  Derbyshire

  877

  1,304

  Note:

  1 Net institutional recurrent expenditure covers the cost of salaries

  636
  and wages, premises and certain supplies and services. It does not include the cost of school meals, central administration and inspection, debt charges or revenue contributions to capital outlay.

PRIME MINISTER

  Church Lawford
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has any plans to make an official visit to Church Lawford, near Rugby.

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

  NHS Hospital, Bradford
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Prime Minister when she next expects to pay an official visit to a National Health Service hospital in Bradford.

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

  West Berlin (Bomb Alert)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will discuss with President Reagan the statements of Secretary of State Schultz and Secretary Weinberger that there was a bomb alert in West Berlin on 14 April 1986, in the light of the statement by the duty head of the United States military police in Berlin, Major Ruth La Fontaine, that there was no such alert; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  No.

  West Berkshire
  Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Prime Minister when she next intends to visit west Berkshire.

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

  Agricultural and Industrial Support
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Prime Minister if, on the same basis as the reply to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North on 16 March 1987,Official Report, columns 425–26, she will show the cost of agricultural support for each year since 1960 at 1988–89 prices, and in real terms; and how much has been paid out, at 1988–89 prices and in real terms to (a) the motor industry, (b) the coal industry, (c) the steel industry, (d) the shipbuilding industry and (e) the aircraft industry; and if she will also show the total amount paid to industry as a whole for each year since 1960.

  The Prime Minister
  The table sets out the public expenditure cost of supporting agriculture as compared with the public expenditure cost of support to manufacturing industry over the period since 1977. The presentation is not identical with that on previous occasions. Because many industrial support schemes, such as support for innovation, operate across industries, disaggregation into individual industries is not possible. However estimates are made by the Central Statistical Office for manufacturing, mining and construction taken as a whole. These figures have been set alongside comparable figures for agriculture, forestry and fishing. Data prior to 1977 are not available on a consistent basis because of changes in industrial classifications. On these figures, support for agriculture as a proportion of its
  637
  contribution to value added is about 20 times that provided to manufacturing industry. The figures for support to agriculture in the United Kingdom relate solely

  General government expenditure on

  Gross domestic product arising from

  General government expend as percentage of GDP in each sector

  Agriculture forestry and fishing

  1Manufacturing

  Agriculture forestry and fishing

  1Manufacturing

  Agriculture forestry and fishing

  1Manufacturing

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  1977

  1,059

  1,582

  3,353

  45,892

  31·6

  3·4

  1978

  1,121

  2,051

  3,590

  52,795

  31·2

  3·9

  1979

  1,163

  2,487

  3,922

  59,448

  29·7

  4·2

  1980

  1,633

  2,683

  4,303

  65,170

  38·0

  4·1

  1981

  1,688

  3,467

  4,837

  66,972

  34·9

  5·2

  1982

  2,000

  2,766

  5,530

  72,555

  36·2

  3·8

  1983

  2,472

  2,662

  5,365

  76,985

  46·1

  3·5

  1984

  2,194

  2,423

  6,222

  83,108

  35·3

  2·9

  1985

  2,725

  2,265

  5,627

  91,457

  48·4

  2·5

  1986

  2,397

  1,856

  5,902

  99,172

  40·6

  1·9

  1 Including mining and mineral resources and construction.

  Source: United Kingdom National Accounts 1987 (CSO). Tables 2.1 and 9.4.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Prime Minister what advice is given to Departments about the promotion within executive officer and higher executive officer grades of persons who are already members of or intend to stand as candidates for membership of local councils; and what restriction is placed on their promotion.

  The Prime Minister
  The rules governing political activities by civil servants are set out in the Civil Service pay and conditions of service code (paragraphs 9923 to 9957), a copy of which is available in the House of Commons Library. Promotion is solely on merit in accordance with the general principles of fair and open competition. The grades referred to fall in the category of civil servants who need to apply for departmental permission to take part in local political activities, under the provisions set out in paragraphs 9929–9932 and 9934.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Prime Minister what functions and roles are restricted to those who are not members of, or candidates for, local councils within the Departments of the Environment and Transport at executive officer and higher executive officer grades.

  The Prime Minister
  There are many posts in the Department of Environment and the Department of Transport which could not appropriately be held by officers who are members of, or candidates for, local councils, because it is important that the staff concerned should be seen to be politically impartial. All applications for permission to take part in local political activities are dates considered on a case by case basis, as is the posting of officers who have received such permission.

  I also refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I am giving him today to another question.

  Engagements
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 17 March.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 17 March.

  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 17 March.
  638
  to amounts financed by the Government and by the European Community budget and do not include costs to the consumer of holding food prices above world prices.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 17 March.

  The Prime Minister
  This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today.

WALES

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

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The Welsh Development Agency's contribution to the development of the tourism industry is mainly indirect through key programmes such as land reclamation, environmental improvement and investment.

  Since the agency's inception, tourism-related projects costing in the order of £20 million have been completed or are in progress. This is equivalent to about 3 per cent. of total mainstream Welsh Development Agency spending over the same period. A broad estimate of tourism-related expenditure at 1988 prices is £32 million or 3·5 per cent. of total spending since 1976. Comparable information is not available for individual financial years.

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

  Mr. Grist
  The amount of surplus land held and disposed of by district health authorities in Wales in the years in question is as follows:
  639

  District

  Surplus land held as

  Surplus Land Disposed

  as 31 March 1987

  1974–1979

  1979–1987

  (acres)

  (acres)

  (acres)

  Clwyd

  100

  5

  677

  East Dyfed

  12

  37

  35

  Gwent

  30

  43

  187

  Gwynedd

  99

  100

  5

  Mid Glamorgan

  30

  18

  234

  Pembrokeshire

  1

  122

  1

  Powys

  81

  Nil

  79

  South Glamorgan

  23

  37

  10

  West Glamorgan

  13

  9

  38

  The value of surplus land currently held is not available centrally.

  Exports
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales to what extent he has been able to participate in spearheading export drives for products made in Wales since June 1987.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  On 26 June 1987 I launched a public awareness campaign of the exporting services offered through the Welsh Office. I have also decided to provide staff reinforcement to the export branch to improve the service to Welsh exporters.

  Since then, I have on several occasions spoken to industrialists both individually and collectively about the need to increase the level of Welsh exporting. I have set in motion plans for two overseas trade missions which will be led by me and will later this year take Welsh business men to explore new opportunities in Russia and Saudi Arabia.

  Tomorrow I am giving an exporting breakfast in the St. David's hall Cardiff, and next week I will host a similar event in north Wales. I have also arranged that later this year a series of seminars on individual markets will visit west, mid and north Wales. Towards the end of the year I will hold seminars on the theme of the single European market in Cardiff and Wrexham.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Conveyancing
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Attorney-General what representations he has received concerning delays in conveyancing procedures; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  From time to time the Lord Chancellor receives representations from hon. Members and others about delays in conveyancing procedures. Through its practice recommendations, explanatory guides and consultation papers the Conveyancing Standing Committee, set up in 1985 by the Law Commission at the Government's request, seeks to promote changes in practice and procedure to make conveyancing simpler, cheaper, quicker and more effective.

ENERGY

  Margam Pit
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what discussions have taken place between his Department, British Coal, the National Union of 640
  Mineworkers and the National Association of Colliery Overmen, Deputies and Shotfirers concerning the proposed Margam pit; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  This matter is for discussion between the management and unions. British Coal has kept me informed of developments. It also consulted my right hon. Friend's predecessor when he was Secretary of State about the project. British Coal reached the view that because of the high capital cost the project could be viable only if flexible working was introduced. My right hon. Friend's predecessor agreed with this assessment. My right hon. Friend and I fully support his view and hope that working arrangements can be agreed and the project can proceed as planned.

  British Nuclear Forum (Contracts)
  Mr. Ashdown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what percentage of contracts over £1 million awarded by the Central Electricity Generating Board, Nirex, British Nuclear Fuels Ltd., and the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority went to members of the British Nuclear Forum; and if he will list the firms to which these went, together with the contract values.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  These are commercial matters for the bodies concerned.

  Pressurised Water Reactors
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what are the schedules and time scales for building each of the six proposed pressurised water reactors; and where it is proposed to site them.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Consent for the Sizewell B PWR was granted in March 1987. The CEGB applied in August 1987 for consent to construct, a PWR at Hinkley Point C. A public inquiry will be held, following objections from local planning authorities.

  No other applications to build nuclear power stations have been received. The timing of applications and the choice of sites are matters for the CEGB.

  Renewable Energy Sources
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make it his policy to remove current constraints on renewable energy sources to enable them to compete on equal terms with nuclear power sources for the reserved percentage of electricity generation.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  It is the Government's policy that there should be no constraints on renewable energy sources which would handicap them in competing with other fuels in supplying electricity to the grid.

  British Coal (Enterprise) Ltd.
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many jobs have been created in the Houghton and Washington constituency by British Coal (Enterprise) Ltd.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  This is a matter for British Coal (Enterprise) Ltd. and I shall ask the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

  British Coal
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the names of all private firms contracted to British Coal, stating their type of work and areas covered.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  This is a matter for the British Coal Corporation.

  Coal Products Limited
  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has reached a decision about the capital reconstruction of the British Coal Corporation's subsidiary, Coal Products Limited; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Parkinson
  In recent years the British Coal Corporation's (BCC's) coal derivatives subsidiary, Coal Products Limited, has incurred heavy losses, particularly as a result of the NUM strike in 1984–85. Since 1984–85 its cumulative losses have exceeded its capital of £100 million. At the end of March 1987 they stood at £143 million.

  These losses were funded by British Coal, with the Government's consent, largely in the form of loans. It is clear, however, that there is no realistic prospect that BCC will recover this money, and I have therefore agreed that it has to be written off by means of a waiver of the loans due to BCC and by cancellation of the company's £22·5 million preference share capital.

  I am pleased to report, however, that the management of Coal Products has now carried out a vigorous and fundamental reconstruction of its business; substantial progress has been made to eliminate loss-making activities and to make the company viable. The management is determined that the company should establish a profitable track record on normal commercial terms with BCC.

  Apart from any non-deficit grants for which it might be eligible, it is intended that neither the Government nor BCC will provide further support, either by injecting further loans or capital into the company, or by way of further guarantees.

EMPLOYMENT

  Loan Guarantee Scheme
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans are being considered further to develop the loan guarantee scheme for inner city investment and development.

  Mr. Cope
  One of this Government's principal aims has been to encourage the establishment and development of businesses in the inner city areas. As part of the action for cities initiative launched on Monday 7 March 1988 we have increased the guarantee available under the loan guarantee scheme to businesses based or wishing to be 642
  based in the 16 inner city task force areas from 70 per cent. to 80 per cent. I hope that this increase in the guarantee will make it easier for businesses in inner city areas to take advantage of the scheme.

  Construction Industry (Fatalities)
  Mr. Heffer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many fatalities of self-employed persons and illegally employed persons took place whilst carrying out work covered by the construction regulations of the Factories Act in the years 1985, 1986 and 1987.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The table gives the available information for reported fatalities of those self-employed persons in the construction industry from 1985 to March 1987. Accidents to illegally employed persons cannot be distinguished in the records.

  Fatalities of self-employed persons in the construction industry1

  Year

  Number

  1985

  22

  1986 January-March

  2

  1986–19872

  27

  Notes:

  1 As defined by division 5 of the 1980 standard industrial classification.

  2 Year commencing I April 1986. More recent information is not yet available.

  In addition, the Health and Safety Executive knows of other fatal accidents to self-employed persons engaged in construction work outside the construction industry. For 1985 the number was 1; for 1986–87 it was also 1.

  Wages (Underpayment)
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has on the distribution between age groups of cases of illegal underpayments.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I regret that the information requested is not available.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many cases of illegal underpayment of workers by their employers there were in each year since 1974.

  Mr. Patrick Nicholls
  The numbers of workers found to be underpaid under wages council legislation were as follows:

  Number

  1974

  15,368

  1975

  22,604

  1976

  24,831

  1977

  26,920

  1978

  22,671

  1979

  22,457

  1980

  28,373

  1981

  24,117

  1982

  20,406

  1983

  20,832

  1984

  18,043

  1985

  16,948

  1986

  15,533

  1987

  9,129

  Mr. Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many cases of underpayment the wages inspectorate investigated in the north-west division in each
  643
  of the past five years; how many were the results of complaints by staff; how many were the results of routine spot checks; and what were the outcomes.

  Mr. Nicholls
  [pursuant to his reply, 15 February 1988, c. 472]: In my earlier reply I undertook to give information for 1987. This is as follows:

  Outcome of checks of pay carried out at establishments in north-west division, 1987

  Number

  Checked by visit (routine)

  2,267

  Found to be underpaying

  254

  Checked by visit (complaint)

  440

  Found to be underpaying

  287

  Member's Correspondence
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 25 February,Official Report, column 293, if he will now reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth dated 3 December 1987.

  Mr. Lee
  I have now written to my hon. Friend.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Stretford of 1 March,Official Report, column 543, he will place in the Library copies of the report of the results of the surveys containing evidence that some employers are reluctant to recruit additional staff because of employment protection legislation; if he will list the surveys in the Official Report; and if he will give details of his assessment of the total national job loss caused.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Results of two studies by this Department were published as Research Papers 6 and 53 and placed in the Library. It is not possible to estimate the effect on job opportunities since the employment legislation is one of many factors to be considered by an employer.

  Authority

  Description of work concerned

  Date special report requested

  Action taken and Date

  Brent

  Major construction

  7 May 1985

  Council informed no further action — 20 February 1986

  Greenwich

  Major construction

  7 May 1985

  Council informed no further action — 10 April 1986

  Haringey

  Major and minor construction

  7 May 1985

  Council directed to cease using DLO — 5 March 1986

  St. Helens

  Major and minor construction

  7 May 1985

  Council informed no further action — 21 January 1986

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  Maintenance and highways

  22 October 1985

  Council informed no further action — 25 March 1986

  Bristol

  Maintenance, highways and minor construction

  1 April 1986

  Council informed no further action — 28 October 1986

  Newham

  Major construction

  1 April 1986

  Council directed to cease using DLO — 4 November 1986

  Wigan

  Maintenance

  1 April 1986

  Council informed no further action — 28 October 1986

  Liverpool

  Major and minor construction

  13 May 1986

  No decision taken yet

  Hackney

  Major and minor construction

  17 October 1986

  No decision taken yet

  Lambeth

  Major construction

  18 February 1987

  Council directed to cease using DLO — 4 August 1987

  Lambeth

  Minor construction

  4 August 1987

  No decision taken yet

  Burnley

  Maintenance

  18 February 1987

  No decision taken yet

  Hull

  Major construction

  23 March 1987

  Council informed no further action — 5 August 1987

  Camden

  Major construction

  23 March 1987

  Council informed no further action — 5 August 1987

  Waltham Forest

  Maintenance and highways

  22 June 1987

  Council informed no further action — 26 January 1988

  Bath

  Maintenance

  22 June 1987

  Council informed no further action — 17 November 1987

  Three Rivers

  Maintenance

  31 July 1987

  No decision taken yet

  Watford

  Maintenance

  6 August 1987

  No decision taken yet

  Bolton

  Maintenance

  20 January 1988

  No decision taken yet

  Hotel and Catering Industry (Wages)
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, how many cases of underpayment in the hotel and catering industry the wages inspectors investigated in 1987; how many were the result of complaints by staff; and how many were the result of routine spot checks.

  Mr. Nicholls
  [pursuant to his reply, 2 February 1988, c. 558]: In my earlier reply I undertook to provide some additional information. This is as follows.

  In 1987, wages inspectors visited 1,311 establishments in the hotel and catering trades to investigate complaints. Underpayments were found at 780. Inspectors also visited 6,932 establishments to carry out routine checks. Underpayments were found at 892.

ENVIRONMENT

  Direct Labour Building Departments
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will list by date all cases in which he or his predecessors have used their restrictive powers under the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 in respect of local authority direct labour building departments; what were the reasons for the exercise of powers in each case; and what was the outcome in each case.

  Mr. Chope
  The table lists the 20 occasions on which, following serious failures to meet the required financial objectives, my right hon. Friend has directed an authority to prepare a special report under section 17(4) of the 1980 Act, and the action taken as a result. In three cases closure directions have been made. In 10 others the council has been informed that no further action will be taken apart from careful monitoring of future performance. In the other seven no decision has yet been taken.

  Football Matches (Attendances)
  Mr. Heffer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to how many people attended all association football league and cup matches in England and Wales, from the commencement of the football season up to and including 29 February.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Information held by the Football Association and the Football league shows the following attendances at league and FA cup matches from the beginning of the current season up to 29 February 1988:

  Million

  League matches

  12·77

  Football Association Challenge cup

  11·72

  1 Up to and including fifth round.

  Figures for the three cup competitions run by the Football League are available only up to 31 January 1988 and are as follows:

  Million

  Littlewoods Challenge Cup

  1·34

  Simod Cup

  0·17

  Sherpa Van Trophy

  0·18

  GLC Heritage Collection
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has regarding the disposal of the items held by the London residuary body termed the GLC Heritage Collection.

  Mr. Chope
  I understand that the board of the London residuary body has made a decision to transfer most of the artefacts to the Greater London record office, where they will be available for public inspection. Other artefacts will be transferred to successor bodies such as the London fire and civil defence authority and the Thames water authority. Pending completion of agreements, the artefacts are in secure storage.

  GLC Dais (Badges of Office)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has regarding the present location of the badges of office previously worn by members of the GLC dais.

  Mr. Chope
  The badges of office of the former chairman, vice-chairman and deputy-chairman are in secure storage at county hall pending their eventual transfer to the Greater London record office.

  Chlorofluorocarbons and Halogens
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to how many research projects on the impact of chlorofluorocarbons and halogens upon the environment and, specifically, the ozone layer are at present being carried out in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I listed in my reply to a question by the hon. Member on 2 November 1987, column 437, the establishments funded by the Department, and the stratospheric ozone research topics on which they are engaged. In addition, the Department co-operates closely
  646
  with the programmes supported by the Meteorological Office, the Natural Environment Research Council, the Science and Engineering Research Council, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Chemical Manufacturers Association.

  Privately Rented Accommodation
  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to the amount by which the supply of privately rented accommodation in the Greater Manchester area has declined in the past 10 years; and what indications there are that demand exceeds supply.

  Mrs. Roe
  No statistics for Greater Manchester are kept, but nationally private rented dwellings as a proportion of the total declined from 12 per cent. in 1979 to 8 per cent. in 1987.

  We have no information on part two of the question.

  County Rate Precepts
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the county rate precepts in order, from the highest to the lowest.

  Mr. Chope
  Following is a list of the county precepts for 1988–89:

  County

  Precept (p)

  Derbyshire

  297·50

  Cleveland

  282·00

  Humberside

  261·00

  Cumbria

  260·00

  Nottinghamshire

  253·00

  Avon

  246·50

  Bedfordshire

  246·40

  Durham

  246·00

  Northumberland

  1244·50

  Hertfordshire

  240·40

  Oxfordshire

  238·60

  Essex

  235·00

  Lancashire

  234·00

  Cheshire

  232·00

  Northamptonshire

  229·00

  Buckinghamshire

  227·70

  Isle of Wight

  227·23

  Warwickshire

  227·10

  Somerset

  224·00

  Leicestershire

  221·20

  Wiltshire

  219·30

  Gloucestershire

  217·30

  East Sussex

  217·10

  North Yorkshire

  217·00

  Cambridgeshire

  216·00

  Staffordshire

  215·00

  Devon

  209·75

  Cornwall

  207·70

  Lincolnshire

  204·00

  Suffolk

  204·00

  Dorset

  203·00

  Surrey

  202·70

  Hampshire

  200·30

  Shropshire

  200·00

  Berkshire

  193·60

  Kent

  192·00

  West Sussex

  192·00

  Norfolk

  190·90

  Hereford and Worcester

  185·00

  1Includes Northumbria police authority's precept of 14·40p

  647
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide a list showing for those county councils which changed control in 1981 their county precept(a) in 1981 and (b)

  County

  Precept 1981–82 (P)

  Precept 1988–89 (P)

  Increase (Percentage)

  Avon

  120·60

  246·50

  104

  Bedfordshire

  122·60

  246·40

  101

  Berkshire

  112·00

  193·60

  73

  Cheshire

  126·00

  232·00

  84

  Cleveland

  140·00

  282·00

  101

  Cumbria

  131·00

  260·00

  98

  Derbyshire

  111·00

  297·50

  168

  Gloucestershire

  120·00

  217·30

  81

  Humberside

  107·00

  261·00

  144

  Isle of Wight

  113·50

  227·23

  100

  Lancashire

  121·50

  234·00

  93

  Leicestershire

  101·50

  221·20

  118

  Northamptonshire

  117·00

  229·00

  96

  Northumberland

  125·00

  1244·50

  96

  Nottinghamshire

  109·00

  253·00

  132

  Staffordshire

  112·50

  215·00

  91

  Warwickshire

  116·55

  227·10

  95

  1 The 1988–89 precept for Northumberland includes the Northumbria police authority's precept of 14·40p.

  Merseyside Development Corporation
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the members of the Merseyside Development Corporation.

  Mr. Trippier
  The members of the Merseyside Development Corporation board are:

  Mr. Philip Carter—Chairman

  Mr. John Smith CBE—Deputy Chairman

  Professor Graham Ashworth

  Mr. Brian Thaxter

  Professor Patrick Minford

  Mr. Clive Lewis, FRICS, FSVA

  Councillor Thomas Glover

  Councillor John Hale

  Dr. John Ritchie.

  Public Health Consultants (Medical Assessments)
  Mr. Brandon-Bravo
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he has given to the recommendation in the Acheson report that public health consultants should no longer undertake medical assessments on behalf of housing departments; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  I have been asked to reply.

  We are currently studying all the recommendations of this report. It would not be appropriate for me to comment on any one of them at this stage. As my right hon. Friend indicated in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Sevenoaks (Mr. Wolfson) on 14 January 1988, at column 401, we hope to make a further announcement on implementation in the near future.

  Chlorofluorocarbons
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will introduce legislation to compel prominent labelling of products containing chlorofluorocarbons.

  Mr. Atkins
  I have been asked to reply.
  648
  Mr. Chope
  Following is a list of precepts for the counties which changed political control in 1981:

  I refer to my reply to the hon. Member for the City of Durham (Mr. Steinberg) on 5 November 1987 at column 802.

  Market forces also operate for the very wide range of other products which contain chlorofluorocarbons and for which in many cases there is no suitable alternative.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Chemical Weapons
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date discussions were first(a) proposed and (b) commenced between Her Majesty's Government and the Soviet Administration with a view to achieving an agreement on chemical weapons; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  Both we and the Soviet Union are members of the 40 nation conference on disarmament in Geneva, where negotiations for a comprehensive and verifiable global chemical weapons ban are taking place. British and Soviet officials have met frequently since July 1985 to discuss progress at these negotiations.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date he was first notified by the United States Administration that they were going to commence production of binary chemical weapons.

  Mr. Mellor
  The United States proposal to commence production of binary chemical weapons was contained in legislation passed by Congress in May 1985. The United States Government have kept us fully informed of their plans.

  Torture Convention (Ratification)
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the United Kingdom to be in a position to ratify the European convention against torture.
  649
  Mrs. Chalker
  We hope to ratify the convention in the near future.

  Panama
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if any requests have been received from the United States' authorities for co-operation in actions being taken against the Government of Panama; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  We have not been asked by the United States authorities to co-operate in actions being taken against the Government of Panama.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government in respect of current United States' actions towards Panama; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  Relations between the United States and Panama are matters for the two Governments concerned.

  Hotels (Fire Safety)
  Dr. Glyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what action he is taking with the Bulgarian Government to inquire into the fire precautions in the Hotel Moussala following the fire of 22 February; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what action he is taking as the result of the fire which occurred on 22 February at the Hotel Moussala in the resort of Borovets, Bulgaria, to inquire into the minimum fire standards required by tour operators in hotels into which they book their clients overseas.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Bulgarian Government have appointed a special commission to investigate the fire. A report should issue within 60 days of the event.

  Her Majesty's embassy in Sofia has requested a copy of the report, and has sought the assurance of the Bulgarian Government that any recommendations for improvements to safety procedures will be implemented without delay.

  The consular department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office raised the matter at a meeting with the tour operators study group (TOSG) on 15 March 1988. The TOSG informed officials that they had sent a message to some 50 Governments, including the Bulgarian Government, seeking an assurance that local fire safety regulations will be fully implemented.

  Military Training (Foreign Students)
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the names of countries currently sending students to Britain under the military training assistance programme.

  Mr. Mellor
  The countries which have sent students to the United Kingdom for military training in 1987–88, whose costs have been wholly or partially paid for from the United Kingdom military training assistance scheme are:

  Algeria

  Belize

  Antigua

  Botswana

  Bahamas

  Brazil

  Bangladesh

  Burma

  Barbados

  Cameroon

  650

  China

  Nepal

  Colombia

  Nigeria

  Congo

  Pakistan

  Cyprus

  Philippines

  Djibouti

  Portugal

  El Salvador

  Senegal

  Egypt

  Sierra Leone

  Fiji

  Singapore

  Gambia

  Somalia

  Ghana

  Spain

  Greece

  Sri Lanka

  Guyana

  St. Vincent

  India

  Sudan

  Indonesia

  Swaziland

  Ireland

  Tanzania

  Ivory Coast

  Thailand

  Jamaica

  Tonga

  Jordan

  Trinidad and Tobago

  Kenya

  Tunisia

  Korea

  Turkey

  Lebanon

  Uganda

  Lesotho

  Uruguay

  Malaysia

  Venezuela

  Malawi

  West Samoa

  Maldives

  Yemen Arab Republic

  Malta

  Zaire

  Mauritius

  Zambia

  Morocco

  Zimbabwe

  Mozambique

  Refugees (Visas)
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise within the Council of Europe France's revocation of the Council of Europe agreement of 1959 on the abolition of visas for refugees travelling within EEC states.

  Mrs. Chalker
  No. The French acted in accordance with article 7 of the agreement on the abolition of visas for refugees.

  DNA Testing (Islamabad)
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made by the ICI subsidiary responsible for the commercial development of DNA testing about current arrangements at the British embassy at Islamabad for blood samples to be collected.

  Mr. Eggar
  No formal representations from ICI have been received.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many days in each month the British embassy in Islamabad makes arrangements to take samples in connection with DNA tests; if there are plans to increase the number of days; how many blood samples have been taken in the last two years, to date; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  On average the British embassy in Islamabad arrange for two daily DNA testing sessions each month. Since DNA tests commenced sessions have taken place as follows:

  October 1987 — 1 Day

  November 1987 — 4 Days

  December 1987 — Nil

  January 1988 — 1 Day

  February 1988 — 1 Day

  March 1988 — 4 Days

  651
  There are no plans to increase the number of sessions each month. Including the pilot scheme, 218 blood samples have been taken from mid-1987, when the local facility became available, to date.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people have applied to the British embassy in Islamabad to offer blood samples in connection with DNA tests; what is the average waiting time for a person awaiting an appointment to offer blood; and what action is being taken to reduce waiting times.

  Mr. Eggar
  No records of people applying direct to the British embassy in Islamabad have been kept, but they are few in number. It is more common for the sponsor to initiate action with Cellmark in the United Kingdom. The latter forwards lists to the embassy. An average of five weeks then elapses before the appointment. This period could be reduced only at the expense of other work.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Dr. Alan Clift
  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the convicted prisoners whose convictions were found to be unsafe following the dismissal of Dr. Alan Clift from the Home Office Forensic Service, giving in each case the date of their release.

  Mr. John Patten
  Nine persons in whose cases Dr. Clift gave evidence had their convictions quashed at various times between 1978 and 1984. Some were released on completion of their sentences, some on licence, and some at the time their convictions were quashed. I shall write to the hon. Gentleman with the further details which he seeks. Copies of the letter will be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all statements made, following the dismissal of Dr. Alan Clift, by his Department's Ministers on the safety of convictions obtained as a result of his evidence.

  Mr. John Patten
  Dr. Clift was prematurely retired on 1 March 1982. Since that date, Ministers of this Department have answered questions or made statements on matters related to the safety of convictions in cases in which he gave evidence on the following occasions (all references are to Official Report).

  Date

  Section

  Column number

  14 July 1983

  Oral Answers

  1016

  1 December 1983

  Oral Answers

  982

  19 January 1984

  Oral Answers

  439–440

  26 January 1984

  Written Answers

  625–27

  7 February 1984

  Written Answers

  518–19

  (three questions)

  13 February 1984

  Written Answers

  7

  17 February 1984

  Written Answers

  334

  (two questions)

  1 March 1984

  Written Answers

  279–80

  6 June 1984

  Written Answers

  170–71

  21 June 1984

  Written Answers

  218

  24 July 1984

  Written Answers

  586–87

  31 July 1984

  Written Answers

  220–21

  (two questions)

  15 November 1984

  Written Answers

  303

  15 November 1984

  Adjournment Debate

  886–94

  27 November 1984

  Written Answers

  418–19

  Crime Statistics
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of crime in 1987 was accounted for by theft of or from cars; what were the comparable figures for the five previous years and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  In the last five years, about a quarter of all recorded crime has been theft of or from vehicles. In the first nine months of 1987, it was 26 per cent., but thefts of vehicles fell, while thefts from vehicles increased. We expect the full year figures to reflect this pattern. Many of these offences can be prevented. We believe that 20 per cent. of motorists do not always regularly lock their cars.

  Mr. Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the level of crime in the Metropolitan police area in 1987 and the previous year.

  Mr. John Patten
  The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police has reported that in 1987 there were, in total, 4 per cent. fewer crimes recorded in the Metropolitan police district than in 1986. There were falls in recorded offences of rape, autocrime and burglary. Recorded offences of robbery and violence against the person increased although they still formed less than 6 per cent. of total recorded crime in 1987.

  Gambling Machines
  Dr. Reid
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has received any representations regarding the current review on the abuse of gambling machines.

  Mr. John Patten
  Yes. In the course of our review of the law on amusement arcades, we have received representations from a wide range of organisations and individuals.

  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the representations made to him regarding his review on the abuse of gambling machines.

  Mr. John Patten
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 4 March to questions from my hon. Friend the Member for Taunton (Mr. Nicholson) at column 722, and to replies I gave today to questions from my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Hall Green (Mr. Hargreaves) and the hon. Member for Motherwell, North (Dr. Reid).

  Mr. Andrew Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received on the positioning of fruit or other gambling machines in fast food outlets where children and young teenagers congregate; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  In the course of our review of the law on amusement arcades we have received representations that additional restrictions are required on amusement-with-prizes machines wherever they are provided. The suggestion most frequently made in these representations is that access to places providing the machines or use of the machines themselves should be restricted to people aged over 16 or 18 years. It has also been represented to us that the current law is adequate. Under that law, local authorities already have power to ban the machines from premises other than amusement arcades and may pass a
  653
  resolution limiting the machines to a particular class of premises or limiting the number of machines on any premises.

  We hope to be able to reach conclusions on our review in due course.

  Solicitors (Client Information)
  Mr. Archer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases have occurred since 1972 where solicitors have been found to have passed on to a third party or parties, from clients now in police custody, information which has interfered in the police investigation of the case or any subsequent prosecution.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I regret that this information is not available.

  Tamils
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has received regarding the treatment in Sri Lanka of Tamils deported from the United Kingdom during the last month; and if this will be taken into account when decisions on future deportations are made.

  Mr. Renton
  There is no obligation under the United Nations convention on refugees to monitor the treatment of unsuccessful asylum seekers after return to their country of origin, and we have no mechanism for doing so. I understand, however, from our High Commission in Colombo that Tamils recently returned there have not been harassed in any way on arrival and that one has specifically stated that he has encountered no problems since his return.

  So far as future cases are concerned, each will be considered on its merits in the light of all the relevant circumstances.

  Television Licences
  Mr. Holt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many television licence evaders in Cleveland were prosecuted in each of the past 10 years.

  Mr. Renton
  The readily available information is as follows:

  Number

  1979–80

  1,762

  1980–81

  1,852

  1981–82

  2,451

  1982–83

  2,587

  1983–84

  2,001

  1984–85

  1,983

  1985–86

  2,181

  The figures have been supplied by the national television licence records office, which instigates all prosecutions for television licence evasion.

  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received calling for legislation providing free television licences for all pensioners; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  Since 1 January this year, one petition forwarded by an hon. Member has been received and three hon. Members and 17 members of the public have written seeking free television licences for pensioners.
  654
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is now in a position to announce his decision on applications for concessionary television licences, following the Kirklees judgment.

  Mr. Renton
  We hope to do so shortly.

  Fraud
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has for reforming the law in relation to fraud.

  Mr. John Patten
  Provisions giving effect to the main recommendations of the Roskill committee on fraud trials have been either enacted in the Criminal Justice Act 1987 or included in the current Criminal Justice Bill.

  London (Parking Control)
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to transfer responsibility for parking control and enforcement from the Metropolitan police to the London boroughs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The possibility of giving local authorities, including those in London, more responsibility for the enforcement of parking regulations is among the matters being considered by a working party of representatives from the Home Office, Department of Transport, police and local authority associations. We hope to receive their report in the autumn.

  Day Fine System
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has given further consideration to the introduction of a day-fine system.

  Mr. John Patten
  We have no plans for legislation to introduce a formal day-fine system, but we are setting up experiments to see whether mean assessment can be improved so that fines can be linked more closely to the capacity of less well-off offenders to pay them.

  Hampshire Constabulary
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will reconsider his decision not to increase further the establishment of the Hampshire constabulary.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  As indicated in my reply of 15 February at column 437 to an earlier question from my hon. Friend, further consideration will be given to the application for an increase in the establishment of the Hampshire constabulary in 1988–89.

  Commercial Radio Stations
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received on the obligations of commercial radio stations to include news in their programming under his proposed new arrangements for broadcasting; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  Some comments on the radio Green Paper published last year suggested that commercial stations
  655
  should continue to be required to include in their broadcasts a certain amount of news. We have, however, taken the view that stations should be able to decide for themselves on the basis of their own judgment of listeners' wishes how much, if any, news to provide and in what form. The legislative proposals we shall bring before Parliament will however include a provision requiring that any news that is broadcast by a licensed station must be presented with accuracy and impartiality.

  Child Abuse Trials (Video Evidence)
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received seeking the possibility of the use of pre-recorded video evidence in court of children in abuse cases.

  Mr. John Patten
  Two thirds of those who responded to our consultation paper issued last May on the use of video technology at the trials of alleged child abusers expressed some support for the wider use of video recordings. Since then we have also received a small number of letters of support from some hon. Members and members of the public. Recently I met a deputation led by the noble Baroness Faithfull, and one from the Police Federation led by my hon. Friend the Member for Bury St. Edmunds (Sir E. Griffiths) and in each case had useful discussions on the issue.

  Autocrime
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for seeking to reduce car crime.

  Mr. John Patten
  Last November, the Home Office standing conference on crime prevention set up a working group to consider the prevention of car crime. Austin-Rover, who are represented on the working group, have offered to produce a thief-proof concept car, incorporating a range of the latest technology in car security, for display at this year's standing conference in December.

  Three parts of a British Standard on vehicle security (mechanical locking systems, security of in-car entertainment equipment, and window etching) have been published and further parts are due to be published shortly. We are seeking to have the British Standard adopted as a European Community directive.

  Our new crime prevention publicity campaign launched earlier this month includes information on car crime and the scope for preventing it.

  Litter
  Dr. Michael Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis on the priority accorded by the Commissioner to the detection or prevention of litter offences.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Government are concerned about the effect of litter on the environment. We do not regard this problem as one to which the primary response should be enforcement of the law by the police. Nevertheless, I understand from the Commissioner that his officers have been made aware of the provisions of the Litter Act and that the detection and prevention of litter offences are accorded as much priority as is compatible with other demands placed upon the Metropolitan police.

  Olympic Games (Shooting Disciplines)
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to assess whether the provisions of the Firearms Bill will prevent British participation in all the shooting disciplines in international events, such as the Olympics; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have met representatives of shooting organisations with an interest in rifle shooting to assess the effects that the Government's proposals to prohibit high-powered, self-loading rifles will have on British participation in international shooting competitions. I understand that full bore self-loading rifles are not used in any of the Olympic disciplines, or in international competitions organised by the Union International de Tir. Although some international "practical" rifle competition take place, the number of British shooters is limited. The Bill does not otherwise affect British participation in international events.

  Drug Trafficking
  Mr. Sackville
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further progress has been made in his campaign to prevent trafficking in cocaine and other illegal drugs.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Government continue to attach the highest priority to our comprehensive strategy aimed at tackling both the demand for and supply of drugs. The strategy is co-ordinated by the interdepartmental ministerial group on the misuse of drugs which I chair.

  We are playing a leading role in drawing up a new United Nations convention on drug trafficking, and continue to encourage improved international co-operation (for example, by signing last month a memorandum of understanding with the Soviet Union). We provide development aid and bilateral assistance to producer and transit countries for crop substitution measures and to combat drug production and trafficking. In addition, the Home Office programme for drug-related enforcement projects overseas will increase from £0·5 million to £2 million per year as from 1988–89, some of which will be targeted on coca producing countries in South America. We plan to add to our existing network of customs and police drug liaison officers at strategic points abroad.

  We have strengthened domestic enforcement by both customs and police and will be providing increased resources to the national drug intelligence unit in 1988–89. Since the Drug Trafficking Offences Act 1986 came into force a year ago, some £7 million in assets has been frozen and substantial sums confiscated. We are now seeking reciprocal agreements with other countries to make these powers even more effective and the first such agreement with the USA was signed last month.

  Chief Constables (Meeting)
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he next expects to meet representatives of the non-metropolitan chief constables; and what subjects he expects to discuss.
  657
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend plans to meet representatives of the Association of Chief Police Officers in the near future to discuss a number of topics, including prisoners held in police cells.

  Immigration Policy
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what basic principles he bases his immigration policy.

  Mr. Renton
  In broad terms, the basic principles of the Government's immigration policy are to allow genuine visitors and students to come here; to give effect to the free movement provisions of European Community law; subject to that, to restrict severely the numbers coming to live permanently in this country or for employment, but to continue to admit the spouses and minor dependent children of those already settled here, provided they satisfy the requirements of the immigration rules. These principles are to be pursued firmly but fairly with the efficient use of resources.

  Broadcasting (White Paper)
  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he proposes to publish a White Paper on the future of broadcasting.

  Mr. Renton
  We intend to publish a White Paper within a few months.

  Identity Cards
  Mr. Andrew MacKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider introducing identity cards in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  No. This question has been considered from time to time, but we are not persuaded that there is a sufficiently strong case for reintroducing identity cards.

  Homicide
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of homicides in 1958, 1968, 1978 and 1987.

  Mr. John Patten
  The information up to 1986 is published in table 4.1 of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, 1986" (Cm. 233), a copy of which is in the Library. Corresponding information for 1987 is not yet available.

  Lunar House (Post Room)
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he now expects the post room to be cleared at Lunar house; and what proposals he has to remove the delays to the processing of passports and naturalisation papers.

  Mr. Renton
  I refer my hon. Friend to the announcement which I made on 16 February at column 863.

  Shops Act 1950
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to seek to amend the Shops Act 1950.
  658
  Mr. Renton
  We are considering how best the law can be amended to bring sense and consistency to the present situation on Sunday trading.

  Child Homicide (Sentences)
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received regarding the minimum sentencing of offenders convicted of child homicide; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  We receive many letters about sentencing policy, some of which propose the introduction of minimum sentences. There is a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment for murder. In exercising discretion over the release of offenders sentenced to life imprisonment, my right hon. Friend follows his predecessor's policy under which sexual or sadistic murderers of children can expect to serve at least 20 years in custody. The maximum penalty for manslaughter of infanticide is also life imprisonment; the circumstances of such offences vary considerably, and statutory minimum sentences would be an unjustifiable interference with judicial discretion.

  Gwent Police Force
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the manning of the Gwent police force.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend approved an increase of eight posts in the Gwent constabulary with effect from 1 January 1988, bringing it up to 986. Gwent police authority has applied for an increase of a further 42 posts for 1988–89. This application will be considered, along with others in the light of advice from Her Majesty's inspectors of constabulary.

  Exeter Prison
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons Exeter prison is designed to accommodate; how many were held there on the first days of January and February; how many of them were on remand awaiting trial and sentence; and if he will make a statement on the future of Exeter prison.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The certified normal accommodation of Exeter prison, including the remand centre, is 307. On 1 January the prison held 461 prisoners of whom 266 were sentenced, 62 were convicted but unsentenced and 133 were unconvicted. On 1 February the figures were 495, 305, 27 and 163 respectively. Refurbishment work currently in progress on the prison's D wing is due to be completed at the end of this year. That will enable 40 places to be brought back into use.

  Butane Gas
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any proposals for changes in the law affecting the sale of butane gas canisters and other substances used for sniffing to children and young persons; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  The Government supported the passage through Parliament of the Intoxicating Substances (Supply) Act 1985, which penalises a person
  659
  who supplies (or offers to supply) a substance, knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that it is likely to be inhaled by somebody under the age of 18 to achieve intoxication. We have no plans to amend this Act, but we will continue to encourage voluntary co-operation by retailers in controlling the supply of volatile substances to young people.

  Independent Broadcasting Authority
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last met the chairman of the Independent Broadcasting Authority; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Renton
  My right hon. Friend last met the chairman of the IBA on 19 January to discuss the Government's proposals for the future of commercial radio.

  Telephone Tapping
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to receive the next review of telephone tapping; and if he will make it his policy to publish the review.

  Mr. Hurd
  I expect my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to present Lord Justice Lloyd's next annual report to the House later this month. As was the case last year, the report will be published and copies will be placed in the Library.

  Victim Support Schemes
  Mr. Burt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the results of his Department's funding for local victim support schemes.

  Mr. John Patten
  We are making available up to £11 million over the next three financial years for the benefit of local victims support schemes. We have made 155 awards to enable local schemes to employ paid co-ordinators, and 54 awards to help schemes meet running costs. We are also sponsoring three projects aimed at developing improved support for the families of murder victims, children as victims, and victims of racial harassment.

  Crime Prevention
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Her Majesty's Government will take steps to improve co-operation against crime between the United Kingdom and other Western European countries.

  Mr. John Patten
  We are committed to strengthening the United Kingdom's effectiveness in the fight against international crime, and are taking forward a number of initiatives. The Drug Trafficking Offences Act 1986 enhances international co-operation by providing for the seizure of the profits of drug trafficking wherever it takes place. The extradition of people accused or convicted of serious crimes abroad is also a vital weapon: the reforms contained in the Criminal Justice Bill will, if enacted, enable the United Kingdom to accede to the European convention on extradition, the principal extradition 660
  arrangement in western Europe. At the level of operational co-operation the United Kingdom police participate in the International Police Organisation (Interpol). In other international organisations such as "Trevi" we continue to play a leading role in strengthening and improving co-operation against terrorism.

  For the future, we published on 24 February a discussion paper on international mutual assistance in criminal matters, copies of which are in the Library. The paper is based on the report of an official working group which endorsed proposals for amending the law to enable the United Kingdom to participate in mutual assistance treaties and conventions (including the European convention on mutual assistance). Such participation would allow our prosecuting authorities to obtain evidence from abroad for use in criminal proceedings here, and enable us to provide similar facilities for other countries.

  Mr. Stevens
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for encouraging new crime prevention schemes.

  Mr. John Patten
  On 7 March my right hon. Friend announced the safer cities programme, under which it is intended to establish 20 crime prevention projects in high crime inner city areas over the next three years. After the necessary local consultation has taken place, a further announcement will be made about the location of the first of these projects.

  On 9 March we launched a new crime prevention publicity campaign. A central feature of the campaign is a handbook entitled "Practical Ways to Crack Crime". This offers a wide range of advice and information to individuals and organisations about what they can do to help prevent crime against themselves and their communities, including advice about how to join or start up local crime prevention schemes.

  We hope to make a further announcement shortly about the formation of a national organisation to support local crime prevention and initiatives.

  Commissioner of Pollice of the Metropolis
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last met the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis; and what was discussed.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend last met the Commissioner on 4 February at a luncheon when they talked about a number of policing issues.

  Prison Service
  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on industrial relations in the prison service.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The national executive committee of the Prison Officers' Association has expressed concern about certain aspects of the new working practices introduced under fresh start and about manpower resources. Following a national ballot in favour of industrial action, it instructed its members not to complete a form required by management in connection with the control and allocation of staff hours. Talks are being held between officials and members of the NEC and some progress has been made. We urge the POA NEC now to recommend all industrial action be suspended in view of
  661
  the progress. Local action is currently taking place over manpower issues surrounding the introduction of fresh start at Wormwood scrubs and Pentonville. The prison population at those establishments has been reduced and the numbers held in police cells has risen.

  The fresh start working arrangements represented a major change for the prison service. No one doubted that the change would be difficult to achieve but a good start has been made and a recent study confirms that we are moving in the right direction. We are determined to see the task through to completion. We remain committed to achieving these crucial goals in the spirit of constructive collaboration with prison service trade unions.

  Marriage Agencies
  Mr. Allen Adams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any proposals to change the laws governing the control of agencies that advertise marriage arrangements between male British nationals and women from overseas, especially the Phillipines.

  Mr. John Patten
  We have no plans at present to introduce legislation to control marriage agencies.

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

  Mr. Hurd
  No. There would be practical difficulties in arranging for inspection in this way in my Department. But in keeping with our policy of promoting greater openness in Government, I shall continue to look for ways in which more information about the work of the Department, and the measures it introduces, can be made publicly available.

  Prisons (Syringes)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many prisons syringes have been discovered in the last year; what was the number for each prison; how many were discovered to contain the AIDS virus; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  During 1987, finds of syringes were reported in the following 13 establishments:

  Number

  HMP Bedford

  3

  HMP Bristol

  1

  HMYCC Castington

  1

  HMP and YCC East Sutton Park

  1

  HMP and YCC Exeter

  1

  HMP Holloway

  1

  HMP Liverpool

  2

  HMP Manchester

  5

  HMP Preston

  2

  HMP Reading

  2

  HMP Shepton Mallet

  4

  HMYCC Thorn Cross

  1

  HMP Wandsworth

  3

  TOTAL

  27

  662
  In addition, seven syringes were found in a visitor's bag at Brixton. It is not normally the practice to have such items tested for HIV antibody.

  Prisoners (Transfer to Northern Ireland)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many requests for transfer to Northern Ireland prisons were received from prisoners serving their sentences in England and Wales during 1986 and 1987; and how many were granted.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  In 1986, 25 requests for permanent transfer were received, two of which were granted; in 1987, 31 such requests were received and three were granted. A number of these requests are still being considered by the Home Office and the Northern Ireland Office.

  Metropolis (Access to Streets)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 4 March,Official Report, column 725, on Downing street, what other streets in the metropolis have had similar permanent restrictions placed on their use for the reasons given in respect of Downing street.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I am informed by the commissioner that access to no other streets has been similarly restricted.

  Downing Street (Access)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 4 March,Official Report, column 725, on Downing street, the decision of the commissioner was made after consultation with, or application by, the residents of Downing street.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The decision was made after consultation with the Prime Minister's office.

  Remand Prisoners
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are being kept on remand in prisons more than 20 miles from their families' homes.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Civil Defence
  Mr. Gerald Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he proposes to publish the conclusions of his review, of the role of the civil defence college, Easingwold.

  Mr. John Patten
  The results of the review are under consideration; no decision has yet been taken on publication.

  Mr. Gerald Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Gow) of 10 July,Official Report, columns 307–8, if the review of the United Kingdom warning and monitoring organisation will take into account the need for the introduction of measures to alert the public against local peace time emergencies.
  663
  Mr. John Patten
  The review is principally concerned with wartime arrangements, but their possible relevance to peacetime emergencies is also being considered.

  Mr. Gerald Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Gow) of 10 July,Official Report, columns 307–8, when the review of the United Kingdom warning and monitoring organisation will be complete; and if the conclusions will be published.

  Mr. John Patten
  The review is expected to be completed in the next few months, and consideration will then be given to the extent to which its conclusions can be made available.

  Football Matches (Arrests)
  Mr. Heffer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has as to how many arrests there have been(a) inside football grounds and (b) outside football grounds arising from football matches during the current season.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  There were 2,297 arrests arising from Football League matches up to 31 October 1987, the latest date for which figures are available for this season. The figures do not distinguish between arrests occurring inside and outside football grounds.

  National Identification Bureau
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the name of a constituent of the hon. Member for Basingstoke, the name of whom has been forwarded to him, whose conviction by court martial was quashed by the Courts Martial Appeals Court in 1963, has not been removed from the criminal records of the national identification bureau.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  As my noble Friend Lord Ferrers explained to the hon. Member in his letter of 9 March 1988, the conviction of his constituent by court martial has been retained on the records of the national identification bureau because it has not been notified of the result of any appeal. The bureau is now seeking further information from the prosecuting authority, following my hon. Friend's representation on behalf of his constituent.

  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what individuals, organisations or authorities have, since 1963, had access to the criminal records of the national identification bureau; and in what circumstances.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The national identification bureau does not release details of criminal records to outside organisations except where disclosure is clearly in the public interest. On this basis, such information may be released, from time to time, depending on the particular circumstances of the case, to any of the following organisations:

  Central Government Departments

  Local Authorities

  Foreign Governments (under Interpol arrangements)

  Police Forces

  Prosecuting Authorities

  Courts

  Judges

  Magistrates

  Prison Service

  Probation Service

  664

  Hospitals

  Banks

  Lawyers

  Research Organisations

  British Telecom

  British Broadcasting Corporation

  Civil Aviation Authority

  Post Office

  Police Complaints Authority

  General Medical Council and other similar professional organisations

  Official Receiver

  Traffic Commissioners

  Criminal Injury Compensation Board

  Crown Agents

  Crown Estate Commissioners

  National Museums and Galleries

  Royal Mint

  United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority

  Information is also released on application to individuals under the subject access provisions of the Data Protection Act 1984.

  Citizenship
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the total number of applications received for British citizenship by(a) adults and (b) children in each of the last five calendar years; and in each category how many were granted.

  Mr. Renton
  The number of applications received in caseworking groups in the years 1983–1986 is shown in the table.

  Adults

  Minors

  1983

  70,416

  9,433

  1984

  33,857

  8,136

  1985

  41,905

  10,666

  1986

  45,885

  11,598

  We estimate that about 290,000 applications were received in 1987.

  Figures for grants of citizenship in 1983 to 1986 were published in table 2 of Home Office statistical bulletin "Citizenship Statistics, United Kingdom 1986" (Issue 29/87). Provisional figures for 1987 indicate that grants of citizenship were made to 55,600 adults and 9,200 minors. Final figures for 1987 will be published later this year.

  Meridian
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has sent to the Secretary of State for Social Services correspondence with regard to Meridian referred to in his letter of 5 October 1987 to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, stating that he was sending this correspondence to that Secretary of State.

  Mr. Hurd
  A check with records held in the Department indicates that, as the right hon. Member was notified on 5 October 1987, the correspondence was forwarded to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services. As the right hon. Member will know from my right hon. Friend's reply of 14 March at column 470, his Department has been unable to trace the correspondence despite extensive inquiries and he has therefore undertaken to look into the matter immediately on receipt of a copy of the correspondence.

  Lincoln Prison
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, pursuant to his reply of 8 March,Official Report, column 111, he will give details of the number of prisoners currently held in the remand wing of Lincoln prison; if he will give the number of urinals and water closets normally available and in use, and presently available and in use in Lincoln prison; if he will give details of the arrangements presently in operation for prisoners on remand in Lincoln prison to use urinals and water closets; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  On 15 March 1988, a total of 103 prisoners were in the remand wing of Lincoln prison. Prior to the commencement of the present refurbishment work on the toilet facilities in Lincoln prison there were 16 urinals and 31 water closets available and in use by prisoners (four urinals and eight water closets being situated in the remand wing). As a result of the refurbishment so far completed there are 28 urinals and 34 water closets available and in use (two urinals and four water closets being in the remand wing). Refurbishment of toilet facilities is in progress on two floors of the remand wing and, while this work continues, prisoners from these floors will use the facilities available on the other two floors of the remand wing and in the adjacent B wing.

  DNA Testing
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he proposes to publish the feasibility study into DNA testing; and what are the broad conclusions of the study, including recommendations about establishing funding arrangements to enable those with limited financial resources to take DNA tests.

  Mr. Renton
  Officials have been consulting the scientists concerned on the text of a draft report. We expect the report to be published shortly.

  Victims of Crime
  Mr. Franks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action the Government are taking to improve the treatment of the victims of crime.

  Mr. John Patten
  The Criminal Justice Bill will strengthen the arrangements for victims to obtain compensation, will extend anonymity for rape victims and will enable children under 14 to give evidence by live closed circuit television link. We are making available up to £11 million over the next three financial years for the benefit of local victims support schemes. More than 200 awards have been made to local victims schemes as a result of our substantial new programme of funding. We shall shortly be issuing advice to police forces on further ways of helping victims. We shall also produce new leaflets advising victims on compensation and victims support and on attending court.

  Party Conferences (Police Costs)
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received regarding the funding of additional police costs in respect of national annual party political conferences.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have received recent representations from seven hon. Members, one local 666
  council, one police authority, one constituency Labour party and one chamber of commerce about the funding of police costs of national annual party political conferences in a number of areas.

  We have considered all these representations carefully but have concluded that we would not be justified in departing from normal police funding arrangements in these cases.

  Passports
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to seek parliamentary approval to replace the British passport with a European passport as planned for 1992: and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  British passports are not being replaced with a European one. Rather, a new version of the British passport, machine-readable and in a common format agreed in 1981 with other member states of the European Community, will start to appear from this July when the Glasgow passport office is computerised. By the end of 1989 all six passport offices in the United Kingdom should be issuing British passports in the new format. Prototypes of the new passport and an explanatory note were placed in the Library in July 1984, and supplemented in December 1987 with updated versions of both.

  Mrs. Sherbanu Dharas
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letter sent to him on 7 December 1987 by Councillor Mike Jackson in respect of Mrs. Sherbanu Dharas.

  Mr. Renton
  [holding answer 3 March 1988]: A reply has now been sent to Councillor Jackson.

SCOTLAND

  South of Scotland Electricity Board
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met the chairman of the South of Scotland Electricity Board; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Lang
  My right hon. and learned Friend meets the chairman of the South of Scotland Electricity Board from time to time to discuss a wide range of matters affecting the electricity supply industry.

  Pupils (Records)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) when he intends to issue a circular to local education authorities on the keeping and disclosure of pupil records; and when he expects to table regulations in Parliament;

  (2) when he intends to issue a consultation document on the keeping and disclosure of records concerning students in further education establishments; and when he expects regulations to be tabled in Parliament.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. and learned Friend will honour the undertaking given to the hon. Member in April 1987 and will make regulations dealing with access to education and social work records, if possible by the end of 1988.

  Councils of Social Service
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the funding of local councils of social service in rural Scotland, showing the amount paid to each local council of social service from public funds and the overall total paid to individual councils and to the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations in each of the last five years and for the coming year; and if it is his policy that these councils should be financed from(a) central or (b) local government.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. and learned Friend continues to attach importance to the claims of local councils of social service operating in rural areas in the allocation of grant assistance, under the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, to voluntary bodies in the social work field. The amounts of grant paid to individual councils for each year of the five-year period ending 31 March 1988 are in table A.

  Total grant to local councils will be increased in 1988–89 to £504,000. That sum will be distributed to

  Central Government grants paid to local councils of social service

  Table A

  Council

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  Isle of Arran Council of Social Service

  8,011

  8,907

  8,653

  9,275

  12,812

  Voluntary Action in Badenoch and Strathspey

  —

  —

  —

  13,680

  17,230

  Barra and Vatersay Council of Social Service

  6,962

  9,642

  10,353

  16,734

  14,611

  Berwickshire Association for Voluntary Service

  8,402

  8,334

  8,486

  9,079

  8,824

  Bute Community Links

  —

  —

  —

  —

  11,247

  Association for Community Action (Clackmannan District)

  9,953

  10,943

  11,780

  14,372

  —

  East Lothian Council for Voluntary Service

  7,314

  7,401

  7,524

  7,477

  7,252

  East Sutherland Council of Social Service

  5,881

  8,567

  7,882

  8,827

  11,040

  Ettrick and Lauderdale Association of Voluntary Service

  7,188

  6,333

  7,371

  8,506

  7,876

  Federation of Borders Councils of Social Service

  884

  1,179

  1,240

  1,366

  1,827

  Federation of Voluntary Community Development Organisations in the Highlands and Islands

  1,810

  1,990

  1,782

  1,623

  2,264

  Gordon Rural Action and Information Network

  8,272

  9,634

  10,867

  11,749

  11,727

  Harris Council of Social Service

  6,120

  7,884

  7,510

  9,816

  10,706

  Inverness Voluntary Organisations Group

  13,184

  13,700

  13,690

  12,318

  6,683

  Islay Council of Social Service

  10,710

  10,924

  14,940

  14,085

  16,190

  Association of Local Voluntary Organisations (Lanark)

  8,905

  7,907

  8,485

  11,566

  9,966

  Levenmouth Council of Social Service

  1,883

  2,581

  16,232

  114,051

  113,955

  Lewis Council of Social Service

  17,038

  16,892

  18,242

  22,703

  19,548

  Lochaber Voluntary Organisations Group

  —

  —

  2,100

  12,794

  14,596

  Midlothian Council of Social Service

  2,977

  3,373

  4,309

  4,193

  3,657

  Musselburgh and District Council of Social Service

  455

  388

  —

  —

  —

  The Voluntary Association of Nairn Groups

  —

  —

  3,000

  10,319

  8,700

  Nithsdale Council of Voluntary Service

  —

  —

  4,269

  6,971

  9,379

  North and West Sutherland Council of Social Service

  5,810

  6,636

  6,898

  10,007

  9,617

  Voluntary Services Orkney

  12,948

  11,435

  11,911

  17,337

  18,411

  Perth and Kinross Association of Voluntary Service

  9,473

  10,554

  10,972

  10,787

  10,959

  Ross and Cromarty Council of Voluntary Service

  13,122

  12,418

  13,130

  14,871

  14,808

  Roxburgh Association of Voluntary Service

  6,885

  8,110

  7,988

  8,600

  10,751

  Shetland Council of Social Service

  18,524

  16,157

  16,704

  18,680

  19,398

  Skye and Lochalsh Council of Social Service

  13,117

  12,078

  12,181

  16,425

  14,853

  Speyside and District Council of Social Service

  11,074

  11,229

  12,114

  11,969

  12,608

  Stewartry Council of Voluntary Service

  5,139

  5,697

  7,061

  7,541

  7,849

  Council of Social Service (Stirling District)

  15,290

  16,683

  17,255

  18,438

  17,339

  Tweeddale Association of Voluntary Organisations

  5,247

  5,669

  6,866

  6,538

  9,325

  Uist Council of Social Service

  11,834

  11,845

  16,055

  14,711

  15,927

  West Lothian Council of Social Service

  6,354

  9,197

  10,616

  12,421

  12,159

  Total

  260,766

  274,287

  308,466

  389,829

  393,464

  1 Payments recorded include urban aid grant.

  668
  existing councils and three or four new councils which are expected to enter the grant arrangements for the first time. Allocations to individual councils will be indicated shortly.

  Grant is paid in each case as a percentage of proposed total expenditure and councils are required to find the balance of their income from other sources. They are riot required to obtain assistance from local authorities though this is in practice the source from which most additional funding is obtained.

  Grants paid to the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations during each year of the same five-year period are set out in table B.

  The council has been informed that, following the reassessment of priorities which led to the proposed increase in the level of support for local councils, grant for 1988–89, under section 10(1) of the 1968 Act, in respect of headquarters expenditure will be reduced to £250,000. In addition grant, amounting to £28,100, under section 9 of that Act, will be made towards the council's training activities. The council is free to seek additional income from other sources.
  669

  Table B

  Central Government grants paid to Scottish council for voluntary organisations

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–881

  Core grant under section 10 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968

  312,369

  320,205

  363,072

  353,183

  346,986

  Payroll giving grant under section 10 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968

  —

  —

  —

  33,265

  30,201

  Training grant under section 9 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968

  18,211

  15,810

  20,549

  256,645

  29,168

  Community Education grant under the Further Education (Scotland) Regulations 1959–79

  1,660

  1,709

  1,000

  —

  —

  Tenants Participatory Advisory Service grant under the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987

  42,874

  42,616

  37,302

  21,835

  —

  TOTAL

  375,114

  380,340

  421,923

  433,928

  406,355

  1 Estimated to be paid.

  Coatbridge Project
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to meet the appropriate local authority, hon. Members representing Monklands and other interested parties, to discuss the funding of the Coatbridge project or its successor project.

  Mr. Lang
  The funding of the Coatbridge project or any successor project is a matter for the partners in the project. My right hon. and learned Friend plans to visit Coatbridge on 18 March, when he expects to meet many of those with an interest in the project.

  Scottish Health Management Efficiency Group
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 14 March,Official Report, column 171, if he will list the members of the Scottish Health Management Efficiency Group; when it was set up; where it is located; and what is its remit.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Central (Mr. Darling) in the Official Report at column 333.

  The present membership of the Scottish Health Management Efficiency Group is as follows:

  Mr. J. D. M. Robertson, OBE (Chairman), Chairman, Orkney Health Board;

  Mr. D. Adams Jones, Director, Information Statistics Division Common Services Agency;

  Dr. C. M. Brough, Chief Administrative Medical Officer, Lothian Health Board;

  Mr. F. Clark, General Manager, Lanarkshire Health Board;

  Mr. I. G. Dorward, Acting General Manager, Fife Health Board;

  Mr. J. M. Eckford, General Manager. Ayrshire and Arran Health Board;

  Mr. C. W. Ellis, Chairman, Grampian Health Board;

  Miss I. I. Gordon, Deputy Chief Nursing Officer, Scottish Home and Health Department;

  Mr. J. R. Hudson, Treasurer, Tayside Health Board;

  Mr. L. J. M. Hynd, OBE, Chairman, Forth Valley Health Board;

  Mr. K. MacAskill, Chief Work Study Officer, Common Services Agency;

  Miss W. R. MacPherson, Chief Area Nursing Officer, Grampian Health Board;

  Professor I. W. Percy-Robb, Department of Pathological Biochemistry, Western Infirmary Glasgow;

  Mr. L. E. Peterken, General Manager, Greater Glasgow Health Board;

  Mr. D. Stevenson, Assistant Secretary, Scottish Home and Health Department;

  670

  Mr. R. B. Weatherstone, TD, Chairman, Lothian Health Board;

  Dr. D. Steel, Secretary.

  The group's secretariat is located at Trinity Park house, Edinburgh.

  The group was established in September 1985 with the following remit:
  "To plan and co-ordinate arrangements to implement by December 1987 the national review programme proposed by the Efficiency Programmes Group; to make recommendations to the Minister for Education and Health, Health Boards and Common Services Agency on the implementation of review results; to review progress, including the level of savings achieved, by Health Boards and the Common Services Agency in implementing recommendations; to indentify and pursue future priorities for resource savings, to consider other matters relevant to efficiency in the Scottish Health Service; and to report progress."

  Simplified Planning Zones
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the Government's policy in respect of simplified planning zones; how he intends to apply it to Monklands district; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Government believe that simplified planning zones will help to ease the burden on business, provide a more secure climate in which businesses can plan ahead, assist in generating confidence in the areas designated and stimulate investment and development activity.

  It is primarily for planning authorities to come forward with proposals for simplified planning zones and Monklands district council has been quick to respond, by identifying a site in Coatbridge for potential designation as a simplified planning zone.

  Forestry
  Sir Hector Monro
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his policy on the location of forestry in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. and learned Friend's policy remains that of encouraging the expansion of forestry in Scotland in suitable locations, so that the economic and social life of rural areas may continue to benefit from forestry activity, with suitable environmental safeguards so as to protect Scotland's natural beauty and wildlife. The new tax and grant arrangements will offer scope for more people to invest in forestry and will increase the incentive to plant in lowland areas.
  671
  The present consultation arrangements for forestry planting grant, whose effectiveness will be enhanced under the proposed new grant regime, ensure that any significant planting proposal which is the subject of an unresolved objection from the local authority or, in respect of specially protected areas, from the statutory conservation agencies, is referred to the Secretary of State before any decision is taken to pay grant. My right hon. and learned Friend currently has before him proposals on forestry from the Countryside Commission for Scotland and from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and will be considering in that context whether there is scope for further improvement in the present arrangements.

  Private Medical Projects
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give, for each year since 1979, the amount of assistance given by the Scottish Development Agency to private medical projects.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 22 February 1988]: The information is given in the following table:

  Year

  Assistance Given

  Number of Companies/Individuals Assisted

  £

  1979–80

  —

  —

  1980–81

  —

  —

  1981–82

  —

  —

  1982–83

  —

  —

  1983–84

  101,500

  3

  1984–85

  90,000

  2

  1985–86

  139,000

  4

  1986–87

  180,000

  4

  1987–88

  —

  —

  The projects identified above comprise nursing or residential homes where one or more medically qualified staff are involved.

  Financial support was provided by way of loan and/or equity as appropriate.

  The agency is also active in supporting Scottish companies which provide goods and services in the health care sector; for example, medical instrumentation and drug delivery systems.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Gross Domestic Product
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last reviewed the allowance of 1¼ per cent. of the expenditure measure of gross domestic product to take account of(a) tax evasion and (b) self employment.

  Mr. Major
  A "net allowance for evasion", equal to 1¼ per cent. of the expenditure-based measure of gross domestic product (GDP) since 1981, is added to the income-based measure of GDP. This allowance represents the extent to which expenditures which are not concealed from statistical sources result in factor incomes (mainly of the self-employed) which are concealed. The allowance is necessary to ensure the conceptual equivalence of the two measures of GDP. The basis of the assessment, which is examined regularly, is described in "United Kingdom National Accounts: Sources and Methods" (paragraphs 3.32 to 3.36).

  Economic Statistics
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what steps he intends to take to improve the economic statistics published by his Department;

  (2) if he will list the measures taken to improve the accuracy of his Department's economic statistics since 1981.

  Mr. Major
  Steps are constantly being taken to improve Treasury statistics.

  Vote Bundle (Printing)
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the printing of the Vote bundle.

  Mr. Brooke
  Since Wednesday 2 March, all amendments and proceedings have appeared in printed form. This represents a substantial achievement by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, given the volume of overnight printing. The printed Vote bundle distributed on 3 March is believed to be the largest in the history of the House of Commons.

  Banking Act 1987
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when section 38 of the Banking Act 1987 will come into force.

  Mr. Lilley
  The Treasury has now made the commencement order for section 38 of the Banking Act 1987 to come into effect on 1 April. This section requires authorised institutions to report large credit exposures to the Bank of England. Exposures to a single borrower or group of connected borrowers above 10 per cent. of a bank's capital base must be reported after the event; proposed exposures above 25 per cent. of capital must be reported before the event. The main provisions of the Act came into force on 1 October 1987, and the date for implementing section 38 was announced at that time.

  Importers' Details (Disclosure)
  Mr. David Davis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will announce the Government's decision on the question of disclosure of importers' details, on which the Government consulted interested parties in 1987.

  Mr. Lilley
  The Government intend to legislate in the 1988 Finance Bill to permit disclosure by sale of the names and addresses of importers. This follows the public consultation announced in last year's Budget debate in which a majority of those asked were in favour of the steps being taken. Customs and Excise will provide marketing agents monthly with the names and addresses of importers as shown on import declarations. The names will be listed against each of the nine digit commodity codes as published in the integrated tariff of the United Kingdom. The charge to marketing agents will be set at a level to cover Customs' costs. The marketing agents will be free to publish the information in a form and at a price attractive to their customers. The current arrangements known as suppressions will be continued. It is hoped to implement the arrangements from January 1989. This proposal should add significantly to the free flow of information on
  673
  which competitive and efficient markets rely. Both industry and customers should benefit through improvements in the effectiveness of marketing, market research and product development.

SOCIAL SERVICES

  1991 Census (Ethnic Origin)
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when he will make a decision on the inclusion of an ethnic origin question in the 1991 census; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  Proposals on the content of the 1991 census will be published as a White Paper later this year. It is planned to test the proposed questionnaire in early 1989 and thereafter to lay before Parliament a draft Order in Council prescribing the content of the census.

  AIDS
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what proposals the chief medical officer made to

  Regional and Special Health Authorities Capital Expenditure (England)

  Year

  Expenditure1 (cash) £million

  Percentage Change over previous year

  Expenditure at constant prices2 £ million

  Percentage Change over previous year

  1974–75

  267·5

  —

  935·7

  —

  1975–76

  331·7

  +24·0

  923·5

  -1·3

  1976–77

  334·5

  +0·8

  822·7

  -10·9

  1977–78

  316·0

  -5·5

  682·4

  -17·1

  1978–79

  367·4

  +16·3

  716·6

  +5·0

  1979–80

  416·4

  +13·4

  694·9

  -3·0

  1980–81

  563·2

  +35·3

  792 8

  +14·1

  1981–82

  671·4

  +19·2

  860 6

  +8·6

  1982–83

  686·4

  +2·2

  820·4

  -4·7

  1983–84

  713·9

  +4·0

  815·3

  -0·6

  1984–85

  795·4

  +11·4

  869·5

  +6·7

  1985–86

  891·8

  +12·1

  920·1

  +5·8

  1986–873

  936·3

  +5·0

  936·3

  +1·8

  Source:

  1 Annual accounts of Regional, District and Special Health Authorities as submitted to the Department.

  2 Constant prices arrived at by using GDP Deflator.

  3 Latest year available.

  Park Lane Hospital
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to receive the report of the review of security at Park lane hospital; and if he will make it his policy to publish the report's conclusions in the Official Report.

  Mr. Newton
  The review team will be reporting to hospital management and the Department in August this year. Security arrangements at the hospital are not made public so as not to prejudice their effectiveness. It will not, therefore, be our intention to publish the findings of the review.

  Community Health Councils
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the annual cost of community health councils.
  674
  the recent world conference on AIDS on facing up to the spread of the virus within prisons and after a prisoner is released.

  Mr. Newton
  The chief medical officer addressed the world summit on "Modes of transmission of HIV as a basis for prevention strategies". The purpose of his speech was to draw attention to problems that need to be addressed in this area, including that of HIV infection among prisoners, and not to make specific proposals.

  Hospital Capital Programme
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the hospital capital programme, in cash and constant prices, together with the percentage increase or decrease over the preceding year, in each year since 1974–75.

  Mr. Newton
  Capital expenditure by regional and special health authorities, in the form requested by my hon. Friend, is given in the table.

  Mrs. Currie
  The total cost of community health council expenditure in 1986–87, the latest available figure, was £7·2 million. This figure includes staffing, premises and other costs.

  Fraud
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services 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. Portillo
  Estimated benefit savings achieved in the year ended 9 February 1988 were £260,000.

  Urgent Cases
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any plans to introduce new consultant,
  675
  senior registrar or other senior posts in general surgery, ear, nose and throat, traumatic and orthopaedic and gynaecology, where the waiting lists are urgent.

  Mr. Newton
  Government policy is that new consultant posts should be set up to meet the needs of patient care as determined by health authorities in the light of the Government's broad priorities. Currently consultant expansion is averaging 2 per cent. per annum over all specialties. In addition, the Government are funding centrally 100 new posts targeted on specialties with particular problems of structural imbalance, including general surgery and traumatic and orthopaedic surgery.

  Amenity Beds
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what efforts are being made to promote amenity beds.

  Mrs. Currie
  Existing instructions to health authorities are for amenity beds to be offered routinely to National Health Service patients when they are given a date for admission.

  We are currently seeking powers in the Health and Medicines Bill to enable health authorities to charge for amenity beds on a commercial basis. Later in the year we will issue guidance to promote the use of amenity beds under these new powers.

  Surgical Treatment
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if the new senior posts, one rank below consultant, carry the right to sole responsibility for a patient for surgical treatment without the necessity of reference to a consultant.

  Mr. Newton
  The new staff grade is a non-training grade intended for doctors who do not wish or are unable to train for consultant status. The staff doctor will be clinically responsible to a nominated consultant for all tasks and duties of the post although the degree to which these are delegated will be a matter for consultants' clinical judgment.

  Community Care
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what sum has been spent or budgeted for in

  NHS directly employed staff by main staff group1 at 30 September Whole time equivalents2

  England

  1971

  1972

  1973

  1974

  1975

  1976

  1977

  1978

  Nursing and midwifery (including agency)3

  285,400

  303,200

  308,500

  314,100

  336,600

  341,700

  343,200

  351,000

  Medical and dental (including locums)4

  29,500

  30,800

  32,300

  33,000

  34,800

  35,900

  36,900

  37,800

  Professional and technical (excluding works)5

  38,500

  40,600

  42,600

  43,600

  46,800

  52,500

  54,800

  57,200

  Works professional

  4,300

  4,600

  4,700

  4,700

  5,000

  5,300

  5,500

  5,600

  Maintenance

  17,500

  17,500

  17,000

  17,600

  19,100

  19,700

  19,900

  19,900

  Administrative and clerical

  70,400

  74,300

  77,100

  82,800

  91,900

  98,500

  99,000

  100,300

  Ambulance (including officers)

  15,900

  16,300

  16,600

  16,600

  17,500

  17,200

  17,400

  17,500

  Ancillary5

  168,000

  167,800

  165,100

  163,400

  167,800

  173,600

  172,800

  172,200

  Total directly employed (including agency and locums)

  629,500

  655,000

  664,100

  675,800

  719,500

  744,400

  749,500

  761,500

  676
  each of the district health authorities for the training and preparation of staff for the shift to the provision of care in the community;

  (2) what sum has been spent and budgeted for in each of the district health authorities for the purpose of preparing patients for the shift into care in the community.

  Mr. Newton
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Nurses
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate, for each regional health authority, and for the United Kingdom as a whole, in the last year for which figures are available, of how many National Health Service nurses left the Health Service for(a) private hospitals, and (b) private residential homes; and how many rejoined the National Health Service from the private sector.

  Mr. Newton
  The information is not collected centrally.

  Recently published research estimated that, in 1985, the annual number of nurses joining the private health care sector direct from the NHS was 1,474. This represents approximately seven nurses per district health authority. Annually an estimated 477 nurses rejoin the NHS from the private sector.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the total number of nurses employed(a) in the National Health Service and (b) in the private sector in each year since 1958, together with the annual turnover rate; and if he will give the equivalent information for other occupational groups within the National Health Service.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 8 February 1988]: Such information on staff employed as is available is shown in the tables.

  Information on NHS staff employed in England is not available on a consistent basis prior to 1971.

  Information on private sector nursing staff is not available prior to 1982.

  Information on turnover rates is not available centrally for NHS or private sector. However the most commonly accepted estimate for qualified nursing and midwifery staff leaving the NHS is 10 per cent. a year.
  677

  England

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Nursing and midwifery (including agency)3

  358,400

  370,100

  391,800

  397,100

  397,100

  397,500

  401,200

  402,700

  Medical and dental (including locums)4

  39,000

  40,200

  41,000

  41,500

  42,300

  42,300

  43,000

  43,200

  Professional and technical (excluding works)5

  60,100

  61,900

  65,200

  67,200

  68,700

  72,700

  74,300

  76,100

  Works professional

  5,600

  5,900

  6,200

  6,100

  6,000

  6,000

  6,100

  5,800

  Maintenance

  20,100

  20,600

  21,000

  21,000

  20,800

  20,200

  19,800

  19,100

  Administrative and clerical

  103,000

  105,400

  108,800

  108,800

  110,000

  110,300

  111,000

  111,400

  Ambulance (including officers)

  17,100

  17,800

  18,200

  18,300

  18,400

  18,100

  18,200

  19,000

  Ancillary5

  171,900

  172,000

  172,200

  170,500

  166,200

  152,200

  139,400

  124,300

  Total directly employed (including agency and locums)

  775,300

  793,800

  824,400

  830,600

  829,400

  819,300

  812,900

  801,600

  Source: DHSS (SR7) Annual censuses of NHS medical and non-medical manpower.

  1 Due to the effects of the 1974 NHS reorganisation figures for the years prior to 1974 are not directly comparable with those for 1974 and later years.

  2 Figures are independently rounded to nearest one hundred (100) whole time equivalents.

  3 Not adjusted to take account of the change in nurses contractual hours—from 42 to 40 per week in 1972, and from 40 to 37·5 per week during 1980–81.

  4 Includes all permanent paid, honorary and locum staff.

  5 On 1 April 1984 operating department assistants transferred from ancillary to professional and technical staff group. Figures not adjusted to take account of this change.

  Nursing staff in post—private sector at 31 December Whole time equivalents1

  England

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  22,620

  25,670

  29,430

  36,080

  44,950

  Source: DHSS (SR2) SBH 212 returns.

  1 Figures are independently rounded to nearest ten (10) whole time equivalents.

  NHS Review
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services which outside bodies he has invited to submit evidence to his current review of the National Health Service; and what account he proposes to take of the reports of Royal Commission and Select Committees on this or allied topics.

  Mr. Moore
  We have made it publicly clear that we shall consider carefully any submissions which are put to us. We shall also take into account any relevant reports and other published material.

  South East Thames RHA
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the percentage change in (i) National Health Service funding in real terms and in cash terms and (ii) employment of medical staff from 1978 to 1988 in the South East Thames regional health authority.

  Mrs. Currie
  The latest available information for hospital and community health services in the South East Thames region is shown in the table.

  Percentage change in revenue and medical staff

  Per cent.

  Net revenue expenditure 1978/79 to 1986/871

  Cash terms

  116·55

  Real terms

  11·01

  Medical staff from 1978 to 19862

  8·1

  1 Figures are based on health authorities' summarised income and expenditure accounts: adjusted by the Gross Domestic Product deflator.

  2 Includes whole time equivalent permanent paid, honorary and locum staff.

  678
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list(a) the number of private beds and (b) the total income from private beds in National Health Service hospitals in 1986–87 for the South East Thames regional health authority.

  Mrs. Currie
  There were 341 authorised pay beds within the South East Thames region at 31 December 1986. The 1986–87 annual accounts of health authorities in the region show that total income from private patients, under section 65 of the National Health Service Act 1977, was £5,732, 413.

  Lewisham and North Southwark DHA
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the nurse-patient ratio in the Lewisham and North Southwark district health authority for each of the last 10 years.

  Mrs. Currie
  Information on nursing and midwifery staff and hospital activity levels in Lewisham and North Southwark health authority from 1982 to 1986 is provided in the tables. Prior to 1 April 1982 the authority's predecessor health districts formed part of the Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham area health authority and district-based figures were not collected centrally. The nursing and midwifery staff figures cover a wide range of Health Service activity, not just those related to hospital activity, and calculation of a nurse-patient ratio would be simplistic and might be misleading.

  Nurse and midwifery staff in post: 30 September1 Lewisham and North Southwark health authority2

  Year

  Number

  1982

  3,710

  1983

  3,650

  1984

  33,840

  1985

  3,540

  1986

  3,470

  Source: DHSS Annual Census of NHS Non-Medical Manpower.

  Notes:

  1 Includes agency staff.

  2 All figures are independently rounded to the nearest 10 whole-time equivalents.

  3 Merging of two pay-roll systems, used to calculate staffing figures, likely to have caused some double-counting.

  679

  NHS hospitals activity in Lewisham and North Southwark HA

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  In-patient cases

  55,171

  58,130

  59,680

  60,259

  56,493

  Day cases

  6,227

  8,308

  5,885

  5,036

  5,899

  New out-patients

  102,066

  105,401

  113,894

  112,096

  108,031

  Total out-patient attendances

  532,772

  532,546

  540,652

  529,590

  530,467

  Health Index
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services which indicators will be included in the health index; who has been consulted about which indicators to include; if he will publish the existing list for wider consultation; if he intends to make additional resources available to(a) administer the index and (b) collect any additional data which may be required to compile the index.

  Mr. Newton
  We have asked officials to consider the feasibility of creating a portfolio of health indicators (health index). Consideration of such points as those raised by the hon. Member will of course depend on the results of the feasibility study.

  British Oxygen Company
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how much has been paid to the British Oxygen Co. by the National Health Service, for each year since 1974, at current prices.

  Mrs. Currie
  I regret that this information is not available. The information which is readily available is as follows. All figures are for England and are at current prices.

  Expenditure on medical gases by health authorities

  £ million

  1978–79

  12·2

  1979–80

  12·5

  1980–81

  12·3

  1982–82

  12·6

  1982–83

  12·3

  1983–84

  12·4

  1984–85

  12·4

  1985–86

  11·6

  1986–87

  12·0

  Basic prices of masks and oxygen provided by pharmacists and doctors under the Family Practitioner Services

  £ million

  1984–85

  4·0

  1985–86

  4·4

  1986–87

  4·2

  BOC is believed to supply over 90 per cent. of the medical gases used in the NHS.

  Drug Companies
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is, for each year since 1974, the amount of prescription payments made to drug companies by the National Health Service, at current prices.

  Mr. Newton
  The cost of drugs to the NHS in England, at 1987–88 prices, is set out in the table:
  680

  Family Practitioner Services £ million

  Hospital and Community Health Services

  1975–76

  805

  1197

  1976–77

  926

  223

  1977–78

  1,038

  242

  1978–79

  1,127

  260

  1979–80

  1,101

  271

  1980–81

  1,125

  272

  1981–82

  1,171

  286

  1982–83

  1,257

  305

  1983–84

  1,345

  317

  1984–85

  1,358

  318

  1985–86

  1,371

  319

  1986–87

  1,436

  332

  1987–88

  31,538

  20

  Notes:

  1 Data not available prior to 1975–76.

  2 Data for Hospital and Community Health Services drug costs are not yet available for 1987–88.

  3 Latest FPS estimate.

  Member's Correspondence
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to give a definitive reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth dated 23 December 1987 concerning W. D. Caddern of York street, Rugby.

  Mr. Portillo
  I apologise for the delay.

  I wrote to my hon. Friend yesterday.

  Cook-chill Catering
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when, pursuant to his answer of 7 March,Official Report, column 51, he expects to reach a conclusion on the request of Wakefield district health authority for an investigation into the introduction of the cook-chill system of catering.

  Mrs. Currie
  Wakefield health authority's request was for a public inquiry"into the lengthy decision making process prior to the implementation of the cook-chill system of catering in Wakefield".
  After careful thought I decided I could not agree to the authority's request and wrote to the chairman to that effect on 8 March, copying my letter to the regional chairman.

  The authority in effect sought an inquiry into its own management of business. This seemed neither necessary nor appropriate, particularly when events were at all times fully within the authority's control. Yorkshire regional health authority at its annual review meeting with the district raised a number of concerns. These are being pursued through the normal accountability and review process between RHA and DHA and it seems entirely appropriate that the handling of the implementation of cook-chill should be considered in the same way.

  Cancelled Operations
  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many operations have been cancelled as a consequence of disruptive action by National Health Service employees on Monday 14 March and Tuesday 15 March.

  Mr. Newton
  The information we have so far received from health authorities show that the number of operations cancelled as a result of industrial action in the National Health Service was 156 on 14 March and 55 on 15 March.

  Mildmay Mission Hospital
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what assistance he intends to provide to the Mildmay mission hospital to provide help and hospice care for people with AIDS and HIV-related illnesses.

  Mr. Newton
  The Government have approved a further grant of £171,000 towards the capital cost of converting two wards at the hospital to provide help and hospice care for people with AIDS and HIV-related illness and a further revenue grant of £29,000 for the current financial year. This will bring the total capital grants approved for the Mildmay hospital this year to £321,000 and total revenue grants approved to £79,000.

  Haemophiliacs (Financial Assistance)
  Dame Peggy Fenner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress has been made since the Minister for Health's statement on 16 November 1987,Official Report, column 773, concerning financial assistance to haemophiliacs infected with the AIDS virus.

  Mr. Newton
  My announcement indicated that the Government would make an ex-gratia grant of £10 million to enable the Haemophilia Society to establish a special trust fund to provide financial help to haemophiliacs infected with the AIDS virus and their families. A charitable trust fund to be known as the Macfarlane Trust has now been established. Letters exchanged with the Haemophilia Society and the trust deed incorporating the objects of the trust have been placed in the Library.

  It will be the duty of the trustees to ensure that payments from the trust are made in the most effective way and take into account the differing circumstances of those affected. However to ensure that all the £10 million reaches those in need, regulations have been laid which disregard any payment from the trust fund when deciding entitlement to housing benefit and which also protect the confidentiality of the individual by making it unnecessary to report payments to the local authority. Similar regulations and arrangements have been introduced for income support and family credit. Because the Macfarlane Trust is charitable, beneficiaries will not be liable to income tax on payments made to them. Now that the Macfarlane Trust has been estalished, the £10 million is being paid to the Haemophilia Society.

  Surgery Statistics
  Mr. Lofthouse
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in order of frequency the five most common forms of surgery for which patients are admitted to hospitals in(a) the Yorkshire regional health authority and (b) the Pontefract district health authority.
  682
  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 1 March 1988]: The information requested is given in the table.

  Estimated number of the five most common forms of surgery (in order of frequency) performed in NHS non-psychiatric, non-maternity hospitals, Yorkshire Regional Health Authority and Pontefract District Health Authority, England 1985

  Condensed1 list operation number

  Operation

  Estimated Number of operations

  Yorkshire RHA

  1.

  080

  Dilatation, Curretage, Biopsy and Excision of Lesion of Cervix

  10,630

  2.

  093

  Treatment of Fracture by Operations

  8,770

  3.

  061

  Cystoscopy (with Destruction of Lesion)

  8,180

  4.

  023

  Tonsils and Adenoids

  7,750

  5.

  078

  Hysterectomy

  6,090

  Pontefract DHA

  1.

  080

  Dilatation, Currettage, Biopsy and Excision of Lesion of Cervix

  640

  2.

  093

  Treatment of Fracture by Operations

  530

  3.

  044

  Operations on Appendix

  340

  4.

  016

  Incision of Ear Drum

  310

  023

  Tonsils and Adenoids

  310

  1 OPCS condensed list of surgical operations.

  Source: Hospital In-Patient Enquiry (HIPE).

  Hospitals
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the average cost per patient treated over each of the past five years in(a) the Northern regional health authority and (b) the Sunderland district health authority hospitals.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 7 March 1988]: Tables showing this information by type of hospital and type of patient for the northern region and by individual hospital and type of patient for the Sunderland district have been placed in the Library.

  Radiation
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will initiate a departmental evaluation of the paper, a copy of which has been sent to him, by Professor Emeritus E. J. Sternglass and Dr. J. Scheer entitled "Radiation Exposure of Bone Marrow Cells to Strontium 90 during early development as a possible co-factor in the etiology of AIDS", as presented at the first global radiation victims' conference in New York City in October 1987.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 11 March 1988]: When a copy of this paper is received, officials will consider whether it warrants evaluation.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Sheep (Radiation)
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what provisions the Government have adopted for a confirmed scientific source for radiation safety levels in sheep.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 16 March 1988]: In setting the limit of 1,000Bq/kg, the Government took account of the published advice of the National

  683
  Radiological Protection Board in the United Kingdom and of the interim guidance issued by the group of international experts set up under article 31 of the Euratom treaty. The Government also had to take note of the views of other countries with whom it was important for the United Kingdom to protect trading links.

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what staff and monetary resources are being made available for the monitoring of existing environmentally sensitive areas.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 8 March 1988]: We are making sufficient staff and monetary resources available, but it is not possible to separate accurately the staff time devoted to monitoring from other duties related to environmentally sensitive areas.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Driving Licences
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland why it is necessary for the holder of a valid Great Britain driving licence to replace it with a Northern Ireland driving licence before it expires.

  Mr. Needham
  When the holder of a driving licence issued either in Great Britain or Northern Ireland permanently changes address, the law requires that change to be notified to the relevant licensing authority to have the change recorded and a new licence issued. Holders of a licence issued in Great Britain who take up permanent residence in Northern Ireland must have their new address recorded on a licence issued by the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland, which is responsible for the issue of Northern Ireland driving licences.

  Teachers of the Deaf
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the number of qualified teachers of the deaf employed to teach hearing impaired children in schools and units in Northern Ireland.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Fifty full-time and two part-time.

  Housing Waiting Lists
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are currently listed on waiting lists to be allocated houses by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive; and how many people are currently on transfer waiting lists.

  Mr. Needham
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. I understand from the chief executive that the numbers on the Housing Executive's waiting list and transfer waiting list at 29 February 1988 are as follows:

  Number

  Waiting list

  124,136

  Transfer list

  22,801

  1 Of whom 11,117 are regarded as being in urgent housing need.

  War Memorials
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what facilities exist to have the names of members of the Ulster Defence Regiment who have been murdered by terrorists placed on war memorials in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Needham
  Anyone can apply to have a name added to a war memorial, but the decision whether this will be allowed rests with those in whose charge the memorial has been placed. In most, but not all, cases this will be a district council.

  LONDON WEIGHTING PAYMENTS: RATES
  LONDON WEIGHTING PAYMENTS: RATES
  INHERITANCE TAX AND FAMILY COMPANIES
  INHERITANCE TAX AND FAMILY COMPANIES
  WOMEN'S PRISONS: ALLEGATIONS AGAINST STAFF
  WOMEN'S PRISONS: ALLEGATIONS AGAINST STAFF
  URBAN REGENERATION GRANTS
  URBAN REGENERATION GRANTS
  HAEMOPHILIACS: FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE —MACFARLANE TRUST
  HAEMOPHILIACS: FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE —MACFARLANE TRUST