Written Answers of 23 March 1988

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Forensic Analysis Department
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much below its full staffing complement is the forensic analysis department in London.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that there are at present 203 scientific staff in post at the Metropolitan police forensic science laboratory, eight less than the approved establishment of 211.

  Drugs (Forensic Analysis)
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the average length of time for forensic analysis of drugs when a defendant on a drugs charge has been remanded in custody:

  (2) what is the longest time period on record for which a defendant has been kept on remand awaiting forensic analysis of drugs.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  This information is not available in the form requested. The Home Office forensic science service and the Metropolitan police forensic science laboratory do, however, give the highest priority to the analysis of drug samples where a defendant is remanded in custody because of drug-related offences. Information is usually available to assist the investigation within two to three days and frequently within a very much shorter time.

  Missile Attack (Warning)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the procedures to warn the civilian population of the United Kingdom of an impending missile attack would be initiated if a ballistic missile attack against the United States of America or any other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation members was detected.

  Mr. John Patten
  The procedure would be initiated if the United Kingdom population was thought to be at risk.

  Wrongful Convictions (Petitions)
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many petitions he received alleging wrongful conviction in the years 1986 and 1987; how many of these were sent(a) by prisoners and (b) on behalf of prisoners; and how many related to (i) summary trials and (ii) trials on indictment.

  Mr. John Patten
  The number of representations received alleging wrongful conviction was 785 in the year ended 30 September 1986 and 722 in the year ended 30 September 1987. Fuller details are not readily available, but I will write to my hon. Friend shortly.

  Body Armour
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any proposals to prohibit sales of body armour or flak jackets which might be used by a person resisting arrest or committing an offence; and whether he has received any representations to this effect.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We are considering representations from the Association of Chief Police Officers.

  Radio Stations
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is his intention that licences for national commercial radio stations, once acquired, will be freely transferable.

  Mr. Renton
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a similar question from him on 27 January at columns 251–52.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is his intention to auction licences for national commercial radio stations by means of(a) a lump sum, (b) a percentage of future pretax profits, (c) a percentage of future revenue or (d) a combination of the above.

  Mr. Renton
  We envisage that the radio authority will invite tenders in the form of a single cash figure, though it may be payable in instalments over the period of the licence.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether radio stations granted licences by the new radio authority will be able to promote(a) lotteries, (b) bingo and (c) other gaming activities during their programmes.

  Mr. Renton
  We envisage no need for restrictions in broadcasting legislation additional to those in current gaming legislation.

  Rates Default
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many arrest warrants were issued for rates default in 1987 in(a) England and Wales and (b) Stoke on Trent;

  (2) how many people imprisoned for rates default in 1987 in (a) England and Wales and (b) Stoke on Trent were in receipt of social security benefits immediately prior to imprisonment;

  (3) how many people were imprisoned for rates default (a) in England and Wales and (b) in Stoke on Trent in 1987.

  Mr. John Patten
  According to the latest information held centrally, which is approximate, about 370 persons were received into prison department establishments in England and Wales from all courts in 1986 for nonpayment of rates. Of these, six were known to have been sentenced by courts in Stoke on Trent. Information or the receipt of social security benefits immediately prior to imprisonment and on arrest warrants issued for rate default is not available centrally.

  Foreign Visitors
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of visitors

  Number of visitor and business visitor admissions in 1985. 1986 and 1987, by nalionality and period of leave granted

  Estimated numbers1

  Period of leave

  Bangladesh

  India

  Pakistan

  granted on entry2

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1985

  1986

  1987

  Jan-Sept

  Jan-Sept

  Jan-Sept

  Up to 1 month

  2,000

  2,000

  1,000

  13,400

  13,900

  7,500

  10,300

  10,200

  5,100

  Over 1 and up to 3 months

  1,000

  1,200

  700

  10,200

  10,900

  5,000

  8,000

  9,200

  3,800

  Over 3 and up to 6 months3

  8,000

  8,300

  5,800

  145,000

  142,000

  108,000

  62,600

  63,000

  45,600

  Over 6 months and up 1 year

  100

  100

  100

  400

  400

  300

  200

  200

  200

  Total admissions

  11,200

  11,600

  7,600

  169,000

  167,000

  121,000

  81,100

  82,600

  54,700

  1 Individual figures may not add to totals due to rounding.

  2 Initial period of leave granted by the immigration officer at the port of entry and therefore before taking account of any subsequent extension of stay.

  3 Almost all admissions relate to a period of leave of exactly six months.

  Prisoners (Transfers)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners who were convicted for offences in courts in Northern Ireland have subsequently been transferred to prisons in England and Wales during 1986 and 1987.

  Mr. Stanley
  I have been asked to reply.

  No such permanent transfers were made in 1986 or 1987.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  New Companies (Scotland)
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many new companies were established in Scotland during 1987; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  5,926 new companies were registered in Scotland during 1987.

  Economic League (Accounts)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects the Registrar of Companies to have secured the accounts of the Economic League for the year ended 31 December 1986; and if he will now consider prosecution.

  Mr. Maude
  The Registrar of Companies expects to receive the outstanding accounts without further delay. If, however, they are not received within the next few days, the Registrar will follow his normal practice and write individually to the directors of the company, reminding them of their obligations under the Companies Act 1985. He will also point out that they would render themselves liable to prosecution if acceptable accounts continue not be be delivered.

  EC Internal Market
  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what will be the total cost of the Government's
  120
  from each country in the Indian sub-continent in each of the last three years broken down by length of permitted visitors.

  Mr. Renton
  holding answer 17 March 1988]: The information available is given in the table.

  publicity campaign on the EEC internal market; and, in particular, what is the cost of the 19 breakfasts in cities around the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  [holding answer 21 March 1988]: We are planning a sustained five-year campaign. The initial phase of the campaign will cost about £5 million. The campaign will also include 20 regional conferences, each for up to 250 to 300 business people, at a cost of around £300,000. The cost of breakfast provided before each conference will be about £5 per head.

PRIME MINISTER

  Member's Correspondence
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will cause an inquiry to be held into the handling of correspondence by the office of the Secretary of State for Social Services in view of its loss of correspondence from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, forwarded by the Secretary of State for the Home Department in October 1987, and its failure to notify the Department of Employment that on 21 January it was forwarding to it correspondence from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton.

  The Prime Minister
  I understand that extensive inquiries have already been carried out by the Department of Health and Social Security and I see no need for a further inquiry. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services has already undertaken (on 14 March at column 470 and on 17 March at column 664) to look into the matter raised in the October 1987 letter on receipt of a copy of the correspondence. A further copy of the 21 January 1988 letter and the relevant correspondence is being sent to the Department of Employment.

  Housing Standards and Health
  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on co-ordination between the Secretary of State for Social Services and the Secretary of State for
  121
  the Environment in relation to Government policy towards the correlation between housing standards and health.

  The Prime Minister
  My right hon. Friends consult and co-operate as necessary on matters of concern to their Departments.

ENVIRONMENT

  Asbestos (Lanfranc Estate, Bow)
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide additional funds for the London borough of Tower Hamlets to permit the removal of asbestos on the Lanfranc estate in Bow, London.

  Mrs. Roe
  The council has been allocated over £15 million of capital resources for 1988–89 and is free to supplement this with part of its capital receipts. It is for the council to decide on priorities for repairs and improvement within its housing stock.

  Charles Buxton Memorial, Victoria Gardens
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when his Department plans to instruct the Property Services Agency to repair the fountain of the Charles Buxton memorial in the Victoria gardens.

  Mr. Chope
  The water supply to the drinking fountain in the memorial to Sir Thomas Powell Buxton has been turned off since 1980 because the design of the memorial makes it expensive and difficult to maintain the necessary standard of hygiene in the water supply to satisfy standards of public health.

  Nuclear Waste
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Bradford, South (Mr. Cryer) of 10 February,Official Report, column 289, his Department has received any request from the European Parliament special committee of inquiry on nuclear waste and transport in the EEC to present written or oral evidence on matters concerning the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Moynihan
  No.

  Sites of Special Scientific Interest
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many cases of long-term damage to sites of special scientific interest were reported over the past three-years; and how many of them were due to works initiated or approved by a public department.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Details of damage to SSSIs, have, since 1983–84, been published in the Nature Conservancy Council's annual report. However, the information is not available in the precise form requested. It is currently being compiled by the NCC, and I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as it is available.

  Housing Stock (Repairs)
  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what evidence his Department has as to the 122
  effect of Government cutbacks on local authority finance on the ability of councils to carry out essential repairs to their housing stock; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Local authorities' expenditure on the renovation of their housing stock, which includes all major repairs, has increased every year since 1981–82. We have provided for a further increase in 1988–89 of more than 11 per cent. over the estimated outturn for the current year.

  Property Services Agency
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he proposes to widen the range of outside advice available to the Property Services Agency.

  Mr. Chope
  Under present arrangements my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I are advised by the chief executive of the Property Services Agency who chairs the PSA board comprising his senior colleagues and three non-executive members drawn from the private sector. We have now appointed to the PSA board Mr. Jack Rodin, a senior partner and chief executive in Building Design Partnership. The appointment will run for a period of three years from March 1988. Mr. Rodin is a chartered engineer and fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers. His appointment will add to the valuable input provided by Mr. Brian Hill (Higgs and Hill Building Ltd), Mr. Leslie Cousins (Price Waterhouse) and Mr. John Brown (Peachy Property Corporation plc) in the fields of building, finance and estates respectively. In line with the other non-executive members Mr. Rodin will be paid £4,000 per annum during the tenure of his appointment.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Standing Committees (Membership)
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will list in the Official Report the names of all right hon. and hon. Members, other than those who were at the time members of Her Majesty's Government, who in the 1983 to 1987 Parliament (a) were not appointed to serve on any Standing Committees and (b) were so appointed but did not attend any meetings thereof.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The information requested can be derived from the Standing Committee Return, published each Session, which lists the names of all Members appointed to serve on Standing Committees during the 1983 to 1987 Parliament, and includes the number of sittings they attended. The information could be provided in the form requested only at disproportionate cost.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Shareholders (Scotland)
  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what figures he has on the numbers of shareholders in Scotland in(a) January of the current year and (b) May 1979; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The Treasury-Stock Exchange survey carried out by NOP Market Research Ltd. between 20 January and 15 February 1988 found that approximately 1/2 million individuals in Scotland were shareholders. The Target Group index survey, carried out
  123
  by the British Market Research Bureau between April 1978 and March 1979 found that approximately 1/4 million individuals in Scotland were shareholders. Both sets of figures are produced by statistical surveys of Great Britain as a whole — the figures are therefore subject to sampling error, which may be substantial for component categories.

  £1 Coin
  Mr. Wheeler
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if there will be a new design for the £1 coin.

  Mr. Lawson
  Yes. Her Majesty the Queen has been graciously pleased to approve my recommendation for a new design for the £1 coin. The obverse will continue to show the Raphael Maklouf portrait of Her Majesty. The new reverse design will feature a shield of the royal arms ensigned by a representation of the royal crown. Coins bearing the new design will be available for general circulation on 21 April 1988.

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

  Mr. Brooke
  Each case is considered on its merits.

  War Stock
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now consider the repayment of 3½ per cent. war stock.

  Mr. Lilley
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to redeem 3½ per cent. war loan.

  Zeebrugge Disaster Fund
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, to assist the work of the Zeebrugge disaster fund, the Government will donate to the fund sums equal to those levied on it in taxation.

  Mr. Lawson
  [holding answer 7 March 1988]: The Government have donated £1 million to the Zeebrugge disaster fund.

  Product

  Commission proposal

  1987–88 United Kingdom duty rate

  Approximate per cent rate changes

  Alcoholic drinks

  Spirits

  2·71 ECU (£8·54) per litre of alcohol

  £15·77 per litre of alcohol

  -46

  Beer1

  1·36 ECU (0·91) per hectolitre/degree Plato of finished product at 15°c (£8·77 for average beer)

  £25·80 per hectolitre plus 86p for every degree of original gravity over 1030° (£31·82 for average beer)

  -72

  Table wine

  17 ECU (£11·43) per hectolitre

  £98·00 per hectolitre

  -88

  Fortified wine

  (15–18%)

  85 ECU (£57·13) per hectolitre

  £169·00 per hectolitre

  -66

  (18–22%)

  85 ECU (£57·13)

  £194·90 per hectolitre

  -71

  Tobacco products

  Africa (Financial Flows)
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on the report and recommendations of the United Nations Secretary General's advisory group on financial flows for Africa; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 14 March 1988]: Her Majesty's Government welcome this report which is a useful analysis of the African debt problem. We were among the first to draw attention to the emerging problem and our aid programme is substantially directed towards Africa. Last year my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer put forward a three-point debt relief plan for low-income debt-distressed countries which has been well received. Last December the United Kingdom doubled its planned contribution to the newly established IMF enhanced structural adjustment facility which will provide extra finance and support structural adjustment programmes in low-income countries. We have also committed £250 million to the World Bank's special programme of assistance 1988–90 for sub-Saharan Africa. Over the next few months we will be studying the report further and discussing it with our partners.

  Excise Duty
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will tabulate in the Official Report those commodities subject to proposals for harmonisation of excise duty set out in the draft regulations of the Commission of the European Economic Community and tabulated in the eighth report of the Select Committee on European Legislation, HC 43 viii, stating for each category of goods (a) the basis of excise duty levied in the financial year 1987–88 and that proposed by the Commission, (b) the approximate respective revenue for each assessment that has accrued or would accrue to Her Majesty's Government, in 1987–88 prices, (c) the percentage increase or decrease in excise duty levied and (d) the approximate increase or decrease in retail sale price, together with indications of where the proposed increases in the rate of value added tax would further increase or decrease final price to the purchaser, adding totals for each broad category of commodity and totals of cumulative increase or decrease, together with net grand change in expected revenue.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 18 March 1988]: The information requested is given in the tables.

  Tables (a) and (c):
  The European Commission's proposals for harmonisation of rates of excise duty would require changes to the 1987–88 United Kingdom duty rates' as follows:—
  125

  Product

  Commission proposal

  1987–88 United Kingdom duty rate

  Approximate per cent. rate changes

  Cigarettes

  19·5 ECU (£13·11) per 1,000 plus 52–54 per cent. of retail selling price

  £30·61 per 1,000, 21 per cent. of retail selling price

  -11

  Pipe tobacco1

  Excise duty + VAT to comprise 54–56 per cent. of retail selling price

  £24·95 per kilogram

  -17

  Cigars1

  Excise duty + VAT to comprise 54–56 per cent. of retail selling price

  £24·95 per kilogram

  -49

  Hand rolling1 tobacco

  Excise duty + VAT to comprise 54–56 per cent. of retail selling price

  £24·95 per kilogram

  -53

  Road fuel

  Leaded petrol

  34 ECU (£22·85) per hectolitre

  £19·38 per hectolitre

  + 18

  Unleaded petrol

  31 ECU (£20·84) per hectolitre

  £18·42 per hectolitre

  + 13

  Derv

  17·7 ECU (£11·90) per hectolitre

  £16·39 per hectolitre

  -27

  Minor oil products

  Gas oil

  5 ECU (£3·36) per hectolitre

  £1·10 per hectolitre

  + 205

  Fuel oil

  1·7 ECu (£1·14) per hectolitre

  £0·77 per hectolitre

  + 46

  (1 ECU = £0·672099 at 14 March 1988).

  1 It will be noted that in some cases the proposals would modify the basis upon which the duty is calculated, as well as the duty rates.

  TABLE (B)

  Based on the main duty rates given above the approximate respective revenue for each assessment at 1987–88 prices is as follows:

  £ million 1987–88 prices

  Product

  Commission proposal

  1987–88 United Kingdom duty rates estimated net yield

  Alcoholic drinks

  2,000

  4,400

  Tobacco products

  4,350

  4,800

  Hydrocarbon oils

  8,450

  7,800

  Because of the very large changes in duty levels involved, estimates of the revenue effects are subject to wide margins of error.

  TABLE (D)

  The duty rate changes implied by the approximation proposals would have the following effects on retail sale prices:

  Approximate price changes (including consequential VAT at 15 per cent.)

  Product

  £ p

  Alcoholic drinks

  Spirits (per 70cl bottle)

  -2·50

  Beer (per pint)

  -0·16

  Table wine (per 75cl bottle)

  -0·74

  Fortified wine

  15 to 18 per cent. (per 70cl bottle)

  -0·90

  18 to 22 per cent. (per 70cl bottle)

  -1·10

  Tobacco products

  Cigarettes (per 20 King size)

  -0·12

  Pipe tobacco (per 25 grams)

  -0·12

  Cigars (5 whiffs)

  -0·26

  Hand rolling tobacco (per 25 grams)

  -0·76

  Road fuel

  Leaded petrol (per gallon)

  + 0·18

  Unleaded petrol (per gallon)

  + 0·13

  Derv (per gallon)

  -0·23

  Minor oil products

  Gas oil (per gallon)

  + 0·10

  Fuel oil (per gallon)

  +0·2

  Cruises (VAT)
  Mr. Warren
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how he will implement value added tax on United 126
  Kingdom registered passenger cruise liner operations when their passage is partially, or wholly, outside EEC territorial waters; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 21 March 1988]: It is necessary to distinguish between supplies by the cruise lines themselves and supplies by tour operators of places on cruise ships. The former are only liable to United Kingdom VAT to the extent that the cruise is in United Kingdom waters. As regards supplies by tour operators, tour operators based in the United Kingdom are liable to United Kingdom VAT on their gross margin attributable to the part of the cruise undertaken in the territorial waters of EC member states, including the United Kingdom. The apportionment of the margin between EC and non-EC elements will have to be done on the basis of the number of days per cruise spent in EC waters or travelling between EC ports. Similar apportionments will have to be done for coach tours taking in both EC and non-EC countries.

  Mr. Warren
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which EEC nations have implemented value added tax charges on passenger cruise line operations; and what information he has as to the reasons for delay by certain countries in implementing such charges.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 21 March 1988]: There is no detailed information readily available on the practices of other member states in this respect, but there is no special VAT relief for passenger cruises under the EC sixth VAT directive. As regards tour operators, only Ireland and Denmark have not imposed tax on tours operators' margins. I understand that they claim not to do so under a transitional derogation in article 28 of that directive.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Education Welfare Officers
  Mr. Archer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what concern has been expressed by local authorities about the number of education welfare officers; and if he has any plans to seek to increase their number, to alter their role or to seek to improve their performance.

  Mr. Dunn
  Education welfare officers are employed by local education authorities, and it is for them to determine
  127
  the number needed in their area in the light of local circumstances. Our recommendations on the role and working methods of education welfare officers were set out in DES circular 2/86 "School Attendance and Education Welfare Services". We are considering issuing a further circular on good practice later this year.

  CERN (Subscriptions)
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any plans to seek to pay United Kingdom subscriptions into CERN on a basis of a basket of currencies rather than on the basis of the Swiss franc.

  Mr. Jackson
  The method of calculating the contribution of CERN member states is currently being examined by a working group set up by the CERN finance committee. The United Kingdom is actively participating in the work of this group.

  Peripatetic and Advisory Teachers
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will introduce legislation to seek to amend section 27(1) of the Education Act 1980 to cover peripatetic and advisory teachers both at school and when undertaking pre-school teaching; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Both peripatetic and advisory teachers already come within the scope of section 27(1) of the 1980 Act in so far as they are teachers at schools. Teaching of children of pre-school age is similarly covered in so far as it takes place at a school. We have no plans to extend the scope of the section to further categories of staff.

  Free School Meals
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children currently receive free school meals in(a) the Inner London education authority area and (b) the London borough of Lewisham.

  Mr. Dunn
  In October 1986, the latest date for which information is available, 90,237 pupils in ILEA received a free school meal. I regret that information in respect of Lewisham is not separately available.

WALES

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what figures he has to show the number and percentage of

  Source of Aid

  £ million

  Year

  European Regional Development Fund (Quota)—Net

  European Investment Bank1

  European Social Fund2

  1975

  0·382

  —

  0·115

  1976

  0·343

  26·000

  0·269

  1977

  0·370

  —

  —

  1978

  3·314

  22·900

  0·142

  1979

  2·133

  120·600

  —

  1980

  1·121

  —

  —

  1981

  1·944

  —

  0·047

  1982

  1·499

  —

  0·001

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  people employed in each official category of employment in Mid-Glamorgan and the Rhymney Valley, respectively, at the latest available date.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The available information is as follows:

  Employees in employment (thousands)

  SIC 801

  Per cent.

  Mid Glamorgan

  0 Agriculture, forestry and fishing

  1·1

  0·7

  1 Energy and Water Supply

  17·7

  11·7

  2 Extraction of minerals and ores other than fuels; manufacture of metals, mineral products and chemicals

  6·1

  4·0

  3 Metal goods, engineering and vehicles industries

  19·2

  12·7

  4 Other manufacturing industries

  19·4

  12·8

  5 Construction

  8·6

  5·7

  6 Distribution, hotels and catering; repairs

  21·2

  14·0

  7 Transport and communication

  6·0

  3·9

  8 Banking, finance, insurance, business services and leasing

  7·5

  4·9

  9 Other services

  44·9

  29·6

  All industries and services

  151·7

  100·0

  Rhymney Valley district

  0 Agriculture, forestry and fishing

  0·4

  1·6

  1 Energy and Water Supply

  3·2

  13·1

  2–4 Manufacturing industries

  7·6

  31·0

  5 Construction

  1·2

  5·0

  6 Distribution, hotels and catering; repairs

  3·2

  13·2

  7–8 Transport and communication, banking, finance, insurance, business services and leasing

  2·2

  8·8

  9 Other services

  6·7

  27·3

  All industries and services

  24·7

  100·0

  1 Standard Industrial Classification (1980) Divisions.

  Source: Census of Employment 1984.

  Gwynedd (EC Grants)
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the amount of identifiable grants and loans received in Gwynedd by the European Economic Community for each of the years of United Kingdom membership.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Total identifiable European Community grants and loans to Gwynedd are as follows:
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  Year

  European Regional Development Fund (Quota)—Net

  European Investment Bank1

  European Social Fund2

  1983

  1·664

  —

  0·012

  1984

  1·306

  —

  —

  1985

  3·774

  4·000

  0·052

  1986

  4·102

  2·200

  0·220

  1987

  1·248

  —

  —

  Total to date

  23·200

  175·700

  0·858

  1 Figures for 1987 not readily available.

TRANSPORT

  A2 (Traffic Levels)
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, further to his reply of 16 March, he will list by year the predicted average and peak traffic numbers by total and broken down by freight and passenger cars for

  1984

  1986

  1987

  1993

  2008

  Per cent. HGV

  Per cent. HGV

  Per cent. HGV

  Per cent. HFV

  Lydden-Whitfield road (A256)

  14,000

  15,000

  13

  16,000

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Whitfield-Deal road (A258)

  13,000

  14,000

  28

  17,000

  23

  7,000

  7

  9,000

  9

  8,000

  8

  12,000

  8

  Deal road-Dover Eastern docks

  15,000

  16,000

  25

  17,000

  21

  12,000

  6

  14,000

  7

  14,000

  6

  19,000

  6

  The net present values were assessed using the Department's standard cost-benefit analysis. It was assumed that dualling would be undertaken at the same time as major maintenance, that the programmed M20/A20 improvement schemes would be completed, and that the accident rate on the A2 would improve as a result of street lighting installation.

  Cyclists (Helmets)
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will introduce legislation to make the wearing of helmets for cyclists compulsory.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  There are no plans to make the wearing of pedal cycle safety helmets compulsory. It is sensible for cyclists to wear helmets. Almost half of cycle casualties suffered some sort of head injury. Three quarters of all cycle deaths involve head injuries.

  Cherished Registration Numbers
  Mr. Waller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether those persons whose vehicles have been allocated cherished registration numbers as a result of criminal action will be permitted to retain them.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Cherished registration numbers found by the Department to have been obtained through criminal action are normally withdrawn from circulation. Requests to reinstate such numbers are granted where the Department is satisfied that the keeper of the vehicle bearing a particular number acquired that number in good faith and that there is no risk of other claims to it arising.
  130
  the A2 between the Lydden to Whitfield road (A256) and Whitfield to Deal road (A258) for each year from 1979 until 2005; and what are the methodology and assumptions used in calculating the net present values shown in his reply.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The actual and predicted annual average daily traffic flows available are as follows:

  Speed Limits
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what representations he has received about the 30 mph speed limit; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what representations he has received concerning the 70 mph speed limit; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Speed limits are the subject of much correspondence, reflecting a wide range of views. We believe that the 30 mph national speed limit in built-up areas and the 70 mph national speed limit on motorways and dual carriageways — unless signs show otherwise — strike the right balance between mobility and safety. Departmental circulars set out the general criteria for assessment of the most appropriate speed limit under different circumstances.

  Vehicle Registration Numbers
  Mr. Waller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many vehicle registration numbers have been wrongly allocated by the driver and vehicle licensing centre as a result of criminal action.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  About 1,200 registration numbers have been withdrawn in the last six years because of doubts over their validity arising from criminal trials. The majority have been reinstated after the completion of the relevant court cases and detailed investigation by the Department, either because criminal action had not been proved, or because the numbers were in the possession of innocent parties and there was no risk of duplication. Exact figures could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Disabled Travellers (London)
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action is being taken to provide a coordinated transport system for disabled travellers in London; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  Considerable co-ordination between British Rail and London Regional Transport—the main transport providers in the capital—has already been achieved, with benefits to all public transport users. Of special interest to disabled travellers is the introduction this weekof LRT's "Carelink" bus, serving all London's main line railway stations with an hourly service connecting with the wheelchair-accessible "Airbus" for Heathrow. This now completes the link between BR's already accessible InterCity routes and the capital's major airport. Dial-a-Ride users in London can also be linked up with these services. In addition, there is a steadily growing pool of wheelchair — accessible taxis available in London, the majority of which are on radio circuits and able to provide a door-to-door service or connect with other accessible forms of transport.

  Manchester Airport
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the outcome of the negotiations held on 17–18 March between the British and United States Government about United States carrier access to Manchester international airport; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Regrettably, agreement was not reached with the United States Government at the discussions held on 17–18 March that would permit the immediate commencement of additional services to Manchester by United States carriers.

  Both sides agreed to pursue matters emerging from the discussions that might lead to early progress being made. At the very latest, a second round of talks will be held after the volume of air traffic during the summer season is known.

  Woolwich Ferry
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many complaints he has received since I April 1987 about the reduced level of service on the Woolwich ferry caused by the industrial dispute; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The Department has received 10 letters and some 10 telephone calls.

  We are concerned about both the poor level of service and the disproportionate cost to the taxpayer. I am meeting the leader of Greenwich borough council in the next few days to assess the likelihood of a successful outcome to the negotiations with its workforce to end the work-to-rule and start a cost-effective and efficient service.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Bophuthatswana
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance is being given by Her Majesty's Government to the Tumelong project in Bophuthatswana.
  132
  Mr. Eggar
  A cooking stove and school equipment to the value of £771·60 have been donated for the use of a creche run under the auspices of the Tumelong mission, a non-government institution.

  Gibraltar (Shootings)
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what communication he has had with the authorities in Gibraltar following his statement to the House on 7 March about the killing of three unarmed United Kingdom citizens by members of Her Majesty's forces.

  Mr. Mellor
  Such communications are confidential.

  Third World Debt
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects to meet the other EEC Foreign Ministers to discuss Third world debt; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 3 February 1988, at column 639.

  NATO Summit (Brussels)
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received about the NATO summit meeting he attended in Brussels in March; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  A number of individuals and groups have written about the NATO summit. The vast majority of these have rightly welcomed what was a most successful reaffirmation of NATO's principles and objectives.

  Mr. Ghulam Farid
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why, in the case of Mr. Ghulam Farid, he is not able to offer an interview for an entry clearance application until spring 1989; and if he will give the reason for this delay.

  Mr. Eggar
  Priority is given to first-time applicants. Mr. Farid has previously been refused entry clearance on the grounds that the entry clearance officer was not satisfied that he was related to his sponsor in the United Kingdom, as claimed. His subsequent appeal was dismissed by an independent adjudicator. In fairness to the many other applicants awaiting first interview, Mr. Farid must continue to wait his turn in the re-applicants queue.

  USSR-UK (Educational Exchanges)
  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he is taking to promote exchanges and educational visits by young people from the Soviet Union and Britain.

  Mr. Mellor
  Such exchanges are explicitly provided for in the memorandum of understanding signed during my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's visit to the Soviet Union last year. We are actively supporting them through assistance to organisations such as the British Council and the Central Bureau for Educational Visits and Exchanges.

  Antarctic Minerals Convention
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the current draft negotiating text of the Antarctic minerals convention.

  Mr. Eggar
  Yes. I am placing copies in the Library today.

  Sharpeville Six
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to inform the House of Commons when he receives a response from the South African Government to Her Majesty's Government's representations on behalf of the Sharpeville Six.

  Mrs. Chalker
  On 17 March the South African Supreme Court ordered a stay of execution until 18 April on the Sharpeville Six. We await the outcome of the court proceedings.

  Foreign Affairs Council
  Mr. Sackville
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Foreign Affairs Council on 22 March.

  Mrs. Chalker
  My right hon. and learned Friend attended the Foreign Affairs Council and a subsequent meeting of European Community Foreign Ministers in Brussels on 22 March. Most of the meeting was devoted to political co-operation issues. In particular, there was a full discussion of the current Vienna negotiations of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe 134
  (CSCE). There was agreement on the importance of securing a balanced outcome to the Vienna meeting, ensuring progress in all aspects of the CSCE process. The NATO summit having established a sound framework for negotiation on conventional arms control, discussions concentrated on the issue of human rights, and it was agreed to instruct our delegations in Vienna to maintain firm pressure for substantial improvement in the performance of the Soviet Union and the countries of eastern Europe in this field. We shall be seeking significant new commitments, together with machinery to ensure the implementation of both new and old undertakings in the sphere of human rights. My right hon. and learned Friend emphasised that, for us, this was an indispensable part of the CSCE process.

  A number of other current international issues, including South Africa, were also discussed.

  The Council reviewed follow-up to the European Council in Brussels last month and considered the development of the Community's relations with Israel and Hungary.

  Torture
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Her Majesty's Government will be in a position to ratify the United Nations convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

  Mr. Eggar
  Further to my reply of 7 March at column 8, we intend to introduce amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill which will enable us to ratify the United Nations convention against torture later this year.

ENERGY

  Nuclear Accidents
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy who will be liable to bear the cost of compensation in the event of an accident involving a nuclear power station after the privatisation of the electricity supply industry.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Existing arrangements under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 will continue after privatisation.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to the answer of 7 March,Official Report, column 20, if he will list by Civil Service grade the number of officials in his Department located outside London; and what proportion they represent of all officials employed by his Department in each grade.

  Mr. Parkinson
  The table gives the information:

  Grade

  Number

  Percentage

  Unified Grading 5

  4

  10

  Unified Grading 6

  8

  36

  Unified Grading 7

  22

  18

  Senior Executive Officer

  3

  8

  Higher Executive Officer

  10

  11

  Executive Officer

  11

  9

  Administrative Officer

  21

  18

  Administrative Assistant

  7

  13

  Senior Personal Secretary

  1

  10

  Personal Secretary

  7

  14

  Typist

  21

  56

  Typing Manager

  2

  50

  Messenger

  4

  22

  Storekeeper

  1

  100

  Senior Professional Technology Officer

  5

  23

  Professional Technology Officer

  1

  100

  Assistant Librarian

  1

  33

  Petroleum Specialist IV

  4

  19

  Petroleum Specialist V

  1

  100

  Reservoir Evaluation Specialist IV

  3

  22

  Area Meter Examiner

  6

  67

  Meter Examiner

  7

  70

  Area Gas Examiner

  3

  100

  Gas Examiner

  5

  100

  Gas Meter Examiner II

  6

  60

  Gas Meter Examiner III

  6

  60

  Chief Gas Meter Examiner

  1

  100

  Assistant Chief Gas Meter Examiner

  1

  100

  Senior Scientific Officer

  3

  43

  Higher Scientific Officer

  3

  60

  Scientific Officer

  4

  100

  Assistant Scientific Officer

  1

  100

  Experimental Worker V

  3

  100

  R & D Craftsman

  1

  100

DEFENCE

  US Pilots
  Sir Eldon Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received from local authorities and others in the county of Suffolk about the impact on United States air crews stationed in the United Kingdom and on the Anglo-American liaison committees 136
  in Mildenhall and Lakenheath of allegations that United States pilots in charge of Fill strike aircraft fly them under the influence of heroin, alcohol and sexual delusions.

  Mr. Freeman
  I have so far received two letters from hon. Members about the image of the USAF portrayed in the play "Airbase" recently screened by the BBC and an associated article in the Radio Times. In addition I am informed that representations have been made direct to the BBC by local authorities, who have expressed their strong support for the role of the USAF in this country. I should add that the Government retain the highest confidence in the professional standards of the US forces stationed here.

  Early Warning System
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the present field of view, in all dimensions, of the Fylingdales ballistic missile early warning system station; and if there is any other early warning system that would detect a ballistic missile attack on the United Kingdom which did not pass through the field of view of the Fylingdales station;

  (2) if Her Majesty's Government or Her Majesty's forces have access to information gathered at BMEWS sites in Greenland and Alaska.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  I have nothing to add to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Member for Kettering (Mr. Freeman) to the hon. Member for Monklands, West (Mr. Clarke) on 24 March 1987 at column 136. I am not prepared to reveal the detailed operational characteristics of the Fylingdales system.

  Vanguard Submarines and Trident Missiles
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guidance or position locating systems are to be used by the Vanguard class submarines or their Trident missiles.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Vanguard class SSBNs will be equipped with an electrostatically supported gyro navigator (ESGN), a gravity sensing system (GSS) and a range of radio and sonar navigational aids. The Trident D5 missile has a stellar aided inertial reference navigational system.

  Northern Ireland
  Mr. Dickens
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to recall a number of those units of the British Army currently serving in Northern Ireland to a mainland location from where they could readily reinforce the troops remaining in Northern Ireland in the event of an emergency.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  No. Force levels in Northern Ireland are kept constantly under review, and no reductions are currently planned.

  Private Ian Richard Thain
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what terms Private Ian Richard Thain was retained by the Army during his imprisonment, detailing his status and arrangements made regarding his wages.

  Mr. Freeman
  While in prison Private Thain continued to be a serving soldier, but was not paid his military salary. Nor did his period of imprisonment count as reckonable service towards his term of engagement or his pension.
  137
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the solicitor acting on Private Thain's parole was(a) contracted, (b) paid or (c) advised by his Department.

  Mr. Freeman
  No public money was used to meet the cost of Private Thain's solicitor. It is normal practice to give such assistance as necessary to service men in custody; they are entitled to seek legal advice, and their advisors are given such assistance by the services as is deemed necessary. In Private Thain's case, his solicitors were provided with factual and background information concerning his service in the Army.

SCOTLAND

  Electricity Privatisation
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received on his proposals for the privatisation of the electricity generating and supply industry in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  Ten representations have been received since my right hon. and learned Friend's statement to the House on 2 March. These will be taken into account in formulating our detailed plans.

  Mr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received on his plans to safeguard the economic well-being of remoter mainland and island communities under his electricity privatisation proposals.

  Mr. Lang
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer which I have given today to the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce).

  Forestry
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received about the increasing afforestation of the border hills.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My noble Friend the Minister of State has received representations from the right hon. Member for Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale (Mr. Steel). In addition, a number of representations have been made to Scottish Office Ministers about individual planting applications.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations he has had with the Forestry Commission concerning the new forestry grant arrangements; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Advice given to Ministers by their departments is confidential.

  Sir Hector Monro
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is in a position to announce details of the new forestry grant scheme referred to in his answer of 16 March,Official Report, columns 585–87.

  Mr. Rifkind
  In the answer I gave on 16 March to a question put by my hon. Friend. I stated that the changes to the tax and grant arrangements announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer were designed to provide a simpler and more widely acceptable system of support for private forestry.
  138
  The Forestry Commission's forestry grant scheme and broadleaved woodland grant scheme were closed to new applications from 15 March 1988, and will be replaced on 5 April 1988 by a single grant scheme, to be known as the woodland grant scheme. The European Commission is being informed under the provisions of article 93 of the treaty of Rome. Applications may be made under this scheme from 5 April 1988, but cannot be approved until clearance of the scheme by the European Commission.

  The scheme will apply to the establishment and restocking of broadleaved, conifer and mixed woodlands, whether by planting or by natural regeneration, and to the rehabilitation of neglected woodland under 20 years of age. It will also cover planting done under the farm woodland scheme.

  The objectives of the scheme are:
  to encourage timber production;
  to provide jobs in and increase the economic potential of rural areas with declining agricultural employment and few alternative sources of economic activity;
  to provide an alternative to agricultural production and thereby assist in the reduction of agricultural surpluses; to enhance the landscape, to create new wildlife habitats and to provide for recreation and sporting uses in the longer term;
  to encourage the conservation and regeneration of existing forests and woodlands.

  The rates of grant will be increased to the levels set out in the following table:

  Rates of grant

  Area approved for planting or regeneration (hectares)

  Conifers £ per hectares

  Broadleaves £ per hectares

  Area band 0·25–0·9

  1,005

  1,575

  1·0–2·9

  880

  1,375

  3·0–9·9

  795

  1,175

  10 and over

  615

  975

  These rates of grant are generally £375 per hectare higher than those tinder the forestry grant scheme and the broadleaved woodland grant scheme, but the increase for broadleaved trees planted or regenerated in mixed woodlands will be substantially larger.

  The rates of grant for conifer planting done under the farm woodland scheme will remain unchanged; broad-leaved planting under that scheme will, however, be eligible for the new broadleaved grants.

  For new planting on existing arable or improved grassland of less than 10 years of age which is undertaken outside the farm woodland scheme, there will be a supplement of £200 per hectare.

  Apart from the increased rates of grant and the special supplement for planting on better land, the scheme will have a number of important features:
  the simplicity of a scheme which replaces two schemes with different conditions, and which covers all forms of planting, regeneration and rehabilitation of woodlands;
  a substantial differential in favour of broadleaves;
  all broadleaved planting, whether it be on its own or in mixture, will attract the same rates of grant;
  the broadleaved rate of grant will also apply to the planting and natural regeneration of native pinewoods in specified areas of Scotland;
  environmental objectives and provisions that will apply to all types of woodland;
  all types of natural regeneration will now be eligible for the first instalment of grant-aid at the time the preparatory work is carried out;

  139
  grants for the rehabilitation of derelict woodlands under 20 years of age will now include conifer and mixed woodlands;
  grants will be paid in three instalments over 10 years. For conifers as well as for broadleaves, the second and third instalments will attract the rates of grant applicable when they fall due;
  grant bands will be determined by the total area approved for planting regeneration under the application and not, as was the case under the Forestry Grant Scheme, by the size of the woodland of which such planting or regeneration might form a part.

  The scheme will encompass a wide range of management objectives designed not only to provide timber but to encourage the development of multi-purpose woodland management, to achieve a proper balance between broadleaves and conifers, to enable forestry to play its full part as an alternative use of agricultural land no longer needed for food production, and to ensure that the expansion of forestry takes place in harmony with other land uses and the environment.

  In this connection, applications relating to the establishment and restocking of broadleaved woodland will be subject to the provisions of the guidelines for the management of broadleaved woodland published by the Forestry Commission, and the new scheme will incorporate similar guidelines for the management of all types of woodland. These will be subject to the review of our broadleaves policy which is due to take place later this year.

  Full details of the new woodland grant scheme are set out in a Forestry Commission leaflet, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House.

  I am sure the announcement of this new scheme, with its greatly improved rates of grant and wide-ranging objectives, will serve to underline the Government's commitment to the sensitive yet vigorous expansion of forestry.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to be in a position to give details of the new forestry grant arrangements; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 21 March 1988]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given today to my right hon. Friend the Member for Dumfries (Sir H. Monro).

  Postal Charges
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received on the implications for the economy of the Highlands and Islands of the level of charges for postal and related services.

  Mr. Lang
  My right hon. and learned Friend has received no such representations. Specific arrangements exist for consumers to make detailed representations about tariffs to the Post Office Users' Council for Scotland. The Post Office's corporate plan forms part of a framework of monitoring and control of the business set by my noble Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

  Medical Operations (Cancellations)
  Mr. Irvine
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of operations cancelled in Scottish hospitals since the industrial action by the trades unions began; and if he will make a statement.
  140
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Health boards report that, as at 18 March, 2,609 operations had not taken place because of industrial action. In addition, almost 30,000 man-days have been lost, over 40,000 disposable sheets have been used and nearly 80,000 meals have been affected. On 24 February there was inadequate emergency cover for one or more services in more than 20 hospitals, and there have been similar instances on other days. I deplore the adverse effects upon patients and waiting lists.

  Iceland (Energy Supply)
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Government of Iceland on the question of energy supply.

  Mr. Lang
  I met the Icelandic Minister of Industry on 22 January when, in the course of a brief discussion, he drew attention to various ideas which have been aired regarding a possible power link between Iceland and the United Kingdom.

  Project 2,000
  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he proposes to implement Project 2,000.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  We want to receive an education and training which not only equips them for their future roles, but is sufficiently attractive to recruit and retain those who might otherwise be tempted into other fields. We fully recognise the importance of the proposals that the UKCC has put forward which are designed to meet these ends, and hope to be in a position to make a response very soon.

  Public Opinion (Assessment)
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what facilities exist within his Department for the assessment of Scottish public opinion on matters relating to Government policy.

  Mr. Rifkind
  My Departments consult extensively on all appropriate issues with those most concerned; my colleagues and I take careful account of representations made to us, and public inquiries and official meetings are arranged as required.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many inward investment announcements have been made in Scotland since 1981; how many jobs and what level of investment is involved; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  Since 1981 Locate in Scotland is aware of 386 decisions involving planned investment in Scotland by inward investors of £2·6 billion leading to the creation and safeguarding of 50,000 jobs.

  Hospital Patients (Statistics)
  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many in-patients and out-patients were treated in Scottish hospitals(a) in 1979 and (b) in 1987.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  In the year ending 31 March 1979 there were 737,816 in-patient discharges from NHS
  141
  hospitals in Scotland and 5,206,078 out-patient attendances. The corresponding figures for the year ending 31 March 1987 were 842,524 and 5,670,434. In addition, day cases treated increased over the same period from 80,271 to 158,841.

  Council House Rents
  Mr. Forth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the average council house rent in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas Hamilton
  Scottish local authorities budgeted for an average council house rent of £14·65 per house per week in 1987–88. They have now set rent levels for 1988–89 and the average is 16·27 per house per week.

  Ancient Monuments
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received regarding the care of ancient monuments in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. and learned Friend receives many representations covering a wide range of topics, from both organisations and individuals. We can provide more information on my hon. Friend's specific area of interest if he would let us know what that is.

  Mining Industry
  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he proposes to take to protect employment in the Scottish mining industry.

  Mr. Lang
  The Government are, of course, always concerned that overall employment levels within Scotland should be as high as possible, but within particular sectors this must depend on the strength and competitiveness of the industries involved.

  Curriculum and Assessment (Report)
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received on "Curriculum and Assessment in Scotland: A Policy for the 1990s".

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Some 400 responses to the consultation paper have been received to date from members of the public and from a range of bodies including education authorities, colleges of education, schools, school councils, parents organisations and churches. I expect to have further responses before the consultation period closes at Easter.

  Rates Increases
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the average level of rates increases announced by Scottish local authorities to date for 1988–89; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  The average domestic rate bill for a Scottish household will increase by 5·2 per cent. in 1988–89; 47 per cent. of the population will experience no rate increase at all. This confirms the generosity of my right hon. and 142
  learned Friend's rate support grant settlement for the year and renders all the more unacceptable the high rate increases imposed by some authorities.

  Inverclyde Initiative
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last discussed the Inverclyde initiative with Sir Robin Duthie, chairman of the Scottish Development Agency; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  The Secretary of State for Scotland regularly meets the chairman of the Scottish Development Agency to discuss the whole range of activities of the agency, including the Inverclyde initiative.

  The Government remain fully committed to the regeneration of Inverclyde, in particular to its support, through the Scottish Development Agency, for the Inverclyde initiative. The initiative has already made substantial progress and I am encouraged by the further developments planned and in hand.

  St. Bede's School, Balornock
  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received on provisions for the future educational needs of the handicapped children presently attending St. Bede's school, Balornock; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  We have received 11 representations about handicapped children attending St. Bede's primary school. It is for Strathclyde regional council to decide what provision it will make for these children.

  Merksworth High School, Paisley
  Mr. Allen Adams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will meet the parents and staff of Merksworth high school, Paisley, to discuss the future of the school.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I have no plans to visit Merksworth high school at present. The future of the school is a matter for Strathclyde regional council in the first instance.

  Private Health Service Contractors
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met representatives of private health service contractors; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I refer the hon. Member to my replies to him of 24 and 26 February, at cols.237, and 367–68.

  Scottish Bus Group
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of Stale for Scotland what representations he has received about the privatisation of the Scottish Bus Group; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Some 17 representations have been received about the privatisation of the Scottish Bus Group. Most relate to the form which privatisation of the group might take and to the continuance of travel passes for retired employees of
  143
  subsidiary companies. The representations will be borne in mind when decisions are taken on the future of the bus group.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Andy Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many Scottish local authorities have refused to co-operate with the implementation process for the community charge; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  The implementation of the new system is the statutory responsibility of regional and islands councils in Scotland, all of which are taking the necessary steps to prepare for the introduction of the community charge on 1 April 1989.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will delay the implementation of the Abolition of Domestic Rates etc. Scotland Act 1987 until such time as all the parliamentary regulations and orders relating to it have been made and approved; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  No. Satisfactory progress is being made in bringing forward the necessary regulations under the Abolition of Domestic Rates Etc. (Scotland) Act 1987 and my right hon. and learned Friend has no intention of delaying its implementation.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the impact on areas with high levels of need and demand for local government services of the introduction of a flat-rate community charge for the whole of Scotland.

  Mr. Lang
  Client group assessments of expenditure need have been developed in conjunction with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to take account of variations in both the need for services and the costs of providing services. The distribution of revenue support grant to authorities will be based on these assessments. The principle behind grant distribution will be that two authorities responsible for the same range of services should have the same community charge if they spend at assessed need.

  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether registers, compiled for the purpose of levying the community charge, will be placed in public libraries; and if he will list details which will be recorded on such registers.

  Mr. Lang
  Section 20 of the Abolition of Domestic Rates Etc. (Scotland) Act 1987 and regulation 17 of the Community Charges (Registration) (Scotland) Regulations 1988 provide that the publicly available parts of the community charges register will be available for inspection at the office of the registration officer and at the headquarters of regional, islands and district councils.

  The information thus to be made available for public inspection consists of the addresses and names contained in the community charges register, and the collective community charge multiplier applying to certain premises.

  National Health Service (Resources)
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations or representations he has had about continuing the supply of extra finance and other resources to the National Health Service in Scotland.
  144
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  An additional sum of £7·6 million was made available by my right hon. and learned Friend in December in order to enable health boards in Scotland to take a number of additional measures to reduce waiting lists and make further improvements within the current financial year. No specific representations have been made about continuing this specific additional funding in future years, but expenditure on the National Health Service in Scotland in 1988–89 is planned to increase by about £120 million over this year.

  A96 (Improvements)
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received about the time scale for improvements to the A96.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Since June 1987, 12 representations about improvements of the A96 trunk road have been received, including those from the hon. Member. The remainder have come from the commerce and industry sector, from Moray and Nairn district councils and from other local interests and individuals.

  Crime Prevention Panels
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to change the way crime prevention panels are selected and appointed; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Crime prevention panels are non-statutory bodies set up on the initiative of chief constables. Appointments to them are best left to local decision by the chief constable concerned.

  National Health Service (Funding)
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many representations he has received from doctors, nurses and other National Health Service employees in favour of increased funding of the Health Service in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  A significant number of the representations I have recently received about Health Service financing appear to be from NHS personnel, but since correspondents do not always specify their employment it is not possible to identify the total number.

  Scottish Council
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next plans to meet the Scottish Council (Development and Industry) to discuss industrial policy.

  Mr. Lang
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no current plans to do so.

  Hospital Beds
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has concerning the latest number of patients whose admission to hospital has been postponed due lack of beds.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  No information on this subject is available centrally.

  Free Enterprise
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to encourage free enterprise in Scotland.

  Mr. Lang
  The Government can best encourage enterprise by providing the right economic climate for businesses to set up and expand in order to create wealth and provide jobs.

  Enterprise is further stimulated by the Government's policies on competition, privatisation and deregulation.

  In addition, the enterprise initiative launched in January will provide fresh impetus to the continuing drive to enhance the enterprise culture in Scotland.

  South of Scotland Electricity Board
  Mr. Douglas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next proposes to meet the chairman of the South of Scotland Electricity Board; and what matters he proposes to discuss.

  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.

  Highlands and Islands (Postal Services)
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next expects to meet the chairman of the Scottish Post Office Board to discuss services to the Highlands and Islands.

  Mr. Lang
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans to meet the chairman of the Scottish Post Office Board to discuss services to the Highlands and Islands. The Post Office's corporate plan forms part of a framework of monitoring and control of the business set by my noble Friend the Secretary of State for Industry.

  Glasgow Garden Festival
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the ratio of public to private sector expenditure on the Glasgow garden festival; and what have been the sums of money involved.

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

  The development, construction and operation of the 1988 Glasgow garden festival is the responsibility of the Scottish Development Agency, which is meeting the cost within a total budget of £41·4 million. The net cost of the festival is dependent on a number of factors, notably the number of visitors, but is presently estimated to be some £18·7 million. In addition, the festival organisers have sought involvement from a wide variety of public and private sector sources and the value of such contributions is presently estimated at some £14·6 million.

  Industrial Output Growth
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his latest estimate of the annual rate of growth of output of Scottish industry; and if he will make a statement.
  146
  Mr. Lang
  Manufacturing output in Scotland in the second quarter of 1987 was 5 per cent. higher than a year earlier. Recent business surveys point to a further strong rise in manufacturing output in the second half of 1987.

  Ethnic Monitoring
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has as to the ethnic composition of staff in his Department; what is the total number of staff; and how many are(a) Welsh, (b) Scottish, (c) English and (d) members of ethnic minorities.

  Mr. Rifkind
  The total number of staff in the Scottish Office, excluding the Scottish Prison Service, was 6,525 on 1 March 1988. It is not known how many staff are Welsh, Scottish or English, but in a recent voluntary survey of the ethnic origins of staff, which achieved a response rate of 88 per cent., 99·6 per cent. of respondents classified themselves as "White", 0·3 per cent. as "Asian" and 0·1 per cent. as "Black".

  NHS Services
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make it his policy to compare tenders for National Health Service domestic and catering services in the Western Isles on a like-to-like basis, in particular, as regards wages to be paid to ancillary staff.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  It is the responsibility of individual health boards to evaluate tenders before awarding contracts. Boards have been told that they must ensure that all comparisons of tender costs are undertaken on a fair and equitable basis in accordance with the guidelines set down by the Scottish Home and Health Department. The particular wage rates to be paid by outside contractors to their employees are a matter for the firms concerned.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many of the commercial contractors who have so far expressed an interest in offering competitive tenders for the National Health Service catering and domestic services in the Western Isles are based in the Western Isles;

  (2) if he will list those commercial contractors who have expressed an interest in offering competitive tenders for the provision of National Health Service catering and domestic services in the Western Isles;

  (3) what is the estimated total cost to the Western Isles health board of preparation for competitive tendering in accordance with the instructions issued to the board on 11 December; and if he will express this as a percentage of the board's domestic and catering services budget.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This information is not available centrally.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidelines he has issued to ensure the maintenance of current standards of service in those areas of the National Health Service domestic and catering service to be subject to commercial tender following the instructions issued by his Department to the Western Isles health board on 11 December 1987.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This subject was covered in general guidance on competitive tendering issued to
  147
  boards in 1983, 1986 and in the Scottish Home and Health Department's letter of 11 December 1987 to boards general managers.

  Teachers of the Deaf
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many teachers of the deaf are being trained in Scotland in the academic year 1987–88; and how many will be trained in the academic year 1988–89.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Five teachers of the deaf are being trained in Scotland in the present academic year. Decisions have not yet been reached on the intake of students for 1988–89.

  "Inside Intelligence"
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the cost to date of proceedings in Scotland in relation to Anthony Cavendish's book, "Inside Intelligence".

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Proceedings in Scotland in relation to Anthony Cavendish's book "Inside Intelligence", have been brought by the Lord Advocate on behalf of the Government. The expenses of these proceedings and liability for their payment will only be known once the proceedings are concluded and when accounts have been lodged with and taxed by the Auditor of Court.

  Harbours
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list by region the amount of expenditure incurred by central Government for the improvement of harbour facilities throughout Scotland in the last five years for which information is available.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland and the Scottish Development Department operate financial aid schemes for all Scottish fishery harbours and ferry harbours throughout the Highlands and Islands. Assistance may be by grant and/or loan. The total expenditure for the five years up to 1987–88 is as follows:

  Region

  Expenditure £

  Lothian

  21,124

  Grampian

  1,401,191

  Fife

  95,137

  Tayside

  193,425

  Highland

  5,097,307

  Strathclyde

  2,278,487

  Shetland

  1,046,228

  Orkney

  958,946

  Western Isles

  1,875,284

  There has been no expenditure incurred on harbours in the Borders or Dumfries and Galloway regions.

  Pittenweem Harbour
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on support for improvements to Pittenweem harbour; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Government policy remains that of supporting investment at fishery harbours where it 148
  makes both fishing and economic sense. Fife regional council is at present preparing an investment appraisal on a variety of options to develop the harbour at Pittenweem.

  Until the results of that exercise are submitted to the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland I am unable to indicate what level of support, if any, Her Majesty's Government will be prepared to give to the proposed development.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what studies have been, or are being, carried out by his Department in relation to proposed improvements to Pittenweem harbour; and when the results of these are likely to be made public.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland's responsibilities are to examine the proposals put forward by the harbour authority concerned. Fife regional council carried out a site survey of the harbour at Pittenweem, assisted financially by the Department.

  From the results of the survey the council has prepared a variety of development options upon which it is now carrying out an investment appraisal exercise. Until the investment appraisal exercise is completed and the results submitted to the Department I am unable to make any further comment.

  Soft Fruit Growers
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the total amount of additional funds he proposes to make available to growers of soft fruit in Scotland in the light of the Government's ban on the use of Dinoseb; over what period these will be available; for what purposes they will be available; and what will the maximum amount any one grower can receive in a calendar year.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The purpose of the new scheme will be to assist commercial raspberry growers in Scotland to replace existing plantations of the variety Glen Clova. Details of the scheme will be announced as soon as possible.

  Schools (Staffing Review)
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects the review of staffing as recommended by the Main committee in schools Joint National Council for teaching staff in school education, circular SE40 paragraph 7, to be completed.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I hope that the Department's review of staffing standards will be completed in time to incorporate its findings in guidance to education authorities by the end of the 1987–88 session.

  Rate Rebates
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much was paid to Shetland Islands council under section 2(1) of the Rating (Revaluation Rebates) (Scotland) Act 1985, in respect of the years 1985–86, 1986–87 and 1987–88.

  Mr. Lang
  The information is set out in the table.
  149

  Year

  Amount Paid

  £

  1985–86

  362,611

  1986–87

  200,842

  1987–88

  148,200

  The grant paid for the current financial year is an advance of 95 per cent. of the estimated rebates for the year of £156,000.

SOCIAL SERVICES

  Rating Reform
  Mr. McKelvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what will be the increase in family income supplement made to cover the 20 per cent. minimum poll tax payment; and in how many individual cases in Scotland that increase will not cover the full cost of the minimum contribution.

  Actual Maximum of Scale

  Maximum of Scale at Constant 1974 Prices2

  Date of Settlement

  Staff Nurse

  Ward Sister

  Student Nurse

  Staff Nurse

  Ward Sister

  Student Nurse

  23 July 1974

  2,202

  3,000

  1,323

  2,202

  3,000

  1,323

  1 April 1975

  2,646

  3,552

  1,740

  2,096

  2,813

  1,378

  1 April 1976

  2,958

  3,864

  2,052

  2,076

  2,712

  1,440

  1 April 1977

  3,106

  4,057

  2,182

  1,854

  2,421

  1,302

  1 April 1978

  3,385

  4,429

  2,356

  1,874

  2,453

  1,305

  1 April 1979

  3,813

  4,949

  2,667

  1,826

  2,370

  1,277

  1 April 1980

  5,119

  6,807

  3,390

  2,096

  2,787

  1,388

  1 April 1981

  5,426

  7,215

  3,593

  2,003

  2,664

  1,327

  23 August 1982

  6,091

  8,103

  4,035

  2,069

  2,752

  1,370

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1,986

  2,642

  1,315

  1 April 1984

  6,582

  8,751

  4,277

  2,054

  2,731

  1,335

  1 April 1985

  6,960

  9,254

  4,523

  2,032

  2,702

  1,321

  1 July 1986

  7,750

  10,000

  4,875

  2,210

  2,852

  1,390

  1 April 1987

  8,600

  12,000

  5,170

  2,349

  3,278

  1,412

  1 No award in 1983 because of two year agreement in 1982.

  2 Figures deflated by Retail Price Index for July.

  Bank Nurses
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the Official Report the number of bank nurses employed by each regional health authority.

  Mr. Newton
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Southport (Mr. Fearn) on 18 March 1988 at columns 714–16.

  Nurses (Education)
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the percentage increase or decrease in expenditure on nurses' education for each of the years 1979 to 1987 expressed in(a) cash terms and (b) real terms.

  Mr. Newton
  The information requested is as follows:

  Percentage increase or decrease in expenditure on nurses' education and training (England)

  (a)

  (b)

  Cash terms

  Real terms

  1979–80

  + 17·1

  0

  1980–81

  + 24·3

  -5·1

  1981–82

  + 7·0

  -2·6

  1982–83

  + 5·5

  -1·6

  1983–84

  + 4·2

  -0·4

  150
  Mr. Scott
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to ray hon. Friend the Member for Cheadle (Mr. Day) and the hon. Member for Copeland (Dr. Cunningham) on 16 December 1987 at column 599–601. The precise amounts to be included in the income-related benefit levels from April 1989 (including family credit, which replaces family income supplement from April 1988) will be decided nearer the time.

  Nurses (Pay)
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the maximum pay scale for(a) a registered nurse, (b) a ward sister and (c) a student registered nurse at constant and cash prices for each year since 1974.

  Mr. Newton
  The information is given in the table:

  (a)

  (b)

  Cash terms

  Real terms

  1984–85

  - 1·4

  -5·6

  1985–86

  + 3·1

  -2·6

  1986–87

  + 2·6

  -0·5

  Spending on nurse training is determined largely by health authorities in the light of their local assessments of the future need for professional staff. The objective is to ensure that training provision matches the needs of the NHS, not to maintain any set level of expenditure.

  Benefit Claims
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether supplementary benefit claims drafted other than on forms produced by his Department can be accepted; and what instructions have been issued to benefit officers concerning the acceptance and processing of such claims.

  Mr. Portillo
  Claims for supplementary benefit do not have to be made on forms produced by this Department. However, when a claim is received, a questionnaire asking for precise details of the claimant's financial circumstances must be completed. The relevant instructions to local office staff are contained in the S manual, copies of which are held in the Library.
  151
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the availability of claim forms produced by his Department for supplementary benefit claimants, and the effects on the administration of his Department's duties.

  Mr. Portillo
  The initial supplementary benefit claim form SB1 is available from local offices of this Department, Crown post offices, most libraries, social services departments and many voluntary organisations. Unemployment benefit offices at present stock a similar form (SB21), but from 11 April they, too, will stock the SB1.

  Postal claim forms, which ask for precise details of a claimant's financial circumstances, are available from DHSS local offices only and, in the case of form B1 for unemployed claimants, from unemployment benefit offices.

  Children's Work
  Mr. Archer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any plans to seek to bring child-minding within the ambit of legislation on the hours and conditions of children's employment.

  Mrs. Currie
  Childminders are required to be registered by local authorities under the Nurseries and Childminders Regulation Act 1948. It is not considered that a local authority would register a child aged under 16 as a childminder.

  Payments (Orkney and Shetland)
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many individuals were in receipt of single payments in(a) Orkney and (b) Shetland in 1986–87, and in the latest financial year for which figures are available;

  (2) what the social fund allocation for 1988–89 is for Orkney;

  (3) how much was spent on single payments to claimants in Orkney in 1986–87.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Orkney isles are served by the Wick local office. Figures for the residents of Orkney are not kept separately in the information collected at Wick. Shetland is served by the local office in Lerwick.

  Information on the number of people in receipt of single payment is not kept and would be disproportionately costly to obtain. However, information broken down by local office on the number and amount of single payments made during the period April 1986 to April 1987 is available in the Library, as are social fund allocations for 1988–89.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list by Civil Service grade the number of officials in his Department located outside London; and what proportion they represent of all officials employed by his Department.

  Mr. Portillo
  On 1 January 1988, the total number of staff located outside the London pay area was 84,651, which represents 83.1 per cent. of all staff employed by the Department. The numbers are shown by grade as follows:
  152

  Number

  Grade 4

  3

  Grade 5

  12

  Grade 6

  53

  Grade 7

  432

  Senior Executive Officer

  896

  Higher Executive Officer

  4,376

  Local Officer I/Executive Officer

  18,924

  Local Officer II/Administrative Officer

  37,553

  Administrative Assistant

  13,785

  Secretarial/Typing Grades

  1,991

  Telephonist Grades

  157

  Reprographics Grades

  145

  Office Keeper Grades

  22

  Paper Keeper Grades

  290

  Messengers

  951

  Resettlement Officers

  146

  Medical Board Assistants

  19

  Radiographers

  7

  Handicraft Instructors

  5

  Security Officer Grades

  391

  Storekeeper Grades

  73

  Drivers

  12

  Cleaners

  501

  Eye Maker/Fitter Grades

  41

  Workshop Supervisors

  24

  Technologist Grades

  185

  Legal Grades

  12

  Statistician Grades

  5

  Medical Grades

  264

  Dental Grades

  30

  Nursing Grades

  10

  Hospital Grades

  3,016

  Social Service Inspector Grades

  64

  Industrials

  256

  Total

  84,651

  South Cumbria Health Authority
  Mr. Jopling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what changes in revenue have been made in South Cumbria district health authority during the last five years for which figures are available, both in cash and real terms and as percentages.

  Mrs. Currie
  The funding of South Cumbria health authority is a matter for the Northern regional health authority. However I understand that the information requested is as given in the table.

  Gross Revenue Expenditure1 (£000s)

  Percentage Increase

  1982–83

  1986–87

  Cash

  at 1986–87 prices

  Cash

  Cash

  Real Terms2

  19,301

  23,070

  26,348

  36·5

  14·2

  1 Figures are based on health authorities' summarised income and expenditure accounts.

  2 Adjusted by the Gross Domestic Product deflator.

  Income Disregards
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will state the real-term value of the £35 income disregard from occupational pensions above which unemployment benefit is abated for those aged 60 years and over as a percentage of the value in April 1981;

  (2) what would be the cost of restoring the 1981 real-term value of the £35 income disregard from occupational pensions above which unemployment benefit is abated (a) when applied to those aged 60 years and over and (b) when applied to those aged 55 years and over;
  153
  (3) what plans he has to increase the level of disregarded income from occupational pensions above which unemployment benefit is reduced for those aged 60 years and over.

  Mr. Scott
  Based on the movement in the retail prices index between April 1981 and January 1988 (the latest date for which information is available), the real-term value of the £35 threshold expressed as a percentage of the April 1981 value is 71·7 per cent. The cost of restoring the £35 threshold to its 1981 value would be about £7 million for those aged 60 or over and about £12 million for all those aged 55 or over. We have no immediate plans to increase the present threshold.

  Carers
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the likely increase in the number of carers of elderly, sick and disabled people in 1993 and 1998.

  Mr. Newton
  We do not hold information centrally which would enable us to make such an estimate. The OPCS 1985 general household survey, the results of which will be available in the near future, will provide better basic information, but it is doubtful whether it would enable credible forward projections to be made.

  Cold Weather Payment
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to increase the £500 capital limit in the criteria of eligibility for exceptionally cold weather payment.

  Mr. Scott
  The £500 capital limit is in line with that for other single payments of supplementary benefit. We shall be reviewing the exceptionally cold weather scheme in the light of this winter's experience.

  Pensioners (Identity Cards)
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to introduce a national identity card for retirement pensioners.

  Mr. Scott
  I have no plans to do so. Pensioners who have chosen to he paid by order book can produce the book as proof of pensioner status. Pensioners who have chosen to be paid by other means are issued, on request, with a card confirming pensioner status.

  Smokeless Tobacco Products
  Sir Dudley Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will detail the scientific and research evidence which has been produced to him in support of the proposed ban of all smokeless tobacco products;

  (2) on what statistical, scientific and analytical information his Department has based its proposed ban on all smokeless tobacco products.

  Mrs. Currie
  A large number of studies and reports have been taken into account by the Government. A detailed list of the references has been placed in the Library. Many are contained in a report of the advisory 154
  committee to the surgeon general of the United States Government on "The Health Consequences of Using Smokeless Tobacco" which was published in April 1986.

  NHS (Efficiency Savings)
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services in how many cases community health councils have identified value-for-money efficiency savings in the National Health Service since 1983 which have subsequently been implemented; and what are the savings so accrued that have been redirected to patient care.

  Mr. Newton
  I regret that this information is not collected centrally.

  Non-essential Operations
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the total number, cost and type of non-essential operations such as cosmetic surgery and sex change operations which were carried out in the National Health Service in the last year.

  Mrs. Currie
  It is for the clinician responsible for the care of the individual patient to decide whether treatment including surgery is necessary. The available statistics do not provide a breakdown of the reasons for which plastic surgery is performed. For information on the number and cost of sex change operations, I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Congleton (Mrs. Winterton) on 1 March 1988 at column 551.

  Tobacco (Labelling)
  Mr. Forth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he proposed to take to ensure compliance by Her Majesty's Government with the proposed European Community directive on the labelling of tobacco products, with particular regard to the harmonisation of national legislation governing the labelling of manufactured tobacco.

  Mrs. Currie
  If the European Community adopts a directive on the labelling of tobacco products, we will ensure that its terms are observed in the United Kingdom. We are anxious to maintain our system of controlling these matters by way of voluntary agreement between the Government and the tobacco industry. The European Commission is considering whether compliance by this means will be acceptable.

  South East Thames RHA (Emergency Departments)
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the total cost of each accident and emergency department in the South East Thames regional health authority area in the last year and if he will list how the total cost may be analysed under the headings of medical staff, nursing staff, medical and surgical supplies and equipment, pharmacy, radiology andother costs.

  Mrs. Currie
  The information for 1986–87 in respect of those hospitals in the South East Thames region which undertake treatment of accident and emergency patients is as follows:
  155

  Accident and emergency patients

  Analysis of total expenditure

  Health district and hospital

  Total expenditure

  Medical staff

  Nursing staff

  Medical and surgical supplies and equipment

  Pharmacy

  Radiology

  Other expenditure

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  Bexley

  Erith and District

  77,328

  12,178

  20,722

  3,273

  14,223

  4,305

  22,627

  Queen Mary's

  1,299,768

  325,089

  322,871

  87,811

  53,733

  78,557

  431,707

  Brighton

  Royal Sussex County

  1,103,160

  90,115

  453,872

  31,560

  71,310

  129,792

  326,511

  Bromley

  Beckenham

  77,644

  14,111

  29,124

  3,193

  3,834

  5,363

  22,019

  Bromley

  982,541

  133,697

  291,996

  61,388

  66,038

  160,405

  269,017

  Orpington

  464,532

  104,849

  125,638

  48,214

  16,744

  43,685

  125,402

  Camberwell

  King's College

  1,423,389

  219,067

  491,450

  50,309

  51,855

  161,726

  448,982

  Canterbury and Thanet

  Kent and Canterbury

  881,942

  118,953

  244,428

  76,361

  48,631

  86,015

  307,554

  Thanet District General Hospital

  494,758

  113,887

  139,223

  29,495

  20,495

  61,784

  129,874

  Dartford and Gravesham

  Gravesend and North Kent

  374,048

  57,779

  74,713

  18,995

  54,146

  54,145

  114,270

  West Hill

  1,039,855

  134,994

  318,401

  65,417

  22,463

  172,561

  326,019

  Eastbourne

  Eastbourne District General Hospital

  996,343

  159,302

  338,176

  72,613

  41,086

  105,124

  280,042

  Uckfield

  41,872

  3,013

  15,620

  6,312

  5,419

  —

  11,508

  Greenwich

  Brook General

  1,204,834

  129,883

  513,648

  65,118

  58,424

  113,422

  324,339

  Greenwich District General Hospital

  923,497

  86,935

  420,530

  59,076

  16,436

  47,808

  292,712

  Hastings

  Royal East Sussex

  642,614

  95,042

  144,141

  44,993

  118,439

  72,554

  167,445

  Lewisham and North Southwark

  Guy's

  1,530,070

  165,432

  353,643

  92,727

  29,918

  213,059

  675,291

  Lewisham

  1,327,890

  105,424

  499,846

  61,207

  33,432

  111,592

  516,389

  Sydenham

  193,593

  32,188

  83,023

  15,174

  3,780

  16,641

  42,787

  Maidstone

  Maidstone

  636,521

  76,892

  158,608

  48,024

  34,628

  73,710

  244,659

  Medway

  Medway

  1,143,488

  186,445

  338,548

  60,704

  37,454

  168,144

  352,193

  Sheppey General

  80,538

  15,145

  11,014

  4,331

  6,461

  7,939

  35,648

  South East Kent

  Buckland

  275,092

  47,297

  82,856

  33,349

  10,281

  23,576

  77,733

  Royal Victoria (Folkestone)

  200,389

  53,907

  49,304

  20,715

  6,851

  11,470

  58,142

  Victoria (Deal)

  168,289

  33,513

  53,671

  23,818

  6,178

  7,556

  43,553

  William Harvey

  795,459

  156,450

  233,754

  96,335

  27,162

  70,175

  211,583

  Tunbridge Wells

  Kent and Sussex

  580,636

  149,624

  130,495

  36,107

  28,245

  64,276

  171,889

  West Lambeth

  St. Thomas'

  2,208,877

  458,124

  569,875

  88,926

  128,361

  137,845

  825,746

  Claimants (Lewisham)
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people aged 16 to 17 years were in receipt of supplementary benefit in the London borough of Lewisham at the latest available date.

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

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are currently in receipt of 156
  (a) supplementary benefit, (b) family income supplement and (c) housing benefit in the London borough of Lewisham.

  Mr. Portillo
  The information requested is as follows:

  Number

  (a) Supplementary benefit

  186,667

  (b) Family income supplement

  n/a

  (c) Housing benefit

  37,241

  157

  1 Latest available figure—17 November 1987.

  The figures for (a) relate to the eight local offices which serve the London borough of Lewisham. The boundaries are not conterminous. The figures for (c) relate to the London borough of Lewisham.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has made any estimate of how many people will be on income support in the London borough of Lewisham from April.

  Mr. Portillo
  No local estimates have been made of the number of people who will be on income support from April.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has made any estimate of the number of people eligible for family credit in the London borough of Lewisham from April.

  Mr. Portillo
  No. Estimates are possible only on a national basis.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has made any estimate of the number of people in the London borough of Lewisham who will lose their entitlement to housing benefit from April.

  Mr. Portillo
  No. The analysis of the effect of the reforms; "Impact of the Reformed Structure of Income-related Benefits", published in October 1987 cannot be applied with any degree of reliability to individual local authority areas.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many young people were refused benefit after failing to take up a place on a YTS course in the London borough of Lewisham in 1987.

  Mr. Portillo
  No young person in the London borough of Lewisham was refused supplementary benefit in 1987 because he or she failed to take up a YTS place.

  Social Security Reform
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has made any estimate of the number of people in the London borough of Lewisham who will receive less benefit after April 1988, after taking the transitional arrangements into account.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Income Support (Transitional) Regulations 1987 are designed to ensure that the level of benefit will be preserved for the majority of continuing claimants at the point of transition. No local estimates have been made of the number of people who will receive less benefit after April 1988.

  Tobacco Advertising
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will publish the first report of the committee for monitoring agreements on tobacco advertising and sponsorship; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  The committee for monitoring agreements on tobacco advertising and sponsorship has submitted its first report and copies have been placed in the Library. The Government are grateful to the committee and its chairman Sir Peter Lazarus for their excellent work in monitoring the agreements and for their first report.

  The report shows that in general the system of voluntary agreements which govern tobacco advertising,
  158
  health warnings and sports sponsorship are working and that the tobacco companies are honouring their commitments. The chairman has highlighted areas where he feels the agreements are inadequate and we will take note of these points in negotiating future agreements with the industry.

  We note and share his concern that the tobacco advertising on retail outlets put in place before the current agreement and which would not comply with current agreements if put in place since 1 April 1986 should be replaced more quickly than currently envisaged by the tobacco companies. We note the suggestion that the committee would benefit from more secretariat support and this will be considered.

  The Government remain concerned about the impact of cigarette advertising, especially where children and young women are concerned. The present agreement on advertising expires at the end of next year. We shall be seeking to open negotiations with the industry as soon as possible to achieve a new agreement which reflects current needs.

  Smoking
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services, when he expects to publish the Froggatt committee report on smoking, and health.

  Mrs. Currie
  [pursuant to her reply, 17 December 1987, c. 703.]: The fourth report of the independent scientific committee on smoking and health is published today. Copies have been placed in the Library.

  The report reviews the progress and achievements of the policy of tobacco product modification, introduced in the 1970s to encourage the development of less harmful products, and recommends action to reduce further the amount of the main carcinogenic and other health-threatening components in cigarettes. It concludes that, together with the welcome reduction in the proportion of people who smoke, the policy has contributed to the more favourable trends which are developing in certain smoking-related diseases, most notably in lung cancer. We will be opening discussions with the tobacco industry about further reductions in the harmful components of tobacco smoke.

  The report recommends that the Government consider all the options available to encourage smokers to stop smoking and non-smokers not to start. The report also considers the effects of breathing other people's tobacco smoke, sometimes referred to as passive smoking or environmental tobacco smoke. The committee has reviewed the evidence on the possible health implications of passive smoking and concludes that the findings overall are consistent with there being a small inrease of 10–30 per cent. in the risk of lung cancer amongst non-smokers. The committee estimates that this might account for several hundred out of the current annual total of about 40,000 lung cancer deaths in the United Kingdom.

  The report draws attention to the link between smoking and reduced birthweight and perinatal mortality. It calls for further research across a range of smoking-related subjects.

  The Government accept the thrust of the report, which reflects established policies of voluntary arrangements, and we will be considering in that light how the recommendations can best be carried forward. Action on

  159
  some recommendations can be taken relatively quickly, but others will need further discussion and negotiation with interested parties, including the tobacco industry. As part of this process the Government will be glad to receive comments on the committee's recommendations and on ways in which they might be implemented with the aim of reducing health problems from smoking.

  AIDS
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what his latest assessment of the numbers of cases of AIDS and of people with HIV infection and of the extent to which the AIDS virus is spreading in the population generally in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 7 March 1988]: To the end of February 1988, the total number of reported cases of AIDS in the United Kingdom was 1,344. To the end of December 1987, the total of reported HIV-antibody positive persons was 8,016, but it is likely that the true number of people infected with HIV is considerably greater. Consideration of the risk behaviour groups of people reported as antibody positive shows that the great majority are male homosexuals or bisexuals or injecting drug misusers, but in about 5 per cent. of the cases, the infection is thought to have been acquired heterosexually.

  Midwives
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many midwives have left the employment of(a) East Anglian regional health authority and (b) Great Yarmouth and Waveney district health authority in the last year for which figures are available and in each year from 1978–79;

  (2) how many midwives are employed in (a) East Anglian regional health authority and (b) Great Yarmouth and Waveney district health authority in the most recent year for which figures are available; and what were the comparable figures for 1978–79.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 8 March 1988]: I regret that some of the information sought by my hon. Friend is not available.

  Because of the NHS reorganisation in 1982, figures for district health authorities on a consistent basis are not held centrally for earlier years.

  Information on staff leaving health service employment is not held centrally. My hon. Friend may wish to contact the chairmen of the respective health authorities.

  Available information is shown in the table.

  National health service midwifery staff in post1 at 30 September, whole time equivalents2

  1978

  1982

  1986

  East Anglian RHA

  881

  880

  946

  Great Yarmouth and Waveney DHA

  n/a

  58

  59

  Source: DHSS Annual census of NHS non-medical manpower.

  1 Includes student midwives and agency staff.

  2 Figures rounded to nearest whole time equivalent.

  Mental Handicap Nurses
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what plans he has to ensure the full use of specialist trained mental handicap nurses in patterns of service training;

  (2) if he will make it his policy to issue guidelines to health authorities to provide for the continuation of mental handicap nurse training to ensure the provision of competent practitioners for this client group.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 16 March 1988]: It is for health authorities to ensure that training provision matches the needs of the NHS, in the light of their own assessments of their future requirements for professional staff. Similarly, health authorities should seek to ensure that mental handicap nurses are properly used in the training of students. We are, however, at present considerng the UKCC's "Project 2000" proposals for changes in the pattern of nurse education and training as a whole.

  Mr. Ronald Davidson
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services why there has been a delay in respect of a settlement of benefit entitlement for the late Mr. Ronald Davidson of 5, Enderby crescent, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, who died of asbestosis.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 17 March 1988]: There were delays at various stages, which I regret. They were largely occasioned by the need to obtain further medical evidence. The hon. Member has written to me about this and I will reply to him in more detail. I understand that the doctors at the medical boarding centre (respiratory diseases) in Sheffield have now reached a conclusion and Mrs. Davidson's claim for benefit will shortly be determined.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

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

  Mr. MacGregor
  My Department engages in a very wide range of consultation exercises in the course of its ongoing business. I do not believe that a procedure on the lines suggested by the hon. Member would represent a cost-effective use of the resources likely to be involved.

  My Department will, however, respond to individual requests by providing a list of the organisations which have submitted views on consultation documents so that interested individuals can make direct approaches to individual organisations for copies of their responses.

THE ARTS

  National Anthem
  Mr. Holt
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will take steps to ensure that the national anthem is played, either at the commencement or end of live theatrical productions.

  Mr. Luce
  This is a matter for decision by individual theatre managements.

  Jubilee Gardens
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if the Jubilee gardens will be transferred to the new South Bank body; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 14 March 1988]: It is for the London residuary body to determine to whom Jubilee gardens should be transferred, and no final decision has yet been taken.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what assessment he has made of the likely impact of the community charge on local authorities' financial support for the arts.

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 14 March 1988]: Local authorities take their own spending decisions. The change to a community charge system should make it easier for local charge-payers to know what is being done on their behalf.

EMPLOYMENT

  National Dock Labour Scheme
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the number of employees employed under the national dock labour scheme made redundant in each year since its inception and the amount paid in redundancy payments in each year.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The national voluntary severance scheme, providing for severance payments to registered dock workers, was first introduced in 1969. Numbers severed under this scheme, and the total amount paid, as reported in the annual reports of the National Dock Labour Board, were:

  Number of dockers

  Amount (£ million)

  1969

  3,006

  5·1

  1970

  3,545

  5·8

  1971

  2,415

  3·9

  1972

  7,647

  22·5

  1973

  3,874

  13·8

  1974

  28

  0·1

  1975

  2,245

  10·4

  1976

  1,611

  7·1

  1977

  1,000

  6·0

  1978

  1,025

  6·6

  1979

  2,112

  16·2

  1980

  2,556

  21·5

  1981

  4,785

  68·0

  1982

  2,787

  60·0

  1983

  1,494

  32·0

  1984

  1,304

  30·7

  19851

  328

  7·3

  162

  1 January to March.

  In October 1985 a new scheme for funding severances was introduced, known as the national employers release arrangement. The corresponding figures are:

  Number of dockers

  Amount (£ million)

  19851

  202

  4·8

  1986

  1,353

  37·4

  1987

  471

  13·0

  1 October to December.

  Docklands (Vacancies)
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many vacancies in London docklands were(a) notified to, and (b) filled by jobcentres in each of the last seven years.

  Mr. Lee
  Following is the available information. The table shows the total numbers of placings by jobcentres and vacancies notified to jobcentres covering an area closely corresponding to the London docklands development area for each year from 1983 to 1987.

  London Docklands development area2

  Year

  Notified vacancies

  Placings

  19831

  12,291

  7,900

  1984

  17,920

  11,771

  1985

  19,959

  13,472

  1986

  22,108

  15,791

  1987

  22,919

  14,816

  1 The requested information is only available from April 1983. The figures therefore relate to April to December only.

  2 The jobcentres which cover the London docklands development area are Bermondsey, Plaistow, Poplar, Shoreditch and Stepney. However, vacancies notified to Bermondsey jobcentre between May 1985 and April 1986 are excluded, as they cannot be separately identified.

  Women (Redundancy)
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to introduce legislation removing the discrimination against women in qualifying for redundancy in the light of the case of Cato v Queen Charlotte's special health authority.

  Mr. Nicholls
  On 29 October 1987 my hon. Friend the Minister of State announced his intention to increase the age limit up to which women can receive a statutory redundancy payment from 60 to 65 years as soon as legislative time was available. I am afraid that I cannot he more specific at present.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects the results of the review of employment assistance to disabled people.

  Mr. Lee
  I hope that we will be able to complete our internal review as soon as possible this year.

  Restart
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the offices where the new restart questionnaire has been piloted from 1 February.
  163
  Mr. Lee
  The restart interview form was launched in the following locations on 1 February 1988:

  Billingham

  Dundee

  Ealing

  Huddersfield

  Leicester

  Plymouth

  Port Talbot

  Preston

  Stoke

  Watford

  Wimbledon

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide details for each of the offices where the new restart questionnaire has been piloted of the number of people found to be unavailable for work for the period before the introduction of the new questionnaire and for the period following its introduction.

  Mr. Lee
  The number of people referred in the months of January and February 1988 fom the 11 launch offices to an unemployment benefit office because of a doubt about their availability for work is shown in the table.

  The two sets of figures are not directly comparable in that those for the period following the launch of the restart interview form on 1 February include a number of referrals which would previously have been sent to claimant advisers.

  It is not possible to provide figures for the number of those referred to unemployment benefit offices who are subsequently disallowed benefit since the number of such decisions which follows a restart interview cannot be separately identified within the total number of decisions which follow from referrals to adjudication officers from unemployment benefit offices.

  Numbers referred to unemployment benefit offices because of doubts over availability

  Office

  January 1988 (5 week period)

  February 1988 (4 week period)

  Billingham

  0

  30

  Dundee

  1

  54

  Ealing

  46

  57

  Huddersfield

  21

  37

  Leicester

  62

  228

  Plymouth

  12

  50

  Port Talbot

  2

  34

  Preston

  20

  72

  Stoke

  18

  146

  Watford

  6

  37

  Wimbledon

  19

  96

  1 April

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  11987

  21988

  Agricultural

  190

  178

  176

  166

  159

  154

  162

  163

  166·0

  158

  Factory (General)

  742

  759

  735

  678

  654

  627

  652

  623

  621·5

  598

  Factory (Specialist)

  209

  221

  215

  208

  198

  198

  193

  201

  210·0

  204

  Explosives

  15

  14

  13

  13

  15

  15

  15

  19

  17·0

  14

  Industrial air pollution

  46

  48

  46

  46

  42

  40

  41

  40

  Nil

  Nil

  Mines and quarries

  116

  113

  113

  111

  105

  102

  96

  84

  87·5

  76

  Nuclear

  106

  102

  106

  101

  103

  106

  107

  101

  102·5

  120

  Total Health and Safety Executive inspectors

  1,424

  1,435

  1,404

  1,323

  1,276

  1,242

  1,266

  1,231

  1,204·5

  1,170

  1 On 1 April 1987, 37 industrial air pollution inspectors were transferred from the Health and Safety Executive to the Department of the Environment.

  2 March 1988 figure.

  Unified Training Scheme
  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what will be the position of community programme participants who decline an offer of continuing beyond September 1988 on the new unified training scheme.

  Mr. Nicholls
  All community programme participants joining from the end of February are guaranteed six months on that programme. Most community programme participants who have not obtained a job will recognise the value of the new employment training programme, and will wish to transfer either at the end of their time on community programme or from 5 September, the start date of the new programme. Benefit sanctions will not be imposed on those participants who choose not to transfer at the end of their six months on community programme.

  Job Clubs
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to expedite the development of more job clubs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  A total of 1,184 job clubs are now open, an increase of 51 in the past 13 weeks. The planning assumption in the White Paper "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1988–89 to 1990–91" (Cm. 288) is that the programme will expand to 1,500 job clubs by the end of 1988–89.

  Health and Safety Executive
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total number of inspectors at the Health and Safety Executive in each year since 1979; what are the projected figures for each year until 1991; and whether he will list these figures broken down into factory, specialist, agricultural, mines and quarries, nuclear installations and explosives inspectorates.

  Mr. Nicholls
  [holding answer 22 March 1988]: The total number of inspectors employed by the Health and Safety Executive since 1979 is as follows:
  165
  The planned figures for 1988–89 are as follows:

  Figures

  HM Factory Inspectors

  649

  Specialist Inspectors

  216

  HM Agricultural Inspectors

  166

  HM Inspectors of Mines and Quarries

  77

  HM Nuclear Installations Inspectors

  121

  Explosives Inspectors

  18

  Total

  1,247

  Figures for the years beyond 1998–89 are not available.

  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
  [pursuant to his reply, 17 March 1988, c. 642]: I regret that there was an error in the original reply at the above reference. The increase in the guarantee available under the loan guarantee scheme to businesses based or wishing to be based in the 16 inner city task force areas has been increased from 70 per cent. to 85 per cent., and not 80 per cent. as stated in the original reply. The full text of the reply is as follows:
  "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 based in the 16 inner city task force areas from 70 per cent. to 85 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."

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Companies
  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of companies operate(a) in the public sector and (b) in the private sector in Northern Ireland; and what steps he is taking to encourage public companies to move into the private sector.

  Mr. Stanley
  At 31 March 1987, the latest date for which figures are available, there were six public corporations operating on a commercial basis in Northern Ireland. In addition, the Government had a shareholding interest in 53 companies, representing 0·4 per cent. of the total companies incorporated in Northern Ireland and set up under the Companies (Northern Ireland) Order 1986. It is the Government's policy to promote efficiency, increase incentives and widen share ownership, and the Government will continue to seek opportunities to maximise private sector ownership of those undertakings in which it has an interest, as commercial circumstances permit.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list in the Official Report the companies which have been privatised in Northern Ireland since May 1979.

  Mr. Stanley
  There have not been any.

  Residential Homes (East Antrim)
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many residents are presently cared for in residential homes controlled by the Department of Health and Social Services in East Antrim; and how this compares with the number of residents accommodated during 1985–86 and 1986–87.

  Mr. Needham
  Information is not available in the precise form requested since no residential home is controlled by the Department of Health and Social Services. Responsibility for registration and inspection of private residential homes rest with health and social services boards.

  In the Lame, Carrickfergus and Newtownabbey unit of management, on 31 December 1986, the latest date for which figures are available, 51 residents were cared for in voluntary and private residential accommodation registered with the Northern Health and Social Services Board. For the year ended 31 December 1985 the total number of residents in such homes was 52.

  Nursing Homes (East Antrim)
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for how many residents in private nursing homes in East Antrim a financial contribution is being paid from public funds.

  Mr. Needham
  I regret the information is not available.

  Private Nursing Homes
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what is the estimated value of payments to be made to private nursing homes in East Antrim for this financial year in respect of residents supported by public funds;

  (2) what is the estimated cost of financial assistance for residents in private nursing homes in East Antrim 1988–89.

  Mr. Needham
  I regret the information is not available.

  Residential Places
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many residential places will be provided in homes controlled by the Department of Health and Social Services in 1988–89.

  Mr. Needham
  Health and social services boards are responsible for the registration and inspection of private and voluntary residential homes. It is not possible to forecast the number of places which will be provided in the independent residential sector in 1988–89. The critical factors will be the demand for places and the preparedness of independent operators (including voluntary organisations) to provide such places.

  Residential Homes
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total number of registered residential homes in East Antrim; and how many(a) notified inspections, and (b) unnotified inspections have been carried out by Department of Health and Social Services officials in the last year for which records are available.

  Mr. Needham
  The information is not held centrally. The Department has no responsibility for carrying out
  167
  inspections of registered residential homes. However, the registering and inspecting authority, namely, the Northern board, tells me that, in the year ended 29 February 1988, a total of 25 notified and two unnotified inspections have been carried out in the six registered residential homes in the Larne, Carrickfergus and Newtownabbey unit of management.

  Dog Licensing
  Sir John Biggs-Davison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the present position in Northern Ireland in the light of proposals regarding dog licensing in Great Britain; and what proposals he has had for parity of legislation.

  Mr. Needham
  The Department of Agriculture has monitored the operation of the Dogs (Northern Ireland) Order 1983 since it came into force. The order was aimed at encouraging responsible dog ownership, reducing the stray dog population and ensuring the effective licensing and control of dogs and it has been well received. There are no proposals for parity of legislation.

  International Fund for Ireland
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the Governments of the United States of America and Canada on the future of the International Fund for Ireland.

  Mr. Stanley
  During my visit to the United States this month I held discussions with the United States Administration on the progress made by the International Fund for Ireland and its future funding. There have also been discussions with the Canadian Government at official level regarding the fund.

  Forestry
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has for revised planting grants following the changes in tax treatment of commercial forestry announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 15 March.

  Mr. Needham
  As from 5 April 1988 my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is introducing in Northern Ireland a new woodland grant scheme.

  The Northern Ireland forestry grant scheme and broadleaved woodland grant scheme have been closed to new applications from 15 March 1988, and will be replaced on 5 April 1988 by a single grant scheme, to be known as the woodland grant scheme.

  The scheme will apply to the establishment and restocking of broadleaved, conifer and mixed woodlands, whether by planting or by natural regeneration, and to the rehabilitation of neglected woodland under 20 years of age. It will also cover planting done under the farm woodland scheme.

  The objectives of the scheme are:

  to encourage timber production;

  to provide jobs in and increase the economic potential of rural areas with declining agricultural employment and few alternative sources of economic activity;

  to provide an alternative to agricultural production and thereby assist in the reduction of agricultural surpluses;

  to enhance the landscape, to create new wildlife habitats and to provide for recreation and sporting uses in the longer term;

  to encourage the conservation and regeneration of existing forests and woodlands.

  168
  The rates of grant will be increased substantially, and will be as set out in the following table:

  Rates of Grant

  Area approved for planting or regeneration

  Conifers

  Broadleaves

  (hectares)

  £ per hectare

  £ per hectare

  Area band

  0·25–0·90

  1,005

  1,575

  1·00–2·90

  880

  1,375

  3·00–9·90

  795

  1,175

  10 and over

  615

  975

  These rates of grant are generally £375 per hectare higher than those under the forestry grant scheme and the broadleaved woodland grant scheme, but the increase for broadleaved trees planted or regenerated in mixed woodlands will be substantially larger.

  The rates of grant for conifer planting eligible under the farm woodland scheme and for short rotation coppice will be as set out in the following table:

  Area approved for planting (hectares)

  Rate of grant associated with FWS Conifers £ per hectare

  Area band

  0·25–0·90

  630

  1·00–2·90

  505

  3·00–9·90

  420

  10 and over

  240

  Broadleaved planting associated with the farm woodland scheme will, however, be eligible for the new broadleaved woodland grants.

  For new planting an existing arable or improved grassland of less than 10 years of age which is undertaken outside the farm woodland scheme, there will be a supplement of £200 per hectare.

  Apart from the increased rates of grant and the special supplement for planting on better land, the scheme will have a number of important features:
  the simplicity of a scheme which replaces two schemes with different conditions, and which covers all forms of planting, regeneration and rehabilitation of woodlands;
  a substantial differential in favour of broadleaves;
  all broadleaved planting, whether it be on its own or in mixture, will attract the same rates of grant; environmental objectives and provision that will apply to all types of woodland;
  all types of natural regeneration will now be eligible for the first instalment of grant-aid at the time the preparatory work is carried out;
  grants for the rehabilitation of derelict woodlands under 20 years of age will now include conifer and mixed woodlands;
  grants for new planting and restocking will be paid in three instalments over 10 years. For conifers as well as for broadleaves, the second and third instalments will attract the rates of grant applicable when they fall due;
  grant bands will be determined by the total area approved for planting or regeneration under the application and not, as was the case under the forestry grant scheme, by the size of the woodland of which such planting or regeneration might form a part.

  I am sure that the announcement of this new scheme, with its greatly improved rates of grant and wide-ranging objectives, will serve to underline the Government's commitment to the sensitive yet vigorous expansion of forestry in Northern Ireland.

  Housing Executive
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many arbitrations there were between building contractors and the Housing Executive in the 1986–87 financial year; how many of these ended in awards being made against the Housing Executive; and what was the total sum paid by the Housing Executive.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 18 March 1988]: This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. I have been advised by the chief executive that four arbitrations were concluded during the financial year 1986–87. There were no awards against the Housing Executive. All the disputes were settled by agreement at a total cost to the Housing Executive of £43,920.

  Children
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what is the current population of four-year-olds in Northern Ireland;

  (2) what is the current population of three-year-olds in Northern Ireland;

  (3) what proportion of three-year-olds are within families with (a) single parents, (b) unemployed parents and (c) in receipt of family income supplement;

  (4) what proportion of four-year-olds are within families with (a) single parent, (b) unemployed parents and (c) in receipt of family income supplement;

  (5) what proportion of the population of Northern Ireland is under five years of age;

  (6) if there are any plans to introduce an under-fives initiative to Northern Ireland;

  (7) what financial or other assistance is given to preschool playgroups by (a) each area health and social services board and (b) each education and library board;

  (8) how many mother and toddler groups operate in Northern Ireland: what assistance, financial or otherwise, is offered to them; and by whom.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 21 March 1988]: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the replies given to the hon. Member for Foyle (Mr. Hume) on 24 and 25 February 1988 at columns 189–90 and 328–29.

  Child Care
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list for each health and social services board those projects in the child care field which involve joint statutory/voluntary co-operation and give the funds and sources of funds involved; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 7 March 1988]: During the financial year ended 31 March 1987, the four health and social services boards provided the following bodies with the amounts of grant aid shown for programmes of activity wholly or largely in the child care field.

  Eastern Board

  £

  Barnardo's

  281,664

  Belfast Women's Aid

  59,777

  Craigmore

  85,000

  St. Joseph's

  250,000

  Crescent Day Nursery Group

  1,000

  170

  £

  Contact Youth Counselling Service

  2,250

  Children's Community Holidays

  1,005

  Eliza Street Family Day Centre

  76,560

  Extern Organisation

  24,000

  Family Care Centres

  64,183

  Good Shepherd Convent

  25,320

  Little Sisters of the Assumption

  4,418

  Mother and Baby Clubs

  2,411

  Moyard Hostel

  2,086

  Nazareth Lodge

  96,000

  Save the Children Fund

  17,629

  Sydenham House Committee

  7,000

  St. Vincent De Paul Society

  7,462

  Ulster Quaker Service

  3,000

  Women's Groups

  3,402

  1,014,167

  The Eastern board also provided organisations managing pre-school playgroups with grant aid amounting to

  872,482

  Eastern Board Total

  1,886,649

  Western Board

  £

  Save the Children Fund

  94,627

  Extern—Intermediate Treatment

  26,443

  De La Salle Boys' Home

  8,826

  Nazareth House Londonderry

  47,642

  177,538

  The Western board also provided approximately 60 pre-school playgroups and mother and toddler groups with grant aid amounting to

  138,604

  Western Board Total

  316,142

  Northern Board

  £

  Coleraine Women's Aid

  14,169

  The Northern board also provided approximately 80 pre-school playgroups and mother and toddler groups with grant aid amounting to

  66,745

  Northern Board Total

  80,914

  Southern Board

  £

  Banbridge Youth Club

  1,487

  Brownlow Inter Agency Youth Support Group

  1,000

  Gingerbread Group, Craigavon

  407

  Gingerbread Group, Armagh

  106

  Gingerbread Group, Banbridge

  264

  NI Pre-school Playgroup Association

  375

  Orana Children's Home, Newry

  50,000

  Save the Children Fund

  2,750

  56,389

  The Southern board also provided approximately 40 pre-school playgroups and mother and toddler groups with grant aid amounting to

  29,487

  Southern Board Total

  85,876

  In addition, voluntary children's homes received £1,762,412 from the four health and social services boards as maintenance payments for individual children living in them. In the same period the Department of Health and Social Services provided grant aid to bodies in the child care field totalling £492,986
  171
  Voluntary organisations in the child care field may also be eligible for funding from other statutory sources, including the Department of Education, the Department
  172
  of Economic Development, the Probation Board for Northern Ireland, district councils and education and library boards.

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