Written Answers of 24 March 1988

PRIME MINISTER

  Bradford
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Prime Minister when she next expects to pay an official visit to a spinning factory in Bradford.

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

  Greater Berlin (Diplomatic Facilities)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister whether, on the initiative of Her Majesty's Government, as one of the jointly responsible governing powers for Greater Berlin and in pursuit of joint rights and responsibilities for the security of Greater Berlin, she will institute an inquiry into the alleged abuse of diplomatic facilities in the Soviet sector of Berlin, in the light of evidence at the trial of Christina Endrigkeit; and what has been the result of Her Majesty's Government's close contact with the Soviet authorities since April 1986 on this matter.

  The Prime Minister
  No. The allied powers with responsibility for Berlin have made clear to the Soviet Union their position on this matter. It is not our practice to reveal details of confidential exchanges.

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

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

  Newspaper Editors' Reception (Cost)
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Prime Minister what was the cost of the reception for the editors of regional daily newspapers at 10 Downing street in the evening of 21 March.

  The Prime Minister
  The estimated cost is £ 1,600.

  Engagements
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 24 March.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 24 March.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 24 March.

  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 24 March.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 24 March.
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  The Prime Minister
  This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Dental Schools
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list in the Official Report (a) the total number of entrants to each dental school, and (b) the total number of graduates from each dental school, in each of the past five years; and what is the total cost per graduate per dental school.

  Mr. Jackson
  (a) The pre-clinical intake to each dental school in Great Britain in the five years to 1987–88 is shown in the table. (Figures for 1987–88 are provisional).

  School

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  Birmingham

  81

  75

  75

  76

  77

  Bristol

  55

  63

  42

  47

  49

  Leeds

  57

  55

  54

  55

  54

  Liverpool

  61

  60

  60

  60

  61

  London:

  —Kings College

  62

  62

  54

  64

  58

  —University College

  52

  51

  52

  50

  50

  —United Medical and Dental School (Guys & St. Thomas's)

  96

  91

  88

  87

  88

  —London Hospital

  56

  57

  57

  58

  56

  Manchester

  68

  62

  62

  63

  61

  Newcastle

  76

  70

  70

  70

  71

  Sheffield

  54

  50

  45

  44

  48

  Wales

  50

  45

  47

  48

  48

  Dundee

  50

  50

  44

  45

  51

  Edinburgh

  56

  39

  40

  36

  37

  Glasgow

  75

  70

  70

  70

  70

  (b) First degree clinical dentistry graduates in each university in Great Britain in the five years up to 1985–86, the last year for which figures are available centrally, are shown in the table:

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  Birmingham

  68

  63

  66

  76

  70

  Bristol

  47

  45

  48

  46

  45

  Leeds

  1

  1

  55

  54

  51

  Liverpool

  50

  56

  49

  53

  49

  London

  255

  1

  254

  238

  267

  Manchester

  58

  52

  57

  55

  56

  Newcastle

  73

  67

  61

  69

  75

  Sheffield

  41

  1

  46

  47

  45

  Wales

  43

  38

  46

  39

  39

  Dundee

  58

  42

  46

  48

  1

  Edinburgh

  58

  49

  49

  45

  53

  Glasgow

  67

  59

  58

  60

  67

  1 Figures not available.

  Note:

  Figures are not available centrally for the cost per graduate for dental school.

  "Scene"
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what guidance is available to head teachers to assist them in assessing whether the drama
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  entitled "Scene", produced by BBC School Television Service, conforms with the requirements of the Education (No. 2) Act 1986.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Department of Education and Science circular No. 11/87 "Sex Education at School" contains guidance for LEAs, governing bodies and head teachers on sections 18 and 46 of the Education (No. 2) Act 1986.

  International Management Centre, Buckingham
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to reach a decision on the validity of degrees awarded by the International Management Centre, Buckingham, to its clients and students.

  Mr. Jackson
  I understand that the International Management Centre, Buckingham has begun discussions with the Council for National Academic Awards with a view to gaining academic validation of its qualifications. These negotiations are a matter for the parties involved, and not for my right hon. Friend.

  Arthritis
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list in the Official Report expenditure by (a) the Medical Research Council and (b) any other Government funded projects into arthritis research in the United Kingdom in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Jackson
  I understand from the Medical Research Council that its expenditure on arthritis research was as follows:

  Year

  £ millions

  1982–83

  0·9

  1983–84

  1·0

  1984–85

  1·1

  1985–86

  1·2

  1986–87

  1·3

  Some support for arthritis research is also provided through UGC block grants to universities. Information on support for arthritis research by other Government Departments is not held centrally.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will estimate how much expenditure there has been by charities and other voluntary bodies on arthritis research in the United Kingdom in each of the last five years; and whether he takes this expenditure into account in allocating Government funding for such research.

  Mr. Jackson
  I understand from the handbook of the Association of Medical Research Charities that support of arthritis research by the Arthritis and Rheumatism Council currently amounts to about £6 million a year. Support from the science budget for arthritis research is provided through the Medical Research Council which is responsible for determining its own priorities for the research supported from its annual grant in aid — currently £147 million.

  Expenditure
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on prescribed expenditure allocations in respect of education for 1988–89.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has announced that additional capital allocations will be made for 1988–89. Twelve million, five hundred thousand pounds of the total will be allocated in respect of education and, in particular, but not exclusively, to support projects in inner city areas. A further £5·2 million in respect of education is expected to be available later provided that returns from local authorities do not indicate a likely overspend of the revised DOE-LA1 cash limit in 1988–89. My Department will be inviting local education authorities which cover urban programme areas to submit plans for projects which they would undertake if granted a supplementary allocation.

  A small number of authorities have already satisfied me that, because of special circumstances, they would be able to make particularly effective use of an additional allocation in 1988–89. Those authorities will receive appropriate notification shortly.

  Council for National Academic Awards
  Mr. Gerald Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he will appoint a successor to Sir Ronald Dearing as chairman of the Council for National Academic Awards.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  I am pleased to announce that, together with my right hon. Friends, the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales, I am appointing Sir Bryan Nicholson, chairman of the Post Office, as chairman of the Council for National Academic Awards. He will shortly succeed Sir Ronald Dearing who is relinquishing the post to take the chair of the Polytechnic and Colleges Funding Council. Sir Bryan's term of office will be three years.

  Schools (Discipline)
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is now in a position to announce the details of the inquiry he has decided to set up into discipline in schools.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  [pursuant to his reply, 18 March 1988, c. 687]: I have appointed two further members to the committee of inquiry:
  Mrs. Colette Thomson, a former member of the England netball team, and now a mathematics teacher at Alderbrook school, west midlands; and following consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales, Mrs. Glenda Thomas, head teacher of Blaencaerau junior school, Maesteg, Mid-Glamorgan.

  These appointments complete the membership. My intention is that the committee should start its work as soon as possible and aim to report by the end of the year.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Solicitors and Barristers (Legal Aid Work)
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the the Attorney-General how many(a) solicitors and (b) barristers have been excluded from legal aid work either temporarily or for a specified period, for reasons connected with professional standards in the past five years.
  177
  The Attorney-General
  In the last five years one solicitor has been registered as excluded from legal aid work for a specified period as a result of a decision of the Legal Aid (Complaints) Tribunal. No barrister has been so registered as excluded in that period.

  EC Legislation
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will state the number of occasions since 1 January 1973 when each category of United Kingdom court has applied for, or received, guidance from the Council of the European Communities concerning interpretation or execution of legislation of that Community.

  The Attorney-General
  I assume that the hon. Member intends to refer to requests made by United Kingdom courts to the Court of Justice of the European Communities for preliminary rulings under article 177 of the treaty of Rome. In the period from 1 January 1973 until the end of February 1988, the House of Lords made six such requests, the Court of Appeal six, and all other courts and tribunals a total of 64. It is not possible to provide figures separately for the courts and tribunals whose references are included in the latter figure.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to the answer of 3 March,Official Report, column 641, 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. Butcher
  The figures for 1 January 1988 for the DTI are as follows:

  Grade

  1 January 1988

  Percentage of Department of Trade and Industry total

  Grade 3

  8

  16·0

  Grade 4

  1

  16·7

  Grade 5

  17

  9·6

  Grade 6

  41

  23·3

  Grade 7

  186

  22 9

  Senior Executive Officer

  100

  34 8

  Higher Executive Officer

  273

  30·8

  Executive Officer

  538

  35·5

  Administrative Officer

  977

  43·0

  Administrative Assistant

  446

  35·9

  Insolvency Grade A

  2

  15·4

  Insolvency Grade B

  24

  38·1

  Insolvency Grade C

  53

  40·8

  Insolvency Grade D

  180

  69·5

  Insolvency Grade E

  151

  63·8

  Senior Assistant Statistician

  3

  42·9

  Assistant Statistician

  3

  42·9

  Information Officer

  1

  2·3

  Cleaner

  1

  28·5

  Higher Graphics Officer

  1

  100·0

  Investigation Officer

  17

  47·2

  Librarian

  3

  18·8

  Assistant Librarian

  2

  8·0

  Senior Messenger

  6

  8·1

  Messenger

  46

  19·3

  Office Keeper I

  1

  16·7

  178

  Grade

  1 January 1988

  Percentage of Department of Trade and Industry total

  Senior Professional and Technical Officer

  12

  17·1

  Higher Professional and Technical Officer

  11

  23·4

  Professional and Technical Officer

  30

  61·2

  Technical Grade 1

  6

  80·0

  Senior Telecommunications Technical Officer

  2

  66·7

  Higher Telecommunications Technical Officer

  17

  51·5

  Telecommunications Technical Officer

  144

  91·7

  Assistant Telecommunications Technical Officer

  7

  36·8

  Supervisor of Government Telephonists

  1

  100·0

  Government Telephonist

  16

  88·9

  Typing Manager

  27

  36·7

  Senior Personal Secretary

  4

  9·0

  Personal Secretary

  52

  17·6

  Typist

  255

  45·8

  Chief Paperkeeper

  1

  14·3

  Senior Paperkeeper

  9

  17·3

  Paperkeeper

  35

  19·5

  Chief Photographer

  1

  50·0

  Senior Photographer

  5

  45·5

  Reprographics Manager

  1

  50·0

  Chief Reprographics Officer

  2

  22·2

  Assistant Chief Reprographics Officer

  10

  35·7

  Reprographics Officer I

  27

  23·8

  Reprographics Officer II

  71

  35·3

  Senior Scientific Officer

  117

  38·7

  Higher Scientific Officer

  149

  40·7

  Scientific Officer

  97

  34·9

  Assistant Scientific Officer

  30

  24·0

  Industrials

  205

  65·7

  TOTAL

  4,425

  North-West Region
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what effect the Budget proposals will have on manufacturing industries in the north-west region during the remainder of the current year.

  Mr. Butcher
  Manufacturing industry in the north-west and elsewhere will benefit from the priority given by the Budget to a continuation of steady economic growth and low inflation; and from the additional incentives to effort and enterprise which the reductions in personal taxation will bring.

  GATT
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what progress has been made in the development of the Uruguay round of General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade multilateral trade negotiations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The initial phase of the Uruguay round of multilateral trade negotiations, which was devoted to the examination of the issues identified in the Punta del Este declaration, has been completed. Some 160 proposals have been tabled by the contracting parties, covering all the main areas. Substantive negotiations are now beginning and are due to be completed in September 1990.
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  A mid-term meeting will take place in Montreal in the week of 5 December 1988 at which Ministers from the contracting parties will review progress.

  Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (Exhibition)
  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if his Department has considered an application for an exhibition relating to the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

  Mr. Maude
  Yes. Arrangements have been made for such an exhibition in the Upper Waiting Hall to take place from Tuesday 12 April to Friday 15 April.

  Financial Services Act 1986
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a further statement concerning implementation of the Financial Services Act 1986.

  Mr. Maude
  The Government intend to bring into force the remaining investor protection provisions of the Act, including the central requirement to be authorised or exempted, on 29 April. A commencement order will be made shortly.

ENERGY

  Domestic Gas Supplies (Disconnection)
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many people have had their gas supplies disconnected in the five years prior to privatisation; and how many have been disconnected in each year subsequently in(a) Dundee, (b) Scotland and (c) the United Kingdom as a whole.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  This is a matter for British Gas plc. I have asked the chairman of British Gas to write to the hon. Member with the information available.

  North Sea Oil
  Sir Hector Munro
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has any proposals for a further round of offshore production licensing.

  Mr. Parkinson
  I propose to launch an 11th round of offshore licensing as soon as the customary consultations about the detailed arrangements have been completed. As in recent rounds, I propose to invite applications for a range of mature and frontier blocks selected from various areas of the United Kingdom continental shelf. I expect to offer a larger number of blocks for companies to consider than in the last round. The aim once again will be to consolidate on recent exploration successes and to provide potential for further discoveries which can be developed to replace existing fields as they become depleted.

  I hope to license blocks from the following broad areas:

  Area

  Quadrants

  Northern North Sea

  2, 3, 8, 9, 210 and 211

  Faroes/Shetland area

  204, 205, 206, 208, 209, 213 and 214

  Hebridean Platform

  154, 165, 166

  Orkney/Shetland area

  5, 6 and 7

  180

  Area

  Quadrants

  Moray Firth

  11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18 and 19

  Central North Sea

  15, 16, 20, 21, 22, 23, 29 and 30

  Forth Approaches

  25 and 26

  Southern North Sea

  41, 42, 43, 44, 47, 48, 49, 50, 52, 53 and 54

  English Channel

  97, 98, 99 and 100

  Cardigan Bay Basin

  107

  Irish Sea/Manx Basin

  109, 110 and 113

  The quadrants are given as a guide only. I envisage offering some blocks from the majority of these quadrants, but not necessarily from all of them and not necessarily all the unlicensed blocks in any particular quadrant. In the 10th round, all awards were made at the discretion of the Secretary of State for Energy and I expect largely the same method to be adopted for the forthcoming round.

  The terms of the licences will be along the same general lines as in the 10th round, although I am proposing to introduce some changes designed to speed up the turnover of exploration acreage which remains unworked for long periods. In the coming weeks, I shall be discussing my proposals with the oil industry and with other interested bodies. The timing of the formal invitation to apply will be determined in the light of the outcome of these consultations.

DEFENCE

  RAF Bases (Use by United States Forces)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will place in the Library copies of the lines of communication arrangement 1973 and the memorandum of understanding on the use of Royal Air Force bases by United States air forces operational units 1974, including all subsequent alterations and amendments.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  No. The US-UK lines of communication arrangement 1973 and the memorandum of understanding on the use of RAF bases by US Air Force operational units 1974 are classified.

  Falkland Islands
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the total cost since the surrender of the Argentine forces of the United Kingdom military presence on the Falkland Islands, including military infrastructure costs, expressed(a) in cash terms and (b) as a per capita sum for the permanent population of the Falkland Islands.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The additional cost of maintaining a garrison in the Falkland Islands from April 1983 to the end of the last financial year is estimated to be £1,425 million in cash terms, or about £700,000 per Falkland Islander. Figures for 1982–83 do not distinguish between campaign and garrison costs.

  Bangladesh
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if military training has been given to officers of the Bangladeshi military who have been involved in violations of human rights in the Chittagon area; and if he will make a statement;
  181
  (2) if he will withdraw all military training facilities from members of the Bangladeshi armed forces in the light of human rights violations perpetrated by them in the Chittagon area.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  No. While I understand that some Bangladeshi officers trained with the help of the British military advisory team (BMAT) at the Bangladesh defence services command and staff college have been appointed to the division covering the Chittagong hill tracts, nothing in the United Kingdom's military training assistance to Bangladesh could encourage any abuse of human rights. On the contrary, the strong emphasis on fairness and restraint given by the BMAT can only help inculcate high ethical standards in the students and, indeed, the college training as a whole emphasises these standards in line with the British military tradition.

  Belize
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if any logistical or other assistance(a) has been, (b) is being or (c) will be given by United Kingdom armed forces in Belize to the United States troops recently deployed in Honduras.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  No such assistance has been or is being given, and we do not intend that it should be.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  European Court of Justice
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the occasions when the United Kingdom has been party to cases at the European Court of Justice(a) as a respondent in cases initiated by the Commission of the Community, (b) as a respondent or plaintiff in respect of other member states and (c) in other cases.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The figures since United Kingdom accession are:

  (a) 23 under Article 169 of the EEC Treaty

  (b) 1 under Article 170 of the EEC Treaty

  (c) 16 under Article 173 of the EEC Treaty

  (a) and (c) include cases still in progress.

  Details of these cases are given in the relevant chapter or annex of the six-monthly White Paper on "Developments in the European Community".

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will state the number of rulings of the European Court of Justice which effectively determine case law in what would otherwise be within domestic jurisdiction since the accession of the United Kingdom to the European Economic Community.

  Mrs. Chalker
  I assume that the hon. Member's question refers to references to the European Court of Justice under article 177 of the EEC treaty. There have been 76 such references from United Kingdom courts up to the end of February 1988.

  Article 177 references are concerned with the interpretation of Community law. The interpretation of Community law given by the European Court of Justice is applied by the national court in deciding the case before it.
  182
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what indications there have been in recent years of the increased work load of the European Court of Justice.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The number of cases brought before the European Court of Justice in a year has risen from 79 in 1970 to 329 in 1986. The number of cases brought in a year more than doubled from 202 in 1979 to 433 in 1985.

  Commonwealth Secretariat
  Sir John Biggs-Davison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish any instructions and directives from Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom acting together with other Commonwealth Governments setting out the functions of the Secretary General of the Commonwealth Secretariat.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The functions of the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Secretariat and his staff are set out in the "Agreed Memorandum on the Commonwealth Secretariat", which was approved by Commonwealth Prime Ministers at their meeting in London from 17 to 25 June 1965 (Cmnd. 2713).

  As provided for in the Memorandum, these have been added to by subsequent decisions of Commonwealth Heads of Government and Ministers, particularly in respect of the Commonwealth fund for technical cooperation, the Commonwealth Science Council and the Commonwealth youth programme, which are administratively part of the secretariat, but which are covered by separate memoranda of understanding. I am arranging for copies of these memoranda to be placed in the Library as soon as possible.

  British Embassy, Vientiane
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, following the recent visit of the Laos deputy Foreign Minister, he has plans to reopen the British embassy at Vientiane.

  Mr. Eggar
  We have no plans at present to do so. The economic considerations which led to closure in 1985 still apply. Her Majesty's ambassador in Bangkok, who is also accredited to Laos, and other members of the embassy visit Vientiane on a regular basis.

  European Court of First Instance
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what will be the main area of operation of the new European Court of First Instance; and whether its decisions will be limited to points of law.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Under article 3 of the draft decision, the European Court of Justice proposes to transfer to the Court of the First Instance its jurisdiction in cases concerned with staff matters, competition and antidumping, steel and certain non-contractual liability claims. The Court of the First Instance will decide both facts and law; appeals to the European Court of Justice will be limited to points of law.

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what will be the
  183
  additional cost of establishing a European Court of First Instance; and how many persons are likely to be employed by it.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The European Court has estimated that the proposal for a court comprising seven judges would cost £210,000 in new equipment and add £3·15 million to the annual budget of the court. A final position on the total number of judges of the court has not yet been reached. It is not possible at this stage to say how many staff will be employed by the Court of First Instance alone. It seems likely that some staff now employed by the Court of Justice would be attached to the Court of First Instance.

  IRA Terrorists (Gibraltar)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been received from the Spanish authorities on the surveillance and eventual killing of the three suspected Irish Republican Army terrorists in Gibraltar.

  Mr. Mellor
  It is not our practice to comment on such matters, though as my right hon. and learned Friend said in the House on 7 March, we are grateful for the invaluable assistance we have received from the Spanish authorities in preventing a dreadful terrorist attack.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Young Offenders
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Government have any plans to increase the accountability of parents and guardians for offences caused by persons under the age of 17 years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  Parents are not responsible in law for criminal offences committed by their children. Where juveniles are convicted of a criminal offence the courts are required (except in certain circumstances) to order their parents or guardians to pay any fines or other financial penalties that may be imposed. The Criminal Justice Bill extends this requirement to fines imposed as a sanction for breach of supervision orders and community service orders.

  Juveniles (Detention)
  Mr. Irving
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) sentenced and (b) remanded juveniles were held in police or court cells during 1987, and how many since the beginning of 1988.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Information is not available in the form requested. Records held centrally do not distinguish between juveniles and other young persons, or between sentenced and unsentenced prisoners.

  Prisoners (Ethnic Minorities)
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in the light of his Department's most recent statistics on the prison population and ethnic minorities, he intends( a) to issue any guidance to prison governers and (b) to make available any additional training for prison staff; and if he will make a statement.
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  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Guidance on race relations is issued to prison governors from time to time, most recently in circular instruction 32/1986, a copy of which is in the Library. Further guidance will be issued as necessary. We are planning a review of race relations training for prison staff which will look, among other matters, at the form and quantity of training presently offered.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 7 March,Official Report, column 3, if he will list by Civil Service grade the number of officials in his Department located outside London.

  Mr. Hurd
  Home Office staff in the following grades serve outside London:

  Grade

  Staff numbers

  Grade 5 (Unified)

  13

  Grade 6 (Unified)

  15

  Grade 7 (Unified)

  126

  Senior Executive Officer

  67

  Higher Executive Officer

  244

  Executive Officer

  541

  Administration Officer

  1,817

  Administration Assistant

  758

  Messengers and Paperkeepers

  77

  Inspector of Immigration

  16

  Chief Immigration Officer

  95

  Immigration Officer

  718

  Prison Service Unified Grades I-V

  649

  Prison Service Unified Grades VI

  1,310

  Prison Service Unified Grades VII

  2,573

  Prison Service Unified Grades VIII

  12,864

  Night Patrol (Prison Service)

  698

  Prison Auxiliary (Prison Service)

  564

  Typist

  548

  Personal Secretary

  76

  Telecommunications Technical Engineer

  569

  Lecturer

  40

  Professional and Technology Officer

  210

  Instructional Officer

  67

  Higher Scientific Officer

  110

  Assistant Scientific Officer

  83

  Senior Scientific Officer

  139

  Scientific Officer

  134

  Others

  893

  Metropolitan Police (Report)
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to secure the publication of the report conducted by officers of the Northamptonshire police into the conduct of the Metropolitan police at Wapping on 24 January 1987.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  No. Such reports are always treated as confidential. The commission will consult the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Police Complaints Authority in due course on whether criminal or disciplinary proceedings should be taken against any police officer on the basis of the report.

  Animals (Experiments)
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the dates of visits by his Department's inspectors to Professor Ian Steele-Russell's animal laboratories in the last five years, along with the main findings of these visits.
  185
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  It is not our practice to disclose information of this nature. However, all establishments where licensed experimentation is carried out are visited frequently by inspectors, usually unannounced.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many animals have been used by Professor Ian Steele-Russell in the last five years; if he will list the species used and the experimental procedures used; and to what extent anaesthesia was used.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  It is not our practice to disclose such information about experimentation specific to individual researchers or establishments which has been provided to us in confidence.

  Ian Richard Thain
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations took place with the trial judge regarding parole for Ian Richard Thain; what were the channels for such consultations; what were the dates on which the judge was consulted; and if he will outline the views which the judge offered.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The views of the trial judge were received in July 1986. In accordance with the normal procedure in the cases of all life sentence prisoners transferred from Northern Ireland to this country to serve their sentences, the approach to the trial judge was made through the Northern Ireland Office. The views of the judiciary in life sentence cases are given in confidence.

  Fire Prevention (Kent)
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all outstanding initial, reinspection and routine fire prevention inspections for private residential homes in Kent expressed in officer man years for the last recorded year.

  Mr. John Patten
  This information is not available centrally. I have ascertained from the Kent fire brigade that during 1987, 65 full inspections, 568 specific, 229 follow-up and 250 routine inspections were made of the 809 homes for old persons, the disabled and mentally handicapped and nursing homes in the county. These figures do not distinguish between homes financed privately and by local authorities. Such inspections are undertaken on an advisory basis in co-operation with the responsible authorities and the brigade determines its own policy in making them. The question of outstanding inspections does not, accordingly, arise.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all outstanding initial, reinspection and routine fire prevention inspections in Kent expressed in officer man years for the last recorded year.

  Mr. John Patten
  Fire prevention inspections are required statutorily only when an application for a fire certificate for premises designated under the Fire Precautions Act 1971 is made to the fire authority. During 1987, 238 certificates were issued by the Kent fire brigade and at the end of the year 2,991 certificates were in force for such premises. A further 1,646 certificates issued under the Factories Act 1961 and the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act 1963 were also in force. I have ascertained from the brigade that at the end of 1987 the issue of 492 186
  certificates was outstanding on premises that had been inspected and 289 premises were awaiting inspection. Figures are not available centrally to express outstanding inspections in officer man years.

  Conservative Party Meeting (Policing Costs)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has regarding the costs of policing the meeting of the central council of the Conservative party held in Harrogate.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The last meeting of the National Union of Conservative and Unionist Associations Central Council was held at Buxton in Derbyshire on 18–19 March. I understand from the chief constable of Derbyshire that the estimated additional costs of policing the meeting were in the region of £200,000. Under the normal arrangements 51 per cent. of this expenditure will be met from central funds.

  Firearms (Police)
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of operations in which firearms were issued to police officers in England and Wales in 1987; in how many of those operations shots have been fired by police officers; how many police officers are currently qualified to carry firearms; and what were the equivalent figures for(a) 1986 and (b)

  Mr. Hurd
  The number of operations in England and Wales, against criminals or those known or believed to be armed, in which firearms were issued to police officers in 1987 was 2,101. This was 14·35 per cent. fewer than in 1986 and 33·93 per cent. fewer than in 1983. Police officers fired shots in seven, or 0·003 per cent. of those operations. The number of such operations in which shots were fired by police officers in the preceding four years was three in 1983; six in 1984; seven in 1985; and one in 1986. As at 31 December 1987 a total of 7,349 police officers in England and Wales were qualified to carry firearms. This was 12·46 per cent. fewer than at the end of 1986 and 43·66 per cent. fewer than at the end of 1983. The latest figures represents 5·99 per cent. of the total police strength in England and Wales.

ENVIRONMENT

  Environment Council
  Mr. Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Environment Council on 21 March.

  Mr. Moynihan
  My hon. Friend the Minister for Environment, Countryside and Water represented the United Kingdom at this meeting.

  The Council adopted a resolution on the close of the European Year of the Environment which emphasised the need for continued efforts on environmental information and awareness. Notwithstanding disappointment that some important proposals had not yet been adopted, there was general agreement that the year had stimulated many and varied environmental achievements.

  The Council reached agreement on a directive to control discharge of chloroform to the aquatic environment, in particular those from significant industrial

  187
  sources. In connection with this agreement and at the United Kingdom's request, the Commission undertook to bring to the Council at an early date proposals for drawing up a list of the most dangerous substances for future priority consideration. A proposal for a directive to co-ordinate controls over discharges of chromium to the aquatic environment was also discussed. Due to divergences of opinion among member states the Council failed to agree draft guidelines put forward by the presidency for further work on harmonising national programmes for reducing pollution caused by waste from the titanium oxide industry.

  A general welcome was given to the Commission's recently published proposals for ratification and implementation of the Montreal protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer. It was hoped that the proposed regulation on Communitywide measures could be adopted in June.

  Discussion of the large combustion plants directive focussed on the emission standards proposed for new combustion plant and, in particular, the size threshold above which such standards would apply. It was necessary for my hon. Friend to stress that the German presidency's "compromise" proposals were unrealistic and represented a step backwards from those recently presented by the Danish presidency. Although my hon. Friend was ready to discuss the new plant standards and the requirements for reductions from existing plants, the presidency decided not to discuss anything further. Thus it was not possible to make progress at the Council, although my hon. Friend and I look forward to more constructive discussions with the presidency in the near future.

  The Council had an initial discussion of the Commission's recent proposal for standards for emissions from small cars, as required by directive 88/76/EEC (the "Luxembourg Package"). My hon. Friend made a statement welcoming a proposal to establish a European standard for replacement silencers for motor cycles.
  188
  Further discussion of a proposal to establish a five-year Communitywide programme of projects illustrating how actions in the environment field might contribute to employment led to an undertaking by the Commission to consider alternative methods of financing such a programme.

  Mentally Ill People
  Mr. Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many homeless people in England and Wales have previously been admitted to mental hospitals; and what this figure represents as a percentage of the total number of homeless persons.

  Mrs. Roe
  This specific information is not available centrally. It is estimated, however, that in 1987 English local authorities accepted responsibility for accommodating about 2,300 households who they judged to be in priority need, on the grounds of some mental illness or handicap. This amounts to some 2 per cent. of all those accepted in priority need. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales has responsibility for these matters as they affect the Principality.

  House Purchase (Searches)
  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to abolish local authority searches for house buyers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Roe
  Apart from searches of local land charges registers, maintained by local authorities under a duty imposed by the Local Land Charges Act 1975, the system of local authority searches is not statutory. The present system has been agreed between the Law Society and the local authority associations in response to the demands of conveyancers and their clients.

  Local Authority Houses
  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will update the information provided in his answer to the hon. Member for Bootle (Mr. Roberts) on 13 July 1987,Official Report, columns 387–88, concerning the sale of empty local authority dwellings to private developers.

  Mrs. Roe
  The most recent information available is given in the table. The earlier reservations about the comprehensiveness of the figures still apply. The table should not, therefore, be compared directly with the earlier one.

  Number of disposals of vacant dwellings since 1979

  Local Authority

  Number

  Birmingham

  128

  Bolton

  50

  Bradford

  156

  Brentwood

  10

  Bristol

  5

  Broxbourne

  113

  Burnley

  111

  Calderdale

  96

  Copeland

  47

  Coventry

  76

  Crewe & Nantwich

  2

  Halton

  56

  Hartlepool

  117

  Gedling

  54

  Kensington & Chelsea

  50

  Kettering

  23

  Knowsley

  204

  Lancaster

  44

  Langbaurgh

  419

  Leeds

  91

  Lichfield

  128

  Liverpool

  392

  Macclesfield

  5

  Manchester

  46

  Middlesbrough

  350

  Newcastle

  241

  North Tyneside

  150

  Nottingham

  118

  Oldham

  331

  Portsmouth

  520

  Preston

  344

  Reading

  245

  Rochdale

  130

  Rochester Upon Medway City

  511

  Rotherham

  331

  Rushcliffe

  54

  Salford

  1,028

  Sedgefield

  196

  Sefton

  378

  Solihull

  268

  South Holland

  23

  South Kesteven

  11

  South Tyneside

  150

  Southwark

  191

  Stockport

  54

  Stoke-on-Trent

  42

  Sunderland

  694

  Swale

  14

  Tamworth

  41

  Thurrock

  90

  Tower Hamlets

  443

  Trafford

  156

  Uttlesford

  4

  Walsall

  70

  Wandsworth

  1,099

  Warrington

  52

  Wear Valley

  5

  West Lindsey

  59

  190

  Local Authority

  Number

  Westminster

  10

  Wigan

  188

  Wirral

  423

  Wolverhampton

  7

  Wycombe

  5

  Total

  11,561

  Rating Reform
  Sir George Young
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Ealing, Acton,Official Report, column 1096, 16 March concerning the community charge, if he will place in the Library the preliminary estimates to which he referred.

  Mr. Howard
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received seeking the exemption from the poll tax of overseas students and their dependents during the duration of their course of studies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  We have received a number of representations concerning overseas students. All full-time students—including those from overseas—will be liable to pay only 20 per cent. of the personal community charge.

  Howbury Grange/Dartford North Marshes
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he now expects to announce the decision of the inquiry into the Howbury Grange/Dartford North Marshes development proposals.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 25 February at column 269.

  Green Belt
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report recent correspondence between himself and others regarding planning in the green belt.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I am today putting in the Library copies of my right hon. Friend's recent exchange of correspondence with my right hon. Friend the Member for Henley (Mr. Heseltine).

  Mink Farms
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the planning procedures necessary for the establishment of a mink farm.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The use of land for agriculture, including mink farming, does not require planning permission. At present a general permission is given to many farm buildings and agricultural operations on land by the General Development Order. In national parks and some adjoining areas, this is modified to give planning authorities discretionary control over the siting, design and external appearance of farm and forestry buildings and roads. In revising the GDO later this year, we propose to require specific permission for new livestock units within 400 m of most buildings. When planning
  191
  permission is required for agricultural or any other development, applications should be made to the local planning authority, which should consider each case on its individual merits.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many planning applications are currently pending for the establishment of mink farms in England.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We have no information on the number or type of planning applications awaiting determination by local planning authorities.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take further steps to tackle the problems of homelessness.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Yes. I am concerned to look at further action to help homeless people to reduce their dependence, especially in London, on bed and breakfast. It is unacceptable for there to be large numbers of properties built with public funds standing empty on communities with homeless people. These properties must be brought back into use. Authorities and housing associations must seek the best use of their stock; and help people in the greatest housing need. I can now announce three important initiatives to help both objectives. I want to see authorities and associations take up this challenge urgently.

  First, additional resources of £28·1 million will be made available to local authorities in the financial year 1988–89. This is part of the £58·1 million increase in DOE cash limits arising from local authority underspend announced today by my right hon. Friend. These resources will be targeted on those authorities where homelessness pressures are most acute. Our main purpose in making these extra resources available is to reduce the number of households, in particular families, temporarily accommodated in bed and breakfast.

  It is indefensible that so many families are forced to live in bed and breakfast accommodation at severe, continuous cost to the public purse whilst well over 100,000 local authority properties lie empty. It is a particular scandal that 28,000 properties, almost three times the number of households in bed and breakfast, have been empty for more than a year.

  These extra resources will help provide additional accommodation for the homeless by getting local authority empty properties refurbished and back into use; and by supporting housing association projects of a similar kind. Bids will shortly be invited from local authorities for these additional resources which will then be distributed through the Department's regional offices.

  Second, there are housing association dwellings standing empty and uninhabitable for lack of necessary major repair work. This problem arises when the properties were originally developed with local authority money, but the authority has refused to fund the repairs. In exceptional cases of this kind, the Housing Corporation is already authorised to provide funding. I have now decided to relax the rules so that the corporation may step in wherever the authority is genuinely unable to fund the repair work, on condition that, after repairs, the dwellings are let to homeless people.
  192
  Third, we have decided to bring forward specific legislation to allow local authorities, with the consent of the Secretary of State, to make payments to help tenants to buy in the private sector, thus creating vacancies for reletting. Evaluation of the schemes operated by the London boroughs of Brent and Bromley (under general powers) have shown that incentive payments can provide a cost-effective means of securing a useful number of vacancies for letting to those in bed and breakfast accommodation or on waiting lists; and they can help more families to achieve owner-occupation, by giving modest assistance. Schemes of assistance will generally be appropriate only where there are serious problems of homelessness and other measures cannot supply the answer. Authorities proposing schemes will be expected to establish suitable limits on the amount offered to individual tenants and to target assistance on tenants who could not afford to buy unaided. This proposal will help local authorities make more effective use of the stock in housing people in need.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of outturn in the current year on the DOE-LA1 cash limit; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ridley
  The DOE-LA1 cash limit covers capital expenditure and receipts by local authorities in England on education, housing, transport, personal social services, and other services. On the basis of local authorities' third quarter expenditure returns, the cash limit is forecast to be underspent by about £750 million in 1987–88, similar to the forecast based on first and second quarter returns. The underspend is caused by capital receipts being substantially higher than forecast before the year.

  Under the relevant end year flexibility arrangements, the DOE-LA1 cash limit for 1988–89 will be increased in due course by £141·7 million — five per cent. of the 1987–88 cash limit, provided that fourth quarter returns confirm an underspend of at least that size.

  I and my colleagues responsible for services within the DOE-LA1 cash limit will therefore be making additional capital allocations for 1988–89. We propose to issue £100 million of these shortly, and a further £41·7 million when local authorities' budget returns for 1988–89 are available, provided these returns do not lead to a forecast overspend against the revised cash limit.

  The sum available for my Department's services from the £100 million is £58·1 million. I propose to hold back a £5 million reserve to cover any claims for storm damage expenditure in 1988–89 on DOE services. I will be making allocations of £25 million to local authorities towards capital expenditure necessary to prepare for collection of the community charge, and my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning will be including details of £28·1 million extra capital allocations in an announcement he is making about housing matters today.

  House of Commons (Works of Art)
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the reconstitution of the Committee to advise Mr. Speaker and himself on matters relating to works of art in the House.
  193
  Mr. Ridley
  I am pleased to announce that Mr. Speaker and I have appointed a new advisory committee. There will continue to be nine members. They are my hon. Friends the Members for Staffordshire, South (Mr. Cormack), for Eastleigh (Sir D. Price), for Salisbury (Mr. Key), for Twickenham (Mr. Jessel) and for Chipping Barnet (Mr. Chapman) and the hon. Members for Heywood and Middleton (Mr. Callaghan), for Warley East (Mr. Faulds), for Stockton, North (Mr. Cook) and for Fife, North-East (Mr. Campbell), My hon. Friend the Member for Staffordshire, South has agreed to be Chairman. The committee will hold its first meeting this month.

EMPLOYMENT

  Enterprise Allowance Scheme
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are currently participating in the enterprise allowance scheme.

  Mr. Cope
  At the end of February 1988 there were 94,790 enterprise allowance scheme recipients.

  ILO (Convention 131)
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment why the United Kingdom has not ratified convention 131 of the International Labour Organisation.

  Mr. Nicholls
  International Labour Organisation convention 131 concerns "Minimum Wage Fixing with particular reference to Developing Countries". The convention was not ratified when first adopted in 1970, because, as its title indicates, it is specially directed at the situation in developing countries and its provisions were considered less appropriate to industrialised countries with a long tradition of determining wages by individual or collective bargaining. The present Government consider that wage determination is primarily a matter to be settled between employers and employees, and that ratification of the convention would not in any case be appropriate for the United Kingdom.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were out of work in the Eddisbury parliamentary constituency at the most recent count; and what were the figures in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Lee
  The following information is available from the Library. The table shows the number of unemployed claimants in the parliamentary constituency of Eddisbury in February of each year since 1985. The comparison is slightly affected by the change in the compilation of the unemployment statistics in March 1986.

  February

  Number

  1988

  3,649

  1987

  4,722

  1986

  5,226

  1985

  5,245

  Job Vacancies
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of notified job vacancies in each jobcentre covering the Tottenham constituency for each month since June 1979.

  Mr. Lee
  Tottenham constituency is covered by Tottenham jobcentre, but the information for Tottenham jobcentre is not separately available. Prior to April 1985, job vacancies in Tottenham and Edmonton jobcentre areas were notified to Wood Green jobcentre and combined with the Wood Green job vacancies. However, figures for Tottenham and Edmonton jobcentres combined are available from April 1985 and are as follows:

  Tottenham and Edmonton jobcentres

  Unfilled vacancies

  1985

  April

  272

  May

  340

  June

  370

  July

  325

  August

  320

  September

  366

  October

  441

  November

  433

  December

  322

  1986

  January

  265

  February

  272

  March

  346

  April

  315

  May

  454

  June

  505

  July

  561

  August

  509

  September

  500

  October

  668

  November

  662

  December

  646

  1987

  January

  670

  February

  602

  March

  637

  April

  667

  May

  842

  June

  939

  July

  856

  August

  485

  September

  531

  October

  654

  November

  551

  December

  332

  1988

  January

  338

  February

  309

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Finance Bill
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Finance Bill will be published.

  Mr. Major
  The Finance Bill will be published on Thursday 14 April.

  Value Added Tax
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will tabulate in the Official Report those commodities formerly, or currently, subject to zero value added tax rating, including all those in groups 1 to 17 listed in his note to the Select Committee on the Treasury and Civil Service and published by it on page 8 of its third report of Session 1987–88, (HC 248), in five separate tables to show items that (a) were zero-rated by Her Majesty's Government but have subsequently had their zero-rated status changed by virtue of actions taken, or requests made, by either the Court or the Commission of the European Economic Communities, (b) items currently the subject of infraction proceedings before the court of the European Economic Communities, (c) items currently zero-rated which have been the subject of specific pledges from Ministers concerning their continued zero-rated status, (d) other items of zero-rating subject to current proposals from the Commission of the Commission of the European Communities and (e) other zero-rated items not in categories (a) to (d) above, showing for each item in each table (a) to (d) the rate or band of rates applied, or proposed to be applied, together with the approximate annual revenue, or range of revenue, which has accrued or is likely to accrue to Her Majesty's Government, at 1988 prices for each category, with totals for each table and grand total, and in respect of table (c) footnote references to the respective principal pledge made.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 18 March 1988]: The information requested is given in the tables.
  Table (a): There are no items which were zero-rated by the Government but which have subsequently had their zero-rated status changed by virtue of actions taken, or requests made by the Court or the Commission of the European Communities.

  Table (b): Items subject to zero-rate infraction proceedings

  (i)

  (ii)

  (iii)

  Item

  Proposed VAT rate band under approximation proposals Per cent.

  Theoretical net revenue yield from (ii) (£ million at 1987–88 prices)

  Animal feedstuffs, seeds, live animals yielding food for consumption (all supplies)

  14–20

  neg

  Sewerage services supplied to industry

  14–20

  neg

  Water supplied to industry

  4–9

  neg

  News services (all supplies)

  14–20

  5

  Fuel and power (supplies other than to final consumers)

  4–9

  5–15

  Construction of buildings etc. (supplies other than to final consumers 'within a social policy')

  14–20

  1,200–1,500

  Protective clothing and footwear (supplies to employers)

  14–20

  neg

  Table (c): Zero rated items subject to Government pledges1

  (i)

  (ii)

  (iii)

  Item

  Proposed VAT rate band under approximation proposals Per cent.

  Theoretical net revenue yield from (ii) (£ million at 1987–88 prices)

  Food

  4–9

  1,100–2,400

  196

  (i)

  (ii)

  (iii)

  Item

  Proposed VAT rate band under approximation proposals Per cent.

  Theoretical net revenue yield from (ii) (£ million at 1987–88 prices)

  Electricity, gas and fuel (supplies to domestic consumers)

  4–9

  450–1,000

  Young children's clothing and footwear

  14–20

  325–475

  1 The pledge concerning these items has been made on numerous occasions. It was reiterated by the Prime Minister on 7 July 1987 {Official Report, Vol. 119, No. 13, column 192).

  Table (d): Other zero-rated items subject to proposals from the Commission of the EEC

  (i)

  (ii)

  (iii)

  Item

  Proposed VAT rate band under approximation proposals Per cent.

  Theoretical net revenue yield from (ii) (£ million at 1987–88 prices)

  Sewerage services other than supplies to industry

  14–20

  neg

  Water other than supplies to industry

  4–9

  neg

  Books, newspapers etc.

  4–9

  150–300

  Taking books for the blind and handicapped and wireless sets for the blind

  14–20

  neg

  Construction of buildings etc. supplied to final consumers "withing a social policy"

  14–20

  100–200

  Protected buildings

  14–20

  neg

  International services1

  —

  —

  Internal passenger transport

  4–9

  150–325

  Other transport1

  —

  —

  Caravans and house boats

  14–20

  neg

  Gold and bank notes1

  —

  —

  Drugs and medicines

  4–9

  neg

  Aids for the handicapped

  14–20

  neg

  Exports to other EC member states

  Rate applicable to goods in member state of export

  —

  Charities, etc.

  14–20

  neg

  Protective clothing and footwear other than that supplied to employees

  14–20

  neg

  1 The position of these items under the proposals is not yet clear.

  Table (e): Other items not in (a)-(d)

  (i)

  (ii)

  (iii)

  Item

  Proposed VAT rate under approximation proposals

  Estimated net revenue yield from (ii) (£ million at 1987–88 prices)

  Exports to countries outside the EC

  zero

  nil

WALES

  P-E Inbucon Report
  Sir Raymond Gower
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has now received from the National Museum of Wales its considered comments on the P-E Inbucon report; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  I received the museum's comments on 4 March. The museum's council has responded
  197
  constructively and positively to the recommendations in the report. It has broadly accepted the recommendations, though with certain reservations. In particular, the council expresses concern that there should be the shortest possible delay in proceeding with the Cathays Park building project. My response makes clear that I have no intention of delaying matters longer than is necessary. I am placing a copy of the president's letter in the Library of the House, together with a copy of my reply. Officials will now engage in detailed discussion with the museum and draw up an action plan for the implementation of the recommendations. In that context we shall consider any case advanced by the museum for additional resources.

  There is still a long way to go, but the council's response gives me confidence that the problems of the museum will be tackled expeditiously and effectively. Our common purpose is that the museum should be enabled to realise its full potential and take its proper place in the cultural life of the Principality.

  Ethnic Monitoring
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 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) English and (c) members of ethnic minorities.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  A survey to provide information on the ethnic composition of staff in the Welsh Office will be carried out shortly as part of a phased programme of ethnic surveys across the Civil Service; the total number of staff is 2,2041/2 (full-time equivalents) who are not and will not he classified according to their country of origin within the United Kingdom.

  Welsh Language
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those primary schools in Gwynedd which(a) have classes where Welsh is the sole or main medium of instruction of first or second language pupils, (b) have classes of first or second language pupils where some of the teaching is through the medium of Welsh and (c) teach no Welsh, or, where there are classes where Welsh is taught as a second language but not used as a teaching medium.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The information, as at September 1986, is as follows:Schools having classes where Welsh is the sole or main medium of instruction of first and second language pupils:

  Ysgol Gwaun Gynfi

  Ysgol Babanod Nefyn

  Ysgol Iau Nefyn

  Ysgol Gynradd Llanrug

  Ysgol Gynradd Abererch

  Ysgol Gynradd Beddgelert

  Ysgol Gynradd Bethel

  Ysgol Gynradd Betws-y-Coed

  Ysgol Bodfeurig

  Ysgol Bronyfoel

  Ysgol Ardal Brynaerau

  Ysgol Gynradd Capel Curig

  Ysgol Gynradd Carmel

  Ysgol Y Gelli

  Ysgol Penybryn

  Ysgol Treferthyr

  Ysgol Gynradd Cwm-y-Glo

  Ysgol Gynradd Chwilog

  Ysgol Crud y Werin

  Ysgol Dolbadarn

  Ysgol Gynradd Dolwyddelan

  198

  Ysgol Gynradd Edern

  Ysgol Gynradd Felinwnda

  Ysgol Bro Plennydd

  Ysgol Gynradd Garndolbenmaen

  Ysgol Gynradd y Groeslon

  Ysgol Gynradd Llanaelhaearn

  Ysgol Llanbedrog

  Ysgol Morfa Rhianedd

  Ysgol Maelgwn

  Ysgol Llangybi

  Ysgol Gynradd Llanllechid

  Ysgol Llanllyfni

  Ysgol Llidiardau

  Ysgol Morfa

  Ysgol Gynradd Nantlle

  Ysgol Gynradd Nebo

  Ysgol Gynradd Penisarwaun

  Ysgol Gynradd Penmachno

  Ysgol Gynradd Penygroes

  Ysgol Pentreuchaf

  Ysgol Gynradd Rhiwlas

  Ysgol Gynradd Rhosgadfan

  Ysgol Gynradd Rhostryfan

  Ysgol Gynradd Rhydyclafdy

  Ysgol Sarn Bach

  Ysglo Eifion Wyn

  Ysgol Gynradd Tal-y-Bont

  Ysgol Gynradd Talysarn

  Ysgol Gynradd Trefriw

  Ysgol Y Gorlan

  Ysgol Yr Eifl

  Ysgol GynraddTudweiliog

  Ysglo Waunfawr

  Ysglo Pant-y-Rhedyn

  Ysgol Glancegin

  Ysgol Yr Hendre

  Ysgol GynraddBontnewydd

  Ysgol Gymraeg y Garnedd

  Ysgol Cymerau

  Ysgol Abercaseg

  Ysgol Gynradd y Felinheli

  Ysgol Gynradd Aberffraw

  Ysgol Gynradd Amlwch

  Ysgol Gynradd Bodedern

  Ysgol Gynradd Bodffordd

  Ysgol Gymuned Bryngwran

  Ysgol Gynradd Brynsiencyn

  Ysgol Gynradd Caergeiliog

  Ysgol GynraddDwyran

  Ysgol Gynradd Gaerwen

  Ysgol Gynradd Carreglefn

  Ysgol Gynradd Gwalchmai

  Ysgol Gymuned Moelfre

  Ysgol Gynradd Llanfachraeth

  Ysgol Gynradd Llanfairpwll

  Ysgol y Graig

  Ysgol Llangoed

  Ysgol Henblas

  Ysgol Gynradd Llanerch-y-Medd

  Ysgol Gynradd Llanrhuddlad

  Ysgol Gynradd Pencarnisiog

  Ysgol Penysarn

  Ysgol Gynradd Rhosybol

  Ysgol Gynradd Y Talwrn

  Ysgol Gymuned y Dyffryn

  Ysgol Goronwy Owen

  Ysgol Gynradd Llandegfan

  Ysgol y Borth

  Ysgol Gymraeg Morswyn

  Ysgol Gynradd Abergynolwyn

  Ysgol Gynradd y Bala

  Ysgol Gynradd Croesor

  Ysgol Dyffryn Ardudwy

  Ysgol Bro Cynfal

  Ysgol Gynradd y Ganllwyd

  Ysgol Edmwnd Prys

  Ysgol Glanypwll

  Ysgol Gynradd Llanegryn

  Ysgol Gynradd Llanelltyd

  Ysgol y Garreg

  199

  Ysgol O M Edwards

  Ysgol Gynradd Llawrybetws

  Ysgol Manod

  Ysgol Gynradd y Parc

  Ysgol Gynradd Pennal

  Ysgol Cefn Coch

  Ysgol Gynradd Talsarnau

  Ysgol Gynradd Tanygrisiau

  Ysgol Penybryn

  Ysgol Bro Hedd Wyn

  Ysgol Gynradd Frongoch

  Ysgol Gynradd Rhydymain

  Ysgol Tanycastell

  Ysgol Ffridd y Llyn

  Ysgol Maenofferen

  Ysgol Capel Garmon

  Ysgol Babanod Llanrwst

  Ysgol Corn Hir

  Ysgol Pont y Gof

  Ysgol Iau Maescincla

  Ysgol Babanod Maesincla

  Ysgol Foel Gron

  Ysgol Llandegai

  Ysgol Gynradd Lladwrog

  Ysgol Llangelynnin

  Ysgol Llanystumdwy

  Ysgol Pencae

  Ysgol Tregarth

  Ysgol Ysbyty

  Ysgol Parc y Bont

  Llangaffo VP

  Ysgol Llanfachreth

  Ysgol Llanddoged Wirfoddol

  Ysgol Eglwysbach

  Ysgol Santes Helen

  Schools having classes of first or second language pupils where some of the teaching is through the medium of Welsh:

  Ysgol Gynradd Dolgarrog

  Ysgol Gynradd Abersoch

  Ysgol Gynradd Borthygest

  Ysgol Gynradd Capelulo

  Ysgol Deganwy

  Ysgol Dyffryn Road

  Ysgol Glanadda

  Ysgol Glanwydden

  Ysgol Yr Wyddfid

  Ysgol Gyffin

  Ysgol Tudno

  Ysgol Gynradd Maenan

  Ysgol Gynradd Y Rowen

  Ysgol Babanod Coed Mawr

  Ysgol Craig Y Don

  Ysgol Gynradd Beaumaris

  Ysgol Gynradd Bodorgan

  Ysgol Gynradd Cemaes

  Ysgol Gynradd Llanbedrgoch

  Ysgol Gynradd Llandrygarn

  Ysgol Gynradd Llanddeusant

  Ysgol Gynradd Llanddona

  Ysgol Ffrwd Win

  Ysgol Gynradd Llanfechell

  Ysgol Gymuned Pentraeth

  Ysgol Gynradd Rhoscolyn

  Ysgol Gynradd Rhosneigr

  Ysgol Ty Mawr

  Ysgol Llanfawr

  Ysgol Llaingoch

  Ysgol Gynradd Niwbwrch

  Ysgol Y Traeth

  Ysgol Y Clogau

  Ysgol Gynradd Brithdir

  Ysgol Gynradd Bryncrug

  Ysgol Gynradd Corris

  Ysgol Gynradd Dinas Mawddwy

  Ysgol Gynradd Dolgellau

  Ysgol Gynradd Llanbedr

  Ysgol Gynradd Llwyngwril

  Ysgol Y Friog

  Ysgol Gynradd Aberdyfi

  Ysgol Iau Llanrwst

  200

  Ysgol Gynradd Hirael

  Ysgol Cadnant

  Ysgol Bodlondeb

  Ysgol Y Faenol

  Ysgol Babanod Llanfairfechan

  Ysgol Gynradd Cae Top

  Ysgol Y Parch Thomas Ellis

  Ysgol Babanod Dolgellau

  Ysgol Bodafon

  Ysgol Beuno Sant Y Bala

  Schools having classes where Welsh is taught as a second language but not used as a teaching medium or schools where no Welsh is taught:

  Ysgol Nant y Coed

  Ysgol Gynradd Y Parc

  Ysgol Babanod Y Tywyn

  Ysgol Gynradd Kingsland

  Ysgol Glan Conwy

  Ysgol Sant Sior

  Our Lady Immaculate

  Ysgol Stella Maris

  St. Mary's RC School

  Hotels (Grading)
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultation is taking place on a scheme for hotel grading as a separate qualitative assessment from classification.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The Wales Tourist Board has consulted all classified establishments, tourist associations, and local authorities in Wales. The board now intends to discuss with the industry the detailed implementation of the grading system it intends to introduce. I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 22 March 1988 at column 52.

  Loans and Grants
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects information for 1987 on loans and grants received by(a) Clwyd and (b) Wales to become readily available.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Information for 1987 on all identifiable EC loans and grants received by Clwyd and by Wales will be available later this year.

  Mink Farms
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many mink farms currently operate in Wales; and what was the figure 12 months ago.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  One; nil.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the size and location of each mink farm currently operating in Wales.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Accommodation for 250 mink. Llanybydder, Dyfed.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many planning applications are currently pending for the establishment of mink farms in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  This information is not held centrally.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many licences are current for the operation of mink farms in Wales.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  None. One application is under consideration in respect of a mink farm established in February 1988.

SCOTLAND

  Bield Housing Association
  Mr. Ron Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has received recent representations from the Bield housing association regarding the level of public funding; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Mr. Alister Green, director of Bield Housing Association Ltd., wrote to me on 16 December, enclosing a copy of his association's annual report. He made particular reference to the level of funding for the provision of housing for the elderly.

  Future provision of housing for the elderly within the public sector must be considered in the context of progress already made since 1979. In many districts provision now exceeds the widely used yardstick of 50 bed spaces per 1,000 elderly.

  Officials from my Department are currently conducting research aimed at reassessing the requirement for specialised housing for the elderly. The results of that research will be fully taken into account in considering the future allocation of funds.

  Scottish Special Housing Association
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) when he received from the Scottish Special Housing Association the report on the results of its consultation with Scottish Special Housing Association tenants in Shetland;

  (2) if he will place in the Library a copy of the report submitted to him by the Scottish Special Housing Association on the consultation with Scottish Special Housing Association tenants in Shetland; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Scottish Special Housing Association wrote to the Scottish Development Department on 12 February 1988 to explain its intentions in relation to the houses which they own in Shetland, in the light of the views expressed by their tenants. The letter was not primarily a report of the results of their consultation with their tenants, although it makes reference to the outcome. If the hon. Gentleman wishes to have specific information about the outcome of the consultation I suggest that it would be appropriate to direct his inquiry to the chairman of the association.

  The association has decided not to withdraw from the ownership of houses in Shetland. Tenants who wish their houses to be sold to Hjaltland housing association will be free to continue discussions with that body. Houses which remain in the ownership of the Scottish Special Housing Association will continue to be managed on their behalf by Shetland islands council.

  The Scottish Special Housing Association have written to all of their tenants in Shetland to notify them of these decisions. Shetland islands council, Hjaltland housing association and the Housing Corporation in Scotland have all been informed of the position.

  Tree Felling
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will be taking any additional steps to monitor the amount of felling now that woodland profits are to be free of tax.
  202
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The felling of trees in Great Britain is controlled by the Forestry Commission in exercise of its powers under the Forestry Act 1967. Adequate arrangements are already in place for monitoring felling.

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made as to whether felling licences will be sufficient to smooth the realisation of woodland profits in the light of the Budget tax proposals.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. and learned Friend is not aware of any reason why consideration of felling licence applications should be influenced by the changes in forestry taxation announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

  Mentally Ill People
  Mr. Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many homeless persons in Scotland have previously been admitted to mental hospitals; and what this figure represents as a percentage of the total number of homeless persons in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is not available.

  In the year 1986–87, about 250 applicant households in priority need had a household member vulnerable because of mental handicap or mental illness. This represents approximately 2 per cent. of homeless households.

  Historic Building Grants
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of historic building grants which have recently been allocated within Angus district; and what proportion the grants are of the total allocated within Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  For the three most recent financial years, the information requested is as follows:

  Angus district

  Total for Scotland

  £

  £

  Percentage

  1985–86

  193,800

  4,287,000

  4·5

  1986–87

  56,900

  3,809,000

  1·5

  11987–88

  339,000

  6,000,000

  5·7

  1 Provisional.

  Education Expenditure
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of spending in Tayside on(a) primary education, (b) secondary education, (c) further education and (d) nursery education was met by Government grant and what proportion was met by the regional council in each year since 1979; and what were the respective cash figures for each category at 1987–88 prices.

  Mr. Lang
  It is not possible to provide a breakdown as requested. Government grant in respect of local authority relevant expenditure, aggregate Exchequer grant, is composed of specific grants and the rate support grant. There are no specific grants available to finance any one of the broad categories of expenditure specified. RSG, by
  203
  far the largest element of AEG, is paid in support of local authorities' revenue generally and is not hypothecated to individual services. It is not therefore possible to express RSG as a proportion of expenditure on particular services.

  Firearms Certificates
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many shotgun licences and firearm certificates were issued within the Dundee area within the last eight years.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Statistics of the issue and renewal of shotgun and firearms certificates are recorded only on a police area basis. Tayside police statistics are not compiled on a way which would enable separate figures to be given for the Dundee area.

  Free School Meals
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many children in(a) Dundee and (b) Tayside region are currently in receipt of free school meals; and how many he estimates will lose this entitlement from April.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Details regarding school meals are collected centrally on a regional basis and information taken from the 1987 census indicates that 7,921 pupils in Tayside region were in receipt of free meals. This figure is not broken down by entitlement, but it is estimated that supplementary benefit recipients, for whom the position will not change, represent about 70 per cent. of those receiving free meals. The remainder, who benefit because their parents are in receipt of family income supplement or by virtue of the authorities discretion will lose their entitlement, but, because the children's rates of family credit will take account of the cost of school meals, I expect that, overall, more pupils will benefit under the new arrangements.

  Tayside Health Board
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from Tayside health board regarding the authority's financial difficulties and suggesting the need for extra funds.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  No representations have been received this year.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the 1986–87 half-yearly overspend or underspend position of the Tayside health board broken down into districts.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Information on the expenditure of Tayside health board's units is not available centrally.

  Housing
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give his estimate of how many houses in the Dundee district authority area are below the statutory tolerable standards; and how many of those(a) lack one or more of the basic amenities and (b) lack a fixed bath or shower.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The most recent available information is set out in the table, which gives 204
  the numbers of dwellings below the statutory tolerable standard in the area of the city of Dundee district council and, of those, the numbers lacking one or more of the standard amenities (sink, hot water and inside WC). It also shows the numbers lacking a fixed bath or shower.

  Dwellings below tolerable standard at 31 March 19861

  Number

  Number of dwellings below tolerable standard

  1,470

  Lacking one or more standard amenity2

  1,470

  Lacking a fixed bath or shower2

  1,426

  1 Information on dwellings below tolerable standard is collected annually from local authorities. The latest figures available from Dundee district council are as at 31 March 1986.

  2 A dwelling may be recorded in both of these columns and there is therefore an element of double counting.

  Heart Surgery
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the number of children currently waiting for heart surgery at each regional centre for heart operations in Scotland; and what is the average longest waiting time.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information requested is as follows:

  Glasgow

  Edinburgh

  Number of children (under 16yrs old) on waiting list1

  35

  16

  Mean wait in days

  77

  145

  Longest wait in days

  569

  267

  1 At 14 March 1988.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report the constituencies of Scotland ranked according to the percentage of (a) losers and (b) gainers under the poll tax proposals, showing those percentages alongside that ranking; and if he will express these figures for both households and individuals.

  Mr. Lang
  This information is not available by constituency.

  Pay Beds
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of pay beds available in the Tayside health board area on the latest available date; and what are the corresponding figures for each year since 1979.

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

  1Year

  Number of Authorised Pay beds

  1979

  5

  1980

  5

  1981

  5

  1982

  39

  205

  1Year

  Number of Authorised Pay beds

  1983

  39

  1984

  39

  1985

  39

  1986

  39

  1987

  49

  21988

  49

  1 As at 31 December.

  2 As at 23 March.

  3 Plus 2 emergency beds.

  4 Plus 4 emergency beds.

  Tourism
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to assist the tourist industry in Dundee.

  Mr. Lang
  The Government, through their sponsor bodies, are already fully involved in promoting the development of Dundee's tourist industry. These bodies are always willing to provide assistance, advice and encouragement for worthwhile projects. The prime current example of Government activity is the Scottish Development Agency's participation in the work of the Dundee project in facilitating tourist-related developments at the waterfront site such as the R RS Discovery visitor centre. In addition, assistance has been provided to a number of projects, including the Stakis Earl Grey hotel, and the Scottish tourist board provides financial support for the City of Dundee tourist board.

  YTS
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many YTS trainees in Dundee left the scheme to enrol in another scheme run by a different employer or a different managing agent in the current year.

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

  Data are however available from a 100 per cent. survey carried out in the Grampian and Tayside area of all trainees who had left YTS schemes between April 1986 and September 1987. The response rate was just over 50 per cent. Of those 3,912 young people who replied, 530 (13.5 per cent.) had rejoined a YTS scheme. It is not possible to ascertain in any case whether the young person went to a different employer or managing agent.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many persons in Dundee have had a benefit penalty applied to them by an adjudication officer for refusing to enter a YTS course or for leaving a YTS course early, for each month since the scheme began.

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

  In the city of Dundee for the period from 1 April 1987 to 22 March 1988, a total of 204 young people have had a benefit penalty applied by an adjudicating officer either for refusing a YTS course or for leaving one early.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Sheep (Radioactivity)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his latest estimate of the number of years for which restrictions will be necessary on sheep movement in parts of Cumbria, following radioactive fallout after the Chernobyl nuclear accident.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I refer the hon. Member to my replies of 8 and 15 February at columns 62 and 467 respectively and to the reply given by my noble Friend, the Parliamentary Secretary in another place on 8 February at columns 94–95.

  Milk Quotas
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many injunctions have been applied for and granted to restrain the Milk Marketing Board from transferring milk quota originally belonging to a producer in receivership to the new occupier in each year since 1984.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  There have been none.

  Mink Farms
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many mink farms currently operate in England; and what was the figure 12 months ago;

  (2) if he will give details of the licensing arrangements necessary for the establishment and operation of a mink farm;

  (3) how many licences are current for the operation of mink farms in England.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  As at 24 March there were 48 licences for the farming of mink in force in England. These licences covered 49 farms. One of these farms has ceased to keep mink and the licence expires this month. A year ago the number of farms licensed was 44.

  Under the Destructive Imported Animals Act 1932 and The Mink (Keeping) Order 1987, the appropriate Department may at its discretion issue a licence for the keeping of mink except in certain areas of Great Britain specified in the Order. The fee, currently £115, and the manner in which mink are to be confined are specified in The Mink (Keeping) Regulations 1975 as amended by The Mink (Keeping) (Amendments) Regulations of both 1982 and 1987. Before a licence is issued the premises are inspected and an assessment made of the likely impact on farming and wildlife if mink were to escape from captivity.

  Meat and Poultry (Hormones)
  Mr. Churchill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture. Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to ensure that no meat or poultry, in the production of which hormones have been used, is made available for sale to the British consumer without bearing a clear label indicating the fact.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  My hon. Friend may be aware that the use of hormone growth promoters for fattening purposes has been prohibited in the United Kingdom since 1 December 1986.
  207
  In the light of this I do not believe that the labelling of meat or poultry would provide any further safeguard for consumers.

  Irradiated Foods
  Mr. Marland
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he proposes to take following the announcement on 4 February that the Government accept the advice of the Advisory Committee on Irradiated and Novel Foods on the safety and wholesomeness of irradiated foods.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  It may be that this technology, if properly controlled and applied may offer real health and economic benefits for the consumer in some food areas where the alternatives are not as safe or effective in ensuring keeping food sound and wholesome. However, we must look carefully at how this might be achieved in a controlled and phased manner before we can consider lifting the current ban on the use of irradiation on food in the United Kingdom.

  I have therefore asked officials to report before the end of the year. I have particularly asked for advice on the criteria for assessing applications to use irradiation, what conditions might be imposed in giving any such permission including consideration of the availability of detection tests, arrangements for licensing and inspection of food irradiation plants, the monitoring of the extent of use of food irradiation, and a complete consumer information programme including appropriate food labelling provisions. In drawing up advice officials will take into account the sorts of controls that are applied by those countries, which includes some our European partners, where food irradiation is permitted.

  We shall not make any proposals to amend or adjust the current general prohibition without the full public consultation required by the Food Acts.

SOCIAL SERVICES

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate has been made of the additional cost of housing benefit from 1 April if it were given to those whose savings did not exceed £10,000 instead of the £6,000 proposed.

  Mr. Portillo
  The cost would be substantial. Precise estimates would depend on the nature of changes to the "tariff income" structure that currently operates for capital holdings between £3,000 and £6,000. The cost would of course be even higher if the capital limits for income support and family credit were increased in the same way in order to maintain the alignment of rules between the three benefits, which is an important achievement of the social security reforms.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the number of claimants whose housing benefit is delayed with his Department's Dundee offices.

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

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many claimants of housing benefit in Dundee he estimates will receive lower benefits from April;
  208
  (2) what is his estimate of how many pensioners in Dundee now receiving housing benefit will lose rights after the change in the social security system in April.

  Mr. Portillo
  I regret that information relating to loss of housing benefit is not available for individual local authority areas.

  Human Organs
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the National Health Service or any Government agency imports any human organs for transplant work in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  The United Kingdom transplant service has reciprocal arrangements for organ exchange with similar organisations in other European countries. It also has an arrangement with the federally recognised organ exchange agency in the United States, the United Network for Organ Sharing, under which cadaveric kidneys surplus to United States requirements may be used to help patients in the United Kingdom.

  Imported organs accounted for a very small proportion of the total transplants carried out in the United Kingdom. In the calendar year 1987, the following organs were sent from Europe:

  Kidneys—6

  Livers—4

  Hearts and heart/lungs—13

  (These figures exclude reciprocal arrangements with Dublin, which is served by the United Kingdom transplant service as if it were a United Kingdom centre).

  Imports of kidneys under the arrangements with the United Network for Organ Sharing totalled 29 in the last quarter of 1987.

  Elderly Patients
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the proportion of hospital beds occupied by patients who are(a) over 65 years and under 75 years and (b) over 75 years in Sunderland district health authority and the Northern regional health authority.

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

  Estimated Percentage of In-Patients Occupying Beds in National Health Service Hospitals in 1985

  Patients aged 65–74 years

  Patients aged 75 years and over

  Northern Regional Health Authority

  18

  35

  Sunderland District Health Authority

  21

  35

  Air Conditioning and Ventilation
  Mr. Brandon-Bravo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what public health policy initiatives he proposes to take in the light of the report on air conditioning and ventilation analysis by ACVA Inc., a copy of which has been sent to him; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  As I and my noble Friend have explained when writing to my hon. Friend, the Government are actively reviewing current knowledge and research
  209
  (including a major United Kingdom study, now published, which has been carried out by a private company). The report to which my hon. Friend refers is a useful addition to the literature.

  There is increasing awareness of the opportunities offered by, and the problems associated with, air conditioning and ventilation. It would be premature to take any policy initiatives before these reviews have been completed.

  South Cumbria Health Authority
  Mr. Jopling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what changes in front-line staff in South Cumbria district health authority have been achieved over the last five years for which figures are available in both numbers and percentages.

  NHS employed stuff in post at 30 September

  Whole-time equivalents1

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Crewe district health authority

  Physiotherapists2

  33

  30

  30

  38

  41

  Speech therapists2

  6

  7

  10

  12

  11

  Radiographers2

  28

  26

  25

  28

  27

  Chiropodists2

  10

  11

  11

  11

  12

  Occupational therapists2

  10

  9

  9

  11

  12

  Dieticians

  3

  3

  4

  3

  2

  Medical laboratory scientific officers

  47

  45

  49

  47

  48

  Chester district health authority

  Physiotherapists2

  36

  37

  39

  39

  43

  Speech therapists2

  6

  6

  7

  't

  7

  Radiographers2

  31

  30

  30

  29

  29

  Chiropodists2

  7

  9

  9

  10

  9

  Occupational therapists2

  18

  21

  23

  29

  31

  Dieticians

  3

  3

  3

  4

  4

  Medical laboratory scientific officers

  42

  44

  42

  43

  38

  Halton district health authority

  Physiotherapists2

  14

  15

  17

  23

  26

  Speech therapists2

  4

  3

  4

  3

  5

  Radiographers2

  7

  7

  7

  11

  13

  Chiropodists2

  6

  8

  8

  3

  9

  Occupational herapists2

  5

  8

  12

  14

  12

  Dieticians

  3

  3

  3

  1

  2

  Medical laboratory scientific officers

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1 Figures arc independently rounded to the nearest whole-time equivalent.

  2 Excludes helpers.

  3 Less than 0·5 whole-time equivalent.

  — Nil.

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

  Mr. Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people were treated in each specialty in(a) the Crewe, (b) the Chester and (c) the Halton health districts in 1987.

  Mrs. Currie
  Information about the numbers of patients using hospital beds will in future be available for financial years. Information about completed episodes of hospital care for 1987–88 are expected by late summer this year.

  Mr. Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the current waiting lists for(a) examinations, (b) operations and (c) beds in each speciality in each hospital in (i) the Crewe, (ii) the Chester and (iii) the Halton health district.
  210
  Mrs. Currie
  Between 30 September 1982 and 30 September 1986, front-line staff in South Cumbria district health authority increased by 88 whole-time equivalents (from 1,288 to 1,376) or by 6.9 per cent.

  Crewe, Chester and Nation Health Authorities
  Mr. Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the number of(a) physiotherapists, (b) speech therapists, (c) radiographers, (d) chiropodists, (e) occupational therapists. (f) dieticians and (g) laboratory technicians employed by (i) the Crewe health authority, (ii) the Chester health authority and (iii) the Halton health authority in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Newton
  The information is shown in the table.

  Mr. Newton
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to him on 8 March, at columns 176.7.

  Mr. Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the projected levels of funding for the next three years for(a) the Crewe, (b) the Chester and (c) the Halton health districts, expressing year-on-year changes as a percentage in both cash and real terms.

  Mrs. Currie
  The funding of Crewe, Chester and Halton health authorities is a matter for the Mersey regional health authority. I understand that the region will be issuing revised financial guidelines to districts soon, and my hon. Friend may care to contact the regional chairman for this information.
  211
  Mr. Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what were the bed occupancy rates in each specialty in each hospital in(a) the Crewe, (b) the Chester and (c) the Halton health districts in 1987.

  Mrs. Currie
  Information about bed availability and bed occupancy is not yet centrally available for 1987. The information which will form part of the new information set recommended by the steering group on health services information will be available later this year and will relate to the financial year 1987–88. Data on bed usage will in future relate to ward classification rather than specialty and will reflect the number of unfinished ward stays at a specific point in time which will assist in estimating daily bed usage.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of staff employed by each office of his Department in the Tottenham constituency for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Tottenham constituency is served by only Tottenham local office. The most recent available information regarding staffing levels at social security local offices relates to 1 March 1988. The numbers of staff in post at Tottenham office on that date, and corresponding figures for previous years are as follows:

  Date

  Number

  1 April 1979

  148

  1 March 1980

  144

  1 March 1981

  151

  1 March 1984

  177

  1 March 1985

  179·5

  1 March 1986

  185·5

  1 March 1987

  202·5

  1 March 1988

  210·5

  For 1979 only, the number given relates to 1 April as records of staffing at individual local offices prior to that date have not been retained. I regret I am unable to provide information for 1982 and 1983 as the relevant records have been destroyed in a fire.

  Supplementary Benefit
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the number of supplementary benefit claimants in each of his Department's offices covering the Tottenham constituency for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Portillo
  The information requested is as follows:

  Tottenham Local Office

  Date

  Number of people receiving supplementary benefit

  27 November 1979

  9,328

  2 December 1980

  10,271

  9 December 1981

  12,978

  7 December 1982

  14,247

  6 December 1983

  15,124

  12 December 1984

  16,083

  11 December 1985

  17,237

  10 December 1986

  18,073

  17 November 1987

  17,235

  Source: 100 per cent. count of cases in action.
  212
  The constituency of Tottenham is served by the Tottenham local office, but their boundaries are not conterminous.

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many households in December 1985, December 1986 and December 1987 were having weekly deductions made from their supplementary benefit for electricity and how many for gas(a) under £2 per week and (b) in each £1 band above £2 per week up to £30 per week.

  Mr. Portillo
  This information is not held for the dates requested. However, the annual statistical inquiry shows that in February 1986 supplementary benefit recipients were having deductions made from their weekly benefit for electricity and gas as follows:

  Bands (£)

  Electricity

  Gas

  0·01 to 2·00

  4,164

  2,465

  2·01 to 3·00

  9,268

  3,938

  3·01 to 4·00

  10,403

  6,405

  4·01 to 5·00

  16,681

  10,820

  5·01 to 6·00

  18,046

  15,514

  6·01 to 7·00

  17,873

  16,913

  7·01 to 8·00

  19,462

  19,986

  8·01 to 9·00

  15,982

  16,359

  9·01 to 10·00

  12,663

  13,161

  10·01 to 11·00

  10,739

  9,275

  11·01 to 12·00

  10,558

  6,415

  12·01 and over

  32,667

  10,528

  Information is not readily available for separate £1 bands over £12·01 per week.

  Pensioners
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many pensioners currently in receipt of supplementary benefit will receive a transitional addition after 11 April.

  Mr. Scott
  It is estimated that some 650,000 claimants who are, or whose partner is, aged 60 years and over will receive a transitional addition at 11 April.

  Social Fund Officers
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether each office of his Department has now recruited its quota of social fund officers.

  Mr. Portillo
  Social fund officers are existing departmental staff who have been redeployed from other duties. They form an integral part of the complement of each local office, but no central record is kept of how each manager deploys his available staff resources.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what training has been given to his Department's social fund officers.

  Mr. Portillo
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Islington, North (Mr. Corbyn) on 15 December 1987 at column 483–4.

  Infant Mortality
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish the results of his consultations with medical experts on the rise in infant mortality in 1986.

  Mrs. Currie
  As indicated by officials to the Select Committee on Social Services, we have not yet received
  213
  any report of these consultations which are continuing. We shall consider whether further action is necessary once we receive their views.

  Cancer Screening
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what further plans he has to publicise the need for cancer screening; what funds are currently available for this purpose; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  Personal invitations sent to women due for screening, followed by reminders both to women who do not respond and to their GPs, are the most effective single way of publicising cancer screening to those who need it. Health education activity in support of the cervical and breast cancer screening programmes will be carried out by the Health Education Authority within its overall budget next year of over £10 million. The HEA among others will be publicising the European code against cancer—which recommends regular cervical smears and, for women over 50, mammography—during EC Cancer Week from 1–7 May 1988 and EC Cancer Year in 1989. Publicity on cancer screening is also given by the Women's national cancer control campaign, which receives an annual grant of £84,500 from the Department.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list those district health authorities which have set up a computerised call and recall system for cervical cancer and those which have not; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Peckham (Ms. Harman) on 10 March at column 344.

  Northern Regional Health Authority
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the percentage change in(a) National Health Service funding in real terms and in cash terms and (b) employment of medical staff, from 1979 to 1988 in the Northern regional health authority.

  Mr. Newton
  Following is expenditure information derived from 1he annual accounts of health authorities comprising the northern region for 1979–80 and 1986–87 (the latest year available):

  1979–80

  1986–87

  £ million

  £ million

  Total Expenditure

  Cash terms

  473·9

  957·6

  At 1986–87 prices

  790·9

  957·6

  Increases

  Per cent·

  Per cent·

  Cash terms

  —

  102·1

  Real terms

  —

  21·1

  Notes:

  1 The figure for 1979–80 has been expressed at 1986–87 prices by the use of the Gross Domestic Product deflator.

  2 The figures include expenditure on family practitioner services. Such expenditure cannot strictly be attributed to particular regions but has been assigned on a geographical basis from the annual accounts of the family practitioner committees which account for it.

  3 The figures exclude expenditure by special health authorities, etc. providing central services for the National Health Service and expenditure met centrally by the Department.
  214
  Information on hospital and community health services medical staff for 1979 and 1986, the latest year for which figures are available, is set out as follows:

  HCHS medical staff at 30 September 19791 and 1986 wtes

  Northern region

  1979

  1986

  Per cent. change

  2,349·0

  2,640·0

  +12·4

  1 Includes permanent paid, honourary and locum staff.

  Nurse-Patient Ratios
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the nurse-patient ratio in(a) the Sunderland district health authority and (b) the Northern regional health authority for each of the last nine years.

  Mr. Newton
  Such information as is available is shown in the table.

  Due to the 1982 National Health Service reorganisation, figures on a consistent basis for years prior to 1982 are not available for Sunderland district health authority. Figures for Northern regional health authority have been given for the same years for comparison. Nursing and midwifery staff in post figures are a "snapshot" on 30 September whereas patient figures include in-patients, outpatients, day cases and emergencies aggregated over a calendar year.

  Due to the differing methods of collection, any ratio calculated would therefore be crude and could be misleading. Staff and patient Figures have therefore been presented separately.

  National Health Service nursing and midwifery staff in post1

  Whole-time equivalents2

  At 30 September

  Sunderland district health authority

  Northern regional health authority

  1982

  2,490

  26,380

  1983

  2,570

  26,840

  1984

  2,520

  26,740

  1985

  2,580

  27,110

  1986

  2,590

  27,390

  Source: DHSS annual census of National Health Service non-medical manpower.

  1 Includes agency staff.

  2 Figures independently rounthd to nearest ten whole-time equivalents.

  In-patient cases treated in Sunderland district health authority and Northern region

  Sunderland district health authority

  Northern regional health authority

  1982

  45,559

  376,067

  1983

  49,225

  409,115

  1984

  50,945

  420,080

  1985

  51,110

  433,131

  1986

  48,820

  441,095

  General Practitioners (Worthing)
  Mr. Higgins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has on the number of general practitioners in the area covered by the Worthing district
  215
  health authority in 1979 and the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will estimate the corresponding increase or decrease in costs.

  Mrs. Currie
  The information requested is collected from family practitioner committees which are not necessarily conterminous with health authority boundaries. The number of unrestricted general medical practitioners in the area covered by west Sussex family practitioner committee (which includes Worthing DHA) has risen from 294 at 1 October 1979 to 360 as at 1 October 1986, the latest date for which figures are available. Information about the corresponding change in costs is not available centrally.

  Benefit Fraud
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of full-time equivalent posts dedicated solely or mainly to detect false social security claimants in(a) the Dundee area, (b) Scotland and (c) Great Britain as a whole; and what are the corresponding figures for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Portillo
  Precise figures are not available but it is possible to estimate the numbers of full-time equivalent posts on the basis of records of staff time expended on fraud-related work. The numbers of full-time equivalent posts each year since 1979 have been as follows:

  Dundee area

  Scotland

  Great Britain

  1979–80

  —

  285

  2,311

  1980–81

  —

  244

  2,336

  1981–82

  —

  261

  2,346

  1982–83

  12

  251

  2,185

  1983–84

  13

  246

  2,211

  1984–85

  14

  258

  2,204

  1985–86

  13

  256

  2,285

  1986–87

  12

  238

  2,390

  1987–88

  14

  313

  2,724

  The figures given for the Dundee area relate to the local offices at Dundee, East and Dundee, West. Data for those offices prior to 1982 are not available.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give his estimate of(a) the amount recovered and (b) the amount illegally claimed but not recovered from social security claimants prosecuted in the Dundee area for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Portillo
  Information on which to base an estimate is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Supplementary Benefit Adjudication Officers
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many supplementary benefit adjudication officers in the Dundee area have less than six months' experience of adjudication work; and how many of these are section supervisors.

  Mr. Portillo
  There are no supplementary benefit adjudication officers in the two local offices in the Dundee area with less than six months' experience of adjudication work.

  Income Support
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many disabled claimants in Dundee will receive a lower entitlement under income support than they currently receive.

  Mr. Portillo
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Lewisham, Deptford (Ms. Ruddock) on 23 March 1988.

  Benefits
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will provide an estimate of(a) the number of claimants in Dundee benefiting from transitional protection in April, and (b) the number of claimants in Dundee expected to lose that protection by April 1989 by benefit upratings, assuming benefit upratings in line with the Chancellor of the Exchequer's inflation estimates in the Autumn Statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  I regret that this information is not available for individual areas.

  Rent Rebates and Allowances
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the gross income level, assuming standard rate of tax and national insurance, if applicable, at which(a) rent rebate or allowance and (b) rate rebate, will cease to be payable to (i) a single pensioner, (ii) a pensioner couple, (iii) a family whose head of household is in employment with one dependent child and (iv) a family whose head of household is in employment with two dependent children under the revised housing benefit scheme to be implemented in April 1988.

  Mr. Scott
  [holding answer 3 December 1987]: The information is in the table and is based on the average local authority rent and rates.

  Housing Benefit from April 1988

  Rent

  Rates

  Level1

  Level2

  Single pensioner (under 80)

  15·30

  6·40

  68·72

  69·18

  Single pensioner (80 or over)

  15·30

  6·40

  71·09

  71·55

  Pensioner couple (under 80)

  15·30

  6·40

  90·48

  90·83

  Pensioner couple (80 or over)

  15·30

  6·40

  92·83

  93·18

  Married couple head working 1 child

  17·10

  7·20

  110·21

  112·17

  Married couple head working 2 children

  18·35

  7·70

  122·06

  124·10

  1 Level of gross income at which rent rebate or allowance ceases.

  2 Rate rebate ceases.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the gross income level at which(a) rent rebate or allowance and (b) rate rebate would cease to be payable to (i) a single pensioner, (ii) a pensioner couple, (iii) a family whose head of household is in employment with one dependent child and (iv) a family whose head of household is in employment with two dependent children who in each case is paying: (a) the average local authority rent and (b) the average local authority rate given a rent taper of 33 per cent.
  217
  Mr. Scott
  [holding answer 3 December 1987]: The information is in the table.

  Housing Benefit until 31 March 1987

  Rent

  Rates

  Level1

  Level2

  Single Pensioner

  15·30

  6·40

  76·07

  75·49

  Pensioner Couple

  15·30

  6·40

  99·32

  98·74

  Married couple

  Head working

  1 child

  17·10

  7·20

  133·80

  133·63

  Married couple

  Head working

  2 children

  18·35

  7·70

  150·82

  150·69

  1 Level of gross income at which Rent rebate or allowance ceases.

  2 Rate rebate ceases.

  Local Caseloads (Report)
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will place in the Library a copy of the full report carried out for his Department by the social policy research unit at York university on the caseloads of local offices of his Department;

  (2) whether the research carried out by the social policy research unit at York university on behalf of his Department was based on a study of the caseload of a sample of local offices of his Department; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) whether the study carried out by the social policy research unit at York university, on behalf of his Department, covered local offices in areas of particularly high unemployment and, specifically those offices serving Glasgow, Maryhill; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 29 February 1988]: The social policy research unit carries out a number of surveys for the Department. In particular the unit was commissioned to carry out two pieces of work to help with the development of policy on the social fund. One study consisted of a survey of applications for single payments in 1986. The survey covered 42 local offices in a representative sample of areas, some of which would have had above average unemployment. The sample included Glasgow (Southside) but not Glasgow (Maryhill).

  The second study was concerned with the reasons for the variation in single payment expenditure between local offices.

  Articles based on the work are in preparation. I will arrange for copies to be placed in the Library as they are produced.

  Foetal and Genetic Abnormality (Screening)
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he is taking to facilitate the establishment of screening and counselling services for foetal and genetic abnormality in districts where they are currently unavailable.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 7 March 1988]: Health authorities received some guidance on screening services in the maternity services advisory committee's reports. The decision on whether to offer screening and referral for specialist genetic advice is a matter for the clinician. In the light of recent developments of DNA techniques in diagnosis we are at present considering how genetic services which include counselling can best be provided within the NHS.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Terrorism
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make it his policy to invite the various legitimate Northern Ireland political parties to make common cause against terrorism and the Irish Republican Army.

  Mr. Tom King
  It is my policy to enlist the full support of the constitutional political parties in Northern Ireland for the Government's efforts to defeat terrorism, from whatever side of the community it may come.

  Anglo-Irish Agreement
  Mr. McCusker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made on reviewing the Anglo-Irish Agreement; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Tom King
  The review of the working of the Intergovernmental Conference provided for in article 11 of the Anglo-Irish Agreement is not due until November. It is too early to comment on what may emerge from the review.

  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has received any representations from the Irish Government under the terms of the Anglo-Irish Agreement concerning the recent shootings in Gibraltar; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what communication he has had recently with the Government of the Irish Republic on matters falling within the ambit of the Anglo-Irish Agreement.

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the accuracy of the information conveyed by Her Majesty's Government to the world press to justify the shootings in Gibraltar is to be discussed with the Government of Ireland under the terms of the Anglo-Irish Agreement; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Tom King
  There has been continuing contact with the Government of the Irish Republic over a range of matters, including the attempted terrorist atrocity in Gibraltar, and subsequent events. The precise nature of communications on matters covered by the Anglo-Irish Agreement is generally confidential.

  Sir John Biggs-Davison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the current working of the Anglo-Irish Agreement.

  Mr. Tom King
  The institutions of the agreement are, I believe, working to the benefit of Anglo-Irish relations, and of the law-abiding people of Northern Ireland, and the agreement continues to provide a sound and valuable foundation for progress there.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what further steps he plans to take to encourage small businesses.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The local enterprise development unit plans to increase its job promotion target from just under 4,000 in the current year to 5,000 jobs in 1988–89.

  Wages
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what monitoring procedures he intends to introduce to check the effects of the Wages (Northern Ireland) Order on the level of young persons' wages; and if he will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  We shall not be introducing any specific monitoring procedures. The high minimum rates set by wages councils for young people in relation to often more experienced adult workers are prejudicial to their employment prospects and the effects of the Wages (Northern Ireland) Order can only be beneficial to young people.

  Angling
  Mr. Sackville
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to exploit the potential of angling for the Northern Ireland tourist industry; what incentives are offered to attract anglers from Great Britain; and if he will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  In Northern Ireland, angling, and in particular coarse angling, has always been regarded as one of the Province's most valuable tourist products. The promotion and marketing of coarse angling have attracted world-class match anglers to the Province's many sponsored competitions, not least the 1982 world championships. The incentives on offer include capital grants for the provision of sea angling boats and reduced price fishing licences for tourists.

  Hospital Services, East Antrim
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consideration he gave to representations from East Antrim general practitioners, Lame and Carrickfergus borough councils and the Moyle Action Committee when determining the future level of acute, accident emergency and maternity services to be provided at Whiteabbey, Carrickfergus and Moyle hospitals in East Antrim.

  Mr. Needham
  I have only recently received a lengthy and detailed submission on a number of issues from the Moyle hospital action committee and the other groups listed. I am considering the points they have put to me and will be replying to them shortly.

  Prisoners (Policy)
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he plans to review his Department's policy towards the treatment of life prisoners and persons detained at the Secretary of State's pleasure who committed crimes before, or at, the age of 18 years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stanley
  My right hon. Friend indicated our general attitude to Secretary of State pleasure cases in his reply to the hon. Member for Foyle (Mr. Hume) on 25 February at column 429. He has noted the views which have been expressed by elected representatives, Church leaders and others and is considering whether any special action is called for. No decision has yet been taken.

  Health and Social Services
  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consideration he has given to the draft proposals of the Province's four area health and social services boards for health services provision in 1988–89.

  Mr. Needham
  It would not be right for me to comment on draft proposals on which boards themselves have not yet taken decisions. Once boards have taken decisions on the proposals, they will be submitting revised operational plans which I shall discuss with chairmen when I hold the accountability reviews.

  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last met the chairmen of the four area health and social services boards in Northern Ireland to discuss the future of the health services in the Province; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I met the chairmen of the health and social services boards on 9 March 1988. At that meeting we had a full and frank discussion of the immediate problems facing boards and also of the ways in which we might seek to improve financial planning in the longer term. To assist boards to rationalise services and introduce revenue-saving measures and thus ease their current financial problems, I have decided to increase their capital allocations for 1988–89 by £5 million.

  Mr. Adams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consideration he has given to the proposals of the four area health and social services boards to cut services in order to meet Government cash limits.

  Mr. Needham
  It would not be right for me to comment on draft proposals on which boards themselves have not yet taken decisions.

  Once boards have taken decisions on the proposals, they will be submitting revised operational plans which I shall discuss with chairmen when I hold the accountability reviews.

  Mr. Snape
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had on additional funding for health and social services provision in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Stretford (Mr. Lloyd).

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many representations he has received concerning the future of health and social services provision in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Needham
  The future of the health and personal social services is an issue of constant debate in Northern Ireland and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I continually receive representations, both formal and informal, on this subject.

  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last met the chairmen of the four area health and social services boards in Northern Ireland to discuss the future of the health services in the Province; and if he will make a statement.
  221
  Mr. Needham
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I met the chairmen of the health and social services boards on 9 March 1988.

  At that meeting we had a full and frank discussion of the immediate problems facing boards and also of the ways in which we might seek to improve financial planning in the longer term. To assist boards to rationalise services and introduce revenue-saving measures and thus ease their current financial problems, I have decided to increase their capital allocations for 1988–89 by £5 million.

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he intends to announce the first environmentally sensitive areas in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Needham
  I am pleased to say that my noble Friend, Lord Lye11, announced the formal designation of the Mourne Mountains and Slieve Croob environmentally sensitive area on Monday 21 March.

  Security
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the current security situation.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the current security situation.

  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the latest security situation in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Molyneaux
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the security situation.

  Mr. Tom King
  I refer right hon. and hon. Members to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Attercliffe (Mr. Duffy).

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has recently received on matters relating to security in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Tom King
  I have regular and frequent meetings with the Chief Constable and the GOC. Since the beginning of this year this House has had the opportunity to debate the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Acts 1978 and 1987 (Continuance) Order 1988 and I have listened with interest to the views of the hon. Members on this and on other occasions. I have also had discussions with leading Northern Ireland politicians and Church leaders and attended four meetings of the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference.

  Chinese Community (Complaints)
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects the disciplinary inquiry into complaints from the Chinese community in Northern Ireland against Royal Ulster Constabulary officers to be completed.

  Mr. Stanley
  I understand the investigation by the RUC is continuing, but it is not possible to say when it might be completed.

  Harland and Wolff
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how he assesses the cost effectiveness of the shipbuilding subsidies paid to Harland and Wolff.

  Mr. Stanley
  Cost effectiveness is assessed by reference to factors such as cost per man year by comparison with the potential cost of creating alternative jobs; the restoration of long-term competitiveness particularly through improving productivity and the rationalisation of physical facilities; and the maintenance of employment elsewhere in the economy.

  Police Officers (Discipline)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the Northern Ireland Police Authority's progress in considering disciplinary charges for police officers above the rank of chief superintendent, in the light of Sir Philip Myer's report.

  Mr. Tom King
  I understand that the police authority has received Sir Philip Myers' report and is now considering its contents. As I have already said I will keep the House informed of further developments.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received concerning the additional financial burden which will be placed on Northern Ireland students studying in Great Britain, in that they will be subjected to a poll tax in Great Britain, while their parents pay full property rates in Northern Irland; and if he will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  No representations have so far been received, and the Government have no plans to introduce a poll tax.

  Anglo-Irish Agreement
  Mr. Gow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress he has made in securing the objective set out in articles 4(b) and 4(c) of the Anglo-Irish Agreement of 15 November 1985.

  Mr. Tom King
  The objective of devolution in Northern Ireland can be achieved only with the co-operation of the constitutional parties there. In order to establish whether a basis for such co-operation exists, I have been holding discussions over recent months with the leaders of the main parties and hope to have further talks with them in the near future.

  Irish Foreign Minister
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last met the Irish Foreign Minister; and what was discussed.

  Mr. Tom King
  I last met the Irish Foreign Minister at the Intergovernmental Conference on 24 February. A copy of the joint statement issued afterwards has been placed in the Library.

  District Development Officers
  Mr. Clifford Forsythe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the responsibilities of a district development officer.

  Mr. Needham
  Outside the Belfast area, the district development officer service was absorbed into the planning service of the Department of the Environment on 1 April 1986 and the responsibilities of the former district development officers fell to that service. So far as Castlereagh and Newtownabbey districts are concerned, the duties passed to the Belfast development office.

  The duties which were passed to the planning service included liaison with other Government Departments, district councils and statutory bodies, the co-ordination of emergency services, urban renewal schemes and the issue of property certificates.

  Religious Discrimination (Employment)
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on his letter to the Standing Advisory Committee on Human Rights concerning its report on "Religious Discrimination in Employment Practices".

  Mr. King
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 2 March to my hon. Friend the Member for Crawley (Mr. Soames).

  Health Service (Funds)
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about his plans to provide additional funds for the Health Service in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Needham
  I have no plans to increase the level of revenue funding for 1988–89 for the health and personal social services in Northern Ireland beyond that already announced. Following representations from the chairmen of the health and social services boards, I have, however, decided to increase capital allocations by £5 million.

  Housing Billl 1987
  Mr. A. Cecil Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has any plans to apply the proposals contained in the Housing Bill 1987 to Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Needham
  We are currently giving careful consideration to the provisions contained in the Housing Bill before deciding whether and to what extent they would be beneficial to current housing policy in Northern Ireland.

  Some of the proposals may not be wholly relevant to the Northern Ireland housing situation because of its different administrative arrangement.

  Cross-community Understanding
  Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he is planning any new initiatives to help cross-community understanding.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  A number of measures have recently been taken, including the creation of a central community relations unit to advise on all aspects of relations between 224
  the two traditions in Northern Ireland, and a new scheme to support cross-community contact between young people. My right hon. Friend and I keep under review the scope for further measures which might assist in improving community relations. In that context I met the leaders of the four main churches on 21 March.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total number of staff in the London office of his Department; and what percentage are non-whites.

  Mr. Stanley
  114; of whom 14 per cent. are non-whites.

  United States Investments
  Mr. Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with United States firms on the effect of the MacBride campaign on United States investments in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Stanley
  Ministers in the Northern Ireland Office have discussed the MacBride campaign with United States firms on a number of occasions, including during my recent visit to the United States earlier this month. In those discussions we have made clear our view that the campaign will do nothing to promote new United States investment in Northern Ireland with adverse consequences for those who are currently unemployed.

  International Fund for Northern Ireland
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the future of the International Fund for Ireland.

  Mr. Stanley
  The International Fund for Ireland published its first annual report last December. This sets out an impressive record of progress, including the establishment of seven priority programmes designed to stimulate economic activity in key sectors of the economy. The report notes that of the £54 million available to the board for disbursement, £48 million has already been committed across the priority programmes. The fund has announced commitments to specific projects totalling £8 million. The Government welcome the care with which the board has approached its challenging task and is confident that the fund will continue to fulfil its objectives of promoting economic advance and contact, dialogue and reconciliation throughout Ireland. We hope that further financial support may be channelled to the fund from friendly countries to enable its work to continue.

  Fair Employment
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he or his Ministers have had with United States investors since the publication of his proposals to strengthen the employment laws on religious discrimination.

  Mr. Stanley
  During my visit to the United States this month I had meetings with four United States companies, one of which is already a major investor in Northern Ireland, to discuss the potential of Northern Ireland as an investment location.

  Anglo-Irish Conference
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the next meeting of the Anglo-Irish Conference is due to take place; and what is the proposed agenda.

  Mr. Tom King
  I refer the hon. Member to a reply I gave earlier to a question from the Member for Liverpool, Riverside (Mr. Parry).

  Prisoners (Visits)
  Sir John Biggs-Davison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received from Father Denis Faul and Father Raymond Murray regarding relatives' visits to Republican prisoners; what form the representations took; whether such visits are treated differently from visits to(a) loyalist prisoners and (b) visits to prisoners in mainland prisons; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stanley
  I am not aware of any recent representations being received in the Department from either Father Faul or Father Murray regarding the specific matter of relatives' visits to Republican prisoners.

  There is no difference in the conduct of visits to Republican or Loyalist prisoners in Northern Ireland prisons.

  Proportion of three and four-year-olds in education in 1986–87

  Age three

  Age four

  Full-time per cent.

  Full-time per cent.

  Full-time per cent.

  Full-time per cent.

  Nursery Schools

  4·6

  5·5

  5·0

  2·7

  Nursery Classes in Primary Schools

  3·8

  1·3

  2·9

  0·8

  Primary Schools (primary classes only)

  0·4

  —

  63·2

  —

  The information on pre-school playgroups is not available in the form requested. However, at 30 June 1987, the latest date for which figures are available, the
  226
  Visiting arrangements for prisoners in mainland prisons are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

  Labour (Mobility)
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to improve the mobility of labour between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  None. There already exists a degree of mobility, especially in areas adjacent to the border between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic. As members of the European Community, there are no restrictions on the movement of labour between any part of the United Kingdom and the Irish Republic.

  Children (Education)
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what proportion of four-year-olds attend(a) nursery education provision, (b) primary school and (c) pre-school playgroup provision;

  (2) what proportion of three-year-olds attend (a) nursery education provision, (b) primary school and (c) pre-school playgroup provision.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 21 March 1988]: Available information is as follows:

  percentage of the combined numbers of three and four-year-olds who attended pre-school playgroups, including playbuses, was 24·2 per cent.

  GARDEN PESTICIDES: PURCHASE REGULATIONS
  GARDEN PESTICIDES: PURCHASE REGULATIONS
  BERKSHIRE STRUCTURE PLAN
  BERKSHIRE STRUCTURE PLAN
  BERKSHIRE AND CLEVELAND: HOUSING FIGURES
  BERKSHIRE AND CLEVELAND: HOUSING FIGURES
  BERKSHIRE AND CLEVELAND: INFRASTRACTU RE COSTS
  BERKSHIRE AND CLEVELAND: INFRASTRACTU RE COSTS
  ENVIRONMENT COUNCIL, 21ST MARCH
  ENVIRONMENT COUNCIL, 21ST MARCH
  BP: KUWAIT SHAREHOLDING
  BP: KUWAIT SHAREHOLDING
  MENTAL HEALTH DOCTORS
  MENTAL HEALTH DOCTORS