Written Answers of 29 March 1988

ENVIRONMENT

  EC (Non-quota Textile Scheme)
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what money is available for allocation in the final round of bids under the European regional development fund non-quota textile allocations scheme; what bids have been submitted for consideration; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  £13·2 million of grant remains available under the textile non-quota special measure, for which applications worth £4·3 million have been received. £37·9 million of grant has already been awarded under this measure.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals there are for an EEC scheme to replace the European regional development fund non-quota textile scheme on its expiry.

  Mr. Maude
  I have been asked to reply.

  None. However, as stated in my answer on 3 March, at columns 641–42, to which I would refer the hon. Member, small and medium sized firms throughout Great Britain may now apply for consultancy grants under my Department's enterprise initiative. In the urban programme area of Burnley these are available at the higher (two thirds) rate.

  Chlorofluorocarbons
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on levels of production of(a) CFC 11, (b) CFC 12, (c) CFC 13 and (d) CFC 14 for each year since 1975 in (i) the EEC, (ii) the United States of America and (iii) the rest of the world.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Following is information on production of(a) CFC 11 and 12 and (b) CFC 113 and 114 in the European Community, the United States and globally.

  Kilotonnes

  (a)

  (b)

  CFC 11/12

  CFC 113/114

  EC

  US

  World

  EC

  US1

  World

  1975

  n.a.

  n.a.

  695

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  1976

  326

  n.a.

  751

  24

  31

  n.a.

  1977

  319

  n.a.

  703

  24

  37

  n.a.

  1978

  307

  n.a

  681

  n.a.

  39

  n.a.

  1979

  304

  209

  647

  n.a.

  50

  n.a.

  1980

  296

  206

  640

  n.a.

  57

  n.a.

  1981

  300

  221

  638

  n.a.

  57

  n.a.

  1982

  289

  180

  599

  n.a.

  57

  n.a.

  1983

  310

  207

  647

  n.a.

  57

  n.a.

  1984

  322

  237

  694

  54

  68

  n.a.

  1985

  336

  202

  703

  64

  73

  158

  1986

  372

  235

  748

  66

  60

  185

  1 CFC 113 only.

  Sources:
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  (i) EC: European Council of Chemical Manufacturers' Federation (CEFIC). No figures for CFC 113–114 mailable between 1978 and 1983.

  (ii) US: 1979–85: "Product Uses and Market Trends for Potential Ozone Depleting Substances 1985–2000" — Rand Corporation 1986. 1980 figures are United Kingdom industry estimates.

  (iii) World: CFC 11/12: Chemical Manufacturers' Association—do not include Eastern bloc countries. CFC 113/114: 1985 figures: Rand Corporation. 1986 figures are United Kingdom industry estimates.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to sales of(a) CFC 11, (b) CFC 12, (c) CFC 113 and (d) CFC 114 in (i) the United Kingdom, (ii) the EEC, (iii) the United States of America and (iv) the rest of the world, for each year since 1975.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Global sales of CFCs may be taken as roughly equivalent to the global production figures which I am giving in response to another question by the hon. Member. Separate figures are not available for the United States or (since the EC took collective action on CFCs in 1980) for the United Kingdom. Sales within the EC are as follows:

  Kilotonnes

  (a)

  (b)

  CFC 11/12

  CFC 113/114

  1975

  n.a.

  n.a.

  1976

  244

  18

  1977

  233

  19

  1978

  231

  n.a.

  1979

  220

  n.a.

  1980

  217

  n.a.

  1981

  210

  n.a.

  1982

  207

  n.a.

  1983

  216

  n.a.

  1984

  218

  39

  1985

  228

  44

  1986

  259

  48

  Source:

  European Council of Chemical Manufacturers' Federations (CEFIC). No figures for CFC 113/114 available between 1978 and 1983. All figures exclude exports outside the EC.

  Pollution Paper No. 15
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to commission research to update the findings of his Department's pollution paper No. 15 of 1979; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Pollution paper 15, published in 1979, reviewed research on chlorofluorocarbons and their effect on stratospheric ozone.

  The Department now supports a broadly based programme of research into stratospheric ozone; I refer the hon. Member to my replies of 2 November 1987, at column 437, and 17 March 1988, at column 645. In addition, the stratospheric ozone review group presented an assessment of our current understanding (which updates pollution paper 15) to the Department last August. Copies of the report have been placed in the Library of the House. A follow-up report from it is due this autumn.

  Rockwool and Glasswool Fibre
  Sir Anthony Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Ihe Environment what information he has on the cancer risks
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  of rockwool and glasswool fibre padding; how many houses have this material installed; what steps he is taking to minimise any risk; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I refer to the reply by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to my hon. Friend the Member for Banbury (Mr. Baldry) on 1 December 1987, at column 551, on the health risks to householders from man-made mineral fibre (MMMF) loft insulation. Rockwool and glasswool fibre padding are forms of MMMF widely used for loft insulation. They are also used in new buildings for cavity wall insulation. Only limited information is available on rockwool and glasswool cavity wall insulation but this indicates that the risk to health from them is of no more consequence than that from loft insulation. Information from Audits Great Britain Ltd. suggests that at the end of 1986 14 million households at most had these materials installed as loft insulation. The Department has no information on the number of houses with rockwool or glasswool cavity wall insulation. The risk to health from these materials is extremely small, but people handling them are advised to wear a face mask conforming to BS 6016 or BS 2091 to reduce the risks still further. The Secretary of State has published further advice in the booklet "All about loft, tank and pipe insulation," which is sent to persons seeking assistance under the homes insulation scheme.

  Consultancy Contracts
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total amount spent by his Department in 1987 on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases.

  Mr. Ridley
  The Department's financial records relate to financial years. In 1986–87 DOE (Central) spent £5·7 million on management and other consultancies (including computing). The forecast outturn for 1987–88 is £4·7 million.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total amount spent by the Property Services Agency in 1987 on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases.

  Mr. Ridley
  Expenditure by the Property Services Agency, on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases, in 1987 was £3,572,487.

  Local Authorities (Superannuation Funds)
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to table regulations allowing local authorities to charge administrative expenses of superannuation funds directly to those funds; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  The proposal to charge the administration expenses of local government superannuation funds to those funds was the subject of statutory consultations with representatives of local government and others in 1987. In the light of those consultations my right hon. Friend expects to make later this year the amending regulation effective from 1 April 1986 charging the above expenses to the funds.

  RNAD, Coulport
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment of what material the floating jetty for the RNAD, Coulport, is to be constructed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  Tenderers are free to make offers using either concrete or steel for the pontoons.

  Chemical Warfare Research (Marmosets)
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information is available on attempts by the Government of the Netherlands to secure marmosets from the United Kingdom for the purpose of chemical warfare research; and if he proposes to take steps to prevent such animals being exported for such purposes.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The Department has no information on attempts by the Government of the Netherlands to secure marmosets from the United Kingdom for the purpose of chemical warfare research.

  Litter
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what specific proposals and projects are currently in operation to combat littering in the urban centres of the north-east.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Projects currently in operation to combat littering in the north-east include Operation Clean-up at Middlesbrough under the urban programme and Tidy Britain Group's projects on cleaning and renovating the railway corridor between Newcastle and South Tyneside and cleaning areas on the River Tyne, together with a Tidy Up Middlesbrough campaign. The Tidy Britain Group has an ongoing programme to combat litter in collaboration with all sections of the community in all the urban centres of the north-east.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Butterfill
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has yet completed his consideration of responses to the consultative paper "Non-Domestic Rates: Amendments to the Rating Legislation in England and Wales", published in July 1987; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  I have today written to the hon. Member for Copeland (Dr. Cunningham) setting out the Government's conclusions, including some modifications to the Government's proposals in the light of consultees' views. These mainly concern the power to remit rates on grounds of hardship; local authorities' involvement in the determination of rateable values; the proposed limit on the period in which ratepayers may propose alterations to rateable values; the backdating of alterations to the valuation list; and the duty on local authorities to consult business ratepayers. I have placed copies of that letter in the Library. The changes will be given effect in the Local Government Finance Bill or in regulations made under it.

  Waterways
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has received a response from the

  369
  British Waterways Board to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission's report on the maintenance of the boards' waterways; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I am grateful to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission for its wide-ranging investigation of BWB. The board has carefully studied the Commission's report under its new chairman, Mr. David Ingman, and I am placing copies of its initial response in the Library of the House.

  The commission proposed a major programme of changes and improvements, some of which BWB has already begun or identified as necessary, for implementation over the next two to three years. Its recommendations cover the definition of maintenance standards and tasks, achieving the optimum balance between in-house work and the use of contractors or consultants, the development of procedures for project appraisal, the basis for allocating resources to individual waterways, BWB's freight operations, the raising of revenue both from leisure use and from BWB's estate, the management of BWB's direct labour force and salaried staff, and some aspects of management systems and structure. The Government broadly endorse the commission's findings.

  BWB has accepted most of the commission's recommendations and has set in hand the process of management change. Key elements are the development of comprehensive plans for individual waterways as a basis for budgetary control and resource allocation, structural reorganisation, the appointment of new commercial and personnel directors, and the overhaul of cost control systems. I welcome the board's positive response to the report and its commitment to change. I support both its overall approach and the action it is taking to implement the report's recommendations. I attach particular priority to making progress with the recommendations on maintenance and contracting out, direct freight activities, project appraisal, and the management of BWB's estate.

  The Department is liaising with BWB on the development project appraisal procedures, and will review the guidelines on submission of schemes to the Department for approval in the light of the new arrangements. I shall also keep under review BWB's responsibilities for public road bridges over canals.

  Some of the commission's recommendations on BWB's financial and budgetary framework would require Government action. The commission thought it important that the guidance figures which BWB is given on grant levels for future years should be respected. It also recommended that the Government should consider the possibility of relating part of the grant to meeting the cost of non-revenue earning requirements and that BWB should be given an incentive to increase its income from users by being allowed to retain at least part of any such increase.

  These issues need further consideration in consultation with BWB. I recognise that BWB would like as much assurance as possible about future grant levels, subject always to public expenditure constraints. I also attach importance to incentives. The existing grant arrangements do, however, already allow BWB to use all receipts within the same financial year and to carry over to the following year, subject to approval, receipts from the sale of land. Further work is needed to assess the feasibility and practical value of splitting the grant between revenue and non-revenue earning requirements.
  370
  I will make a further statement this autumn in the light of the first substantive report which BWB will prepare then on progress in implementing the commission's recommendations.

ENERGY

  Nuclear Installations (Incidents)
  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has met the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission to discuss the report "Statement of Incidents at Nuclear Installations".

  Mr. Parkinson
  A range of nuclear issues was discussed when I met the HSC chairman in November 1987.

  Nuclear Power Stations
  Mr. Lofthouse
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what action he intends taking following the Health and Safety Commission's recent publication, "The Tolerability of Risk from Nuclear Power Stations".

  Mr. Parkinson
  The document was published by the Health and Safety Executive. The Health and Safety Commission will be considering the document and comments thereon, including those of the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Nuclear Installations, before formulating its own view. Comments have been requested by 6 May 1988.

  Consultancy Contracts
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the total amount spent by his Department in 1987 on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases.

  Mr. Parkinson
  My Department expects its total expenditure in the 1987–88 financial year on management and computer consultancy contracts to be about £283,000.

  Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation
  Mr. Eadie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if, when he next meets the chairman of British Coal, he will seek an assurance that the corporation will provide the general secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers, as a director of the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation, with details of the number of members of each union in accordance with the memorandum and articles of association of CISWO as amended by Statutory Instrument No. 1225 of 1987, so that individual unions can satisfy themselves as to the fairness of allocation of seats; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Parkinson
  British Coal has provided to the unions concerned all the information required under the amended memorandum and articles of CISWO. That information, including the allocation of seats, was verified by the corporation's auditors as required by the articles. A procedure is incorporated in the articles for the unions to challenge the information provided. None did so.

  Sizewell B Power Station
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what information he has as to how many contracts for the building of Sizewell B have been awarded
  371
  to date; what percentage of them have gone to East Anglian firms; and what is his estimate of the number of Suffolk residents being employed at Sizewell B;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the progress of building work at Sizewell B;

  (3) what is his assessment of the current and projected impact of the Sizewell B project on the labour market in (a) East Anglia and (b) Suffolk.

  Mr. Parkinson
  This is a matter for the CEGB, and I have asked the chairman to write to my hon. Friend.

  Amersham International
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he intends to exercise his option, under the articles of association, to require Amersham International plc to redeem on 31 March his special rights preference share in the company.

  Mr. Parkinson
  I have no present plans to do so.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Magistrates (Sentencing Policy)
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Attorney-General whether, in the light of the most recent Home Office statistics in relation to sentencing and the ethnic minorities, the Lord Chancellor intends to provide(a) guidelines and (b) training to magistrates; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  The magisterial committee of the Judicial Studies Board (which advises the Lord Chancellor on the training of magistrates) has in the last 12 months taken two initiatives to improve arrangements for the training of magistrates in sentencing and the ethnic minorities. In April last year the committee sent to all magistrates' courts committees, which are responsible for delivering training to magistrates locally, the first two in a series of cards to be issued, setting out a structured, step-by-step approach to decision making. One of these cards covered sentencing, and is designed to ensure that all relevant considerations relating to the offence, the offender and other matters are taken into account by magistrates in arriving at a sentence.

  In June last year the committee organised a seminar on training in ethnic minority cultures, attended by representatives of selected magistrates' courts committees. This subject is listed as an approved subject in the training syllabus, so it may be included by magistrates' courts committees in a training programme without prior application to the Lord Chancellor for approval. The seminar has been a stimulus to action and such training is increasingly being provided to magistrates.

  Consultancy Contracts
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Attorney-General what was the total amount spent by his office in 1987 on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases.

  The Attorney-General
  Nil.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Attorney-General what was the total amount spent by the Lord Chancellor's Department in 1987 on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases.
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  The Attorney-General
  The total amount spent by the Lord Chancellor's Department in this financial year on management and computer consultancy, excluding hardware and software purchases, is £348,593·75.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Attorney-General what was the total amount spent by Her Majesty's Land Registry in 1987 on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases.

  The Attorney-General
  The sum spent by Her Majesty's Land Registry on management and computer consultancy contracts in 1987 was £487·02.

  PRIME MINISTER
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will raise at the next meeting of the European Council the size of the United Kingdom's trade deficit with the EEC; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  No. The EC is our largest market, which takes about 50 per cent. of our exports; it is up to United Kingdom exporters to take further advantage of the market of 320 million people that the EC provides. The removal of remaining barriers to trade leading to the achievement of a single market in 1992 will afford plenty of opportunities to do so.

  Mr. Norman Hogg
  To ask the Prime Minister whether she has any plans to visit Scotland.

  The Prime Minister
  Yes.

  China (Ministerial Visits)
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Prime Minister whether she will list the Ministers who have paid official visits to China in each of the last five years and the year of each such visit.

  The Prime Minister
  According to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's records, the information requested is as follows:

  January:—The right hon. Patrick Jenkin, MP, Secretary of State for Industry.

  November:— The right hon. Peter Walker, MBE, MP, Secretary of State for Energy.

  March:—The right hon. Paul Channon, MP, Minister for Trade.

  April:—The right hon. Sir Geoffrey Howe, QC, MP, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

  July:—The right hon. Sir Geoffrey Howe, QC, MP, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

  December:—Mr. A. Buchanan-Smith, MP, Minister of State, Department of Energy.

  The right hon. Margaret Thatcher, FRS, MP, Prime Minister.

  The right hon. Sir Geoffrey Howe, QC, MP, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

  March:—The right hon. Lord Young of Graffham, Minister without Portfolio, and trade delegation.

  September:—The right hon. Nicholas Ridley, MP, Secretary of State for Transport.

  November:—The right hon. Michael Jopling, MP, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

  December:— The right hon. Lord Young of Graffham, Secretary of State for Employment.

  373

  January: —Mr. Timothy Renton, MP, Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

  April:—Mr. Norman Lamont, MP, Minister of State for Defence Procurement.

  The right hon. Richard Luce, MP, Minister for the Arts.

  July:—The right hon. Timothy Raison, MP, Minister for Overseas Development.

  October:—State Visit by Her Majesty The Queen, accompanied by the right hon. Sir Geoffrey Howe, QC, MP, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

  November:— The right hon. Lord Young of Graffham, Secretary of State for Employment.

  Mr. George Walden, CMG, MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Science.

  May:— Mr. Michael Spicer. MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport.

  September:—The Lord Skelmersdale, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Security.

  October:—The right hon. Lord Young of Graffham, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

  Consultancy Contracts
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister what was the total amount spent by the Cabinet Office in 1987 on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases.

  The Prime Minister
  The total amount spent by the Cabinet Office on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases, during the calendar year 1987, was £355,000.

  Litter Collection (St. James' Park)
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Prime Minister what was the cost to public funds of the dispersal of litter in St. James' park on Tuesday 22 March, prior to her attendance; and on which vote this expenditure will be borne.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks) on 28 March, at column 280. The cost of less than £60 will be met from the Department of the Environment's provision for expenditure on the royal parks (class X, vote 4).

  Interception of Communications Act 1985
  Mr. Wheeler
  To ask the Prime Minister when the commissioner appointed under the Interception of Communications Act 1985 will present his annual report; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  A copy of the 1987 annual report by Lord Justice Lloyd has been laid before the House today in accordance with section 8(7) of the Interception of Communications Act 1985. The confidential appendix to the report has been excluded from that copy in accordance with section 8(8) of the Interception of Communications Act 1985. I am grateful to the commissioner for his work on the report and the reassurance it contains, that care is taken by all concerned to observe not only the letter but also the spirit of the Act. The commissioner's report suggests a small number of improvements to the procedures observed in dealing with these cases. Careful consideration is being given to ways of implementing these suggestions.

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 29 March.

  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 29 March.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 29 March.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 29 March.

  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 29 March.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 29 March.

  The Prime Minister
  This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others, including the Prime Minister of Fiji and the Mayor of Shanghai. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Electrical Installations (Safety)
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent representations he has received about safety standards for electrical installations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butcher
  I regularly receive correspondence from colleagues, trade associations and members of the public concerning safety standards for electrical installations, most recently arising from the exhibition on safety and electricity presented by the Electrical Contractors Association in the Upper Waiting Hall between 2 and 6 November last, arranged by my hon. Friend.

  In response to these inquiries, I have welcomed the efforts to promote greater awareness of the dangers of electricity and the potential hazards arising from the misuse of electrical equipment. In order to emphasise the importance of this area, my own Department, in collaboration with the industry, will shortly be launching an electrical safety canpaign with the specific aim of heightening people's awareness of the benefits to be gained by the installation of residual current devices in providing additional protection against electric shocks.

  Telecommunications Industry
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what information he has as to(a) the number of employees in the British telecommunications industry per telephone subscriber and (b) the comparable figure for West Germany and France.

  Mr. Butcher
  The latest edition of the "International Telecommunication Union's Yearbook of Common Carrier Telecommunication Statistics" gives the following information:
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  Total staff in telecommunication services

  Main lines (telephone exchange connections)

  United Kingdom (British Telecom) 31 March 1986

  230,197

  21,653,639

  Germany (Federal Republic) (Bundesministerium fur das Post-und Fernmeldewesen) 31 December 1985

  212,364

  25,588,585

  376

  Total staff in telecommunication services

  Main lines (telephone exchange connections)

  France (Direction generate des telecommunications) 31 December 1985

  166,788

  23,031,972

  Direct comparison of such figures can be misleading as different operators offer different services whilst the amount of sub-contracted work also differs. A comparison of prices charged suggests that for typical telephone use United Kingdom prices are at least in line with France and Germany.

  China
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what has been the level of United Kingdom exports to China in each of the last five years in(a) records, (b) television programmes and (c) films;

  (2) what has been the level of (a) exports to and (b) imports from China in manufactured goods in each of the last five years;

  (3) what has been the level of (a) exports to and (b) imports from China in each of the last five years;

  (4) whether he will list the five industries which have exported goods or services to the highest value to China in each of the last five years;

  United Kingdom trade with China 1983 to 1987

  I—Total trade and trade in manufactured goods

  £ million

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  January to December 1987

  Total exports

  160·3

  317·3

  396·5

  535·9

  416·0

  Of which:

  Manufactured goods

  136·1

  308·3

  369·4

  511·7

  391·1

  Total imports

  231·4

  278·4

  308·0

  327·0

  391·8

  Of which:

  Manfactured goods

  132·5

  163·0

  171·4

  185·3

  270·3

  II—Analysis of exports by SITC R2 divisions equating to broad industrial sectors

  £ million

  Division (s)

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  January to December 1987

  71–14 (Industrial machinery and plant)

  27·2

  74·7

  132·0

  209·4

  148·6

  78–79 (Transport)

  9·6

  12·4

  50·3

  62·4

  72·5

  67 (Iron and steel)

  11·1

  15·3

  44·8

  41·5

  38·7

  87 (Professional and scientific instruments)

  18·0

  41·0

  35·7

  33·4

  36·3

  Section 5 (Chemical)

  31·5

  35·2

  42·6

  38·0

  35·4

  III—United Kingdom exports of books, records, videos and films

  £ thousand

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  January to December 1987

  Books

  414

  937

  507

  343

  808

  Records

  6

  9

  —

  —

  0

  Recorded videos

  2

  8

  20

  6

  4

  Developed cinematographic films

  9

  42

  26

  11

  11

  Source: Overseas Trade Statistics.

  Notes:

  1. 1987 figures provisional.

  2. Manfactured goods are defined as sections 5 to 8 of the standard international trade classification revision 2 (SITC R2):

  3. Books are defined as United Kingdom tariff headings 4901 0010 and 4903 0000:

  4. Records are defined as United Kingdom tariff headings 9212 3400, 3510 and 3599:

  5. Recorded videos are defined as United Kingdom tariff heading 9212 3950:

  6. Films are defined as SITC R2 item 883.00.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will list the number of trade delegations to China that his Department has supported in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The numbers of outward missions to China supported by the Department for the period were:

  Number

  1983

  3

  1984

  8

  378
  (5) what has been the level of United Kingdom exports of books to China in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Information on the value of exported goods to China by industries, as defined in the standard industrial classification, is not available: figures have been compiled using standard international trade classification revision 2 divisions equating to the broad industrial sectors. Information on the value of services and the "performance fee" value of television programmes and films exported to China is not available. Television programmes are not identified in the Overseas Trade Statistics; figures for recorded videos have been provided and may include television programmes. The available information is given in the following tables:

  Number

  1985

  7

  1986

  12

  1987

  7

  Total

  37

  In addition, the Department supported 14 seminars in China over the same period:

  379

  Number

  1983

  None

  1984

  4

  1985

  1

  1986

  4

  1987

  5

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many United Kingdom companies have established joint ventures in China in each of the last five years.

  Opening Date

  City

  Title

  1983–84

  12 April 1983

  Shanghai

  Multinational Instrumentation Conference and Exhibition

  18 July 1983

  Shanghai

  Naval Technology and Shipboard Electronic Defence Equipment Show

  26 August 1983

  Guangzhou

  International Telecommunications Scientific and Technical Expo Conference

  21 October 1983

  Shanghai

  International Marine Equipment Show (Marintec)

  7 November 1983

  Shanghai

  International Congress and Exhibition on Heat Treatment.

  22 November 1983

  Guangzhou

  Offshore Oil Exhibition and Conference

  20 February 1984

  Tianjin

  All-British Scientific Instruments Exhibition/Seminar

  27 February 1984

  Peking

  Multi-Nation Medical Equipment and Instrument Exhibition

  1984–85

  5 April 1984

  Beijing

  International Electronic Production Conference

  10 June 1984

  Shanghai

  International Exhibition on Textiles

  17 September 1984

  Shanghai

  International Exhibition of Rubber and Plastics Industries

  9 October 1984

  Shanghai

  International Environmental Control Measuring and Testing Equipment

  30 October 1984

  Beijing

  International Tourism and Hotel Facilities Exhibition

  30 October 1984

  Beijing

  Beijing International Printing Technology Exhibition

  5 November 1984

  Beijing

  International Telecommunications, Computer and Electronics Exhibition and Conference

  19 November 1984

  Hangzhou

  International Food Processing and Packaging Equipment Exhibition

  21 November 1984

  Beijing

  Railway and Subway Expo/China '84

  29 November 1984

  Tianjin

  Electric Power and Water Expo

  4 December 1984

  Shanghai

  International Exhibition on Advanced Electronic Technology

  1985–86

  21 April 1985

  Shanghai

  Semiconductor International

  16 May 1985

  Nanjing

  International Exhibition on Building Equipment, Building Material Machinery and Building Material

  22 May 1985

  Guangzhou

  Port Development and Coastal Transportation Expo

  3 July 1985

  Shanghai

  International Exhibition on Automotive Industry

  18 September 1985

  Beijing

  2nd International Environmental Control, Measuring and Testing Equipment Exhibition

  8 October 1985

  Chengdu

  China Medical Expo

  22 October 1985

  Beijing

  International Packaging Conference and Exhibition

  4 November 1985

  Beijing

  International Agrobusiness Exhibition and Conference

  26 November 1985

  Guangzhou

  3rd Offshore Oil Exhibition and Conference

  2 December 1985

  Shanghai

  Marintec China

  7 December 1985

  Beijing

  International New Computer Technology Exhibition

  22 February 1986

  Beijing

  Nuclear and Power China '86

  13 March 1986

  Beijing

  International Textile Industry Exhibition

  14 March 1986

  Beijing

  2nd International Petroleum Equipment Show

  20 March 1986

  Beijing

  International Exhibition on Machine Tools, Metalworking and Allied Industries

  28 March 1986

  Beijing

  International Amusement and Educational Technology Exposition

  1986–87

  8 April 1986

  Shanghai

  International Exhibition on Textile Machinery

  16 April 1986

  Beijing

  Multi-National Instrumentation Conference and Exhibition

  18 April 1986

  Beijing

  International Electronic Production Conference

  380
  Mr. Alan Clark
  The information is not readily available.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will list the British trade fairs supported by the British Overseas Trade Board in China in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The trade fairs held in China over the past five years which attracted support through the British Overseas Trade Board are as follows:
  381

  Opening Date

  City

  Title

  16 May 1986

  Shanghai

  3rd International Exhibition of Construction Equipment and Material

  5 June 1986

  Beijing

  International Trade Fair for Education Equipment

  10 June 1986

  Beijing

  International Exhibition of Rubber and Plastics Industries

  3 July 1986

  Beijing

  International Exhibition on Automotive Industry

  16 October 1986

  Beijing

  International Telecommunications/Computer Exhibition and Conference

  18 October 1986

  Beijing

  International Foundry Conference and Exhibition

  4 November 1986

  Beijing

  Asian Defence Technology Exposition

  10 November 1986

  Beijing

  Railway, Urban Transport and Subway Expo/China '86

  27 November 1986

  Guangzhou

  International Agrotechnology and Food Processing Exhibition and Conference

  9 December 1986

  Guangzhou

  1st Onshore Oil Exhibition and Conference

  10 March 1987

  Beijing

  2nd Electric Power and Water Expo

  1987–88

  24 April 1987

  Shanghai

  Semiconductor International

  7 May 1987

  Beijing

  China Coal

  17 June 1987

  Shanghai

  3rd International Exhibition on Automotive Industry

  24 June 1987

  Beijing

  3rd Environmental Pollution and Control, Measuring and Testing Equipment Exhibition

  12 September 1987

  Beijing

  2nd International Exhibition on Medical Equipment and Supplies

  14 October 1987

  Beijing

  Aviation Expo/China

  24 November 1987

  Guangzhou

  2nd International Packaging Conference and Exhibition

  24 November 1987

  Beijing

  4th International Exhibition on Rubber and Plastic Industries "Chinaplas"

  4 March 1988

  Beijing

  International Exhibition Machine Tools, Metalworking and Allied Industries

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what discussions he has had with the Chinese Government about the problems of unauthorised publication of British books in China.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Chinese law does not extend copyright protection to foreign works and such works may therefore be published in that country. Contact on the subject of copyright has been made over a number of years with the Chinese Government, both at ministerial and official level. Recently, the Chinese Government have made good progress in drawing up a comprehensive law for the protection of both domestic and foreign works. In doing this, they have consulted widely with international experts. We understand that they hope to have the new law in force by 1990 and that they intend to join one of the international copyright conventions. We will continue to encourage the Chinese Government in this process.

  Consultancy Contracts
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the total amount spent by his Department in 1987 on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases.

  Mr. Butcher
  My Department's expenditure on consultants employed to improve the efficiency of the Department in the financial year 1987–88 is estimated to be £6,463,000, of which £5,280,000 is for computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases.

  Expenditure on management consultants is not recorded separately from other consultancy spend.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the total amount spent by the Office 382
  of Fair Trading in 1987 on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases.

  Mr. Butcher
  This is a matter for the Director-General of Fair Trading, and 1 will ask him to write to my hon. Friend.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the total amount spent by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission in 1987 on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases.

  Mr. Maude
  Nil.

  Disabled People (Inner Cities)
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps are being taken to ensure that, in Government plans to rehabilitate and revitalise the inner cities, provision will be made to meet the needs of disabled people.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Several Government inner city programmes include schemes specifically targeted on the disabled, such as the urban programme, skills and training initiatives and support for arts and sports. I have invited comments from the Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation on the action for cities proposals.

  Magistrates
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what information he has concerning the decision of the Oldham magistrates' bench interviewing committee that no one who is an elected member of the Oldham metropolitan borough council will be considered for appointment as a magistrate.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I have advisory committees to assist me with the selection of persons for appointment as
  383
  magistrates. In doing so they follow certain guidelines, of which the main criterion is suitability for office. Subject to this, I desire my committees to balance the bench so that it broadly reflects the make-up of the community of the area. For example, it would be wrong to have an overlarge proportion of persons on the bench involved in the work of local government.

  My committee at Oldham selects candidates for appointment on merit, follows the guidelines and does not bar elected members of the local authority from appointment.

  Advertising Standards Authority
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if his Department has considered an application for an exhibition relating to the Advertising Standards Authority to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

  Mr. Butcher
  Yes. Arrangements have been made for such an exhibition in the Upper Waiting Hall to take place from Monday 25 April to Friday 29 April 1988.

  Internal Market
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if the invitation list to the EC internal market conference in Lancaster house on 18 April includes trade union representatives or Opposition hon. and right hon. Members of the House.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  [holding answer 28 March 1988]: The Lancaster house conference is primarily for senior business people. The general secretary of the Trades Union Congress has also received an invitation. My right hon. and noble Friend has invited all right hon. and hon. Members to a separate briefing at Lancaster house on the afternoon of 18 April.

  Investment Intermediaries
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what submissions he has made to the European Commission on the proposed directive on the authorisation of investment intermediaries.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 25 March 1988]: The Commission has put forward no proposals for a directive dealing specifically with investment intermediaries. The Commission is considering a possible directive on investment services, but this has not yet been submitted to the Council of Ministers.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Fire Inspectorate
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the remaining inspectors at the fire inspectorate will be replaced when they retire.

  Mr. John Patten
  I assume that the hon. Member is referring to members of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Fire Services. A number of serving members of the inspectorate will be retiring in the near future and it is intended that each will be replaced.

  Prisoners (Ethnic Origins)
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will update his Department's 1968 statistical bulletin on the ethnic origins of the prison population; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have no plans to update the detailed analyses of the ethnic origin of prisoners contained in Home Office statistical bulletin 17/86. Information on the ethnic origin of the population in prison department establishments by type of prisoner and by offence group for sentenced prisoners is now published annually in "Prison Statistics, England and Wales" (tables 1.11 to 1.13 of the 1986 issue, Cm. 210) copies of which are in the Library. The latest available information for 1987 is given in my reply to the question from the hon. Member for Hackney, South and Stoke Newington (Ms. Abbott) on 3 December 1987 at column 681.

  Operational Emergency Centres
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those(a) district, (b) London borough and (c) metropolitan district authorities which have an operational emergency centre.

  Mr. John Patten
  The information requested is as follows. It is based on local authorities' returns due by 1 October 1987 under the Government's planned programme for implementation of the Civil Defence (General Local Authority Functions) Regulations 1983.

  (a) Districts with an operational emergency centre

  Avon:
  Bath City; Wansdyke

  Bedfordshire:
  Luton; Mid Bedfordshire; North Bedfordshire; South Bedfordshire

  Berkshire.
  Bracknell; Windsor and Maidenhead

  Buckinghamshire:
  South Bucks (Beaconsfield); Chiltern; Milton Keynes

  Cambridgeshire:
  East Cambridgeshire; South Cambridgeshire

  Cleveland:
  Hartlepool; Middlesbrough; Stockton on Tees

  Clwyd:
  Colwyn; Glyndwr

  Cornwall:
  Caradon; North Cornwall; Penwith

  Cumbria:
  Allerdale

  Devon:
  East Devon; Exeter; Plymouth Mid-Devon (Tiverton)

  Dorset:
  Bournemouth; Poole; Weymouth and Portland; Wimborne

  Durham:
  Chester-le-Street; Darlington; Derwentside; Durham; Easington; Teesdale

  Dyfed:
  Carmarthen.

  Essex:
  Chelmsford; Colchester; Epping Forest; Maldon; Tendring.

  Gloucestershire:
  Cheltenham; Cotswold; Forest of Dean; Gloucester.

  Gwynedd:
  Aberconwy; Meirionnydd.

  Hampshire:
  Basingstoke; Eastleigh; East Hampshire; Fareham; Gosport; Hart; New Forest; Portsmouth; Rushmoor; Southampton; Winchester.

  Hereford and Worcester:
  Leominster.

  Hertfordshire:
  East Hertfordshire.
  385
  Humberside:
  Beverley; Cleethorpes; East Yorkshire.

  Kent:
  Dartford; Gillingham; Sevenoaks; Shepway; Swale; Tonbridge and Mailing; Tonbridge Wells.

  Lancashire:
  Chorley; Clyde; South Ribble.

  Leicestershire:
  Blaby; Harborough; Hinckley and Bosworth; Melton; Rutland.

  Lincolnshire:
  Boston; North Kesteven; South Kesteven.

  Norfolk:
  Breckland; Great Yarmouth.

  Northamptonshire:
  Daventry; Kettering; Wellingborough.

  Nottinghamshire:
  Broxtowe; Mansfield; Nottingham City.

  Powys:
  Radnor.

  Salop:
  Bridgnorth; Shrewsbury and Atcham.

  Somerset:
  Sedgemoor; Taunton Deane.

  Staffordshire:
  Lichfield; Staffordshire Moorlands.

  Suffolk:
  Ipswich; St. Edmundsbury; Mid Suffolk.

  Surrey:
  Mole Valley; Surrey Heath; Waverley; Woking.

  East Sussex:
  Hove; Lewes; Rother; Wealden.

  West Sussex:
  Arun; Mid Sussex.

  Warwickshire:
  Rugby; Stratford on Avon.

  Wiltshire:
  Kennet; North Wiltshire; Salisbury.

  North Yorkshire:
  Hambleton; Harrogate; Selby.

  (b) London boroughs with an operational centre

  North West Group
  Hammersmith; Hillingdon

  North East Group
  Waltham Forest

  South East Group
  Bexley; Bromley; Lewisham; Southwark

  South West Group
  Kingston-upon-Thames; Lambeth; Merton; Richmond-upon-Thames

  (c) Fire and civil defence authority districts with an operational emergency centre

  Greater Manchester:
  Bury; Trafford

  Merseyside:
  Wirral

  West Yorkshire:
  Calderdale

  Civil Defence
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those(a) county and (b) fire and civil defence authorities that have (i) an operational county main emergency centre and (ii) an operational county standby emergency centre; and if he will list those London group emergency centres that are currently operational.

  Mr. John Patten
  The information requested is as follows. It is based on local authorities' returns due by 1 October 1987 under the Government's planned programme for implementation of the Civil Defence (General Local Authority Functions) Regulations 1983.

  (a) County authorities with operational emergency centres

  The County authorities with both main and standby centres operational are:
  386
  Cleveland; Clwyd; Durham; Essex; West Glamorgan; Gwent; Gwynedd; Hampshire; Isle of Wight; Leicestershire; Nottinghamshire; Suffolk; Surrey; Warwickshire; Wiltshire; North Yorkshire.

  The County authorities with main centres only operational are:
  Bedfordshire; Cambridgeshire; Cheshire; Cumbria; Devon; Kent; Lancashire; Norfolk; Oxfordshire; Powys; Salop; Somerset.

  The County authorities with standby centres only operational are:
  Avon; Berkshire; Buckinghamshire; Gloucestershire; Lincolnshire; Northamptonshire.

  (b) Fire and civil defence authorities (FCDAs) with operational emergency centres
  Merseyside and West Yorkshire have main and standby centres operational.
  Greater Manchester and South Yorkshire have main centres only operational.

  (c) London group operational emergency centres

  The London groups with operational centres are:
  North East; South West and South East.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will identify those local authorities that will receive civil defence grant towards the construction or conversion of emergency centres during each of the years 1988–89, 1989–90 and 1990–91; and if he will indicate the likely scale of the provision involved in each year.

  Mr. John Patten
  We expect grant-eligible expenditure on emergency centres to total about £3·5 million for each of the financial years mentioned but details will not be available until relevant expenditure for each authority has been approved.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will identify those local authorities that have received civil defence grant towards the construction or conversion of emergency centres during each of the years 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87 and 1987–88; and if he will indicate the scale of the expenditure involved in each year.

  Mr. John Patten
  The local authorities concerned are listed as follows. Expenditure attracting grant at the rate of 75 per cent. totalled £1·7 million in 1984–85, £2·1 million in 1985–86 and £3·3 million in 1986–87. The expected figure for 1987–88 is £3·5 million.

  County authorities in receipt of grant in all years stated
  Avon; Bedfordshire; Berkshire; Buckinghamshire; Cambridgeshire; Cleveland; Cornwall; Derbyshire; Devon; Dorset; Durham; East Sussex; Essex; Gloucestershire; Gwent; Gwynedd; Hampshire; Hereford and Worcestershire; Hertfordshire; Humberside; Isle of Wight; Kent; Lincolnshire; London; Norfolk; Northumberland; North Yorkshire; Nottinghamshire; Oxfordshire; Somerset; Suffolk; Surrey; Wiltshire.

  County authorities in receipt of grant in some of the years stated

  Cheshire: 1986–87; 1987–88

  Clwyd: 1984–85; 1987–88

  Cumbria: 1984–85; 1985–86; 1987–88

  Dyfed: 1984–85; 1985–86; 1987–88

  Greater Manchester: 1984–85; 1985–86; 1986–87

  Lancashire: 1985–86; 1986–87; 1987–88

  Leicestershire: 1984–85; 1985–86; 1987–88

  Merseyside: 1987–88

  Powys: 1984–85; 1986–87; 1987–88

  Salop: 1984–85; 1985–86; 1987–88

  South Glamorgan: 1984–85; 1985–86; 1986–87

  Staffordshire: 1985–86; 1986–87; 1987–88

  387

  Warwickshire: 1984–85; 1985–86; 1986–87

  West Glamorgan:: 1985–86; 1987–88

  West Sussex: 1986–87; 1987–88

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many local authority emergency centres have been inspected by officials from his Department; and if he is satisfied with the facilities provided by local authorities for emergency communications and control.

  Mr. John Patten
  Visits by officials to local authority emergency centres occur in support of detailed consideration of a number of issues, including the installation of new communications equipment, but no comprehensive record is kept of the instances. Progress made by local authorities in meeting their statutory responsibilities to establish, equip and maintain emergency centres is monitored under the Government's planned programme for implementation of the Civil Defence (General Local Authority Functions) Regulations 1983.

  Crime Prevention
  Mr. Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in the light of recent evidence, including opinion polls, showing a higher than average incidence of the fear of crime in inner cities, he will take further steps to improve his crime prevention measures through the urban programme or other means.

  Mr. John Patten
  In reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Derby, North (Mr. Knight) on 7 March 1988, at columns 3–4, my right hon. Friend reported the launch of the Government's safer cities programme which is specifically designed to tackle crime and the fear of crime in inner city areas with high crime levels. The programme will comprise safer city projects in 20 areas, to be established over the next three years. these will aim to complement and strengthen a range of initiatives, funded both from Government funds (including the urban programme) and the private sector.

  Police (Subject Access Requests)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many subject access requests under the terms of the Data Protection Act each police force has received to date; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The information is not at present available centrally. It is being sought from forces and I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as it is available.

  Consultancy Contracts
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total amount spend by

  Police officer strength

  Region and force

  May 1979

  January 1988

  Increase

  Per cent.

  Midlands

  Derbyshire

  1,587

  1,788

  +201

  12·7

  Leicestershire

  1,701

  1,760

  +59

  3·5

  Northamptonshire

  909

  1,069

  +160

  17·6

  Nottinghamshire

  2,120

  2,253

  +133

  6·3

  Staffordshire

  1,980

  2,147

  +167

  8·4

  Warwickshire

  843

  980

  +137

  16·3

  388
  the Metropolitan police in 1987 on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the Metroplitan police spent £1,673,923 on management and computer consultancy contracts in 1987.

  Iranian Refugees
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons of Iranian nationality claiming to be refugees have arrived in the United Kingdom from Turkey in each of the past four years; how many were given asylum in the United Kingdom; how many were returned to Turkey; and what representations he has received regarding the Turkish practice of returning such people to Iran.

  Mr. Tim Renton
  As applicants for asylum are recorded by nationality and not by country of embarkation, the figures requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Whilst we have received representations on individual cases of Iranian asylum-seekers from Turkey, I am unaware of any case of an Iranian refugee being sent back to Iran following return to Turkey from this country. Turkey is a signatory to the 1951 UN convention on refugees. There is a UNHCR presence in Turkey to which any Iranian may look for assistance.

  Firearms Certificates
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he intends to take in relation to the letter ref. MLB.JD dated 19 January 1985 from the prosecuting solicitors' office Gwent police authority to an applicant for a firearms certificate.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Responsibility for the administration of the Firearms Act 1968 is vested with chief officers of police. My right hon. Friend has no authority to intervene in individual cases.

  Police
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a table depicting police force strength in numbers of officers for all regions of the United Kingdom and the percentage increases or decreases these figures represent from 1979 to the latest available date.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend has responsibility only for England and Wales, for which the information is as follows:
  389

  Region and force

  May 1979

  January 1988

  Increase

  Per cent.

  West Mercia

  1,752

  1,948

  +196

  11·2

  West Midlands

  6,031

  6,675

  +644

  10·7

  North East

  Cleveland

  1,347

  1,465

  +118

  8·8

  Durham

  1,312

  1,335

  +23

  1·8

  Humberside

  1,861

  1,955

  +94

  5·1

  Lincolnshire

  1,175

  1,174

  -1

  (0·1)

  Northumbria

  3,285

  3,473

  +188

  5·7

  North Yorkshire

  1,337

  1,379

  +42

  3·1

  South Yorkshire

  2,560

  2,930

  +370

  14·5

  West Yorkshire

  4,739

  5,188

  +449

  9·5

  South West

  Avon and Somerset

  2,829

  3,009

  +180

  6·4

  Devon and Cornwall

  2,667

  2,804

  +137

  5·1

  Dorset

  1,140

  1,243

  +103

  9·0

  Gloucestershire

  1,081

  1,158

  +77

  7·1

  Wiltshire

  1,001

  1,093

  +92

  9·2

  South East

  Bedfordshire

  900

  997

  +97

  10·8

  Cambridgeshire

  1,071

  1,160

  +89

  8·3

  City of London

  832

  784

  -48

  (5·8)

  Essex

  2,490

  2,719

  +229

  9·2

  Hampshire

  2,955

  3,099

  +144

  4·9

  Hertfordshire

  1,455

  1,607

  +152

  10·4

  Kent

  2,730

  2,901

  +171

  6·3

  Metropolitan

  22,225

  27,449

  +5,224

  23·5

  Norfolk

  1,229

  1,302

  +73

  5·9

  Suffolk

  1,077

  1,187

  +110

  10·2

  Surrey

  1,442

  1,640

  +198

  13·7

  Sussex

  2,759

  2,871

  +112

  4·1

  Thames Valley

  2,653

  3,478

  +825

  31·1

  North West

  Cheshire

  1,787

  1,839

  +52

  2·9

  Cumbria

  1,064

  1,150

  +86

  8·1

  Greater Manchester

  6,440

  6,991

  +551

  8·6

  Lancashire

  3,093

  3,149

  +56

  1·8

  Merseyside

  4,441

  4,660

  +219

  4·9

  Wales

  Dyfed Powys

  913

  925

  +12

  1·3

  Gwent

  971

  975

  +4

  0·4

  North Wales

  1,269

  1,303

  +34

  2·7

  South Wales

  2,945

  3,119

  +174

  5·9

  England and Wales

  109,998

  122,131

  +12,133

  11·0

  Visas
  Mr. Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what effects the imposition of a visa requirement on the nationals of India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Ghana and Nigeria have had at ports of entry to the United Kingdom particularly with regard to the delays which were experienced on immigration control during 1985 and 1986.

  Mr. Tim Renton
  Visa requirements were introduced in October 1986 for nationals of India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Ghana and on 1 February 1987 for Nigeria. Since introduction there have been very substantial improvements at the Heathrow and Gatwick terminals in easing congestion, reducing delays at peak periods and improving conditions for passengers, their friends and relatives meeting them, and for the staff at the immigration service.

  In 1986 a total of about 24,000 persons were refused entry and removed; in 1987 the figures had dropped to just over 19,000. Because of the pressure on the control in 1986 many of those who arrived before October were not
  390
  refused entry and removed until the following year. The fall in the refusal rate is therefore even greater than the apparent 20 per cent.

  The figures for Heathrow terminal 3 given in the table are illustrative of the reduction in casework at the major terminals dealing with passengers from the five countries.

  At terminal 4, which also handles intercontinental traffic, the position was very similar. Summer 1986 saw a steady increase in the volume of difficult casework. Some 466 passengers were referred for further examination in June swelling to 847 in the first two weeks in October. By contrast the same figures for the second half of 1987 remained relatively constant varying between extremes of 270 and 316 cases per month. A random sample of passengers arriving on Saturdays during last September revealed that only five passengers from Bangladesh, India and Pakistan were referred to the further examination area whereas 241 such passengers were set aside for further examination on the corresponding four days of September 1986.
  391
  Without the visa imposition, and with a 13 per cent. increase in passenger traffic in 1987, pressure on the control at terminal 4 last year would have been intolerable notwithstanding an additional allocation of staff.

  Similar improvements were experienced at Heathrow terminal 2 and Gatwick. Of the major ports only Heathrow terminal 1 and Dover did not experience any substantial change in 1987 because nationals of the five countries involved do not use these in substantial number.

  Terminal 3

  June-July-August 1986

  June-July-August 1987

  Per cent.

  Total passengers

  898,259

  1,048,791

  +17·5

  Average number of immigration officers available

  222

  195

  -12

  Passengers refused admission

  2,179

  1,041

  -52

  Passengers referred for secondary examination

  4,485

  1,876

  -58

  Members' of Parliament representations

  945

  82

  -91

  Passengers with entry clearance who were refused admission

  37

  68

  +83

WALES

  Consultancy Contracts
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total spent by his Department in 1987 on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The Department's expenditure on such centrally managed consultancy contracts in 1987 was £30,938·21. It is not possible to identify without disproportionate costs fees paid on management and computer consultancy contracts in respect of projects not centrally managed.

  Summary of impact of Local Government Finance Bill proposals for non-domestic rates and the grant system in Wales 1988·89

  Community Charge per adult

  Revenue Support Grant per adult

  Non-domestic Rate Revenue per adult

  Domestic Rate Poundage

  Safety Net (County and District) per adult

  Average Rate Bill per adult

  Expenditure per adult

  £

  £

  £

  Pence

  £

  £

  £

  Alyn and Deeside

  19

  57

  29

  226·58

  -35

  176

  104

  Colwyn

  26

  61

  29

  239·60

  -50

  198

  115

  Delyn

  27

  67

  29

  228·45

  -26

  176

  122

  Glyndwr

  27

  47

  29

  232·20

  -6

  155

  102

  Rhuddlan

  15

  91

  29

  227·42

  -33

  170

  135

  Wrexham Maelor

  30

  64

  29

  233·69

  -9

  162

  123

  Carmarthen

  19

  54

  29

  236·67

  28

  123

  102

  Ceredigion

  9

  60

  29

  229·55

  4

  136

  97

  Dinefwr

  4

  54

  29

  227·66

  25

  110

  87

  Llanelli

  29

  74

  29

  252·44

  23

  137

  131

  Preseli Pembrokeshire

  5

  61

  29

  226·84

  10

  126

  95

  South Pembrokeshire

  7

  81

  29

  233·08

  -13

  152

  117

  Blaenau Gwent

  36

  97

  29

  239·89

  40

  116

  161

  Islwyn

  34

  86

  29

  233·00

  27

  127

  149

  Monmouth

  25

  45

  29

  235·86

  -22

  167

  98

  Newport

  30

  79

  29

  232·01

  -35

  185

  138

  Torfaen

  32

  67

  29

  241·58

  -2

  154

  127

  Aberconwy

  31

  63

  29

  238·32

  -36

  173

  122

  Arfon

  29

  74

  29

  231·38

  6

  129

  132

  Dwyfor

  30

  90

  29

  234·79

  -24

  160

  149

  Meirionnydd

  34

  82

  29

  228·77

  -18

  158

  145

  Factory Closures
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many plants in Wales which employed more than 500 persons in 1983 have since been closed down; and how many of these were foreign-owned.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Four manufacturing plants with more than 500 employees in 1983 have since closed, including one which had been British-owned but had been acquired by a German company in 1980.

  Rating Reform
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what, assuming the full replacement of rates by the community charge and the implementation of the proposals in the Local Government Finance Bill for non-domestic rates and the grant system, in 1988–89(a) for Wales, (b) for each class of local authority and (c) for each local authority, showing precepting authorities separately the following items in pounds per adult would be: (i) the community charge without safety net, (ii) the safety net, (iii) needs grant, (iv) redistributed non-domestic rate revenue, showing also the corresponding 1988–89 domestic rate poundage and in pounds per adult the average rate bill and local authority expenditure.

  Mr. Grist
  [holding answer 28 March 1988]: Illustrative figures are given in the following table. These figures are provisional and will be updated as better information is received from local authorities. Calculations have been based on present needs assessments which are under review. The expenditure of individual community councils is not available and has been included with the appropriate district council's expenditure. The Government no longer propose to pay separate needs and standard grants to authorities. These have been replaced by a single revenue support grant as shown in column 3 of the table. Average rate bills per adult are on a basis comparable with the community charge figures and exclude any use of balances.
  393

  Community Charge per adult

  Revenue Support Grant per adult

  Non-domestic Rate Revenue per adult

  Domestic Rate Poundage

  Safety Net (County and District) per adult

  Average Rate Bill per adult

  Expenditure per adult

  £

  £

  £

  Pence

  £

  £

  £

  Ynys Mon

  24

  72

  29

  227·82

  -24

  154

  125

  Cynon Valley

  18

  98

  29

  246·73

  48

  108

  145

  Merthyr Tydfil

  30

  112

  29

  254·76

  44

  124

  171

  Ogwr

  27

  62

  29

  260·55

  13

  151

  118

  Rhondda

  19

  125

  29

  258·50

  71

  85

  173

  Rhymney Valley

  34

  72

  29

  258·97

  33

  139

  135

  Taff Ely

  26

  62

  29

  255·83

  18

  145

  116

  Brecknock

  21

  57

  29

  225·45

  2

  131

  107

  Montgomeryshire

  5

  52

  29

  205·82

  -11

  128

  86

  Radnor

  11

  51

  29

  213 42

  -11

  135

  91

  Cardiff

  0

  93

  29

  207·05

  -69

  179

  117

  Vale of Glamorgan

  11

  57

  29

  213·48

  -45

  166

  96

  Port Talbot

  42

  80

  29

  283·82

  51

  154

  150

  Lliw Valley

  22

  56

  29

  285·83

  43

  142

  107

  Neath

  12

  63

  29

  287·87

  21

  154

  104

  Swansea

  36

  91

  29

  295·43

  7

  192

  156

  Clwyd

  123

  363

  152

  231·33

  —

  —

  637

  Dyfed

  131

  391

  152

  235·29

  —

  —

  674

  Gwent

  120

  383

  152

  235·83

  —

  —

  655

  Gwynedd

  105

  411

  152

  232·13

  —

  —

  668

  Mid Glamorgan

  137

  407

  152

  257·05

  —

  —

  696

  Powys

  112

  482

  152

  214·23

  —

  —

  746

  South Glamorgan

  110

  376

  152

  208·80

  —

  —

  638

  West Glamorgan

  164

  377

  152

  291·35

  —

  —

  692

  Districts

  22

  74

  29

  238·77

  —

  —

  125

  Total counties

  128

  390

  152

  238·77

  —

  —

  670

  Total Wales

  150

  465

  180

  238 77

  —

  —

  794

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Ratu Mara and Penaia Ganilau
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what details he has about the proposed visit of Ratu Mara and Penaia Ganilau to Britain; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Prime Minister of Fiji, Ratu Mara, is visiting Britain from 27 to 31 March and will have talks today, 29 March, with my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and my right hon. and learned Friend. The President of Fiji, Ratu Penaia Ganilau, is not with him.

  Consultancy Contracts
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total amount spent by his Department in 1987 on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases.

  Mr. Eggar
  Foreign and Commonwealth Office expenditure to date for the financial year 1987–88 on management and computer consultancy is as shown. The figures include expenditure for both the diplomatic and aid wings of the office:

  £

  Management consultancy

  257,272

  Computer consultancy

  1,171,347

  China (Town Twinning)
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on which British towns and cities are twinned with towns or cities in China.

  Mr. Eggar
  Twinning activity in the United Kingdom is co-ordinated by the secretariat of the Joint Twinning Committee of Local Authority Associations of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The secretariat keeps a record of all United Kingdom twinnings, including ones with China. Such information is held in the Library of the House.

  Iranian Refugees
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Turkey regarding the Turkish practice of sending Iranian refugees, who have come to the United Kingdom from Turkey and been returned to Turkey, back to Iran.

  Mrs. Chalker
  None. Neither we, nor the representative in Turkey of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, have any specific evidence of Iranian refugees returned to Turkey from this country being sent back to Iran.

  Agricultural Produce (Radioactivity)
  Mr. Churchill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has about cases of companies within the European Community seeking to sell to Third world countries agricultural produce heavily contaminated with radioactivity; and if he will make a statement as to what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to prevent this.
  395
  Mrs. Chalker
  None. In the light of a rigorous national monitoring programme instituted following the Chernobyl accident, we are satisfied about the safety of all United Kingdom foodstuffs placed on the domestic market or exported.

  EC (Information)
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has as to how much money is being paid to United Kingdom political parties by the European Parliament for information purposes relating to the European Community and its institutions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The draft budget for 1988 now under discussion contains 27·7 million ecu which is for information work by the European Parliament. Under EP rules this money is distributed to the political groups in the European Parliament. It is up to each political group itself to decide how to disburse its allocation among its members in the different member states.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Higher Education (Engineering)
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many representations he has received following the publication of the Engineering Council's proposals on the restructuring of engineering higher education; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  None. The Government await the outcome of responses to the Engineering Council's discussion document with interest.

  Education Reform
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how he intends to ensure that the new national tests contain no inherent bias against(a) children from different cultural backgrounds and (b) multi-lingual children whose first language is not English.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The task group on assessment and testing has recommended that assessment instruments should be reviewed regularly by statistical and other means for any evidence of bias, particularly in respect of gender and race. The group also suggested that children whose first language is not English might be exempted if their language problems made tests unworkable; and that assessment in other skills, particularly at age seven, should wherever practicable and necessary, be conducted in the pupil's first language.

  Open University (Exhibition)
  Mr. Benyon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if his Department has considered an application for an exhibition relating to the Open University to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

  Mr. Jackson
  I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Services Committee, arrangements have been made with the authorities of the House for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from Monday 18 April to Friday 22 April.

  Chinese Universities (British Students)
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will publish a table showing the number of British students who have studied at universities in China in each of the last five years; and what subjects such students have been studying.

  Mr. Jackson
  The readily available information is drawn mainly from the UNESCO statistical yearbook; subject of study is not recorded in this source.

  Year

  Number of Students

  1981

  54

  1982

  45

  11983

  60

  11984

  72

  11985

  65

  1 Data refer to full-time students.

  Chinese Students
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will publish a table showing how many students from China have studied at British(a) universities and (b) polytechnics in each of the last five years; and what subjects such students have been studying.

  Mr. Jackson
  The number of students from China studying at institutions in Great Britain is provided in the following table. Information on the subjects such students studied is not available.

  Students from China at institutions in Great Britain

  Academic year beginning in

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  University

  182

  212

  362

  594

  711

  Polytechnics and Colleges

  41

  27

  48

  77

  117

  Consultancy Contracts
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total amount spent by his Department in 1987 on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  A total of £364,152 was spent on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases, in the calendar year 1987. In addition, the Department spent some £535,030 on costs associated with the privatisation of the Plant Breeding Institute.

  School Population (Suffolk)
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations Suffolk county council has made on the increase in its school population while the Sizewell B power station is being built; and what responses he has given.

  Mr. Dunn
  None.

  Medical Research (Charges)
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received seeking
  397
  legislation to prevent universities from imposing charges for medical research funded by charities; what specific representations he has received about the charges imposed in respect of research into Freidreich's Ataxia disease; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Government much appreciate the substantial sums which charities provide for research in universities — in 1986–87 they contributed about £66 million to medical research. In general, charitable moneys cover only part of the cost of the specific research projects which they support, with a substantial part of the costs — for academic staff time, premises, equipment, materials and overheads — being met from general university funds.

  In the light of advice from the Advisory Board for the Research Councils, we are currently reviewing the balance of funding responsibilities between universities and the research councils for projects which the latter support. This may have implications for charitable funding of medical research which in most cases is treated analogously with research councils' grants. I discussed this matter on 10 March with the Association of Medical Research Charities.

  My right hon. Friend has not received any representations seeking legislation on these matters. We have received 47 representations from members of the Friedreich's Ataxia Group about the possibility of their having to meet a larger proportion of the costs of the research which the group supports in universities. These representations will be taken into account in our consideration of the wider issues.

  Computer Services (Skill Shortages)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to the reply of 1 March,Official Report, column 539, what resources have been made available under the engineering, science and technology initiative to increase relevant higher education opportunities; and what proposals he has to meet skill shortages in the computer services sector.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Government have made available a total of £43 million between 1985 and 1988 to fund additional higher education places under the engineering and technology programme. Future expenditure plans support the additional places in the longer term beyond this period.

  To secure the skills they want employers in the computer services and other sectors must provide proper incentives for people to acquire those skills, develop internal recruitment, and make the vital investment needed in training and in the upgrading of skills.

  The Government have given the lead through their investment in the engineering and technology programme, which is one of a number of initiatives already being taken to increase output in particular areas where it is clear that demand outstrips supply.

THE ARTS

  Consultancy Contracts
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what was the total amount spent by his office in 1987 on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases.
  398
  Mr. Luce
  In 1987, £2,300 was spent by my office to meet in part the cost of a computer consultancy contract for the Government art collection. No money was spent on management consultancy.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Taxation
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will provide the Treasury model estimate of the full year impact of the cuts in the higher rates of income tax announced in the Budget; and if he will provide a similar estimate of the impact of an additional annual £2 billion of current public expenditure;

  (2) if he will estimate the full year impact on the current account of the balance of payments of the cuts in the basic and higher rates of income tax announced in the Budget.

  Mr. Major
  It has not been the practice to publish estimates of the economic effects of changes in tax rates or public expenditure.

  Interest Rates
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about interest rates since the Budget; and if he will make a statement.

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

  Consultancy Contracts
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what was the total amount spent by Her Majesty's Treasury in 1987 on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases;

  (2) what was the total amount spent by the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency in 1987 on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases.

  Mr. Brooke
  In 1987 total Treasury expenditure was some £5·6 million (including some £5·3 million by the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency).

  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amount spent by Her Majesty's Stationery Office in 1987 on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases.

  Mr. Brooke
  £336,000.

  British Rail (Customs Controls)
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will detail the facilities and procedures required of British Rail by the Board of Customs and Excise to allow for the performance of effective on-train customs controls.

  Mr. Lilley
  Discussions are at present taking place between Customs and British Rail about the facilities that would be required on the through trains travelling via Olympia. These include adequate space for baggage examination and interviews. Back-up facilities will also be required at Olympia for the more protracted investigations where serious offences are detected or suspected, for the
  399
  detention of offenders and suspects and for communications and administrative support. Discussions with BR on the Olympia requirements will begin shortly.

  EC (Own Resources)
  Mr. Gerald Bowden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the European Commission has paid to member states the 400 mecu traditional own resources refunds deferred from 1987 under Council regulation 3952/87.

  Mr. Brooke
  Yes. The Commission paid to member states on 24 March the refunds of traditional own resources deferred from 1987. These refunds are set at 10 per cent. of traditional own resources (levies and duties) paid over to the Commission by member states and are intended to cover costs of collection.

  As I reported to the House on 3 July last year, at column 175, the Budget Council decided on 2 July to defer 400 mecu of these refunds until early 1988 to help deal with the Community's budgetary problems last year. The Commission accordingly deferred most of the refunds due to member states in respect of the traditional own resources established between June and October 1987. In the event, the total amount deferred (and now refunded to member states) came to 443 mecu rather than 400 mecu because these own resources were running at a higher level than expected. The United Kingdom's share of the sums now refunded is some 91 mecu (£63·1 million).

  In accordance with the conclusions of the Brussels European Council in February, the existing arrangements for 10 per cent. refunds of traditional own resources are to be replaced, with effect from the beginning of 1988, by a new system whereby member states will make a 10 per cent deduction from their monthly payments of these own resources to the Commission (which relate to own resources established two months previously). In keeping with this, the Commission does not propose to pay to member states refunds in respect of own resources established from November 1987 onwards (and for which there is no budgetary provision). It proposes instead to invite member states to deduct from their first payments of traditional own resources after the 1988 budget has been adopted the total deductions due in respect of own resources established from November 1987 onwards. In this way member states will effectively receive the 10 per cent. collection costs due to them in respect of all the months concerned.

  Business Expansion Scheme
  Mr. Grylls
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the proposed restriction on companies raising finance under the business expansion scheme.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  My hon. Friend the Economic Secretary to the Treasury announced during the Budget debates on 17 March that provided a company had issued a prospectus before Budget day and issued the shares before the end of the present tax year, the £500,000 limit would be increased to £1 million. However, there are some companies which do not offer shares to the public and do not need therefore to issue a prospectus. In order to help these companies the announced relaxation will also apply 400
  to a share issue made in pursuance of an offer for sale in writing made before Budget day, provided that the shares are issued before the end of the present tax year.

  It has also been suggested that the limitation on the amount raised in any period of 12 months could prevent a company using the BES to raise finance when it needs it. So we propose to amend this rule in a way which will give companies more flexibility while retaining the principle of an annual limit. The amended limit will apply to the amount raised in a tax year, but in order to prevent companies effectively doubling the limit by making share issues both at the end of one tax year and the beginning of the next, the limit will also apply to the amount raised in any period of six months.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Small Farmers Association
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the chairman of the Small Farmers Association; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. MacGregor: I have not met the chairman of the Small Farmers Association in my present ministerial capacity, though I have very frequent contact with all sections of the farming community.

  Forestry
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the area of land approved for forestry grant-aid in each of the five years to 31 March 1987 and from 1 April 1987 to date in England.

  Mr. Gummer
  The information is as follows:

  Year ended 31 March

  Area of land (hectares)

  1983

  11,225

  1984

  16,290

  1985

  17,379

  1986

  16,002

  1987

  25,245

  The total area of land approved for planting in the period 1 April 1987 to 31 December 1987 was 23,932 hectares. Figures are not yet available beyond 31 December 1987.

  Consultancy Contracts
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total amount spent by his Ministry in 1987 on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  In 1987 my Department spent £707,662 on such consultancies.

  Sheep Exports (Restrictions)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what restrictions were placed on the export of sheep from the restricted areas of Cumbria from 20 June 1986 to 2 September 1986.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 28 March 1988]: All sheep in the restricted area in Cumbria were subject to movement restrictions. Movements were

  401
  authorised from 18 August under specific approvals which precluded the slaughter of marked sheep. Export of live sheep to third countries is not permitted for welfare reasons, other than for the purpose of breeding. All live sheep exported to EC member countries are subject to Ministry veterinary control.

SCOTLAND

  Mental Hospitals
  Mr. Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list the mental hospitals which are scheduled to(a) open and (b) close in Scotland in each of the next seven years;

  (2) how many residential places in the community will be provided for those discharged from mental hospitals in Scotland in each of the next seven years;

  (3) how many new mental hospital beds have been opened in Scotland in each of the last 10 years;

  (4) how many mental hospital beds have been closed in Scotland in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  It is our general policy that mentally ill people capable of living in the community should have the opportunity of doing so, but it is important that discharges from hospital should not take place before appropriate community provision is available. It is for individual local authorities to make provision for their areas in consultation with health boards and voluntary organisations.

  We accept, however, that there is a need to continue to treat certain types of mental illness in a hospital setting. Suitable hospital facilities must therefore continue to be provided with the emphasis on smaller units related to the communities they serve.

  I am not able to predict the mental hospital openings or closures which may take place over the next seven years. It is up to health boards to deliver services in the light of their strategic plans which in turn reflect Government's policy for the services concerned. Boards have no plans at present to build any completely new mental hospitals. Their strategic plans propose the eventual closure of some hospitals, but this would require an application to my right hon. and learned Friend for his approval.

  Details of new mental hospital beds the bulk of which are replacement beds are held centrally only from 1979. The information is as follows:

  Number

  1979

  120

  1980

  60

  1981

  60

  1982

  Nil

  1983

  432

  1984

  240

  1985

  600

  1986

  270

  1987

  120

  Details of mental hospital beds closed in Scotland are held centrally only in relation to formal applications for closure made to the Secretary of State. The information, which is available only from 1979, is as follows:

  Number

  1979

  Nil

  1980

  Nil

  402

  Number

  1981

  Nil

  1982

  Nil

  1983

  Nil

  1984

  Nil

  1985

  85

  1986

  58

  1987

  87

  Forestry
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the likely geographical and topographical distribution of new tree planting over the next 10 years in the United Kingdom.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  We expect to see a higher proportion of planting than hitherto taking place on lower land of better quality. The rate of planting in Scotland is likely to continue to exceed that in England and Wales.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many acres of land are planted with(a) conifers and (b) broadleaves; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  At 31 March 1987 the area of productive woodland in Great Britain was 1,490,000 hectares of conifers and 604,000 hectares of broadleaves.

  Psychiatric Nurses
  Mr. Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many community psychiatric nurses there were in Scotland in 1979; how many there are now; and how many he estimates there will be in 1991.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 2 November 1987, at column 435.

  Mentally Ill People
  Mr. Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the amounts provided for the forthcoming year for bridging funds in Scotland for local care of patients discharged or excluded from mental hospitals; how much in each case is provided for long-term patients still to be discharged from hospitals and how much for those already discharged from hospital; what the figure per patient is in each case; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The arrangements for the funding of community care in Scotland do not provide for bridging funds. Under NHS circular 1985(GEN)18, health boards may make lump sum or continuing payments to a local authority or voluntary agency towards the cost of projects which make it possible for people such as the mentally ill to return to, or remain in, the community. The indicative level for 1988–89 notified to health boards is £4·7 million.

  Mr. Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what experiments in hospital hostels for discharged mental patients have been conducted in Scotland; what lessons have been learnt; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Hospital hostels are regarded as part of the psychiatric hospital provision and generally do not accommodate patients who have been discharged.
  403
  These hostels care for patients who are preparing to re-enter the community. Initiatives in these programmes are conducted and developed on a continuing basis.

  Civil Defence
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those regional and island authorities with an operational (i) main and (ii) standby emergency centre, and those district authorities that have an operational emergency centre.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  On the basis of returns provided by local authorities for October 1987, information about operational emergency centres which meet the standards set out in the emergency planning guidance to local authorities is as follows:

  Regions

  Borders Region—Main and standby

  Grampian Region—Main and standby

  Districts

  Gordon1

  Kincardine and Deeside1

  Roxburgh

  Tweeddale1

  1 Co-ordinated with a regional emergency centre.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will identify those local authorities that will receive civil defence grant towards the construction or conversion of emergency centres during each of the years 1988–89, 1989–90 and 1990–91; and if he will indicate the likely scale of the provision involved in each year.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Grant-eligible expenditure on civil defence capital projects, predominantly, but not exclusively, emergency centres, is expected to be £904,000 in 1988–89, £948,000 in 1989–90, and £995,000 in 1990–91. It is expected that Orkney islands council and Dumfries and Galloway regional council will receive further grant to complete their emergency centres in 1988–89. Details of other authorities receiving grant will not be available until the relevant expenditure has been approved.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will identify those local authorities that have received civil defence grant towards the construction or conversion of emergency centres during each of the years 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87 and 1987–88; and if he will indicate the scale of the expenditure involved in each year.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information is not available in this form for 1984–85 or 1985–86. In 1986–87, grant towards the construction or conversion of emergency centres was paid to Grampian and Borders regional councils and in 1987–88 to these two councils and to Dumfries and Galloway regional council and Roxburgh district council. Expenditure attracting grant was £92,064 in 1986–87 and is expected to be £433,514 in 1987–88.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many local authority emergency centres have been inspected by officials from his Department; and if he is satisfied with the facilities provided by local authorities for emergency communications and control.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  All the operational emergency centres have been visited by Scottish Office 404
  officials. Steps have been taken to remedy deficiencies in communications facilities identified as a result of these visits.

  Consulting Contracts
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total amount spent by his Department in 1987 on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases.

  Mr. Rifkind
  In 1987 my Department spent £191,308 on management consultancy and £504,431 on computer consultancy.

  Rating Reform
  Dr. Moonie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he proposes to issue any guidance to community charge registration officers on the conduct of door-to-door canvassers, and on the information which they may legitimately request and record.

  Mr. Lang
  No. The training of canvassers is a matter for community charges registration officers. The information required to be supplied by responsible persons is set out in the inquiry form and supplementary inquiry form prescribed in schedules 3 and 4 respectively of the Community Charges (Registration) (Scotland) Regulations 1988.

  Dr. Moonie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what provision he will make to require community charge registration officers to inform persons liable for a community charge of the identity of the responsible person who has been asked to supply information about them.

  Mr. Lang
  None.

  Dr. Moonie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether he proposes to publish, or to encourage community charge registration officers to publish, any advice to members of the public who may be considering appealing against designation as responsible persons in terms of section 17(6) of the Abolition of Domestic Rates (Scotland) Act 1987, including advice about the evidence which might be considered relevant to such an appeal;

  (2) whether he proposes to publish any further guidance to community charge registration officers on the consideration which they should take into account in determining whom it would be appropriate to designate as the responsible person in relation to any premises.

  Mr. Lang
  Under section 17(6) of the Abolition of Domestic Rates Etc. (Scotland) Act 1987 the responsible person will be either the owner-occupier or tenant-occupier of the premises. In the small number of cases where this might give rise to difficulties, the registration officer may designate any other person to be the responsible person. The provisions of the Act are flexible enough to allow registration officers to arrive at sensible decisions in these cases and it is therefore unlikely that there will be many appeals against designation as a responsible person.

  The considerations which registration officers will take into account in making any designation, and the evidence which may be relevant to any appeals, will vary according

  405
  to the circumstances of individual cases. My right hon. and learned Friend does not, therefore, intend to publish any advice or guidance on these matters.

  Dr. Moonie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he proposes that the amounts of interest payments and surcharges owed in connection with a liability to pay community charge for a back-dated period should be eligible for rebate under the community charge rebate scheme.

  Mr. Lang
  No.

  Dr. Moonie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to require community charge registration officers not to impose interest charges or surcharges on persons who have arrears or back-dated liability for payment of community charge as a result of release from prison following trial, after a period on remand.

  Mr. Lang
  The arrangements for interest to be charged on backdated community charges and for the imposition of surcharges in certain circumstances are laid down in Section 18 of the Abolition of Domestic Rates Etc. (Scotland) Act 1987. My right hon. and learned Friend is considering whether prisoners on remand should be exempt from the personal community charge.

  Dr. Moonie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what powers a non-resident or institutional owner or tenant of premises designated as a responsible person for the provision of information on the occupiers of those premises in terms of section 17(6)(b) of the Abolition of Domestic Rates (Scotland) Act 1987 will have to obtain information required by the registration officer; and what penalties the occupiers will incur if they refuse to supply the responsible person with information.

  Mr. Lang
  Under section 17(6)(b) of the Abolition of Domestic Rates Etc. (Scotland) Act 1987, either the owner of the premises, the tenant-occupier or, any non-occupancy tenant with a lease for 12 months or more will he the responsible person. Only in the few cases where this might give rise to difficulty will the registration officer designate another person to be the responsible person.

  A responsible person has no specific powers to require another person resident in the premises to provide information for community charge registration purposes. There are no penalties for refusing to provide the responsible person with information. The information required is however straightforward and it is unlikely that responsible persons will be unable to supply it.

  Dr. Moonie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidelines his Department will issue to community charge registration officers on the information which they will be able to require the police force to supply them with; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  The Abolition of Domestic Rates Etc. (Scotland) Act 1987 gives community charges registration officers no powers to require the police to supply them with information.

  Dr. Moonie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether community charge registration officers will be able to delegate their powers to door-to-door canvassers employed by local authorities to obtain information from members of the public.
  406
  Mr. Lang
  Members of the registration officer's staff may assist with the handling of inquiry forms, but do not have the powers of registration officers. Such powers may be exercised only by the registration officer himself or by any depute registration officer appointed by a regional or islands council under section 12(3) of the Abolition of Domestic Rates Etc. (Scotland) Act 1987.

  Free School Meals
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many children currently receive free school meals in(a) Greenock, (b) Port Glasgow and (c) Strathclyde region.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Details relating to free school meals in Strathclyde region are collected centrally on an education division basis and the latest information available, taken from the 1987 annual census, is set out in the table.

  Division

  Number of children receiving free school meals

  Argyll & Bute

  1,560

  Ayr

  13,266

  Dumbarton

  9,340

  Glasgow (city)

  34,671

  Lanark

  16,823

  Renfrew

  11,702

  Total (Strathclyde Region)

  87,362

  European Year of the Environment
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what contribution his Department has made to the European Year of the Environment.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My Department made a contribution of £30,000 in support of the work of the EYE Scottish sub-committee. The secretariat of the subcommittee was provided by the Countryside Commission for Scotland. In addition, EYE activity in Scotland attracted financial support from the Countryside Commission for Scotland under its normal grant scheme arrangements, and a further sum of £50,000 was allocated from the United Kingdom EYE fund.

  AIDS and Drug Misuse
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on AIDS and drug misuse in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Government take the problem of AIDS and drug misuse in Scotland very seriously. Of those who have chosen to be tested for HIV infection, over 50 per cent. are intravenous drug misusers, whereas the corresponding proportion for the United Kingdom as a whole is only 7 per cent.; and over 20 per cent. of those found to be infected in Scotland are women, the great majority of whom are intravenous drug misusers. We have taken a number of measures, and further measures are in hand, to tackle the related problems of AIDS and drug misuse in Scotland.

  We have devoted considerable resources to our public education campaign on AIDS and drug misuse. One of the main themes of the AIDS campaign has been the dangers

  407
  of transmission of HIV infection by the sharing of injecting equipment, and the phase of the campaign running from September to December 1987 stressed this. Furture phases of the campaign will seek to reinforce this important message. In February, we launched a further stage of the information and education campaign against drug misuse in Scotland. Since its inception in 1985 about £1·4 million has been spent on the campaign which seeks to discourage young people from any involvement with drugs and to promote a healthier lifestyle. We shall continue to give a high priority to the campaign, an essential element of which is aimed at improving the knowledge and awareness of professionals who work with young people.

  The incidence of drug misuse in Scotland increased rapidly in the 1980s and services for the treatment and rehabilitation of drug misusers have had to develop from a low base in response to the this problem. A wide range of mainly community-based services has developed quickly in the last three or four years, many of them with the support of central Government funds earmarked for the purpose. Over £1 million was made available in 1987–88 specifically for the support of drug misuse services and a similar sum will be made available in 1988–89. This includes an additional £300,000 in each of these two years specifically to take account of the extra demand on services caused by the spread of HIV infection.

  We have also promoted the setting up of needle exchange arrangements on an experimental basis. Three schemes were set up last year in Scotland — in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee—to provide counselling for drug misusers and clean equipment on an exchange basis in appropriate cases. The scheme in Dundee has been closed because of various difficulties, including trouble with clients, and the scheme in Glasgow has encountered local opposition and low take-up. The scheme in Edinburgh has been more successful. In the course of monitoring the experimental schemes, however, it has become clear that another possible approach to needle exchange is through sales by community pharmacists, a number of whom already sell equipment to drug misusers. Accordingly, I propose to approach the Scottish department of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain in the near future to discuss with them the contribution which sales by pharmacists might make towards the wider availability of clean equipment. In pursuing this approach, we shall be bearing in mind the importance to pharmacists of having the support of health boards, both in relation to the medical and counselling support facilities for drug misusers, and in relation to disposal arrangements for used equipment.

  As regards the two needle exchange schemes which are still in operation—those in Edinburgh and Glasgow—Lothian and Greater Glasgow health boards have been informed that, although central funding of the schemes will not continue beyond 31 March when the formal period of monitoring and assessment is due to end, they may continue to operate the schemes if they consider this to be appropriate in local circumstances. So far as further needle exchange arrangements by health boards are concerned, we are not yet in a position to reach general conclusions on whether any extension of the existing arrangements would be appropriate. However, if any health board considers that, notwithstanding possible
  408
  developments in the pharmacy-based field, there is a need for such facilities in their area, we shall be prepared to consider specific proposals.

  My right hon. Friend the Minister for Health has set out today the Government's response to the main issues raised by the report on AIDS and drug misuse by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.

  The report expresses particular concern about the position in Scotland and makes a number of criticisms and recommendations about the provision of services for drug misusers and the measures needed to prevent the spread of HIV infection among and from this group. In my view the chapter of the report on Scotland does not give an entirely balanced assessment of the situation in Scotland nor does it take into account the different historical background to the drugs problem here. In particular, the report fails to acknowledge that many drug misuse services in Scotland have already adapted their approach in response to the problems presented by the spread of HIV infection among drug misusers. I am however sending copies of the report to health boards and local authorities and to various representative bodies. I also propose to hold early discussions with the Scottish division of the Royal College of Psychiatrists about the report including its recommendation on the need for increased input to the management and treatment of drug misuse by the psychiatric services in Scotland. A working group of the National Medical Consultative Committee is currently exploring the medical role in the prevention and management of drug misuse and is expected to report later this year.

  I shall keep the position in Scotland under close review and, taking into account the advisory council's detailed recommendations, I shall consider what further action it may be appropriate for the Government to take.

  Superglass Insulations Company
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the nature and extent of the Scottish Development Agency involvement in the Superglass Insulations Company in Clydebank and Stirling.

  Mr. Lang
  The Scottish Development Agency has been involved with the Superglass Insulations Company Ltd(a) as owner of the premises occupied by the company in Clydebank, and (b) in the provision of assistance towards training associated with an investment project in Stirling.

  Attraction of Industry
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the amount of expenditure to be paid out by his Department or agencies responsible to his Department in attracting industry to Scotland in each of the years 1988–89, 1989–90 and 1990–91.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 10 March 1988]: Locate in Scotland is the Government organisation staffed jointly by the Scottish Development Agency and the industry department for Scotland, which has responsibility for the attraction of industry to Scotland. The estimated expenditure for Locate in Scotland at current prices in each of the years 1988–89, 1989–90 and 1990–91 is as follows:

  409

  £ million

  Year

  Estimated expenditure

  1988–89

  4·26

  1989–90

  4·26

  1990–91

  4·26

  Figures for 1989–90 and 1990–91 are provisional.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money has been spent in each of the last 10 years by his Department or agencies responsible to his Department in attracting industry to Scotland, in both cash and real terms.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 10 March 1988]: Locate in Scotland is the Government organisation staffed jointly by the Scottish Development Agency and the industry department for Scotland, which has responsibility for the attraction of industry to Scotland. The cost of running LIS for the last four years in terms of salaries, administration expenses, travel, marketing and advertising are shown in actual cash terms and by conversion to a constant base of 1987–88 price levels in the table.

  Year

  Cash

  1987–88 price base

  1984–85

  3,268,804

  3,723,822

  1985–86

  3,484,781

  3,747,882

  1986–87

  3,768,716

  3,930,394

  1 1987–88

  3,594,033

  3,594,033

  1 To 29 February 1988.

  Before 1984–85 costs were not held in such a format that those attributable to LIS could be isolated.

DEFENCE

  Trident (Lost Parts)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Linlithgow of 4 March 1988 on the loss of Trident parts in the Mull of Galloway.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I responded to the points raised in the hon. Member's letter of 4 March in a letter dated 24 March.

  Port of London
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the Official Report the details which are available of specific visits by ships and submarines of the United States navy to the port of London in each year since 1983 giving location of their moorings.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  There have been no visits to the port of London by ships and submarines of the United States navy since 1983.

  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the Official Report a list of Royal Navy vessels which have visited the Port of London since January 1986, giving the location of their moorings.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  Since January 1986, the following Royal Navy vessels have visited the port of London:410

  Vessel

  Mooring

  1986

  HMS Charybdis

  HMS Belfast

  HMS Sandpiper

  Tower Pier

  HMS Brazen

  HMS Belfast

  HMS Yarmouth

  HMS Belfast

  HMS Leeds Castle

  HMS Belfast

  HMS Orkney

  HMS Belfast

  HMS Guernsey

  HMS Belfast

  HMS Stubbington

  HMS Belfast

  HMS Hodgeston

  Tower Pier

  HMS Ribble

  HMS Belfast

  HMS Dovey

  HMS Belfast

  HMS Blackwater

  HMS Belfast

  HMS Roebuck

  HMS Belfast

  HMS Hunter

  Greenwich Pier

  HMS Brave

  HMS Belfast

  HMS Hunter

  Tower Pier

  HMS Iveston

  Tower Pier

  1987

  HMS Ark Royal

  Greenwich Pier

  HMS Chiddingfold

  HMS Belfast

  HMS Cleopatra

  HMS Belfast

  HMS York

  HMS Belfast

  HMS Bossington

  Tower Pier

  HMS Fife

  HMS Belfast

  HMS Naiad

  HMS Belfast

  HMS Edinburgh

  HMS Belfast

  HMS London

  HMS Belfast

  HMS Lindisfarne

  HMS Belfast

  HMS Rothesay

  HMS Belfast

  HMS Chaser

  HMS Belfast

  HMS Chiddingfold

  HMS Belfast

  HMS Manchester

  HMS Belfast

  HMS Leeds Castle

  HMS Belfast

  HMS Birmingham

  Greenwich Pier

  1988

  HMS Sandpiper

  Tower Pier

  HMS Peterel

  Tower Pier

  HMS Jersey

  HMS Belfast

  Scorriton Down
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what inquiries are being undertaken into allegations of malpractice among bomb disposal teams operating at Scorriton Down.

  Mr. Freeman
  My Department is not aware of any such allegations and neither the Ministry of Defence police nor the military authorities are conducting an inquiry in relation to personnel at Scorriton Down.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 9 March to the hon. Member for South Hams,Official Report, columns 214–15, if he can give an expected date for the recommencement of clearance operations at Scorriton Down.

  Mr. Freeman
  It is not generally our practice to give advance details of such operations.

  US Army Tactical Missile System
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the United States army tactical missile system or a version of it has been offered to United Kingdom forces; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  No.

  RAF Greenham Common
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultations have taken place between the Ministry of Defence police and the police forces of Wiltshire, Hampshire and Thames Valley on the use of Ministry of Defence police officers in the policing of protests against cruise missile training exercises from RAF Greenham Common; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Frequent meetings and consultations take place between the MOD police and the police forces named on these and other operational policing requirements.

  RAF Catering Services
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any plans to privatise the catering services at Royal Air Force establishments in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Contract catering was introduced at RAF Turnhouse and RAF Pitreavie Castle in 1986; there are at present no plans to extend it to other RAF stations in Scotland.

  Consultancy Contracts
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total amount spent by his Department in 1987 on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Ministry of Defence spent approximately £16 million on management and computer consultancies during 1987.

  Namibia (Uranium)
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is, for each year since 1976, the total amount of uranium mined in Namibia which has been imported into Britain.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  None for my Department.

  Ex-gratia Payments
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the likely cost of the ex-gratia payments that will now be made to service people who may have been disabled by negligence between 8 December 1986 and the coming into force of the Crown Proceedings (Armed Forces) Act 1987; from which departmental budget this money is coming; and under what authority these payments are made.

  Mr. Freeman
  It is not possible, at this stage, to estimate the likely cost of ex-gratia payments to service personnel injured or disabled as a result of incidents between 8 December 1986 and the coming into force of the Crown Proceedings (Armed Forces) Act 1987. This is primarily because we cannot know what the eventual level and incidence of claims will be, but also because negotiations on the majority of those claims received so far are still at a relatively early stage. The cost of such ex-gratia payments, which are made in accordance with the answer given by my right hon. Friend on 8 December 1986, will be met from Defence votes.
  412
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria are used to determine eligibility for ex-gratia payments that can now be paid to those disabled or injured through possible negligence between 8 December 1986 and the coming into force of the Crown Proceedings (Armed Forces) Act 1987; how many applications for these payments have been made; and how many payments have been made.

  Mr. Freeman
  Such payments will be determined in a way comparable to the settlement out of court of common law claims for damages, each one being considered and assessed to establish whether death or injury occurred in circumstances involving some degree of negligence on the part of the Crown. To date 85 claims have been received, the majority of which remain under negotiation. Five payments have so far been made, including an interim settlement.

  Service Personnel (Accidents)
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has as to the cause of the increase in 1985 in the number of service people invalided out of the forces following an accident.

  Mr. Freeman
  There was no prominent cause for the increase in the number of cases invalided from the services in 1985 other than injuries sustained during sporting activities and falls and so on. The corresponding figure for 1986 is now available and is 169, showing a slight decrease.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his replies of 10 March 1987 Official Report, columns 173–74, to the right hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South, how many of those service men who (a) were invalided out and (b) died, were involved in accidents or misadventures of such a nature that disciplinary action was taken after an inquiry.

  Mr. Freeman
  I regret that records are not kept in a way that would enable the information to be provided without disproportionate cost.

  AWACS Aircraft
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many jobs have been created in Britain as a result of the deal to buy AWACS aircraft from Boeing.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Clackmannan (Mr. O'Neill) on 28 March 1988.

  Devonport Dockyard
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimates were available to him before 11 June 1987 of the number of redundancies at Devonport dockyard which would follow the introduction of Devonport Management; and when he was first informed that the final number would be 3,400.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The primary responsibility for manning levels in the royal dockyards rests with the contractors. For costing purposes, we had assumed 3,300 redundancies at Devonport over the seven years of the contract. However, as indicated by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 24 February 1987, the only firm information available to my Department before
  413
  11 June 1987 was that Devonport Management Ltd. expected some 2,300 job losses by about 1990. At that stage, DML thought there would be little effect during the first year or so. It was not until August 1987, following a review of programme adjustments, that DML made known its revised assessment of 3,400 job losses over a similar period, including some 2,000 in 1987–88. I understand that in its first year the company now expects to have reduced the work force by 1,850, all but 48 of these job losses being achieved by voluntary redundancy or natural wastage.

EMPLOYMENT

  Safety at Work (Brown Book)
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will provide the Health and Safety Commission with additional funding to enable it to make more easily available copies of the Brown Book guide to "Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations".

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Health and Safety Commission has been given a gross provision of £109·2 million for 1988–89. This is a substanital increase of £6·7 million over the previously planned provision for that year. It is for the commission and its executive to decide how best to allocate their resouces. The booklet on safety representatives and safety committees is available, price £2.

  Specialist Inspectors
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the change in the number of specialist inspectors in the Health and Safety Executive since 1979.

  Mr. Nicholls
  On 1 April 1979 there were 224 specialist inspectors employed in the Health and Safety Executive. On 1 March 1988 there were 218.

  Suffolk
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the level of employment in Suffolk.

  Mr. Lee
  At September 1984, the latest date for which county estimates are available, there were 221,000 employees in employment in Suffolk.

  Non-Statutory Training Organisations
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much Government money is received by non-statutory training organisations in the current year.

  Mr. Nicholls
  It is not possible to give total figures for Government support to non-statutory training organisations. Government funds made available to non-statutory training organisations through the Manpower Services Commission in 1987–88 included some £5·8 million for the improvement of the training infrastructure in their sectors. They also received substantial funds as YTS managing agents, including about £6 million from the MSC's large companies unit. details of funds allocated through MSC area offices are not available.
  414
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps are being taking in the light of recent reports to change non-statutory training organisations.

  Mr. Nicholls
  A recent report commissioned by the Manpower Services Commission concluded that the majority of non-statutory training organisations are effective, but made certain recommendations about how the performance of all the organisations might be improved. The Confederation of British Industry is currently consulting non-statutory training organisations about these recommendations My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will consider further steps in the light of the outcome of these consultations, and the advice of the Manpower Services Commission.

  Job Vacancies
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish an analysis of known job vacancies by skill category required.

  Mr. Lee
  I will arrange for a table showing the number of unfilled vacancies at jobcentres in Great Britain on 8 January 1988, analysed by occupation, to be published in the Official Report, Vacancies have risen by nearly 20 per cent. over the last year with increases for most occupations.

  Unfilled vacancies in Great Britain—8 January 1988

  Occupation description

  Number of vacancies

  Managerial

  10,699

  Nursing

  4,482

  Typing and Secretarial

  5,956

  Clerical and Machine Operators

  33,967

  Selling-Distribution

  22,493

  Selling-Others

  9,705

  Security and Protective Services

  5,122

  Catering

  29,665

  Cleaning and Personal Services

  30,288

  Farming and Fishing

  1,959

  Materials Processing-Textiles/Cloth

  562

  Materials Processing-Food

  2,226

  Metal Processing

  463

  Metal Processing-Others

  383

  Making/Repairing-Textiles/Cloth

  5,442

  Making/Repairing-Others

  5,226

  Machine Operator (Engineering)-Skilled

  3,401

  Machine Operator (Engineering)-Unskilled

  404

  Toolmakers/Fitters

  1,192

  Installation/Maintenance

  4,892

  Electricians

  3,088

  Electronic Technicians

  1,218

  Welding/Fabrication

  4,625

  Painting

  1,724

  Assembling/Packaging/Inspecting

  5,611

  Construction-Skilled

  5,203

  Construction-Unskilled

  1,855

  Mining and Quarrying

  119

  Transport Operators-HGV and PSV

  2,622

  Transport Operators-Others

  9,962

  Miscellaneous

  8,580

  Adult Training
  Mr. Wall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make it his policy not to designate the adult training scheme under clause 26 of the Employment Bill in the lifetime of the current Parliament.
  415
  Dr. Moonie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make it his policy not to designate the adult training scheme under clause 26 of the Employment Bill in the lifetime of the current Parliament.

  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make it his policy not to designate the adult training scheme under clause 26 of the Employment Bill in the lifetime of the current Parliament.

  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make it his policy not to designate the adult training scheme under clause 26 of the Employment Bill in the lifetime of the current Parliament.

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make it his policy not to designate the adult training scheme under clause 26 of the Employment Bill in the lifetime of this Parliament.

  Mr. Fowler
  We have made it clear that the new employment training programme will be a voluntary one, and we have no plans to designate it.

  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether refusal to participate in the adult training scheme will be grounds for withdrawal of benefit under the availability for work test.

  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether refusal to participate in the adult training scheme could be grounds for withdrawal of benefit under the availability for work test.

  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether refusal to participate in the adult training scheme will be grounds for withdrawal of benefit under the availability for work test.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether refusal to participate in the adult training scheme will be grounds for withdrawal of benefit under the availability for work test.

  Mr. Haynes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether refusal to participate in the adult training scheme will be grounds for withdrawal of benefit under the availability for work test.

  Mr. Nicholls
  We have made it clear that, as recommended by the Manpower Services Commission, the new employment training programme will be a voluntary one, and we have no plans to designate it as "Approved Training" for the purposes of section 20 of the Social Security Act 1975. Additionally, refusal to take up a place in the programme will not by itself be grounds for withdrawal of benefit under the availability for work test.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which schemes he intends to designate as approved training under clause 26 of the Employment Bill.
  416
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which schemes he intends to designate as approved training under clause 26 of the Employment Bill.

  Mr. Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which schemes he intends to designate as approved training under clause 26 of the Employment Bill.

  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which schemes he intends to designate as approved training under clause 26 of the Employment Bill.

  Mr. Ray Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which schemes he intends to designate as approved training under clause 26 of the Employment Bill.

  Mr. Cope
  The Secretary of State has no plans to designate any schemes.

  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received asking him to reconsider his decision to require those participating in the adult training scheme to pay the first £5 of their travel expenses.

  Mr. Flannery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received asking him to reconsider his decision to require those participating in the adult training scheme to pay the first £5 of their travel expenses.

  Mr. Litherland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received asking him to reconsider his decision to require those participating in the adult training scheme to pay the first £5 of their travel expenses.

  Mr. Nicholls
  None. It was the unanimous recommendation of the Manpower Services Commission that only participants' travel expenses in excess of £5 should be met, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has accepted this.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what special arrangements are included for disabled people and those with special needs under the new adult training programme.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The new employment training programme will be locally planned and delivered in line with local needs, including the needs of disabled people. Where appropriate, supplementary funding will be available to assist in meeting higher costs associated with training people with special needs. There will also be special eligibility arrangements for disabled people. In addition, a range of specific help for trainees with disabilities will be available in the form of special aids to employment, adaptations to premises, a communicator service for deaf trainees and a personal reader service for blind trainees.
  417
  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received asking him to reconsider his decision to pay £10 per week plus benefit to those who participate in the adult training scheme.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received asking him to reconsider his decision to pay £10 per week plus benefit to those who participate in the adult training schemes.

  Mr. Nicholls
  We have received a number of representations about the level of the training allowance to be paid to participants on the new employment training programme. The Government's decisions on the allowance, and on the other payments to be made to participants, implement in full the unanimous recommendations of the Manpower Services Commission. The allowance will give participants a lead of £10–£12 a week over their benefit entitlement and will ensure that they will be better off on the programme than remaining unemployed and on benefit.

  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to meet the chairman of the Training Commission to discuss the new integrated adult training scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has regular contact with the chairman of the Manpower Services Commission, which is being renamed the Training Commission in the Employment Bill, to consider a number of matters, including the new employment training programme. The Manpower Services Commission is currently working on the detailed arrangements to introduce the new programme from 5 September.

  Vacancies (London)
  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many vacancies there are in jobcentres in the London area; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  On 5 February 1988, the number of unfilled vacancies, excluding vacancies on the community programme, at jobcentres in the Greater London region was 33,800. This represents an increase of over 3 per cent. in the past year.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest unemployment statistics for the Basingstoke-Alton travel-to-work area.

  Mr. Lee
  On 11 February 1988 the number of unemployed claimants in the Basingstoke and Alton travel-to-work area was 2,500, or 3·3 per cent. of all employees in employment plus the unemployed.

  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the change in the level of unemployment in the last 12 months in Yorkshire and Humberside.

  Mr. Lee
  On 11 February 1988 the number of unemployed claimants in the Yorkshire and Humberside region, seasonally adjusted and excluding school leavers was 245,700, a fall of 46,200 over the last 12 months.
  418
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the current levels of employment.

  Mr. Lee
  By September 1987, the latest date for which figures are available, the employed labour force in Great Britain had risen for 18 consecutive quarters to 24,505,000. This represents an increase of 1,508,000 since March 1983. The figures have been adjusted for the effects of seasonal variations. The employed labour force is the sum of employees in employment, the self-employed and Her Majesty's forces.

  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the changes in unemployment levels in the northern region in the last 12 months.

  Mr. Lee
  On 11 February 1988, the number of unemployed claimants in the northern region, seasonally adjusted and excluding school leavers was 187,300, a fall of 30,400 over the last 12 months.

  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the percentage increase in unemployment since May 1979.

  Mr. Lee
  Between May 1979 and February 1988, the number of adult unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom, on a consistent basis, increased by 119·7 per cent.

  Mr. Duffy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish the latest unemployment figures for South Yorkshire and Sheffield travel-to-work area expressed as a percentage.

  Mr. Lee
  On 11 February 1988, the numbers of unemployed claimants in the county of South Yorkshire, and the Sheffield travel-to-work area expressed as a percentage of employees in employment plus the unemployed were 16·1 per cent. and 14·1 per cent. respectively.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the current employment situation among the 18 to 25-year-old age group.

  Mr. Lee
  In January 1988 there were 774,000 unemployed claimants aged 18 to 24 in the United Kingdom, 197,000 fewer than in January 1987.

  Analysis of the preliminary results of the labour force survey carried out in the spring of 1987 shows that there were an estimated 4,352,000 persons aged 18 to 24 in employment in Great Britain, 164,000 more than in spring 1986.

  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are currently employed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  In September 1987, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 24,505,000 people in the employed labour force in Great Britain. This represents an increase of 1,508,000 since March 1983. The figures have been adjusted for the effects of seasonal variations. The employed labour force is the sum of employees in employment, the self-employed and Her Majesty's forces.

  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the number of people currently employed in the north-west.
  419
  Mr. Day
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the number of people currently employed in the north-west.

  Mr. Lee
  In September 1987, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 2,550,000 people in the civilian employed labour force in the north-west region. This represents an increase of 26,000 since March 1983.

  The figures have not been adjusted for the effects of seasonal variations. The civilian employed labour force is the sum of employees in employment and the self-employed.

  Mr. Andy Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the change in the level of unemployment in the last 12 months in the east midlands.

  Mr. Lee
  On 11 February 1988 the number of unemployed claimants in the east midlands region, seasonally adjusted and excluding school leavers, was 158,400, a fall of 32,900 over the last 12 months.

  Mr. Knapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the change in the level of unemployment in the last 12 months in the west midlands.

  Mr. Lee
  On 11 February 1988 the number of unemployed claimants in the west midlands region, seasonally adjusted and excluding school leavers, was 258,100–9·9 per cent. of the working population. This was the first time unemployment has fallen below 10 per cent. since April 1981 and is a fall of 61,100 over the last 12 months.

  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a statement on the current trend in unemployment.

  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the current levels of unemployment in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the latest unemployment figures.

  Mr. Lee
  The seasonally adjusted level of adult unemployment fell further by 33,400 between January and February, to 2,531,300, the lowest figure on a consistent basis since February 1982. The figure has now fallen for 19 consecutive months, by 679,000 in total since July 1986, the largest sustained fall on record.

  Agricultural Inspectors
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the change in the number of Her Majesty's agricultural inspectors in the Health and Safety Executive since 1979.

  Mr. Nicholls
  On 1 April 1979 there were 190 agricultural inspectors in the Health and Safety Executive. On 1 March 1988 there were 158. Recruitment to the inspectorate is at present under way.

  Skillcentres
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he anticipates making a statement on the future of skillcentres.
  420
  Mr. Cope
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment announced a review of the Skills Training Agency at the end of last year and has recently received an initial report which he is considering.

  Strikes
  Mr. Roger King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many days were lost through strikes in November 1987 and in November 1978; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given earlier by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to my hon. Friend the Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Martin).

  Enterprise Allowance Scheme
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the number of jobs that have been created through the enterprise allowance scheme since its inception.

  Mr. Cope
  The information is not available in the form requested. Since the inception of the enterprise allowance scheme in 1982 over 320,000 unemployed people have been helped to start their own business. Latest survey evidence shows that for every 100 businesses continuing six months after the allowance has ended, 71 people, in addition to the recipient of the allowance and any business partner, are employed at that time. Two years after the allowance has ceased, the number of additional people employed rises to 114 per 100 firms surviving.

  The surveys also show that for those completing a full year on the scheme 74 per cent. were still trading six months after the allowance ended and 65 per cent. two years after the allowance has ceased.

  Youth Training Scheme
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment on what business he has calculated the briding allowance provided to young people while they wait for a YTS scheme.

  Mr. Cope
  The proposed YTS bridging allowance is designed to provide short-term payments for young people who have to wait for a few weeks for a YTS place after leaving a job or a previous YTS place. The allowance will be paid for a maximum of eight weeks, during which time the offer of a YTS place will be made. The allowance will be set initially at £15 per week, more than twice the level of child benefit.

  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of YTS leavers enter employment with employers who did not supply their training or work experience.

  Mr. Cope
  The latest results from the Manpower Services Commission's regular follow-up surveys of YTS leavers show that, of those young people who left YTS schemes between April 1986 and September 1987, 30 per cent. were in full time employment with an employer who did not supply their training or work experience (or were self-employed) at the time of the surveys.

  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will reimburse all travel costs to persons on YTS.
  421
  Mr. Cope
  There are no plans to reimburse all travel costs to persons on YTS.

  Mr. Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures for YTS trainees going into work, or further education and training.

  Mr. Cope
  The Manpower Services Commission conducts regular follow-up surveys of all YTS leavers. The latest results show that, of those who left YTS schemes between April 1986 and September 1987, 75 per cent. were in work, further education or in training when surveyed.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of young people receive their first choice option of YTS schemes.

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

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of YTS leavers enter employment with the same employer who provided their training or work experience.

  Mr. Cope
  The latest results from the Manpower Services Commission's regular follow-up surveys on YTS leavers show that, of those young people who left YTS schemes between April 1986 and September 1987, 26 per cent. were full-time in employment with the employer who ran their YTS scheme or provided work experience at the time of the surveys.

  Ms. Quinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the most recent estimates of job substitution rates for YTS.

  Mr. Cope
  The latest estimates based on evidence from the 1985–86 YTS providers survey show a rate of job substitution of 6 per cent. This represents the proportion of training places that have replaced jobs for adults.

  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of YTS leavers attain a recognised qualification.

  Mr. Cope
  The latest results from the 100 per cent. follow-up survey of YTS leavers in the period April 1986 to September 1987 show that 20 per cent. of leavers gained a qualification. However, during this period 90 per cent. of leavers from YTS were early leavers who had not completed their training course and, therefore, were not representative of all trainees. Most young people will not complete their two-year training programme until after March 1988. A national survey of those trainees who have stayed into their second year shows that 54 per cent. had already gained a qualification.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a further statement on the progress of the YTS scheme.

  Mr. Cope
  The beginning of April marks the second anniversary of the two-year YTS. During the past two years, very important progress has been made. At any one time there are on average more than 400,000 young people in training, compared with 285,000 in 1985; and of course YTS now offers two years of training. In addition, of those young people who left YTS schemes between April 1986 and September 1987, a total of 75 per cent. went into work or futher education and training.

  We are continuing to improve further the high quality of training on offer. Over 50 per cent. of trainees entering
  422
  their second year on YTS had already gained a vocational qualification, and all YTS managing agents have to secure approved training organisations status if they are to continue to work with YTS.

  Overall, YTS is making a major contribution to meeting the needs of employers and the wishes of young people. The task now is the ensure that YTS provides the opportunity for all young people who enter the labour market to gain the skills and qualifications which will enhance their job prospects arid meet the demands of the labour market.

  Professional and Executive Register
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the progress of the privatisation of Professional and Executive Recruitment.

  Mr. Cope
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to my hon. Friend the Member for Gillingham (Mr. Couchman) on 9 March at column 220.

  Skilled Labour
  Sir Anthony Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals he has to encourage more skilled labour to become available in East Anglia and the south-east generally; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  To secure the skills they need employers must provide proper incentives for people to acquire those skills, develop internal recruitment and make the necessary investment in training and upgrading of skills.

  The Government have given a lead by more than doubling their investment in vocational education and training since 1979, especially through YTS for the 16 and 17-year-old age group, and now the new £1·4 billion employment training programme for unemployed adults, announced in the White Paper "Training for Employment" (Cm 316).

  In East Anglia and the south-east generally more than 51,000 young people are expected to receive training under YTS during this financial year with expenditure planned at £117 million. In addition, 47,000 unemployed adults will have received skills training during the same period at a cost of £31 million. Training under YTS and the forthcoming employment training programme responds to the skill needs of local labour markets.

  Literacy Tuition
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many pilot projects offering intensive literacy tuition to unemployed people are being set up; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  There are currently seven pilot projects operating which offer intense literacy tuition to unemployed adults. These have been set up under the wider opportunities training programme. They will assist the development of literacy training with the employment training programme for unemployed people that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has announced for September.

  Factory Inspectors
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many factory inspectors the Health and Safety Executive had in place on 1 March.

  Mr. Nicholls
  On 1 March 1988 there were 598 factory inspectors in post in the Health and Safety Executive.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the change in the number of Her Majesty's factory inspectors since 1979.

  Mr. Nicholls
  On 1 April 1979 there were 742 factory inspectors in post in the Health and Safety Executive. On 1 March 1988 there were 598. Recruitment to the inspectorate is at present under way.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report, the numbers of Health and Safety Executive factory inspectors in (a) Scotland and (b) the United Kingdom in each year since the introduction of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The numbers are as follows:

  Year(1 January)

  Factory Inspectors in Scotland

  Factory Inspectors in Great Britain1

  1976

  53

  568

  1977

  55

  664

  1978

  61

  691

  1979

  61

  709

  1980

  68

  756

  1981

  65

  743

  1982

  61

  690

  1983

  56

  662

  1984

  51

  634

  1985

  51

  638

  1986

  50

  614

  1987

  46

  626

  19882

  43

  598

  1 The Health and Safety Executive does not enforce health and safety legislation in Northern Ireland. Figures provided cover England, Scotland and Wales.

  2 1st March 1988.

  Construction Industry
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he last met the Chief Inspector of Factories to consider ways of improving safety in the construction industry.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State last met the Chief Inspector of Factories on 2 December 1987, when one of the subjects discussed was the initiative being taken by the Health and Safety's to encourage the construction industry to improve its safety record.

  Tourism
  Mr. Ken Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the number of people employed in tourism and tourism-related industry in the county of Lancashire.

  Mr. Lee
  There were an estimated 37,000 employees in employment in tourism-related industries in the county of Lancashire in September 1984, the latest date for which 424
  information is available. This figure does not include the self-employed, for whom a comparable estimate is not available.

  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied with the workings of section 4 tourist grants; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  A recent study by Department of Employment economists showed that the section 4 scheme has a significant effect in supporting local and regional employment, and makes a contribution to helping the tourism industry operate more efficiently and effectively. We continue to keep the scheme under review.

  Mr. Brandon-Bravo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has on the rate per week at which jobs are being created in the tourism sector.

  Mr. Lee
  No information is available on the rate per week at which jobs in the tourism sector are created. However, there has been a net increase of 43,000 in the estimated number of employees in employment in tourcism-related industries over the year to September 1987. These figures exclude the self-employed, for whom comparable estimates are not available.

  Availability for Work Test
  Mr. Heffer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the grounds for withdrawal of benefit under the availability for work test.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will list the grounds for withdrawal of benefit under the availability for work test.

  Mr. Lee
  The requirement that a person be available for work is a fundamental condition for the receipt of unemployment benefits. It was re-enacted most recently in the Social Security Act 1975.

  The condition means that a person must be available for work with an employer and must not restrict their job-seeking, in terms of the hours, days, pay, location or type of employment they are willing to accept, to such an extent that they effectively have no reasonable prospect of securing work within those restrictions.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to extend the application of the availability for work test.

  Mr. Lee
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, North-West (Mr. Stern),Official Report, Monday 14 December, at columns 337–38. This is an area which I shall continue to keep under review.

  Health and Safety Executive
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps have been taken to improve morale in the Health and Safety Executive.

  Mr. Nicholls
  While the Director General of the Health and Safety Executive accepts that there are some problems arising from the pay and promotion prospects of certain groups of staff, he does not take the view that there is anything generally wrong with morale in the executive.

  Health and Safety
  Mr. Flood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what priority he accords to reliance on self-regulation in maintaining health and safety at the workplace.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Self-regulation is fundamental to the operation of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The Health and Safety Commission itself includes representatives of employers and employees as well as local authorities, and its proposals for regulations and codes are based on extensive consultation with those affected by them. Employers are responsible under the Act for applying its general provisions to their work force and for preparing written health and safety policies, and are subject to such inspection as the commission considers generally appropriate.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make available the

  1. Location and address of HSE HQs, area offices and research and laboratory services division sites

  Location

  Address

  Headquarters

  London

  Baynards House, 1 Chepstow Place, London, W2

  Merseyside

  Stanley Precinct, Bootle, Merseyside

  Area offices

  01 South West

  Inter City House, Mitchell Lane, Victoria Street, Bristol

  02 South

  Priestley House, Priestley Road, Basingstoke

  03 South East

  3 East Grinstead House, London Road, East Grinstead, West Sussex

  041South East

  Chancel House, Neasden Lane, London, NW10

  051 London North

  Maritime House, 1 Linton Road, Barking, Essex

  061 London South

  1 Long Lane, London SE1

  07 East Anglia

  39 Baddow Road, Chelmsford, Essex

  08 North Home Counties

  14 Cardiff Road, Luton, Bedfordshire

  09 East Midlands

  Belgrave House, 1 Greyfriars, Northampton

  10 West Midlands

  McLaren Building, 2 Masshose Circus, Queensway, Birmingham

  11 Wales

  Brunel House, 2 Fitzalan Road, Cardiff

  12 Marches

  The Marches House, Midway, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire

  13 North Midlands

  Birkbeck House, Trinity Square, Nottingham

  14 South Yorkshire

  Sovereign House, 40 Silver Street, Sheffield

  15 West and North Yorkshire

  8 St. Pauls Street, Leeds

  16 Greater Manchester

  Quay House, Quay Street, Manchester

  17 Merseyside

  The Triad, Stanley Road, Bootle

  18 North West

  Victoria House, Ormskirk Road, Preston

  19 North East

  Arden House, Regent Centre, Gosforth, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  20 Scotland East

  Belford House, 59 Belford Road, Edinburgh

  21 Scotland West

  314 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow

  Research and Laboratory Services Division

  London

  403–405 Edgware Road, London, NW2

  Buxton

  Harpur Hill, Buxton, Derbyshire

  Sheffield

  Broad Lane, Sheffield

  1 Areas 04, 05 and 06 under command of Senior Area Director in Area 06. Inspectors and support staff cover all three locations.

  Posts in the health and safety executive

  1 January in each year

  Location

  1978

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  Headquarters

  1,340

  1,362

  1,349

  1,305

  1,266

  1,316

  1,341

  1,369

  1,382

  1,409

  1,369

  Areas

  01

  128

  128

  130

  122

  105

  101

  100

  95

  93

  91

  91

  02

  68

  67

  79

  66

  59

  63

  65

  76

  74

  76

  71

  03

  87

  104

  109

  115

  106

  101

  104

  99

  92

  95

  91

  04

  72

  57

  70

  56

  50

  47

  46

  51

  29

  27

  23

  05

  57

  50

  49

  64

  59

  57

  74

  50

  66

  64

  58

  06

  103

  107

  93

  85

  82

  79

  72

  70

  74

  75

  07

  70

  68

  69

  67

  61

  57

  59

  73

  76

  73

  61

  08

  108

  135

  134

  129

  120

  108

  108

  96

  93

  101

  92

  426
  research study on the Health and Safety Executive carried out by the socio-legal studies department at Wolfson college, Oxford.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The research study by the centre for socio-legal studies at Wolfson college into aspects of policy and enforcement is not yet complete. A decision on its eventual publication is a matter for the centre.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report the location, address and staff complement of each Health and Safety Executive office in the United Kingdom in each year since 1978.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The location, address and staff complement since 1978 for the Health and Safety Executive's headquarters, each area and for each research and laboratory services division site is as follows. It is not possible to show separately those staff located in sub-offices or outstationed. These staff are included in the appropriate area office total.
  427

  1 January in each year

  Location

  1978

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  09

  104

  103

  106

  103

  97

  90

  94

  85

  83

  87

  87

  10

  185

  173

  176

  163

  148

  135

  127

  117

  108

  103

  97

  11

  169

  166

  174

  169

  146

  130

  129

  123

  118

  120

  109

  12

  109

  109

  110

  103

  98

  92

  91

  87

  82

  85

  85

  13

  83

  87

  87

  96

  82

  76

  72

  88

  82

  87

  81

  14

  101

  94

  89

  87

  79

  76

  79

  85

  82

  81

  75

  15

  168

  195

  202

  188

  167

  159

  152

  134

  131

  137

  122

  l6

  149

  144

  139

  134

  126

  120

  120

  101

  92

  95

  92

  17

  65

  69

  67

  68

  59

  57

  61

  66

  69

  70

  62

  18

  70

  69

  64

  70

  66

  64

  65

  74

  73

  71

  64

  19

  126

  116

  116

  116

  111

  105

  97

  94

  91

  93

  77

  20

  128

  152

  155

  151

  140

  138

  134

  114

  107

  106

  106

  21

  104

  78

  76

  74

  68

  62

  59

  73

  69

  70

  71

  Field total

  2,254

  2,271

  2,294

  2,226

  2,029

  1,917

  1,888

  1,852

  1,780

  1,806

  1,690

  Research and laboratory services

  576

  593

  575

  535

  544

  503

  489

  490

  477

  482

  442

  Posts in house

  4,170

  4,226

  4,218

  4,066

  3,839

  3,736

  3,718

  3,711

  3,639

  3,697

  3,501

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report for (a) Scotland and (b) the United Kingdom the number of prosecutions for alleged breaches of the Health and safety at Work etc. Act, and the number of custodial sentences imposed as a result of those prosecutions in each year since 1978.

  Mr. Nicholls
  (a) The table shows the available information for Scotland.

  Number of prosecutions: informations laid by Factory and Agricultural Inspectors

  Year

  Number

  1981

  183

  1982

  243

  1983

  259

  1984

  218

  1985

  298

  1986–871

  251

  1 Provisional data for the 12 month period April 1986 to March 1987.

  (b) The table shows the available information for Great Britain.

  Number of prosecutions: informations laid

  Year

  2 3

  4

  5

  1978

  —

  —

  2,603

  1979

  —

  2,427

  —

  1980

  —

  2,624

  —

  1981

  —

  1,892

  —

  1982

  —

  2,342

  —

  1983

  2,238

  2,230

  —

  1984

  2,207

  2,196

  —

  1985

  2,313

  2,196

  —

  1986–87

  2,175

  2,140

  —

  2 Data include prosecutions taken by Factory and Agricultural Inspectorate, Explosives Inspectorate, Her Majesty's Mines and Quarries Inspectorate, Railway Inspectorate and the Petroleum Engineering Division of the Department of Energy, but exclude the Pollution Inspectorate (formerly the Industrial Air Pollution Inspectorate).

  3 Figures in both tables exclude the results of prosecutions taken by Local Authorities. The latest information for Local authorities (LAs) relates to 1985, for which we know of about 250 informations laid under the Health and Safety at Work Act, and 200 under other associated legislation in Great Britain as a whole.

  4 Factory and Agricultural Inspectorate only.

  5 Factory Inspectorate only.

  428
  (c) In 1985, one person was given a suspended prison sentence of one month, and in 1987 one person was given two suspended prison sentences of nine months (to run consecutively). These sentences related to offences under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act and associated legislation. None of them occurred in Scotland.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report the average fine handed out for offences under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act for (a) Scotland and (b) the United Kingdom in each year since 1978.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The average fine for prosecutions taken by the Health and Safety Executive's Factory and Agricultural Inspectorate for breach of health and safety laws in(a) Scotland and (b) Great Britain since 1978 is as follows:

  Year

  Average fine (£)

  (a) Scotland

  (b) Great Britain

  1978

  +

  1134

  1979

  +

  184

  1980

  +

  180

  1981

  154

  189

  1982

  168

  233

  1983

  182

  252

  1984

  301

  304

  1985

  316

  426

  21986–87

  354

  427

  Notes:

  + Not Available.

  1 Factory Inspectorate only.

  2 Provisional.

  Figures for Northern Ireland are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Caravan and Holiday Parks
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the development of the caravan and holiday park industry.

  Mr. Lee
  The caravan and holiday park industry makes a major contribution to tourism in this country. It is estimated to produce an annual turnover in excess of £800 million and to provide over 200,000 jobs. I welcome the industry's efforts to improve its training and to provide higher standards by introducing codes of practice, and a
  429
  grading scheme, produced by the British Holiday and Home Parks Association and the National Caravan Council in conjunction with the English Tourist Board. I was also pleased to learn of the industry's plans to invest £3 million in a national campaign to raise the profile of caravan holidays.

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what rights against sex discrimination a woman will have under the Government's proposed new training scheme.

  Mr. Nicholls
  It is unlawful under section 14 of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 for the Manpower Services Commission to discriminate against a woman in the provision of training for employment. Furthermore, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will be designating the new adult training programme under section 14(2)(d) of the Act. This will render unlawful discrimination by persons providing training on behalf of the Manpower Services Commission.

  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to announce the findings of the consultative document on the restrictions on the employment of young people and the removal of sex discrimination in legislation.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I am at present considering with my colleagues the responses we have received to the consultative document. I hope to bring forward appropriate legislation in due course.

  Enterprise Allowance Scheme
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a further statement on the progress of the enterprise allowance scheme.

  Mr. Cope
  Since the enterprise allowance scheme began in 1982, over 320,000 unemployed people have been helped to start their own business: 102,500 places are available this year, although this figure is likely to be exceeded; 110,000 places will be available next year.

  School Leavers
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of school leavers within the metropolitan borough of Rotherham secured full-time employment apart from Government schemes in 1987.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Records maintained by the metropolitan borough of Rotherham careers service show that at 10 March 1988, 545 (18.6 per cent.) of the 16-year-old pupils who left school in Rotherham in 1987 were in employment outside YTS. Separate figures for full and part-time employment are not available.

  Enterprise in Higher Education Initiative
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the progress of the Training Commission's enterprise in higher education initiative.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Since the launch of the initiative on 9 December 1987 there has been a most pleasing level of 430
  institutional interest Four one-day workshops were held for institutions in early February. The total attendance was in excess of 300 with 143 institutions represented. Outline bids for first round funding have been received from 85 institutions. Each institution will be notified shortly about the outcome of its bid.

  Local Employer Networks
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many local employer networks have been established; and what has been the cost to his Department.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Eighty Seven employer networks had been contracted by 18 March with a further five applications under consideration.

  Some £3·7 million has been allocated to the project, which is a collaborative venture between the CBI, Association of British Chambers of Commerce and the Manpower Services Commission.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when representatives of the Health and Safety Executive last visited the Channel tunnel construction site to assess safety levels.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Inspectors of the Health and Safety Executive last visited the Channel tunnel construction site at Shakespeare cliff, Dover, on 24 March 1988, and a further visit is planned for today.

  Schools-Employers (Compacts)
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to introduce compacts between schools and employers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what resources he is making available to schools and local employers who wish to form a compact; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to promote the development of compacts between schools and employers in inner city areas; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Fowler
  I refer my hon. Friends to the reply I gave earlier to my hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Hicks).

  Unemployment
  Mr. Forth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he will next be meeting his EEC counterparts to discuss unemployment throughout Europe; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  I met European Commission colleagues on 14–15 March at an informal meeting of Labour Ministers. The meeting discussed a number of EC developments touching on unemployment, notably the future role of the European social fund and employment in the steel industry. I took the opportunity to draw attention to the continuing high level of unemployment across Europe. The next formal meeting will be on 9 June. I will, in the usual way, make a statement following that meeting.

  Job Clubs
  Mr. Hayward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a further statement on the development of job clubs.

  Mr. Lee
  Since my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, West (Mr. Sackville), on 15 December 1987, at column 476, a further 51 job clubs have opened.

  There are now 1,184 job clubs in operation. Some changes in eligibility rules were made early in March 1988 to reinforce help available to unemployed people at a disadvantage in the labour market. In particular, entry to job clubs was made easier for (i) people with disabilities, (ii) ex-offenders, (iii) clients of Manpower Services Commission's adult programmes, if they leave the programme unplaced.

  In addition, the employment service is developing the job club programme in inner cities so as better to meet special needs.

  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are attending job clubs in the northern region.

  Mr. Lee
  At 26 February, 1,682 people were attending job clubs in the northern region.

  Vacancies (East Anglia)
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the number of vacancies registered at jobcentres in East Anglia.

  Mr. Lee
  On 5 February 1988, the number of unfilled vacancies, excluding vacancies on the community programme, at jobcentres in the East Anglia region was 7,764. This represents an increase of 29·6 per cent. since February 1987.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether, in reviewing employment assistance for disabled people, his Department will be consulting interested groups.

  Mr. Lee
  This is an internal review which will take account of information and advice available already, including the study of the Tomlinson principles recently completed by the National Advisory Council on Employment of Disabled People. I would expect that conclusions that emerge from the review will be subject to the normal processes of consultation.

  Enterprise Agencies
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a further statement on the development of enterprise agencies.

  Mr. Cope
  Local enterprise agencies are independent private sector-led organisations and their future development must rest primarily with their boards and private sector sponsors. Through the local enterprise agency grant scheme, this Department is encouraging the development in England of a network of viable LEAs capable after five years (the scheme's duration) of surviving without specific Government funding. I set out in a reply to my hon. Friend 432
  the Member for Sherwood (Mr. Stewart) Official Report, 8 March, at column 117, certain modifications which have been made recently to increase the scheme's effectiveness in achieving its original objectives.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what recent evidence he has about the impact on levels of employment in small businesses of the various obligations discussed in "Building Businesses … not Barriers".

  Mr. Cope
  Removal of burdens on business is part of the Government's overall policy to encourage enterprise. The report "Encouraging Enterprise", presented to Parliament in May 1987 sets out progress made since the publication of "Building Businesses … not Barriers". It is not possible to quantify the impact of this single factor on employment in small business, but the overall success of Government policy is clear with the continuing growth in the number of small businesses and the self-employed.

  Maternity Leave
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any plans to introduce legislation concerning the rights of women to maternity leave, in the light of the Court of Appeal decision on Ms. Dowuona v. John Lewis.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I have no such plans.

  Mines and Quarries Inspectors
  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the change in the number of Her Majesty's mines and quarries inspectors in the Health and Safety Executive since 1979.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The number of mines and quarries inspectors has fallen from 116 in 1979 to 76 on 1 March 1988. This closely reflects the changes that have taken place, primarily in the mining industry, in size and structure over the same period.

  "Training for Employment"
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many representations he has received on the proposals contained in the White Paper "Training for Employment"; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  We have received some 150 representations on the proposals contained in the White Paper "Training for Employment". The White Paper sets out the Goverment's plans for securing continuing reductions in unemployment and for sustaining jobs growth. It calls on employers, individuals and trade unions to play their part, in particular to equip longer-term unemployed people for the jobs which the economy is generating. We believe that the soundness of the approach set out in the White Paper is widely recognised.

  Training Programme (Allowances)
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to meet the general secretary of the Trades Union Congress to discuss the training allowance payable to trainees on the new unified training programme; and if he will make a statement.
  433
  Mr. Nicholls
  No. As announced in the recent White Paper "Training for Employment", the training allowances to he paid to trainees on the new employment training programme will be those unanimously recommended by the Manpower Services Commission, which includes three commissioners nominated by the Trades Union Congress.

  Small Firms Service
  Mr. Janman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many inquiries were handled by the Small Firms Service in 1987; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  During the calendar year 1987, the small firms service in England dealt with 259,638 inquiries.

  Holiday Accommodation
  Mr. Butterfill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is being done to ensure that self-catering holiday accommodation is maintained at a high standard.

  Mr. Lee
  The English Tourist Board offered a total of nearly £1 million in the 1986–87 financial year towards the costs of developing and upgrading self-catering accommodation. At the beginning of 1988, the board introduced the holiday homes approval scheme. Accommodation approved under this voluntary scheme will have met minimum standards of cleanliness and quality.

  Contracts (Small Firms)
  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many representations he has received, following the publication of "Tendering for Government Contracts," from small firms, and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk, North-West (Mr. Bellingham) on Tuesday 2 February 1988,Official Report, column 558.

  Vacancies (South-West)
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the number of job vacancies registered at jobcentres in the south-west.

  Mr. Lee
  On 5 February 1988, the number of unfilled vacancies, excluding vacancies on the community programme, at jobcentres in the south-west region was 16,758. This represents an increase of 8·7 per cent. since February 1987.

  Catering Industry
  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what he is doing to promote the image of the catering industry among tourists.

  Mr. Lee
  We are assisting the industry to maintain and improve standards of professionalism and service through the tourism training initiative, the work of the Manpower Services Commission and the work of the statutory training and tourist bodies.

  Agriculture Industry
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what additional funding was made available for the Health and Safety Executive's recent campaign to reduce the number of accidents in the agriculture industry.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The costs of this campaign were met from within the overall provision made to the Health and Safety Commission and Executive for 1987–88, which was increased by £1 million during the year.

  American Visitors
  Mr. Sackville
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many American visitors came to Britain in 1987; and how much they spent.

  Mr. Lee
  The information requested is not yet available for the whole of 1987. However, in the 12 months to September 1987, residents of the United States of America made 2,705,000 visits to the United Kingdom and spent £1,431 million. Comparable figures for 1986 are 2,342,000 and £1,253 million for visits and spending respectively.

  Trade Unions (Postal Ballots)
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received concerning the proposals, embodied in the Employment Bill, to compel trade unions to hold the elections of their principal executive officers by secret postal ballot: and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  In addition to comments on the proposal contained in chapter 5 of the Green Paper "Trade Unions and Their Members", my Department continues to receive letters and requests for meetings about the Employment Bill provision to require fully postal voting for the election of all general secretaries, presidents and members of union principal executive committees.

  Restart Programme
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many long-term unemployed have been offered help to date under the restart programme.

  Mr. Lee
  Since 1 July 1986, some 3·2 million interviews have taken place under the restart programme, of which just under 90 per cent. have resulted in an offer of positive help being made.

  Nuclear Installations Inspectors
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to increase the numbers of Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectors.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The staffing of the nuclear installations inspectorate is a matter for the Health and Safety Commission and Executive. Their current plans provide for a total of 121 nuclear installations inspectors in 1988–89. A decision has yet to be taken on further increases.

  Industrial Tourism
  Mr. Beaumont-Dark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what he is doing to stimulate industrial tourism.
  435
  Mr. Lee
  I shall continue to take every opportunity to promote the potential benefits to be gained by companies exploiting their potential as tourist attractions. The CBI is demonstrating support by organising a conference on this subject on 15 September this year at which I shall be speaking. In addition, the English tourist board is to work with the CBI to produce a booklet designed to provide encouragement, advice and information to companies considering entering this field.

  Accidents at Work
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report (a) the number of people killed and (b) the number of people injured in accidents at work (i) in Scotland and (ii) in the United Kingdom, in each year since 1978.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The available information for accidents reported to Her Majesty's Factory and Agricultural Inspectorates and to the local authorities in Scotland and Great Britain as a whole is as follows.

  Nunbers of reported occupational injuries to employees in Scotland

  Year

  1Death

  2Major injury

  3Abscence from work of over three days

  19786

  59

  —

  25,999

  19796

  72

  —

  24,157

  19806

  49

  —

  21,732

  1981

  57

  1,209

  38,080

  1982

  57

  1,228

  34,181

  1983

  55

  1,160

  —

  1984

  47

  1,154

  —

  1985

  37

  1,159

  —

  1986–87 (p)4

  39

  51,793

  13,550

  Numbers of reported occupational injuries to employees in Great Britain

  19787

  433

  —

  269,123

  19797

  433

  —

  250,465

  19807

  411

  —

  210.290

  1981

  355

  11,079

  359,251

  1982

  368

  11,084

  327,806

  1983

  366

  11,270

  —

  1984

  361

  11,853

  —

  1985

  321

  12,112

  —

  1986–87 (p)4

  314

  518,567

  141,225

  —not available.

  p provisional.

  1 Includes fatal injuries to members of the public arising from work activity, only for those fatal injuries reported to Local Authorities in 1981–1985.

  2 As defined in the Notification of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations, 1980. (NADOR).

  3 For 1981–82, injuries resulting in claims for industrial injury benefit. From 1983 to 1985 figures are not available as Industrial Injury Benefit ceased in 1983.

  From April 1986 injuries reported under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985 (RIDDOR).

  These figures are not comparable with previous figures.

  4 Year commencing 1 April 1986 when RIDDOR came into force.

  5 The definition of major injury for 1986–87 is given in the RIDDO Regulations and is wider that that specified under NADOR.

  6 For Scotland, injuries in 1978–80 are those reported to Factory Inspectorate only.

  7 For Great Britain, injuries reported in 1978–80 are those to Factory and Agricultural Inspectorate only.

  Figures for Northern Ireland are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Industrial Diseases
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report the number of people who have died from industrial diseases in (a) Scotland and (b) the United Kingdom in each year since 1978.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The available statistics are as shown. The numbers have been obtained by combining figures for death benefit awards under the industrial injuries and pneumoconiosis, byssinosis and miscellaneous diseases benefit schemes with figures of certifications that death was due to pneumoconiosis made under the workers' compensation scheme.

  Deaths in the United Kingdom which can be attributed to recognised industrial diseases

  Year

  Number

  1978

  888

  1979

  931

  1980

  920

  1981

  905

  1982

  897

  1983

  913

  1984

  806

  1985

  1,033

  1986

  930

  I regret that separate figures for Scotland are not available.

  Lost Working Days
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report the number of working days lost in (a) Scotland and (b) the United Kingdom as a result of (i) accidents and illness at work and (ii) strike action in each year since 1978.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Table 1 shows the available information for the estimated number of days of certified incapacity resulting from compensated industrial accidents and prescribed diseases in Scotland and in Great Britain. This information is available only up to April 1983 when industrial injury benefit was effectively abolished.

  Table 1

  Year (June to May)

  Number of Days (millions)

  Scotland

  Great Britain

  1977–78

  1·8

  15·6

  1978–79

  1·7

  15·5

  1979–80

  1·5

  13·0

  1980–81

  1·3

  10·9

  1981–82

  1·2

  10·8

  11982–83

  1·0

  9·5

  1 Year ending 31 March 1983

  Table 2 shows the number of working days lost due to industrial disputes in Scotland and Great Britain.

  Table 2

  Number of Days (thousands)

  Year

  Scotland

  Great Britain

  1978

  886

  9,141

  1979

  3,268

  28,744

  1980

  1,447

  11,915

  1981

  599

  4,197

  1982

  634

  5,216

  437

  Number of Days (thousands)

  Year

  Scotland

  Great Britain

  1983

  308

  3,675

  1984

  2,333

  27,083

  1985

  681

  6,362

  1986

  312

  1,890

  Notes:

  1 The statistics relate to stoppages of work due to industrial disputes connected with terms and conditions of employment. Stoppages involving fewer than ten workers or lasting less than one day are excluded unless the total number of working days lost in the dispute is greater than 100.

  2 The information is regularly published in the Department of Employment Gazette.

  Figures for Northern Ireland are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Small Businesses (Health and Safety)
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to introduce health and safety advice centres to assist knowledge of and resource capacity to tackle health and safety at work problems among small businesses; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I have no such plans. Area offices of the Health and Safety Executive and local authorities with responsibilities for health and safety enforcement already offer help and advice to small businesses throughout the country.

  Consultancy Contracts
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total amount spent by his Department in 1987 on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases.

  Mr. Lee
  Payments made by the Department of Employment Group, excluding the Manpower Services Commission, in 1987 on management and computer consultancy amounted to £904,000.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total amount spent by the Manpower Services Commission in 1987 on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases.

  Mr. Lee
  The Manpower Services Commission spent a total of £1·6 million during the calendar year 1987 on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases.

  Health and Safety Executive (Dundee)
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on his Department's decision to close the Health and Safety Executive office in Dundee as from 1 April.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Health and Safety Commission and Executive are responsible for the deployment of their staff. Their decision to close the Dundee office was taken because it no longer presents a viable base for the efficient organisation of inspection. The planned redeployment of staff will not reduce the present service in Dundee or the rest of HSE's Scotland east area.

  Tourism (China)
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many British tourists have visited China in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Lee
  Estimates of the number of visits to China by United Kingdom residents in the five years 1982 to 1986 are as follows.

  Visits

  1982

  5,200

  1983

  8,900

  1984

  10,400

  1985

  18,500

  1986

  19,300

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Maghaberry Prison
  Mr. A. Cecil Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give a detailed breakdown of operating costs for Maghaberry prison for the financial year 1986–87.

  Mr. Stanley
  The information requested is as follows:

  £

  Security and control

  3,246,405

  Inmate care

  715,042

  Inmate occupation

  231,155

  Accommodation services (this includes supplies and services)

  1,488,711

  Other costs (this includes administration, staff amenities and training)

  1,341,745

  Total

  7,023,058

  British Soldiers (Murders)
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will call for a report from the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary as to how many persons identified from pictures of the attack on two members of her Majesty's forces on Saturday 19 March have served prison sentences; and for what offences.

  Mr. Stanley
  No. The Chief Constable is currently carrying out a full and thorough investigation into these barbaric murders. It would not be appropriate for me to comment at this stage of the inquiries.

  Terrorist Killings
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the British subjects murdered by terrorists when they were(a) living in and (b) visiting the Irish Republic since 1 January 1969, and in how many of those cases he has information on (i) whether persons were charged and brought before the courts in the Irish Republic and (ii) how many of those cases resulted in a guilty verdict and prison sentence.

  Mr. Stanley
  [holding answer 21 March 1988]: This information in respect of British subjects normally resident in Northern Ireland is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. This information in respect of other British subjects is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary.
  439
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information he has as to on how many occasions during the last 15 years, when persons were murdered by terrorists in Northern Ireland and the killers were known to have left the scene of the murder and crossed the land frontier into the Irish Republic, an assistant commissioner of the Garda was put in charge of inquiries made in the Irish Republic as to the identity of the murderers.

  Mr. Stanley
  [holding answer 21 March 1988]: I understand that in all murders with a cross-border dimension the Garda carry out their own investigations. I have no information regarding the rank of the Garda officer in charge of each investigation.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list by name, date and place the persons killed by terrorists since 1969 where the victims were in Northern Ireland and the killers were in the Irish Republic when the incident leading to each death took place; whether in each case any persons were(a) charged, (b) brought before the courts, (c) sentenced to a term of imprisonment and (d) acquitted or otherwise released; and if he will also indicate whether the method used to commit the crime was shooting, remote-controlled explosion, radio-detonated bomb, or other method.

  Mr. Stanley
  [holding answer 21 March 1988]: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  However, since the beginning of 1987, the only person killed in Northern Ireland by a terrorist operating in the Republic of Ireland was lance Corporal Thomas Hewitt who was murdered by the Provisional IRA on 19 July whilst on patrol in Belleek, Co Fermanagh. The gunman carried out the murder from a firing point within the Republic of Ireland. On 31 July 1987 Michael Joseph Heron was charged in the Republic of Ireland with possession of a firearm with intent in relation to this murder. He was subsequently convicted at Dublin special criminal court in February 1988 and sentenced to three years' imprisonment.

  Lord Justice Gibson
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information he has as to the rank of the Garda officer who was appointed to take charge of inquiries into the murder of Lord Justice Gibson.

  Mr. Stanley
  [holding answer 21 March 1988]: None.

SOCIAL SERVICES

  Mental Hospitals (Staff)
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the proportion of qualified to unqualified staff in mental hospitals at present and in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Newton
  Information about staff employed in mental hospitals, other than nursing staff, is not collected centrally. The information requested for nursing staff employed at September 1981 to September 1986 is shown in the table. Comparable information is not available prior to 1981.
  440

  Nursing and midwifery staff in mentall illness area1 of work England at 30 September

  Whole-time equivalents2

  Year

  Total

  Qualified staff

  Unqualified staff3

  Ratio of qualified to unqualified staff4

  1981

  54,480

  29,200

  25,270

  1·16:1

  1982

  56,560

  30,500

  26,060

  1·17:1

  1983

  57,160

  31,230

  25,940

  1·20:1

  1984

  57,690

  32,190

  25,500

  1·26:1

  1985

  58,470

  33,140

  25,330

  1·31:1

  1986

  59,480

  33,760

  25,720

  1·31:1

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

  1 Includes staff who work in psychiatric wards of non-psychiatric hospitals.

  2 Figures have been independently rounded to the nearest ten (10) whole time equivalents.

  3 Including learners.

  4 Ratios calculated on unrounded figures.

  Health Services (Staff)
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any information as to the total number of managerial and administrative staff employed in patient care in the public and private health services in the United States of America; and what is the total number of administrative and clerical staff employed in patient care in the United Kingdom Health Service.

  Mr. Newton
  I regret that information on the United States of America is not available.

  The administrative and clerical staff employed in patient care, in England, are shown in the table. (30 September 1986 is latest available to this level of detail). Information for other parts of the United Kingdom are a matter for the respective Secretaries of State.

  Clinically related administrative and clerical staff1 in England at 30 September 1986—Whole time equivalents2— 35,900

  Source: DHSS annual census of non NHS medical manpower.

  1Includes staff employed in the following areas of work : Medical Records, Voluntary Help, Medical Secretaries, Patient Services, Clinical Research Support, Health Education, Ward Clerks, Blood Transfusion Services, Mass Radiography, Ambulance Support, Family Planning, Mental Handicap and Mental Illness Care, Professions Allied to Medicine (PAMs) support and Occupational Health.

  2Figure is rounded to nearest one hundred (100) whole time equivalents.

  Child Benefit
  Mr. Haynes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if any decision has yet been taken about the future uprating of child benefit; and if he will make a statement.

  Dr. Reid
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if any decision has yet been taken about the future uprating of child benefit; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  The level of child benefit is reviewed each year as part of the annual review of benefits.

  Severely Disabled People
  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services by what criteria applications for assistance from the special fund to help the severely disabled are to be judged; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  I hope to make an announcement shortly.

  Griffiths Report
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what consideration he is giving to implementing the recommendations made in the Griffiths report; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  We are considering Sir Roy Griffiths' recommendations, taking account of the report of the committee chaired by Lady Wagner on residential care, and of reactions to both reports. The Government will bring forward their own proposals in due course.

  Retirement Pensions
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many married women are in receipt of category B retirement pensions; and what is the average weekly amount.

  Mr. Scott
  Some 1·9 million married women were receiving category B retirement pension in Great Britain

  Region

  Year

  Total

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Northern

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  69

  69

  Yorkshire

  —

  —

  130

  —

  —

  —

  492

  —

  622

  Trent

  79

  73

  106

  —

  42

  429

  —

  133

  862

  East Anglian

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  120

  —

  —

  120

  North West Thames

  —

  —

  18

  20

  85

  67

  134

  713

  1,037

  North East Thames

  —

  —

  —

  —

  154

  —

  —

  41

  195

  South East Thames

  —

  —

  —

  48

  —

  —

  —

  —

  48

  South West Thames

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  216

  —

  —

  216

  Wessex

  —

  —

  —

  —

  77

  80

  25

  —

  182

  Oxford

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  30

  24

  —

  54

  South Western

  —

  —

  —

  —

  133

  —

  259

  24

  416

  West Midlands

  84

  —

  —

  —

  173

  340

  301

  —

  898

  Mersey

  —

  34

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  34

  Total

  4,753

  Mentally-ill People
  Mr. Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients with a primary diagnosis of schizophrenia psychosis have been discharged from mental hospitals in each health region in England and Wales in each of the last 10 years.

  Discharges of persons from NHS mental illness hospitals and units in England with a primary diagnosis of Schizophrenic psychoses, 1980–86.

  Region

  Numbers

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  England

  25,240

  25,992

  24,594

  25,336

  25,934

  26,225

  26,077

  Northern

  1,844

  1,802

  1,750

  1,808

  1,858

  1,799

  1,767

  Yorkshire

  2,214

  2,258

  2,005

  2,216

  2,294

  2,199

  2,282

  Trent

  2,191

  2,253

  2,183

  2,202

  2,156

  2,112

  2,064

  East Anglia

  648

  846

  771

  753

  772

  765

  791

  North West Thames

  2,287

  2,490

  2,281

  2,414

  2,373

  2,397

  2,469

  North East Thames

  2,378

  2,588

  2,472

  2,526

  2,562

  2,596

  2,663

  South East Thames

  1,949

  2,054

  1,842

  1,977

  1,983

  2,052

  1,927

  South West Thames

  1,833

  1,714

  1,651

  1,649

  1,713

  1,685

  1,615

  Wessex

  1,418

  1,499

  1,437

  1,393

  1,452

  1,443

  1,551

  Oxford

  655

  643

  643

  670

  707

  781

  845

  South Western

  1,324

  1,288

  1,234

  1,310

  1,280

  1,304

  1,264

  West Midlands

  2,664

  2,514

  2,520

  2,534

  2,485

  2,458

  2,478

  Mersey

  1,217

  1,279

  1,266

  1,325

  1,377

  1,488

  1,412

  442
  at 30 September 1987. 98 per cent. were entitled to the full basic pension of £23–75; about one half received more than a basic pension by way of earnings-related pension or other increases.

  Mental Hospitals
  Mr. Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many mental hospital beds have been closed in each health region in England and Wales in each of the last 10 years.

  Mrs. Currie
  The table shows the number of beds provided by mental handicap and mental illness hospitals in England that were approved for closure between 1979 and December 1986 (the latest date for which figures are available) by region and year. Information on hospitals in Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Mrs. Currie
  The table shows the numbers of discharges from mental illness hospitals and units in England for the years 1980–86. Data for earlier years could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. It should be noted that some patients are admitted for a hospital stay more than once during the year. The information for Wales is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.
  443

  Region

  Numbers

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  North Western

  2,424

  2,564

  2,348

  2,331

  2,683

  2,875

  2,621

  Special Health Authority

  194

  200

  191

  228

  239

  271

  328

  Government Data Network
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if Electronic Data Service has advised his Department on any matters concerning the Government data network.

  Mr. Portillo
  Electronic Data Systems Ltd (EDS) was a member of one of the consortia originally interested in the Government data network project. During 1986 they had discussions with the DHSS and other Government Departments. It withdrew itself from consideration in January 1987.

  Community Psychiatric Nurses
  Mr. Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many community psychiatric nurses there were in each health region in England and Wales in 1979; how many there are at present; and how many he estimates there will be in 1991.

  Mr. Newton
  Information in the exact form requested is not collected centrally. The number of nursing staff employed in the community psychiatric service in each region in England at September 1981 and September 1986 is shown in the table. Comparable information is not available for 1979.

  It is for indiviual health authorities to plan the future number of community psychiatic nursing staff they require in the light of their needs and the resources which can be devoted to meet those needs.

  The information for Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  NHS Community Psychiatric Nursing Staff (Mental Illness) at 30

  September: whole time equivalents: England

  Region

  1981

  1986

  Percentage change 1981–86

  Northern

  60

  158

  163

  Yorkshire

  68

  199

  194

  Trent

  100

  260

  160

  East Anglian

  50

  106

  112

  NW Thames

  69

  168

  143

  NE Thames

  97

  137

  41

  SE Thames

  36

  208

  478

  SW Thames

  134

  209

  56

  Wessex

  83

  176

  112

  Oxford

  71

  122

  72

  South Western

  95

  147

  55

  West Midlands

  53

  255

  384

  Mersey

  90

  156

  73

  North Western

  78

  228

  194

  London Post Graduate SHA

  1

  2

  100

  England

  1,083

  2,532

  134

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

  Note: All figures independently rounded to the nearest whole-time equivalent.

  Social Security Appeals
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received on the case for guidance and direction to be given to preserve a separation of function and interest between social security appeal tribunals and departmental officers presenting cases before them in the last three years.

  Mr. Portillo
  In 1986 a central management support team examined the procedures for handling appeals in DHSS offices. A copy of the final report has been placed in the Library. The report included a recommendation that adjudication officers needed to be made more aware of the exact function of the presenting officer at an appeal and that the recommendation should be brought to the attention of the training branches responsible for appeals courses. This recommendation has already been implemented.

  Moreover the adjudication officers' guide, Vol. 1 paras. 05289 et seq. also gives guidance as to the conduct of the adjudication officer when presenting an appeal. The adjudication officers' guide will be published on 30 March and copies will be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services on how many occasions in the last three years(a) internal disciplinary action or (b) prosecutions have been taken relating to cases where social security appeals have been compromised by demonstrated collusion between departmental officers presenting cases and the appeal tribunals.

  Mr. Portillo
  I am not aware of any such incidents, but if the hon. Member has a specific case in mind I will have the matter investigated.

  Mental Patients
  Mr. Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many new mental hospital beds have been opened in each health authority in England and Wales in each of the last 10 years.

  Mrs. Currie
  I regret that this information is not collected centrally.

  Alcohol and Art (Exhibition)
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if his Department has considered an application for an exhibition relating to alcohol and art to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

  Mrs. Currie
  I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Services Committee arrangements have been made with the authorities of the House for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from 6 to 10 June.

  Circulars
  Mr. Michael Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many circulars have been issued by the Health Service Management Board in the last 12 months; and on what topics.

  Mrs. Currie
  The Department issued 63 health circulars and health notices on issues concerning hospital and community health services to health authorities in the period from 1 March 1987 to 1 March 1988. Other guidance and information was issued by letter and through bulletins. Following is a list of the circulars and notices:

  Health Circulars Sent to Health Authorities

  HC(87)7

  Resource Assumptions and Planning Guidelines

  HC(87)8

  Services for drug misusers — curbing the spread of AIDS and HIV infection

  HC(87)9

  Finance—NHS Internal Audit

  HC(87)10

  Drug Misuse and AIDS

  HC(87)11

  Male Midwives

  HC(87)12

  Mental Health Act 1983

  HC(87)13

  Charging for the supply of information about patients engaged in legal proceedings

  HC(87)14

  Data Protection Act 1984: Modified Access to Personal Health Information

  HC(87)15

  Data Protection Act 1984: Social Work Orders: Individuals' Right of Access

  HC(87)16

  Decisions of the Professional Conduct Committee of the GMC

  HC(87)17

  Revised cost allowance for Health Buildings

  HC(87)18

  Fluoridation of Water Supplies

  HC(87)19

  Misuse of Drugs Act 1971

  HC(87)21

  Pay and Conditions of Service: General Managers' Pay Rates

  HC(87)22

  Pay and Conditions of Service: Health Authority Senior Managers: arrangements for remuneration and conditions of service

  HC(87)23

  Primary Health Care Services

  HC(87)24

  Fire Precautions in NHS Premises

  HC(87)25

  Hospital Medical Staffing: Achieving a Balance

  HC(87)26

  Data Protection Act 1984: Modified Access to Personal Health Information

  HC(87)28

  Revised rates of pay for part time hospital chaplains

  HC(87)29

  Community Nursing Services and Primary Health Care Teams

  HC(87)30

  Hospital Laundry arrangements for used and infected linen

  HC(87)32

  Revised salaries for staff in ad hoc classes

  HC(87)33

  Demand for Elective Admission: Statistical Returns KHO6, KHO7, KHO7A

  HC(87)34

  Taxation of Staff Benefits and Allowances

  HC(87)35

  Voluntary Hospital Fire Brigade duties: payment of allowances

  HC(87)37

  Resource Distribution for 1988–89

  HC(88)1

  Cervical Cancer Screening

  HC(88)2

  Revises rates of pay for Psychological Technicians

  HC(88)3

  Radio frequency spectrum de-regulation

  HC(88)4

  NHS Treatment of overseas visitors

  HC(88)5

  Health Building Procedures: Works Consultants Commission: Revision to Fee Competition

  HC(88)6

  Arrangements for Locally Organised and Clinical Research in the NHS

  HC(88)7

  EEC Thresholds for Public Works Contracts

  HC(88)8

  NHS Tribunal

  HC(88)9

  Protection of Children: Disclosure of criminal back-ground of those with access to children

  HC(88)10

  Korner statistical returns

  HC(88)11

  Determination of Private Patients Charges

  Health Notices sent to Health Authorities

  HC(88)12

  Taxation of Staff Benefits and Allowances

  HN(87)6

  Social Security Payments for Hospital In-Patients

  HN(87)7

  Road Traffic Act Charges

  HN(87)8

  Capital Schemes shared with UGC-universities

  446

  Health Circulars Sent to Health Authorities

  HN(87)9

  Review of Artificial Limb and Appliance Centre

  HN(87)12

  Social Fund—Maternity Payment Integrated Leaflet

  HN(87)13

  NHS charges to overseas visitors

  HN(87)14

  Health Building Procedures: Terms and Conditions of Service of Works Consultants

  HN(87)15

  Handling Charges for Blood Derivates to Non NHS Hospitals

  HN(87)16

  Legionnaires' Disease: Engineering Guidance Note 4

  HN(87)17

  Legionnaires' Disease; Engineering Guidance Note 5

  HN(87)18

  Health Building Procedures

  HN(87)19

  Changes to the list of drugs available under the NHS

  HN(87)20

  Parliamentary and Health Services Commissioners Act 1987

  HN(87)21

  Changes in the Secretary of State's List for Dental Prescribing

  HN(87)22

  Decontamination of Health Care Equipment

  HN(87)23

  Circularised Communications Between the DHSS and Health Authorities

  HN(87)25

  Building Guidelines

  HN(87)26

  Promoting Better Health: White Paper on Primary Health Care

  HN(88)1

  Graduated Compression Hosiery

  HN(88)2

  Social Fund—Maternity Benefits

  HN(88)3

  Product Liability

  HN(88)4

  Charges for Drugs, oxygen concentrators and wigs and fabric supports

  Note: These lists exclude Circulars and Notices sent by the Department to Family Practitioner Committees and Local Authorities.

  Contaminated Foodstuffs (Imports)
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what further steps he intends to take to prevent the import of contaminated foodstuffs.

  Mrs. Currie
  No further steps are required. The powers available under the Imported Food Regulations 1984 relating to the importation of food for human consumption which is unfit, unsound or unwholesome together with those in the Food Act 1984 give the responsible authorities adequate control.

  Clinical Physicists
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the reasons why clinical physicists are not included in the pay review body structure.

  Mr. Newton
  The claims of hospital physicists to be included in the pay review body structure were fully considered by Ministers in 1984 and 1985. It was decided that their pay should remain a matter for the Whitley council. That position is unchanged.

  Consultancy Contracts
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total amount spent by his Department in 1987 on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases.

  Mr. Moore
  £19·425 million.

  Pharmaceuticals (Adverse Reactions)
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to the reply to the right hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South,Official Report, 26 February, column 364, if he will name the two pharmaceutical

  447
  companies being investigated for failing to report serious adverse reactions to their products; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  The investigations referred to in my reply of 26 February are into allegations of failure to report serious adverse reactions. It is not the policy of the Department to divulge names simply on the basis of allegations since this could cause unjustifiable damage to public confidence in a medicinal product and to the reputation of the licence holder. However in one case allegations naming the company were made publicly and the right hon. Member is already aware that we are investigating these. Inquiries are continuing in both cases.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if a report is available on achievements under the United Nations world programme of action concerning disabled persons.

  Mr. Scott
  The Secretary-General of the United Nations has produced two reports: one on the implementation of the world programme of action concerning disabled persons and the United Nations decade of disabled persons (A/45/551) and another report on the evaluation of the implementation of the world programme of action concerning disabled persons during the first half of the United Nations decade of disabled persons (A/42/561). Copies of both of these reports have been deposited in the Library.

  Access Committee for England
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the work of the Access Committee for England and its plans for its next period of office.

  Mr. Scott
  The Access Committee for England has performed much valuable work to promote the interests of disabled people. I expect this to continue in the light of the terms of reference being prepared by the Centre on Environment for the Handicapped, the body asked by the Government to run the Access Committee for England, and the prospective appointment of a new access director.

  Income Support
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has made an estimate of the number of people who will be on income support in(a) Greenock, (b) Port Glasgow, (c) Strathclyde region and (d) Scotland as a whole in April.

  Mr. Portillo
  I regret that no reliable estimates are available.

  Family Credit
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has made an estimate of the number of people who will be eligible for family credit in(a) Greenock, (b) Port Glasgow, (c) Strathclyde region and (d) Scotland as a whole in April.

  Mr. Portillo
  No. I regret that estimates are possible only on a national basis. However, if the proportion of the 448
  Great Britain total were to remain the same as in family income supplement, around 54,000 families in Scotland could be expected to receive family credit.

  Housing Benefit
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has made an estimate of the number of people who will lose their entitlement to housing benefit in(a) Greenock, (b) Port Glasgow, (c) Strathclyde region and (d) Scotland as a whole from 11 April.

  Mr. Portillo
  I regret that information is not available in the form requested. The estimates made relate to Great Britain as a whole.

  Medical Laboratory Scientific Officers
  Mr. John
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will include medical laboratory scientific officers in the remit of the special bodies considering other salaries within the National Health Service.

  Mr. Newton
  The salaries of medical laboratory scientific officers are a matter for negotiation in the professional and technical staffs B Whitley council.

  Mr. John
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many principal medical laboratory scientific officers there are in England and Wales in the National Health Service; and whether he has any plans to alter that number.

  Mr. Newton
  The number of principal medical laboratory scientific officers in post in England on 30 September 1986 was 90 (whole-time equivalents). The number is dependent upon the requirements of individual health authorities; grading is determined according to criteria laid down in the agreements of the professional and technical staffs B Whitley council. Figures for Wales are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Mr. John
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the grades of medical laboratory scientific officers; what is the maximum salary for each grade; and after what length of service such maximum is achieved.

  Mr. Newton
  The information in respect of qualified medical laboratory scientific officer grades is as follows:

  Grade

  Salary maximum £

  Annual incremental points

  Medical laboratory scientific officer

  9,435

  10

  Senior medical laboratory scientific officer

  11,577

  10

  Chief medical laboratory scientific officer

  12,663

  6

  Senior chief medical laboratory scientific officer

  14,963

  6

  Principal medical laboratory scientific officer

  17,201

  2

  Note: The salary scale point to which an officer may be appointed or promoted is determined by Whitley council agreement.

  Mr. John
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the rate of turnover of medical laboratory scientific officers in the National Health Service for each of the last three years.
  449
  Mr. Newton
  This information is not available centrally. The number of qualified medical laboratory scientific officers in post in England for each of the last three years for which figures are available is as follows:

  NHS Medical Laboratory Scientific Officers (at 30 September each year)

  Year

  Staff in Post Whole Time Equivalents (England) Staff

  1984

  10,650

  1985

  10,930

  1986

  11,060

  Tooth Decay
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any proposals for making parents more aware of methods of fighting tooth decay in children; and if he will make fluoride tablets available free of charge on prescription for children where supplies are not fluoridated.

  Mrs. Currie
  The White Paper on primary care "Promoting Better Health" indicated that the Government proposed to launch further incentives to promote dental awareness and regular attendance at the dentist. Discussions are taking place with the dental profession and the Health Education Authority on the implementation of this proposal. Fluoride tablets are available on prescription free of charge to children under the age of 16.

  Skoal Bandits
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if his Department was consulted before the commencement of the manufacture of Skoal Bandits in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  The Department was consulted.

  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to the answer of 26 February,Official Report, column 362, for what reason he proposes to use section 11 rather than section 13 of the Consumer Protection Act to ban Skoal Bandits; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  The Government are proposing to ban the supply of certain oral tobacco products. Section 13 would not be appropriate as it allows only for action to be taken against named individuals or companies. Section 11 allows action to be taken against products.

  Low-income Families
  Mr. Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when he intends to publish the low-income families tables derived from the family expenditure survey for 1985.

  Mr. Portillo
  Following publication of the last edition in 1986, a technical review of the tables was announced and carried out by a team of the Department's officials with representation from the Central Statistical Office. I have now considered the report of the review and have placed copies in the Library. Copies are also available from the Department.
  450
  The report identifies a number of methodological weaknesses in the current tables, particularly in the use of the supplementary benefit scale rates as the yardstick for the measurement of low income. One problem is that there are two scale rates, so that two families each shown as having income at the scale rate level may have significantly different incomes. A second problem is that any increase in the value of the scale rate tends to increase the numbers appearing to be on "low income". The tables give no indication of whether those in the lower income groups were becoming better or worse off in real terms.

  In view of these and other weaknesses, and the imminent end of the supplementary benefit scheme itself, the report recommends the introduction of a number of new analyses based on income measures which would be broadly independent of the social security rules and rates, and which could therefore continue unaffected by the forthcoming benefit changes. The report includes detailed proposals for these new tables, which would include data on changes in real living standards and new analyses of the contribution of benefits to income in the lower ranges. Overall, the proposed new tables — which would be entitled "Households below average income: a statistical analysis" — would be significantly more extensive than the current series.

  The next edition of tables is clue to cover the years 1981, 1983 and 1985, and, to ensure a proper overlap between the existing and the new series, the report recommends that data on both bases should be published for all three years. In addition, to facilitate analysis of longer-term trends, the report proposes that a later edition should include data for a much earlier year—probably 1971.

  I welcome the report's proposals which would put the series on a more robust footing and extend the range of data published on a regular basis. Accordingly, I intend to publish within the next few weeks a final edition of the previous tables, covering 1981, 1983 and 1985, together with the first edition of the new tables for the same years.

  Mr. Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a table showing the numbers of lower paid families, with and without children, whose marginal tax rates including benefit withdrawal will be(a) 90 to 100 per cent., (b) 80 to 90 per cent., (c) 70 to 80 per cent., (d) 60 to 70 per cent., (e) 50 to 60 per cent. and (f) 40 to 50 per cent. after the implementation of the Social Security Act 1986 and taking into account the Budget tax changes for 1988–89.

  Mr. Scott
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Kensington (Sir B. Rhys Williams) on 25 March 1988 at column 243–44.

  Yorkshire Regional Health Authority
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has received any proposals from Yorkshire regional health authority for the merger of existing district health authorities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  We have not received any such merger proposals from Yorkshire regional health authority. Proposals for the merger of Leeds Eastern and Leeds Western; Bradford and Airedale; and East Yorkshire and Hull health authorities were discussed by the authority at its meeting on 28 January 1988, but were rejected.

  Leeds Western Health Authority
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to be in a position to announce the appointment of a new chairman for Leeds western health authority; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  In due course. The current chairman's resignation does not take effect until 31 August 1988.

  Abortion
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the percentage of total abortions carried out on women normally resident outside the United Kingdom and where pregnancy was of 18 weeks or more gestation carried out by the 11 consultant gynaecologists in the private sector who undertook the largest number of such operations in each year since 1968.

  Mr. Newton
  No, for reasons of maintaining confidentiality.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will list by place of residence for each year since 1968 the number of women usually resident outside the United Kingdom where pregnancy was of 18 weeks or more gestation who had an abortion in a National Health Service hospital, and the grounds under which the operations were carried out;

  (2) if he will list by place of residence for each year since 1968 the number of women usually resident outside the United Kingdom where pregnancy was of 18 weeks or more gestation who had an abortion in a non-National Health Service hospital or clinic, and the grounds under which the operations were carried out.

  Mr. Newton
  I regret that the full information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, the table shows readily available data for 1986 which may be of interest to my hon. Friend.

  Notifications of abortions carried out under the Abortion Act 1967. Non-residents of England and Wales by country of usual residence and grounds. Gestation 18 completed weeks and over.

  England and Wales 1986.

  Country of Usual Residence

  Statutory Grounds

  Total

  2 Alone

  3 With or Without 2

  Other1

  British Isles

  445

  418

  26

  1

  Scotland

  123

  106

  17

  —

  Northern Ireland

  72

  70

  2

  —

  Irish Republic

  224

  218

  5

  1

  Channel Islands and Isle of Man

  26

  24

  2

  —

  Other European

  3,101

  3,056

  35

  10

  Belgium,Luxembourg and Netherlands

  54

  54

  —

  —

  France and Monaco

  1,716

  1,692

  21

  3

  German Federal

  Republic and Austria

  101

  100

  1

  —

  Italy and Malta

  342

  335

  3

  4

  Spain and Portugal

  845

  832

  10

  3

  Rest of World

  142

  140

  1

  1

  1 Mentioning principally grounds 4.

  Statutory Grounds;

  1 The continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk to the life
  452
  of the pregnant woman greater than if the pregnancy were terminated,

  2 The continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk of injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman greater than if the pregnancy were terminated,

  3 The continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk or injure to the physical or mental health of any existing child(ren) in the family of the pregnant woman greater than if the pregnancy were terminated,

  4 There is a substantial risk that if the child were born it would suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped, or in emergency, certified by the operating practitioner as immediately necessary—

  5 To save the life of the pregnant woman, or

  6 To prevent grave permanent injury to the physical or

  7 mental health of the pregnant woman.

  Benefits
  Mr. Wall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many people each year serve two periods of waiting days as a result of transferring from statutory sick pay to unemployment benefit;

  (2) if he will estimate the costs of introducing a linking rule between statutory sick pay and unemployment benefit; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  Information is not available of the number of people claiming unemployment benefit within eight weeks of receiving statutory sick pay. However, a rough estimate is that there may be approximately 50,000 a year. Based on this assumption the cost of a linking rule between these benefits would be about £850,000 a year.

  New Hospital, Oldham
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in the light of the current levels of waiting lists, he will take steps to ensure that sufficient funds are made urgently available to Oldham health authority in 1986 to 1989 to ensure that the new hospital will be fully opened in the next financial year.

  Mr. Newton
  Decisions on the allocation of resources at local level is a matter for Oldham health authority in conjunction with the regional health authority.

  Pensions
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services on what date in 1987 the basic pension was increased; and on what date in 1988 the basic pension will be increased.

  Mr. Scott
  Under section 63 of the Social Security Act 1986, the uprating of retirement pension takes place each year in the week beginning with the first Monday in the tax year. In 1987 this was 6 April. In 1988, the first Monday in the tax year is 11 April.

  Northern General Hospital, Sheffield
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services for how long and why admissions were stopped to the Northern general hospital, Sheffield, on the evening of Monday 21 March; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  Responsibility for the management of local health services rests with the district health authority (in this case Sheffield). May I suggest the hon. Member should contact the chairman of that authority for the information he seeks.

  Ritalin
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to the answer of 18 March,Official Report, column 712, whether the drug Ritalin is still available on National Health Service prescription from general practitioners as a treatment for narcolepsy.

  Mr. Newton
  No. Ritalin is no longer licensed under the Medicines Act and has been withdrawn from the market. However, I understand that it is available direct from the manufacturer at the request of a doctor in respect of an individual patient.

  Northern Regional Health Authority
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what were the costs to public funds of the administration of Northern regional health authority and Sunderland district health authority in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Newton
  Tables showing each health authority's expenditure on headquarters administration for the years 1979–80 to 1986–87 (the latest available) are in the Library.

  General Practice Finance Corporation
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement about the future of the General Practice Finance Corporation.

  Mr. Newton
  The Government's plans for the future of the General Practice Finance Corporation were announced in the White Paper "Promoting Better Health" (Cm. 249), published last November. Subject to Parliament's approval for the Health and Medicines Bill the constitution of the corporation will be changed to facilitate maximum use of private sector funds. In the meantime, the existing arrangement for borrowing from public sector funds is continuing.

  To lead the corporation during this important period of change, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Derek Hughes, the current deputy chairman, to fill the chairman vacancy, and Dr. Alistair Riddell to replace Mr. Hughes as deputy chairman.

  We look forward to further discussion with the corporation and representatives of the profession as we carry our proposals forward. The corporation's annual report for 1986–87 is presented to Parliament today.

  Family Practitioner Committees
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has for appointing chairmen and members of family practitioner committees to the vacancies occurring in 1989.

  Mr. Newton
  The term of office of 54 chairmen and of about half the total membership of family practitioner committees ends on 31 March 1989. If hon. Members wish to recommend any individuals as chairmen or as members, I invite them to write to me by 3 May. Reappointments and changes will he announced in due course.

  AIDS and Drug Misuse
  Mr. Forth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when he intends to publish the first report on AIDS and drug misuse by the Advisory Committee on the Misuse of Drugs; and if he will make a statement.
  454
  Mr. Newton
  We have today published the first report on AIDS and drug misuse from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD). The Government welcome the ACMD's advice on a subject which has serious and wide-ranging public health implications. The spread of the AIDS virus through shared injecting equipment adds a new dimension to drug misuse. It presents a grave threat, not only to drug misusers themselves, but to the babies of infected mothers, to the sexual partners of drug misusers and from them to a wider population.

  The report is concerned with measures to prevent the spread of infection. As it makes clear, the prevention of drug misuse is now more important than ever before. It is self-evident that if people do not start using drugs in the first place they do not put themselves at risk of infection through this route. We remain, therefore, determined to prevent the misuse of drugs, both through tough law enforcement measures to reduce the supply of illicit drugs, and through effective education and information to make it less likely that young people will be tempted to try them. Our strategy will continue to be taken forward through the ministerial group on the misuse of drugs.

  But we must recognise that there is a population currently at risk of acquiring the AIDS virus through their injecting drug misuse, and I accept the ACMD's advice that services should be developed in order to make contact with as many of that population as possible. In recent years we have invested in a significant expansion of drug misuse services, and emphasised the need for the community-based response which the report endorses.

  The report makes a number of recommendations on ways in which services might seek to attract drug misusers, to keep them in contact, and to change their behaviour away from practices which might result in their becoming infected, or passing on infection. Services should be prepared as necessary to advise and encourage drug misusers to reduce the health risks associated with their drug misuse to themselves and to others — as an intermediate goal in getting them to stop drug misuse altogether. Some of the recommendations will require detailed consultation with interested agencies, but in the meantime I am making copies of the report available to health and local authorities in England. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales will be taking parallel action for health and local authorities in those countries.

  The ACMD recommends that sterile injecting equipment should be widely available, through an expansion of syringe exchange schemes, and sales through pharmacies. We have considered this recommendation carefully in conjunction with the preliminary findings of an evaluation of 15 "pilot" syringe exchange schemes around the country. While the evaluation points to some promising features of such schemes, we do not consider that we yet have sufficient evidence to recommend an expansion of schemes in England. I accept however that some local agencies in England and Wales have already decided to set up their own exchange schemes, and that more may do so. In order that such schemes should operate as effectively and responsibly as possible, I intend to make available guidance based upon the principles underlying the pilot schemes and drawing on the early lessons of the evaluation. Similar action will be taken in Wales, and further consideration will be given there to the

  455
  place of needle exchange in broader projects of treatment, counselling and rehabilitation with appropriate professional support.

  The report also deal with the treatment of drug misusers in prison, and welcomes the policy statement issued to prison medical officers and others concerned in September 1987. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland have considered the ACMD's recommendation concerning the availability of condoms in prison, but believe that it fails to take account of all the relevant factors, including the effect which a resulting increase in homosexual activities would have in terms of risk of HIV infection and otherwise. They do not intend to make any change in present policy in this respect.

  We endorse the ACMD's view that there will be a continuing need for national and local publicity about the link between AIDS and drug misuse. Last year we launched two parallel campaigns designed to deter young people from starting to use drugs, and to warn of the particular dangers—of which AIDS is the most serious — of injecting drug misuse. We are evaluating those campaigns and will be considering future information needs in the light of the evaluation findings.

  The measures advocated by the report will require that all professionals and other staff in contact with drug misusers are adequately trained to deal with the new demands made upon them. We will be discussing with the relevant training bodies how best to ensure this. In Wales, the Welsh Committee on Drug Misuse will be consulted on the way ahead as regards both training and publicity aspects.

  Finally, we intend to monitor carefully the measures we are taking, to assess their effectiveness.

  Health Authority Staff
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give for each district health authority and special health authority for 1986 the total number of staff expressed as the total number of staff and as whole time equivalents in the following categories(a) medical and dental, (b) nursing and midwifery, (c) professional and technical, (d) administration and clerical, (e) ancillary and (f) total non-medical staff.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 7 December 1987]: The information the hon. Member requested has now been placed in the Library.

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

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 18 March 1988]: There is no current research or evaluation of the specific contribution of qualified nurses with geriatric training to the success of community care initiatives. However research is being undertaken by the centre of policy research and development at the university of North Wales which is looking at "Old Age, Health and Formal
  456
  Domiciliary Support", which includes interviews with community nurses as part of an overall study of the working of care in the community.

  There will be training in meeting the needs of elderly people during both district nurse and health visitor training, as well as the opportunity to attend the English National Board course in nursing elderly people. Elderly people requiring nursing care will be assessed by the trained nurse.

TRANSPORT

  Tourism
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is being done to ensure that consideration is given to tourism before any decisions on motorway and trunk road developments and improvements are made.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bury, South (Mr. Sumberg) on Thursday 26 November at columns 252–53.

  Road Accidents
  Mr. McTaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road accidents in each of the last five years involving heavy goods vehicles and public service vehicles have been caused by the driver suffering a heart attack.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The STATS 19 road accident reporting system does not collect data on the causes of road accidents. The number of road accidents involving heavy goods vehicles and buses and coaches during the past three years are given in the table:

  Accidents involving HG Vs, buses and coaches: 1984–86 Number of accidents

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Heavy goods vehicles

  12,950

  13,073

  13,429

  Bus or coach

  12,647

  12,313

  11,988

  Lorry Drivers (Health Checks)
  Mr. McTaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to introduce mandatory health checks on heavy goods vehicle and public service vehicle drivers over the age of 50 years, especially those in high risk categories.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Proposals have recently been presented for drivers of heavy goods vehicles to have medical checks every five years from the age of 45 and annually from 65. This is in line with the present requirements for drivers of public service vehicles. We are now considering the results of public consultation on this issue.

  Departmental Sponsorship
  Ms. Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for which industries his Department is the general sponsor; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The Department exercises regulatory and other functions towards the civil aviation, shipping, ports, railways, public transport including taxi and hire car, and road haulage industries.

  Rail Services (Overcrowding)
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to which rail lines are currently subject to particular overcrowding.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  I monitor carefully the performance of lines in those sectors for which loading standards have been agreed. The Government have approved record levels of investment on infrastructure and rolling stock to enable the board to relieve congestion and meet these quality standards. In addition, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport announced on 25 March a joint study with LRT and BR to develop a strategy to cater for projected growth in demand for rail services in central London.

  British Rail (Lost Revenue)
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate of the total revenue lost to British Rail per annum as a result of(a) fraud by passengers travelling without paying, (b) the effects of unmanned stations, (c) rolling stock problems and (d) staff shortages.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  The cost-effective and efficient operation of the railway is a matter for the board's commercial judgment in the light of its objectives and financial targets. The board estimates that about £34 million a year is lost through fraudulent travel, which is why the Government are supporting BR's private Bill to provide for the introduction of a system of penalty fares.

  Driving Test Centre, Bristol
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the present service and staffing of his Department's driving test centre in Bristol, in view of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State's statement in a letter to the hon. Member for

  Commercial air transport aircraft involved in airmisses1

  Year

  Definitive risk (A)

  Possible risk (B)

  Total3 (A and B)

  No risk (C)

  Total4 (A, B and C)

  1968

  5

  19

  24

  53

  77

  1969

  4

  31

  35

  57

  92

  1970

  10

  31

  41

  58

  99

  1971

  5

  27

  32

  64

  96

  1972

  10

  22

  32

  57

  89

  1973

  12

  28

  40

  46

  86

  1974

  8

  12

  20

  36

  56

  1975

  3

  20

  23

  53

  76

  1976

  10

  25

  35

  53

  88

  1977

  12

  33

  45

  56

  101

  1978

  6

  34

  40

  66

  106

  1979

  5

  24

  29

  61

  90

  1980

  5

  26

  31

  69

  100

  1981

  3

  18

  21

  74

  95

  1982

  6

  5

  11

  50

  61

  1983

  5

  21

  26

  48

  74

  1984

  0

  14

  14

  60

  74

  1985

  1

  15

  16

  44

  60

  1986

  7

  9

  16

  —

  75

  1987

  2TBD

  2TBD

  2TBD

  2TBD

  2256

  1 An 'airmiss' is said to have occurred when a pilot considers that his aircraft may have been endangered by the proximity of another aircraft.

  2 Assessment for 1987 is not yet complete.

  3 Total risk bearing.

  4 Total commercial transport aircraft in airmisses.

  458
  Taunton on 15 February that the computerised system will he fully operational in March and there should then be a significant improvement in the service to the public.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Driving test bookings in the western traffic area will be fully computerised from 28 March.

  The computer system is working satisfactorily. The associated telephone system is not. This is under urgent review within the Department. In the meantime public access has been limited to 10 am to noon and 2 pm to 4 pm daily.

  Air Misses
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what criteria he used to determine whether an air miss falls into category A, B, or C, and who makes the determination;

  (2) if he will publish in the Official Report showing (a) the total number of air misses involving commercial aircraft, (b) the number of category A air misses, (c) the number of category B air misses and (d) the number of category C air misses for each of the last 20 years.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Air misses are assessed by the joint air miss working group (JAWG) an independent group composed of nominees from aviation bodies JAWG follows International Civil Aviation Organisation guidelines in assessing an air miss as one of:

  A: Definite Risk

  B.: Possible Risk

  C.: No Risk

  The Civil Aviation Authority, which is wholly responsible for aviation safety regulation, publishes United Kingdom air miss statistics covering the last 10 years three times a year together with explanatory notes and copies are placed in the Library. The figures requested for commercial air transport aircraft involved in air misses over the last 20 years are as follows:

  Traffic (Sizewell)
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has had on increased traffic on trunk roads serving the Sizewell area in Suffolk; and what responses he has made.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Representations have been received from local authorities and others calling for early progress on the proposed A12 Farnham and Stratford St. Andrews bypass, and asking that the scheme should be extended to include other nearby villages on the trunk road. We have indicated that we hope to make an announcement about design arrangements for the scheme shortly. Further improvements will be considered for the programme when they can be justified.

  Transport Ministers (Meeting)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last met his counterparts from the other European Community countries; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Channon
  At a formal meeting of European Community Transport Ministers on 14 March, we discussed the width of refrigerated vehicles; road haulage tariffs; procedures for checking recording equipment used in road haulage vehicles, and road haulage drivers' hours and related matters; charging transport infrastructure costs to heavy goods vehicles; access to the market for the carriage of goods by road between member states; and the weights and dimensions of commercial vehicles. I also took the opportunity to press for progress on shipping cabotage.

  Motor Cyclists
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which organisations have made representations supporting his Department's proposals on motor cycle leg protection.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The following organisations, replying to our limited consultation on a specification for leg protectors, supported the proposals:The Medical Commission on Accident Prevention.
  The Automobile Association.
  The Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety.

  Personalised Car Registration Numbers
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will widen the choice of personalised car registration numbers open to the motorist by putting unissued numbers on to the market.

  Mr. Channon
  I would like to be able to offer for sale a choice of the attractive registration numbers not currently in circulation. This would, I think, be a welcome addition to the existing arrangements for the private transfer and sale of numbers. As a first step I am today issuing a public consultation paper which sets out and invites comments on proposals for a scheme for selling numbers. In the light of the responses to it we shall decide whether, and if so how, to proceed with such a scheme, for which legislation would he required. I am placing copies of the consultation paper in the Library of the House.

  A46/A17 Newark Relief Road
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will be able to announce the result of the tender for the A46/A17 Newark relief road.

  Mr. Channon
  I am pleased to announce that a contract has been awarded to A. F. Budge (Contractors) Ltd. of Retford for £31·5 million. This represents a saving of £3·5 million (10 per cent.) over the original tenders received in September 1987.

  Work is planned to start on 18 April and take about two and a half years.

  Transport-related Incidents
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many injuries have occurred in transport-related incidents in the United Kingdom in the last year.

  Mrs. Currie
  I have been asked to reply.

  The number of injuries occurring in transport-related incidents is not collected centrally. However, there were 6,094 deaths registered in the United Kingdom in 1986 with an underlying cause of death assigned to transport accidents (International Classification of Diseases 9th revision E800-E848).

  Portsmouth City Transport
  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many different tenders have been made available to him in his consideration of applications for the sale of Portsmouth City Transport.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  Details of tenders from nine bidders in two rounds of bidding were made available.

  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the highest tender for Portsmouth City Transport accepted on 8 March was higher than, lower than, or the same as the highest bid made in the first round of tendering; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  The tender accepted by Portsmouth city council was lower than the highest bid made in the first round of tendering. It was, however, the highest hid made in the second round.

  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what basis he gave dispensation under section 74 of the Transport Act 1985, for Councillors F. Warner, F. Worley, A. Dann and S. Rapson, of Portsmouth city council, to speak and vote in the council on matters concerned with the sale of Portsmouth City Transport; on what date he received requests for such dispensation; and for what meetings and when he agreed to the requests.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  A request to give a dispensation under section 74 of the Transport Act 1985 to four Portsmouth city councillors who are also directors of Portsmouth City Transport was received on 11 March 1988 to enable the councillors directors to discuss and vote on company matters at the extraordinary meeting of the council convened for 16 March 1988. The Secretary of State granted the dispensation on 15 March 1988. The basis of his decision was that the dispensation would retain the existing political balance of the council; the extraordinary meeting had been called at very short notice;
  461
  full attendance of all councillors was considered problematical; and it was therefore reasonable to provide a dispensation.

  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to how many different tenders were made available to Portsmouth city councillors in their consideration of applications for Portsmouth City Transport.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  What information was made available to Portsmouth city councillors is a question for the council itself. I understand, however, that information about tenders from nine bidders was made available to councillors.

  Transport Act 1985 (Dispensations)
  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the number of dispensations made under section 74 of the Transport Act 1985, stating the number of councils for which dispensation has been agreed, and the number of individuals for whom dispensation has been agreed, in each month since the Royal Assent to the Act.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  Dispensations have been given by the Secretary of State on five occasions to local authority councillors who were also directors of the public transport company owned by their authority. The dispensations enable councillors to discuss and vote on certain matters concerning the company. The details are as follows:

  Authorities given dispensations

  Date

  Number of councillors involved

  (a) Stockton on Tees, Langbaurgh and Middlesbrough borough councils (joint application)

  9 May 1986

  17

  462

  Authorities given dispensations

  Date

  Number of councillors involved

  (b) Portsmouth city council

  16 February 1987

  4

  (c) Portsmouth city council

  3 March 1987

  4

  (d) Portsmouth city council

  1 October 1987

  4

  (e) Portsmouth city council

  15 March 1988

  4

  1 Three from Stockton on Tees, one from Langbaurgh and three from Middlesbrough.

  M6 (Thelwall)
  Mr. Mudd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the present traffic flow on the M6 at Thelwall; what was the design capacity; and what are the Department's projections for traffic flow at this point in the year 2000.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  At present the average traffic flow across the viaduct throughout the year is about 103,000 vehicles per day. This Includes traffic diverting on to the M6 to avoid long-term roadworks on the M63 at Barton Bridge.

  The current assumed design capacity for a dual three-lane motorway with hard shoulders (not provided on Thelwall viaduct) is up to 79,000 vehicles per day.

  The predicted average daily flow for the year 2000 is in the range 94,000 to 111,000 vehicles per day. This forecast is based on the average daily flow of 81,000 vehicles in 1984, before the Barton Bridge roadworks started.

  I announced in January our plans to widen this part of the M6, including the viaduct, to dual four lanes with hard shoulders throughout.

  BUILDING INDUSTRY: POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS
  BUILDING INDUSTRY: POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS
  GREENLAND WHITEFRONTED GEESE
  GREENLAND WHITEFRONTED GEESE
  ABERDEEN UNIVERSITY
  ABERDEEN UNIVERSITY
  MEXICAN "BLACK TAR" HEROIN
  MEXICAN "BLACK TAR" HEROIN
  HEROIN AND COCAINE: PURITY ANALYSIS
  HEROIN AND COCAINE: PURITY ANALYSIS
  MURDER CONVICTIONS: "CAPITAL" CLASSIFICATION
  MURDER CONVICTIONS: "CAPITAL" CLASSIFICATION
  MURDER CONVICTIONS: STATISTICS
  MURDER CONVICTIONS: STATISTICS
  DRUGS AND APPLIANCES: EC DIRECTIVE REQUIREMENTS
  DRUGS AND APPLIANCES: EC DIRECTIVE REQUIREMENTS
  WORCESTER HEALTH DISTRICT: ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY
  WORCESTER HEALTH DISTRICT: ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY
  AIDS AND DRUGS MISUSE: ACMD REPORT
  AIDS AND DRUGS MISUSE: ACMD REPORT
  INTERCEPTION OF COMMUNICATIONS: COMMISSIONER'S REPORT
  INTERCEPTION OF COMMUNICATIONS: COMMISSIONER'S REPORT