Written Answers of 4 May 1988

WALES

  Lambs (Mutation)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what research is being undertaken into the mutation of lambs born in the restricted area in north Wales since the Chernobyl accident; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Scientific and veterinary advice indicates that the level of Chernobyl contamination presents no health hazard to sheep and will have no effect on their fertility and breeding potential.

  Congenital defects in lambs may be caused by a variety of factors including viral infections and nutritional deficiencies. There is no evidence that lambs born in the north Wales restricted area have a higher incidence of congenital defects than lambs born elsewhere.

  I understand that a research project by Liverpool university into the effects of low levels of radiation on sheep is utilising sheep supplied by farmers in north Wales.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Javelin Missiles
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether Short Brothers has made any applications or inquiries regarding an export licence from the sale of Javelin anti-aircraft missiles to the Government of Chile.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  It is not the practice to comment on individual defence equipment export matters.

  Central Heating Oil
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will refer the price differential for bulk storage kerosene based central heating oil charged by different classes of supplies to the Office of Fair Trading; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  No. The price of standard grade kerosene for use in central heating systems is set by the costs of supply and the level of competition in the market. If the hon. Gentleman has any concern about lack of competition in this market, he should put it to the Director General of Fair Trading.

  Gross Domestic Product
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what measures his Department is taking to seek to increase the gross domestic product per head in the regions of the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  My Department offers a range of incentives under its recently launched enterprise initiative, which are designed to encourage self-generating growth in all regions of the country.

  Director General of Telecommunications (Report)
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has yet received a report by the Director General of Telecommunications for the year 1987, as required under section 55 of the Telecommunications Act 1984.

  Mr. Butcher
  Yes. The fourth report by the Director General of Telecommunications is being published today. It covers the period 1 January to 31 December 1987. Copies of the report have been laid before each House of Parliament.

PRIME MINISTER

  Defence Equipment Manufacturers (Retired Officers)
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the rules which affect the employment by defence equipment manufacturers of Royal Naval officers of flag rank, and their equivalents in the Royal Marines. the British Army and the Royal Air Force, following their retirement from Her Majesty's forces; and what specific rules affect senior officers who been engaged in procurement policy.

  The Prime Minister
  All service officers are required to seek approval prior to accepting an appointment with a defence related business. Particularly senior officers are required to do so before accepting any appointment. The requirement extends for a period of two years after each retirement or resignation. Each application is examined in the light of the circumstances of the proposed appointments including the extent of his involvement in procurement policy. Approval may be withheld for a period of up to two years or some other restriction imposed, including limitations on the areas of work where the individual may be employed.

  European Community (Beef)
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will raise at the next meeting of the European Council the current practice of offering beef for sale abroad by subsidy at prices low enough to enable it to be sent back to the United Kingdom at prices lower than are available to home producers; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  The Community agreed a reform to the beef support policy in December 1986 which cut the common support level by some 15 per cent. The Commission's proposals for agricultural prices for 1988–89 envisage a further cut and the beef regime is to be further revised this year in the light of the recent decisions of the European Council. As these steps and the measures which have been applied in the milk sector come into full effect the need to make costly disposals of surplus beef on world markets will decline. Meanwhile, the EC Commission has recognised the need to ensure that additional supplies of beef are available to the Community meat processing industry on terms that enable the Community production to be competitive with processed products from other sources.

ENERGY

  Electricity Board Chairmen
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he next expects to meet the electricity board area chairmen; and what subjects he hopes to discuss.

  Mr. Parkinson
  I meet the area board chairmen from time to time to discuss a number of issues of common interest.

  British Coal
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he next expects to meet the chairman of British Coal; and what matters he hopes to discuss.

  Mr. Parkinson
  I meet the chairman of British Coal regularly to discuss all aspects of the coal industry.

  Sizewell B
  Mr. Andy Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the Advisory Council on Science and Technology's report on the industrial impact of Sizewell B.

  Mr. Parkinson
  I have placed in the Library of the House today a copy of a letter I have written to Sir Francis Tombs, the chairman of the advisory council, responding to points raised in the council's report.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Postal Centres International Ltd.
  Mr. Wheeler
  To ask the Attorney-General if the Crown Prosecution Service has yet reached a decision on whether to prosecute the directors and others in connection with the alleged fraud by Postal Centres International Ltd. of Manchester; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  No papers in relation to this matter have been referred to the Crown Prosecution Service. The liquidators appointed to handle the affairs of the company in liquidation have not reported finding evidence of any criminal offences.

  Legal Aid Board
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Attorney-General whether the Lord Chancellor is able to announce when he will be appointing to the proposed Legal Aid Board; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  The Lord Chancellor has today appointed John Pitts, who retired last year as chairman and chief executive of the Tioxide Group, to be chairman of the proposed Legal Aid Board, and the following to be members:

  Martin Acland

  Diana Beale

  Allan Blake

  Hilary Bradley

  Lyn Devonald

  Kenneth Farrow

  Suzette Harold

  Geoffrey Hibbert

  David Sinker

  John Smith

  Peter Soar

  444
  The Lord Chancellor regards it as important that the board should have adequate time in which to prepare for taking over responsibility for those functions currently exercised by the legal aid administration of the Law Society. The Lord Chancellor intends that this transfer should take place early in 1989. The appointments are, of course, contingent on the Legal Aid Bill's receiving the approval of Parliament.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Teachers and Ancillary Staff (Vetting)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has in relation to the number of teachers and ancillary staff who have been vetted by police before they are employed in jobs where they work with children; and whether his Department keeps information as to the number of people refused employment and the reasons therefor.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department on 29 April, at column 283.

  University Grants
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the percentage increase in grants to the universities for each year since 1974.

  Mr. Jackson
  Changes in grants made available to universities in Great Britain on the advice of the University Grants Committee and the Computer Board have been:

  Financial year

  Per cent. increase over previous year

  1974–75

  10·0

  1975–76

  25·0

  1976–77

  13·4

  1977–78

  10·2

  1978–79

  11·2

  1979–80

  21·8

  1980–81

  26·7

  1981–82

  3·0

  1982–83

  19·4

  1983–84

  3·5

  1984–85

  2·5

  1985–86

  3·1

  1986–87

  3·6

  1987–88

  19·6

  1988–89

  17·8

  1 Estimates.

  Universities also receive public funds from other sources, notably through the home undergraduate tuition fee, where changes in practice create difficulties for year-on-year comparisons.

  Research Expenditure
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is in 1988 moneys the annual expenditure in civil research of the United Kingdom universities since 1974.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Department funds civil research in the universities through grants-in-aid to the research
  445
  councils and the University Grants Committee's block grant. Where the latter is concerned, only a notional attribution of resources committed to research can be made, since universities' research activities and other expenditure (including teaching) cannot be clearly distinguished. The figures in the following table are therefore necessarily approximate.

  No figures are available for the notional attribution to research of UGC funding prior to 1977–78. Since 1977–78, approximate total expenditure, at constant 1988–89 prices as measured by the GDP deflator, on civil research at United Kingdom universities through the research councils and the UGC is as follows:

  £ million

  1977–78

  741

  1978–79

  763

  1979–80

  800

  1980–81

  840

  1981–82

  838

  1982–83

  860

  1983–84

  859

  1984–85

  845

  1985–86

  848

  1986–87

  863

  1987–88

  856

  1988–89

  867

  Sources: Annual Reviews of Government Funded R and D 1983–87.

  For 1986–87—Appropriation Accounts.

  For 1987–88 and 1988–89—Supply Estimates.

  Statistics on funding of research in universities by other Government Departments can be found in the annual reviews of Government funded R and D.

  Teachers (Pay)
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what has been the percentage increase in teachers' pay for each year since 1974.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Clydesdale (Mr. Hood) on 27 April, at columns 168–69

  Teacher Governors (Misconduct)
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science on how many occasions of which he is aware a school governing body or sub-committee of a school governing body has brought and heard charges of gross misconduct against a teacher employed at the school in respect of that teacher's actions as a governor of the school and not related to the teacher-governor's employment at the school; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dunn
  We are not aware of any such occasions. The meetings and proceedings of school governing bodies are governed by regulations made by my right hon. Friend. Under the current regulations a teacher or other governor is disqualified from continuing to hold that office in certain specified circumstances. However, the regulations make no provision for a governing body to hold a disciplinary hearing in relation to the actions of one of its members in that person's capacity as a governor.

  Higher Education (Course Approval)
  Dr. Hampson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many of Her Majesty's inspectors will be rendered redundant by the ending of the course approval system for higher education.

  Mr. Jackson
  None.

  Ethnic Monitoring
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how many(a) colleges of further education, (b) colleges of higher education, (c) polytechnics and (d) universities in England and Wales are actively engaged in ethnic monitoring with respect to (i) academic staff, (ii) support staff and (iii) the student body;

  (2) how many (a) colleges of further education, (b) colleges of higher education, (c) polytechnics and (d) universities in England and Wales are actively engaged in ethnic monitoring in accord with guidelines currently laid down by the Commission for Racial Equality with respect to (i) academic staff, (ii) support staff and (iii) the student body.

  Mr. Jackson
  This information is not collected by my Department. However, a consultative document was issued by the Department on 8 March addressing the issues and options for consideration in the collection of ethnically-based statistics for students in further and higher education. The document sought views on the use of the Commission for Racial Equality guidelines for classification of ethnic origin.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has on overall percentages of black lecturers in(a) colleges of further education, (b) colleges of higher education, (c) polytechnics and (d) universities.

  Mr. Jackson
  This information is not collected by my Department.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if UCCA and PCAS plan to include an ethnic monitoring question on their application forms for student entry to universities and polytechnics.

  Mr. Jackson
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks) on 13 April 1988, at column 135, in which it was reported that UCCA is considering the question of ethnic monitoring of university applicants. In addition, a response to the Department's consultative document on ethnic monitoring of students in further and higher education has now been received from PCAS indicating its willingness to discuss the proposal with the Department.

CIVIL SERVICE

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service when his Department will publish the progress report on the implementation of equal opportunities policies for women in the Civil Service.

  Mr. Luce
  The report is being published today. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of Parliament.

  Selection and Promotion
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service if there have been any changes in the principles underlying selection for and promotion in the Civil Service.

  Mr. Luce
  No. Entry to and promotion in the Civil Service continue to be based on selection on merit.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Drug Trafficking
  Dr. Michael Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about progress the Government are making both bilaterally and multilaterally in controlling the international trade in drugs.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We receive occasional representations about the need for international co-operation in the fight against drug trafficking. The Government have helped in achieving progress on a number of fronts: in the United Nations, by our support for its drugs agencies and for current work on a draft convention against trafficking; at regional level through our chairmanship of the Council of Europe's co-operation group on drugs (the Pompidou group); and by various forms of bilateral co-operation, including the provision of financial assistance for drug producing and transit countries and negotiations to conclude agreements with other countries for the enforcement of court orders to confiscate traffickers' assets.

  Remand Prisoners
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average length of stay of prioners held on remand who are transferred from London courts to police stations in(a) the Doncaster area and (b) nationally; and if he will make a statement.

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

  Passports
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 22 April,Official Report, column 592, whether he has any plans to allow persons applying for passports to have the option of either an old-style British passport or a new-style European Community format passport; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  No. Retention of the old form of passport after computerisation of the United Kingdom passport offices would lead to confusion, inefficiency and additional expense. The public would lose the advantages of a fully computerised passport-issuing service and of having a pssport which is machine-readable.

  Police (Greater Manchester)
  Mr. Tom Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review the level of his Department's funding of the Greater Manchester police in real terms during the current financial year; and if he will make a statement.
  448
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Home Office meets, through police specific grant, 51% of police authorities' expenditure for police purposes. An additional contribution is made from central funds through block grant. We have no plans to review this level of funding.

  Safer Cities Programme
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has yet decided in which areas the initial safer cities programme will operate; what the total cost of this initial phase will be; how much of this represents new expenditure by his Department; and what vote the remaining expenditure will come from.

  Mr. Hurd
  We aim to establish 20 safer cities projects over the next three years: eight in 1988–89; eight in 1989–90; and four in 1990–91. Each will be located in an urban programme area where there are serious crime problems, and where other central Government programmes have been targeted. My hon. Friend the Minister of State announced on 7 April, when visiting the west midlands, that Wolverhampton is to be the first safer cities project area. Other areas will be invited to join the safer cities programme soon. Decisions about the location of projects will be made only after consultation with the appropriate local authority, the police and probation services and other local interests. Provision for the initial phase of the programme (1988–89) is £2·9 million. This will be met from the Home Office Vote (class XI, vote 3) and all of it represents new expenditure.

  Prisons (Drugs)
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will construct a table showing the average number of doses of drugs administered per inmate in each of Her Majesty's penal establishments in the last available year.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [pursuant to his reply, 20 January 1988, c. 706]: I am grateful to the hon. Member for drawing attention to an inaccuracy in that part of the information in my earlier reply which related to Her Majesty's prison, Wakefield.

  The pharmacist at Wakefield is responsible for dispensing not only at that establishment but at six other establishments and his returns, on which my reply was based, represent the doses of medicine administered at the seven establishments. The information relating solely to Her Majesty's prison Wakefield is as follows:

  Number of doses of medicine administered to inmates in prison service establishments in England and Wales 1 April 1986–31 March 1987

  HMP Wakefield

  1. Medicines available without prescription in the community

  157,084

  Prescription only medicines

  2. Psychotropic drugs (ie antidepressants, sedatives and tranquillisers)

  49,925

  3. Hypnotic Drugs

  16,837

  4. Drugs acting on the central nervous system other than those shown in (2) and (3)

  13,825

  5. Other drugs and medicines

  347,713

TRANSPORT

  Road Accident Statistics
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the number of child pedestrian road fatalities, in total and expressed in relative terms, in each member state of the European Community within the age ranges five to nine, 10 to 14 and 15 to 17, for each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The number of deaths in each member state of the European Community is as follows for 1979 to 1986 inclusive. Data for other years could he made available only at disproportionate cost. Most countries use the standard international definition of "road accident death", which is dying within 30 days as result of the road accident. The exceptions are France (death within six days of the accident), Greece (death within three days), Italy (death within seven days) and Spain (death within 24 hours).

  Pedestrian deaths in EC countries: 1979

  Age of fatality

  Percentage of all pedestrian deaths

  6 to 9

  10 to 14

  15 to 17

  United Kingdom

  145

  94

  65

  14·4

  Belgium

  25

  18

  17

  12·1

  Denmark

  11

  10

  5

  18·2

  Eire

  20

  9

  9

  16·7

  France

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Germany

  182

  93

  86

  11·4

  Greece

  28

  28

  15

  18·2

  Italy

  80

  56

  51

  10·5

  Luxembourg

  1

  1

  1

  15·8

  Netherlands

  25

  10

  10

  17·1

  Spain

  66

  41

  28

  11·3

  Portugal

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Pedestrian deaths in EC countries: 1980

  Age of fatality

  Percentage of all pedestrian deaths

  6 to9

  10 to 14

  15 to 17

  United Kingdom

  105

  109

  86

  14·7

  Belgium

  26

  12

  13

  10·1

  Denmark

  6

  4

  5

  10·9

  Eire

  15

  5

  4

  11·5

  France

  113

  80

  57

  11·5

  Germany

  173

  100

  81

  11·4

  Greece

  12

  10

  3

  6·5

  Italy

  91

  47

  40

  9·8

  Luxembourg

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Netherlands

  34

  12

  4

  16·9

  Spain

  74

  41

  30

  12·5

  Portugal

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Pedestrian deaths in EC countries: 1981

  Age of fatality

  Percentage of all pedestrian deaths

  6 to9

  10 lo 14

  15 to 17

  United Kingdom

  123

  101

  81

  15·6

  Belgium

  26

  15

  12

  12·5

  Denmark

  8

  3

  9

  13·5

  Eire

  15

  10

  9

  15·8

  France

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Germany

  141

  77

  65

  10·8

  Greece

  13

  12

  7

  8·2

  Italy

  64

  45

  24

  8·5

  450

  Age of fatality

  Percentage of all pedestrian deaths

  6 to9

  10 to 14

  15 to 17

  Luxembourg

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Netherlands

  28

  11

  10

  16·7

  Spain

  58

  46

  31

  12·1

  Portugal

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Pedestrian deaths in EC countries: 1982

  Age of fatality

  Percentage of all pedestrian deaths

  6 to 9

  10 to 14

  15 to 17

  United Kingdom

  99

  127

  75

  15·5

  Belgium

  17

  22

  11

  13·0

  Denmark

  9

  8

  3

  12·3

  Eire

  5

  15

  9

  18·0

  France

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Germany

  124

  48

  45

  8·4

  Greece

  13

  10

  7

  7·0

  Italy

  59

  39

  35

  8·5

  Luxembourg

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Netherlands

  20

  16

  9

  17·4

  Portugal

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Spain

  48

  35

  19

  10·0

  Pedestrian deaths in EC countries: 1983

  Age of fatality

  Percentage of all pedestrian deaths

  6 to9

  10 to 14

  15 to 17

  United Kingdom

  132

  132

  86

  17·6

  Belgium

  19

  17

  11

  12·6

  Denmark

  9

  6

  9

  15·9

  Eire

  13

  9

  12

  19·3

  France

  96

  72

  46

  11·4

  Germany

  90

  59

  55

  8·2

  Greece

  14

  15

  8

  8·5

  Italy

  66

  42

  25

  9·3

  Luxembourg

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Netherlands

  19

  20

  6

  15·7

  Spain

  51

  34

  18

  9·5

  Portugal

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Pedestrian deaths in EC countries: 1984

  Age of fatality

  Percentage of all pedestrian deaths

  6 to9

  10 to 14

  15 to 17

  United Kingdom

  115

  141

  69

  16·8

  Belgium

  19

  18

  7

  13·2

  Denmark

  4

  10

  8

  17·2

  Eire

  16

  8

  6

  19·2

  France

  89

  81

  34

  11·6

  Germany

  79

  37

  43

  7·0

  Greece

  16

  3

  4

  5·3

  Italy

  41

  29

  22

  7·2

  Luxembourg

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Netherlands

  12

  7

  6

  11·8

  Spain

  41

  30

  31

  10·0

  Portugal

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Pedestrian deaths in EC countries: 1985

  Age of fatality

  Percentage of all pedestrian deaths

  6 to9

  10 to 14

  15 to 17

  United Kingdom

  109

  129

  69

  16·6

  Belgium

  23

  10

  9

  12·9

  451

  Age of fatality

  Percentage of all pedestrian deaths

  6 to9

  10 to 14

  15 to 17

  Denmark

  9

  7

  2

  14·3

  Eire

  12

  7

  3

  15·9

  France

  83

  78

  35

  12·6

  Germany

  69

  36

  31

  7·6

  Greece

  15

  11

  4

  7·3

  Italy

  51

  39

  22

  9·0

  Luxembourg

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Netherlands

  9

  10

  6

  13·4

  Spain

  50

  47

  30

  12·4

  Portugal

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Pedestrian deaths in EC countries: 1986

  Age of fatality

  Percentage of all pedestrian deaths

  6 to 9

  10 to 14

  15 to 17

  United Kingdom

  80

  108

  79

  13·8

  Belgium

  16

  11

  8

  10·9

  Denmark

  3

  6

  3

  9·0

  Eire

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  France

  74

  52

  43

  n/a

  Germany

  87

  38

  27

  7·4

  Greece

  11

  6

  7

  5·9

  Italy

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Luxembourg

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Netherlands

  12

  10

  7

  13·4

  Spain

  60

  39

  28

  10·9

  Portugal

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many fatal accidents involving heavy lorries have occurred on the A1 in Northumberland in the last five years.

  Mr. Peter Bottomely
  There have been 10 such accidents in the period from 1 January 1983 to date.

  The figures are as follows:

  Number

  1983

  1

  1984

  2

  1985

  2

  1986

  2

  1987

  3

  1988

  1—

  1 None to date.

  Dial-a-Ride (London)
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received seeking an increase of funding for London Dial-a-Ride to enable it to provide one trip a week to each of its registered users; and what response he has made.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  I have received a number of letters from Members of Parliament, voluntary organisations and private individuals concerning the "one trip a week" campaign by the London Dial-a-Ride User's Association. In replying I have pointed out that funding has already been increased from £4·2 million in 1985–86 to £6·27 million in 1988–89 and this has provided for a substantial expansion of Dial-a-Ride services. London Regional Transport believes that there is still considerable scope for increasing service provision within existing resources by 452
  more cost-effective operation. We would expect that to be fully exploited before substantial increases in resources are sought.

  Israel (Flights)
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to ensure that security staff handling passengers on flights from United Kingdom airports to Israel do not question the political beliefs of passengers.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The Department does not require passengers flying to Israel or anywhere else to be questioned about their political beliefs.

  It is open to airlines to add further security measures if they consider them necessary to protect their operations.

  Miracle Bus Company
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he was first advised of the problems facing the Southend council and the Miracle Bus Company in securing permission from the West German Government to provide a bus from Ostend to West Germany to connect with a plane from Southend airport; and if he will set out the actions taken by his Department since that time.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  The Department first became aware of these problems in December 1985. Since then we have been engaged in correspondence and discussions with the authorities in Belgium, the Federal Republic of Germany and the European Commission to secure authorisation for the operation of the service. I understand that it is now due to come into operation towards the end of this month.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Swaziland
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment is available to him of the level of economic growth in Swaziland in each year since 1983.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  The rate of economic growth in Swaziland, as measured by the estimated growth in the gross domestic product, is as follows for each year since 1983.

  Percentage Growth Rate of GDP in Current Prices

  Year

  Per cent.

  1984

  4·2

  1985

  2·4

  1986

  7·4

  1987

  0·0

  Source: IMF Staff Papers and Swaziland Budget Speech 1988–89.

  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his assessment of the extent to which Swaziland has benefited from joining the Lomé convention and giving improved access to European Community markets.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Over the five years to 1990 Swaziland will get 26 million ecu (about £18 million) in planned aid from the European development fund, in addition to
  453
  benefiting from SADCC and other regional projects. Swaziland also receives lending from the European Investment Bank, finance under the STABEX scheme, and emergency aid.

  Under the Lomé convention, Swaziland's industrial products and the great majority of her agricultural products can enter the Community free of tariff or other restrictions. Swaziland also benefits from the special provisions of the Lomé convention relating to sugar and beef. Under the sugar protocol, Swaziland may export annually up to 117,844·5 tonnes to the Community at a guaranteed price, which is currently about three times the world market price; and under an exchange of letters annexed to the convention Swaziland can export annually up to 3,363 tonnes of beef and veal to the Community.

  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list current development projects in Swaziland for which United Kingdom national, Commonwealth or European Community assistance is given, and the value of that assistance.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Under the bilateral aid programme to Swaziland, Britain is currently financing the following projects:

  Product

  £ million

  Water scheme for rural areas

  0·55

  Land purchase and development

  2·00

  In addition, we expect to spend about £2 million in 1988–89 on technical co-operation activities.

  The Commonwealth fund for technical co-operation is currently financing, with grants estimated at £269,000, a number of technical co-operation projects in Swaziland.

  Projects in Swaziland currently being financed by the European Community under the second and third Lomé conventions are as follows:

  £ million

  Grant funding

  Rural water supplies

  1·69

  Teacher Training College (Ngwane and Piggs Peak)

  1·24

  Smallholders support project (credit and marketing)

  2·45

  Integrated development of trade and tourism in handicrafts

  1·86

  Micro projects

  0·56

  Technical assistance (Rural Development Areas Programme; Swazi Development and Savings Bank; Co-operatives and Credit Union; Department of Economic Planning; Customs and Excise)

  1·69

  Development of Matsapha airport

  1·45

  Agricultural training (SADCC)

  0·74

  Training of customs officers

  0·35

  Regional training (SADCC)

  0·28

  Waterford Kambala School

  0·22

  Regional railways training

  0·16

  Maths and Science teacher training

  1·59

  Swazi Industrial Development Corporation

  0·84

  Special loan funding

  Vocational training centre (Matsapha Manzini)

  2·21

  Swazi Investment and Development Corporation (SINDECO)

  2·07

  Total

  19·40

  The United Kingdom share of European Community aid listed above is £3·2 million.
  454
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list United Kingdom contributions to Swaziland through national, Commonwealth and European Community action in each year since 1983.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  The information is as follows:

  £000s

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Gross United Kingdom bilateral aid1

  5,665

  5,626

  3,376

  7,722

  Estimated United Kingdom share of Commonwealth2 aid

  69

  72

  94

  80

  Estimated United Kingdom share of European Community aid

  700

  1,070

  360

  380

  Note: Figures for 1987 are not yet available.

  1 Includes expenditure by the Commonwealth Development Corporation of: (1983) 2,683, (1984) 2,876, (1985) 1,267 and (1986) 3,881.

  2 Commonwealth fund for technical co-operation; figures cover the period July-June.

  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what measures he has taken, or proposes to take, to assist the Swaziland Government to strengthen their national economy and decrease their dependence on the economy of the Republic of South Africa;

  (2) if he will make a statement on her Majesty's Government's policy on the role of the Southern African Development Co-ordination conference as an agency for diminishing Swaziland's economic dependence on the Republic of South Africa.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  One of the principal aims of our bilateral aid programme to Swaziland is to strengthen the national economy. In addition we support the Southern African Development Co-ordination Conference, of which Swaziland is a member.

  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment is available to him of Swaziland's repayment of foreign debt; and to which countries payments are in arrears.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  The figures show the debt service payment which were due and estimates of the actual payments made on public and publicly guaranteed debt from 1984 to 1987. I am not aware of any countries which have failed to receive repayments due from Swaziland.

  Debt service payments $US million

  Year

  Due

  Paid

  1985

  23

  23

  1986

  23

  25

  1987

  27

  28

  Source: World hank debt tables and IMF staff papers.

  Middle East
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will indicate the level and nature of medical aid from Her Majesty's Government to the Palestinians; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Last year we provided £650,000 to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency and the
  455
  International Committee of the Red Cross for their programmes in Lebanon, which included medical assistance. In addition, we have recently committed some £104,000 through the Order of St. John and Oxfam for medical support in the occupied territories, including nursing, training, research, surgery and support for the mentally handicapped.

  The European Community has allocated £270,000 in emergency aid, including medical supplies, to Palestinians since December 1987. Some 20 per cent. of the Community's programme is met from the British aid budget.

  Ethiopia (Aid)
  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, in view of the intransigence of the Ethiopian Government over famine relief operations in Tigré, Her Majesty's Government will consider increasing donations to the Relief Society of Tigré through the channel of British aid agencies.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  We are extremely concerned about the disruption of relief operations in Eritrea and Tigré as a result of the recent intensification of civil conflict and the Ethiopian Government's decision that most expatriate relief personnel must leave these regions. Our objective remains to provide humanitarian relief to the hungry, regardless of where they are.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  South Down (Education)
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received concerning the reorganisation and rationalisation of secondary school education in the controlled sector in the northern area of South Down; and if he will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  None. However, the South-Eastern education and library board is currently considering the matter.

SCOTLAND

  Kidney Transplants
  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has as to the reasons why kidney transplants have had to be discontinued at the Western infirmary; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I understand that the kidney transplantation programme at the Western infirmary is being carried out at broadly the same level as in previous years. The only constraint is the availability of donated organs.

  National Health Service Property
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list in the Official Report the National Health Service properties in Tayside which require work to be done as identified by the National Audit Office report of 28 March, HC 405; and if he will make a statement;
  456
  (2) which National Health Service properties in (a) Scotland and (b) Tayside do not comply with statutory and non-statutory building standards as outlined in the National Audit Office report of 28 March, HC 405;

  (3) what is the estimated cost of work required to be carried out in Tayside health board properties as identified by the National Audit Office report of 28 March, HC 405.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The National Audit Office report on "Estate Management in the National Health Service" does not identify particular properties used by Tayside health board which require substantial maintenance work. The report stresses the importance of developing strategies to maintain the Health Service estate in an adequate condition. The comprehensive survey into the condition of all hospitals, carried out by health boards in Scotland during 1986–87, is in line with this recommendation.

  In the survey. Tayside health board estimated that work costing £21·8 million was necessary, over the next 10 years, to maintain its buildings in an adequate condition. This estimate is now being scrutinised by the Scottish Home and Health Department.

  Where health service premises are subject to statutory requirements, the various enforcement agencies ensure compliance. Beyond these statutory requirements, the Department has issued instructions to boards on a wide range of non-statutory standards.

  Pupil-Teacher Ratios
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the present pupil-teacher ratio for(a) primary and (b) secondary schools in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The provisional pupil-teacher ratios for 1987–88 are 20·2 in primary and 12·9 in secondary schools.

  Further and Higher Education
  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many students in Scottish further and higher education are between the ages of 16 and 18.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  In session 1986–87 the number of students in vocational higher and further education in Scotland aged 16 to 18 inclusive was estimated to be 92,000. Of these, 34,100 were full-time or sandwich course students and 57,900 were part-time students.

  Meat Firms (Redundancies)
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has had about redundancies in Scottish meat firms caused by Messrs Marks and Spencer transferring its purchases to Brazilian firms; and if the recent agreements at the European Council will result in Scottish meat firms receiving supplies at prices comparable to Brazil.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Marks and Spencer's decision should not affect Scottish meat firms generally, but will have an adverse impact on employment at one particular company, with whom officials are in close touch. The Government have discussed this problem with the European Commission, which recently stated at a meeting of the Agriculture Council that it recognised the need to ensure that additional supplies of beef are
  457
  available to the Community's meat processing industry on terms that enable Community production to be competitive with products from other sources.

  Infertility
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will institute an official survey into infertility provision within the National Health Service in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Government have for some time recognised the importance of developments in the alleviation of infertility. However, we take the view that we cannot contemplate a review of infertility services in Scotland until such time as consideration has been completed of the recommendations of the Warnock report on "Human Fertilisation and Embryology".

  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what current research is being undertaken into the needs of the infertile in Scotland;

  (2) what Government funded research is being undertaken into infertility services in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Scottish Home and Health Department is not currently funding any research specifically on infertility services and the needs of the infertile. Some aspects of a current research project on well women clinics may, however, have a bearing on this, and previously funded research on male infertility has been incorporated within the service provided by one health board. So far as Government funded research into more fundamental aspects of infertility is concerned, the main focus of the Medical Research Council's work in this field is the reproductive biology unit based in Edinburgh.

  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what funds have been allocated in the past five years to health boards for the provision of National Health Services for the infertile in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  No separate allocation of resources is made to health boards for the provision of infertility services. It is for each health board to decide within the available resources what priority should be given to the provision of such services.

  Local Authority Employees (Audit Information)
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he intends to take in the light of responses to his consultation paper in which he proposed to amend section 101(1) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 to restrict the rights of the public to inspect at the time of audit information which an authority holds about its employees; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  My right hon. and learned Friend has decided in the light of the responses received to his consultation paper to seek at the next convenient opportunity an amendment to section 101(1) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 so that all information relating to employees of local authorities, audited under part VIII of the 1973 Act, should be excluded from public inspection, except information about gross pay, allowances, bonuses and overtime payments, which would continue to be open to inspect at time of audit. My right hon. and learned Friend considers that such an amendment would strike an acceptable balance between safeguarding personal privacy and providing adequate 458
  public inspection to ensure proper accountability. It also corresponds with similar action being taken by my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for the Environment and for Wales.

  Competitive Tendering
  Sir Hector Monro
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide a timetable for the implementation of competitive tendering procedures for individual local government services in the phasing programme.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. and learned Friend has now considered the responses to the consultation paper on implementation of competition for Scottish local authority services issued in November. He has decided to confirm the proposal of a phased introduction of competition by local authorities with authorities split into groups and each group taking the activities covered by the Act in a different order. The groups of authorities will be the same as set out in the consultation paper. The date by which authorities will have had to have exposed their first activities to competition will be set at 1 August 1989, to allow adequate time for all stages of the competitive process to be completed.

  Two other changes to the implementation proposals have been made which will help ensure efficient implementation of the competition process. These take account of the fact that a decision on the possibility of adding sport and leisure management to the list of defined activities has not yet been taken, and therefore, if this activity is added by order, some delay in implementing competition for it is inevitable.

  My right hon. and learned Friend has decided to confirm the £100,000 de minimis level below which authorities' services would be exempt from competition. He has considered very carefully the position of the islands councils, but has concluded that no form of exemption is to be given to them at this stage. Their position will, however, be carefully monitored through a research project which will evaluate the effect of competition.

  These decisions are described fully in letters which are today being sent to all affected authorities and other bodies covered by part I of the Act and copies of which have been placed in the Library.

  Community Care
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will issue guidelines to social fund officers to accept applications for community care grants for domestic alarm installation, including telephone socket costs, to enable residents on benefit to continue to stay at home and out of long-stay residential institutions.

  Mr. Portillo
  I have been asked to reply.

  No. When considering such applications social fund officers will exercise their discretion in the light of general guidance and the Secretary of State's directions in the "Social Fund Manual". Local authorities have powers to supply and meet the costs of alarms for elderly, sick or disabled people. Housing benefit (or, for owner-occupiers, income support) may be available in certain circumstances to help with the running costs.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Televising of Proceedings
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will arrange for a copy of the video recording shown to the Select Committee on Televising of Proceedings of the House produced by the Central Office of Information and showing a compendium of televised proceedings of overseas Parliaments to be(a) made available to right hon. and hon. Members and (b) shown in the Jubilee Room for Members of both Houses and the media.

  Mr. Wakeham
  I am placing a copy of the video recording in the Library, where it will be accessible to Members by arrangement with the staff of the Library.

  Press Bar
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what is the annual turnover of the Press Bar of the House of Commons; who is permitted to use the bar; whether a loss or profit was made in the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The Press Bar's turnover for the 12 months ended 31 March 1988, excluding VAT, was £38,790; the gross profit for the same period was £14,935. A profit was made during each of the last five years. Those permitted to use the Press Bar are: Parliamentary Lobby journalists and their guests, overseas press officers, Hansard staff, and staff posted to the Press Gallery.

  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what is the number of accredited journalists entitled to use the Press Bar of the House of Commons.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The latest Pass Office figures show that 393 accredited journalists are entitled to use the bar in the Parliamentary Press Gallery premises.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  EC (Foreign Policies)
  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next proposes to have discussions with his European Community partners concerning the development of common European foreign policies.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  I met my colleagues from the Twelve to discuss European political co-operation matters at an informal weekend meeting in Konstanz on 5–6 March, and again at a ministerial meeting on 22 March in Brussels. I next expect to discuss these matters on 13 June in Luxembourg.

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

  Mrs. Chalker
  As I told the hon. Member on 3 February, my right hon. and learned Friend and I regularly meet our counterparts from other countries. Debt is frequently discussed, particularly with the Foreign Ministers of debtor nations and of major creditor nations.

  Malaysia
  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met representatives of the Malaysian Government.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. and learned Friend visited Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei from 5 to 10 April. We enjoy close and developing relations with all three countries. In Malaysia he had valuable discussions with the Deputy Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister and the Minister for Education on bilateral links and a range of regional and international issues.

  As part of our common stand on drugs issues, we agreed in principle to work for a reciprocal agreement on the confiscation of drug traffickers' assets.

  Central America
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what policies are currently being pursued by Her Majesty's Government to establish peace in central America.

  Mr. Eggar
  We and our European partners have repeatedly expressed our support for the Guatemala peace agreement and urged the Central American Governments to fulfil their commitments under that agreement. We have appealed to countries with links and interests in the region to lend constructive support for the peace efforts of the Central American countries. We have also condemned all acts of violence which might jeopardise the peace process. We have warmly welcomed the 60-day truce signed at Sapoa on 23 March as a positive step towards the achievement of peace and reconciliation and hope that it will facilitate the establishment of a pluralistic democracy in Nicaragua.

  Mr. Michael Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the implications for Her Majesty's Government's policy towards a settlement in Central America of the conduct of the recent elections in E1 Salvador.

  Mr. Eggar
  The holding of elections in E1 Salvador was in keeping with the objectives of the Central American peace agreement, which we support, of establishing peace and democracy in the region.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of the Central American peace plan; and what initiatives the Government are taking to encourage further developments.

  Dr. Reid
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of the Central American peace plan; and what initiatives the Government are taking to encourage further developments.

  Mr. Eggar
  We and our European partners have repeatedly expressed our support for the Guatemala peace agreement and urged the Central American Governments to fulfil their commitments under that agreement. We have appealed to countries with links and interests in the region to lend constructive support for the Central American peace process. We have also condemned all acts of violence which might jeopardise the peace process. We welcomed
  461
  the 60-day truce signed at Sapoa on 23 March as a positive step towards peace and reconciliation within a pluralistic democracy in Nicaragua.

  Mr. Flannery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any plans to visit Central America.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. learned Friend has no plans at present to visit Central America.

  Chemical Weapons
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress in the limitation of chemical weapons.

  Mr. Mellor
  We are committed to the negotiation of an effectively verifiable and global ban on chemical weapons. Encouraging progress has been made at the negotiations in Geneva to this end. However, many complex details remain to be resolved, particularly on verification and arrangements for an international inspectorate, if we are to achieve an effective convention.

  Middle East
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will meet a representative of the Palestine Liberation Organisation to discuss recent events in the middle east; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  No. The Palestine Liberation Organisation is well aware why contact at this level remains difficult.

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on his policy towards the response of the Israeli Government to the Palestinian uprising in the occupied territories.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make representations to the Israeli Government about the deaths and injuries inflicted by Israeli troops on Palestinians in the occupied territories; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has made any recent representations to the Government of Israel about the security situation in the occupied territories; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Israeli Government about the situation in the occupied territories; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  We regularly urge Israel to administer the occupied territories in accordance with international law and human rights standards. We particularly deplore the use of live ammunition, deportations and collective punishments, and other excessive measures of repression.

  South Africa
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent communications he has had with the Government of South Africa; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We maintain regular contact with the South African authorities, both here and via Her Majesty's ambassador, on a wide range of issues.

  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria influence his decision to talk to, and acknowledge, some black South African leaders and not others.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria influence his decision to talk to and acknowledge some leaders in South Africa and not others.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Our policy is to maintain contact with a wide cross-section of black South African opinion.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further response he has received from the South African Government to his representations on behalf of the Sharpeville Six; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  A defence application for a retrial is currently under consideration. We continue to follow the progress of the case closely and with concern.

  Poland (Human Rights)
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received regarding human rights in Poland.

  Mr. Mellor
  My colleagues and I have received many representations on this subject. The concern expressed in all parts of the House about human rights in Poland is fully reflected in representations we made to the Polish authorities, sometimes with our Community partners. During the visit of the Polish Foreign Minister last December, for instance, my right hon. and learned Friend made it clear that we hoped all forms of harassment of Solidarity supporters would cease.

  Palestinians (Assassinations)
  Mr. McKelvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has made representations to the Government of Israel about the recent assassinations of Palestinians in Tunis; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  No.

  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Israeli Government about their recent act of state terrorism in Tunis.

  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Israel about the killing of Palestinians in Tunisia; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  None.

  Gulf War (Chemical Weapons)
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what actions his Department intends to take in response to the recent use of chemical weapons in the Gulf war.

  Mr. Mellor
  We abhor the use of chemical weapons by any country in contravention of the 1925 Geneva protocol. As far as the Iran/Iraq conflict is concerned, we have made our views abundantly clear to those concerned when chemical weapons have been used. We and our European Community colleagues issued a condemnatory statement on 24 March. More recently, on 29 March the Iraqi ambassador in London was told of the British Government's own condemnation of Iraqi use in Kurdistan in mid-March.

  The Secretary General's investigative team has confirmed that chemical weapons were used then. We shall be studying the report very closely but are deeply concerned that the investigation has shown that these weapons continue to be used in the conflict.

  We have been willing to allow CW victims to receive specialist private hospital treatment in this country for humanitarian reasons. This in no way prejudices our impartiality in the conflict itself. Eleven victims, six from Iran and five from Iraq, are receiving treatment following use of chemical weapons in Kurdistan.

  Terrorism
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made towards achieving an international convention on terrorism.

  Mr. Mellor
  There already exist a number of international conventions dealing with various aspects of terrorist crime, including the Tokyo convention on offences and certain other acts committed on board aircraft, the Hague convention for the suppression of unlawful seizure of aircraft, the Montreal convention for the suppression of unlawful acts against the safety of civil aviation and the New York international convention against the taking of hostages. Opportunities to supplement these conventions are taken in the light of developments in the continuing fight against terrorism. For example, a protocol to the Montreal convention, which extends the provisions of the convention to cover acts of violence at international airports as well as on board aircraft, was open for signature on 24 February 1988. I regret to say that by no means all countries have signed the conventions. We continue to press those which have not to do so.

  Anglo-Turkish Relations
  Mr. Roger King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current state of Anglo-Turkish relations.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Britain's relations with Turkey are excellent. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister paid a very successful visit to Turkey last month and President Evren will be making a state visit to Britain this summer. Trade is increasing and record numbers of Britons will visit Turkey this year.

  Guatemala
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current human rights situation in Guatemala.

  Mr. Eggar
  A number of murders and kidnappings have occurred, although it is not clear to what extent they are criminally rather than politically motivated. We accept the view of the United Nations special expert on Guatemala that it is the Government's firm political will to ensure respect for human rights and that violations are not a result of Government policy.

  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what instructions were sent to the British embassy in Guatemala in connection with the return of the Guatemala exiles on Monday 18 April.

  Mr. Eggar
  Her Majesty's ambassador was requested to monitor the situation carefully and to keep the Foreign and Commonwealth Office informed of developments.

  Namibia
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current position in relation to South Africa's unlawful occupation of Namibia.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We believe that the South Africans should end their unlawful occupation of Namibia. We remain committed to Namibian independence on the basis of United Nations Security Council resolution 435 and without preconditions. We support efforts by the United Nations Secretary General and the United States Administration to secure the implementation of resolution 435.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he intends to take to speed the implementation of United Nations resolution 435, calling for a South African withdrawal from Namibia.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We shall continue to press South Africa to agree to the implementation of United Nations Security Council resolution 435.

  Bophuthatswana
  Mr. Andy Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his assessment of efforts by the Bophuthatswana Government to establish a multi-racial, democratic society which guarantees human rights.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The policy of apartheid applied in other parts of South Africa is not applied within Bophuthatswana. However, Bophuthatswana was created out of the republic of South Africa as a key element in the policy of separate development and we regard the territory as part of South Africa.

  Moreover, there are persistent reports that non-Tswanas resident in Bophuthatswana are subject to discrimination. We also note that recent legislation restricts the exercise of certain individual rights.

  Mr. Colin Shepherd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment
  465
  he has made of the extent to which he is receiving accurate and detailed information about the situation in Bophuthatswana from the British embassy in Pretoria.

  Mr. John Townend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to ensure that the British embassy in South Africa obtains more accurate information about the situation in Bophuthatswana.

  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to ensure that the British embassy in Pretoria obtains more accurate information about the situation in Bophuthatswana.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Her Majesty's embassy in South Africa already provides full and accurate information on all relevant aspects of the South African scene, including developments in Bophuthatswana.

  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy on efforts to establish within Bophuthatswana a multi-racial, democratic society which guarantees human rights.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Any assessment has to take into account that Bophuthatswana is an expression of the South African Government's policy of grand apartheid and that we do not recognise it or the other "independent" homelands.

  The policy of apartheid applied in other parts of South Africa is not applied within Bophuthatswana but there are persistent reports that non-Tswanas resident in Bophuthatswana are subject to discrimination. We note that recent legislation restricts the exercise of certain individual rights.

  Falkland Islands
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next intends to meet members of the Falkland Islands Council.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans at present to meet members of the Falkland Islands Council.

  Foreign Affairs Council
  Mr. Stevens
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the most recent meetings of the EC Foreign Affairs Council.

  Mrs. Chalker
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Richmond and Barnes (Mr. Hanley) on 27 April, at column 156.

  Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament following the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Brussels summit.

  Mr. Mellor
  Four representations have been received from the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament since the NATO summit. These have covered the following subjects:466

  The NATO Nuclear Planning Group meeting, 27–28 April;

  The use of chemical weapons in the Gulf conflict (two representations);

  The third United Nations special session on disarmament.

  Israel
  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in the light of the current situation on the West Bank and Gaza Strip, if he will give consideration to applying selective economic sanctions against Israel; and If he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  Economic sanctions would not help bring about a solution of the problems of the region.

  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to what extent the recent Israeli terrorist activity in Tunisia has affected Her Majesty's Government's policy towards a settlement in the middle east; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  We remain determined to work for a peaceful settlement of the Arab/Israeli conflict. Violence and terrorism offer no solution to the problems of the middle east.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations between the United Kingdom and Israel.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  We have always wanted to see Israel safe and secure. But Israel's own recent actions have made it more difficult for her friends to help her to achieve those objectives. We shall go on trying, not least by promoting the peace process. We hope that Israel will reciprocate those efforts. In particular, we urge Israel to make clear that she accepts that the only way for her to achieve lasting security is to endorse the principle of territory for peace.

  Southern Africa Front-line States
  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when last he met the ambassadors of the Southern Africa front-line states.

  Mrs. Chalker
  My right hon. and learned Friend has not met the high commissioners/ambassadors of the frontline states collectively. However, I met the high commissioners of Zambia, Tanzania, Botswana and the Angolan charge and Nigerian counsellor on 16 March at their request to discuss the front-line states position on sanctions against South Africa.

  Dalai Lama
  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the Dalai Lama; and what subjects were discussed.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. and learned Friend has never met the Dalai Lama.

  Inter-Parliamentary Union (Guatemala)
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will meet the leader of the recent Inter-Parliamentary Union delegation to Guatemala to discuss the outcome of the meeting between the British and Argentinian delegations at this conference.
  467
  Mr. Eggar
  The delegation called on me yesterday, 3 May, to discuss various aspects of the Inter-Parliamentary Union conference, including the meeting with the Argentine delegation.

  Anglo-Algerian Relations
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current state of Anglo-Algerian relations.

  Mr. Mellor
  Relations between Britain and Algeria are becoming closer. I visited Algeria last September and the first meeting of the United Kingdom/Algerian joint commission took place in February. Both sides are agreed on the need to maintain this trend. The Algerian Foreign Minister has accepted an invitation to visit the United Kingdom, on dates yet to be fixed.

  Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe
  Mr. Duffy
  To ask the Sectetary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects to attend the conference in Vienna on security and cooperation in Europe.

  Mr. Mellor
  I visited the Vienna CSCE meeting on 15 April. A copy of my speech has been placed in the Library. We will consider further ministerial visits to the meeting, including for the purpose of signing a concluding document, in the light of circumstances at the time.

  Anglo-Soviet Relations
  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's recent initiative to improve relations with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

  Mr. Mellor
  Anglo-Soviet relations are better than for many years, with an active high level dialogue. Fundamental differences between us remain but we are able to discuss these frankly and look for solutions wherever possible. We aim to secure progress in arms control and the settlement of regional conflicts; much greater respect for human rights; an increase in trade; and more contacts between peoples at all levels. We shall continue to work for further improvement in bilateral relations.

  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received about Her Majesty's Government's current relations with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

  Mr. Mellor
  We regularly receive letters from right hon. and hon. Members and members of the public about Anglo-Soviet relations. The views we receive are reflected, where appropriate, in our dealings with the Soviet authorities, where we are seeking to improve relations further, including progress in Soviet respect for human rights, arms control measures and the settlement of regional conflicts.

  Chief Minister of Gibraltar
  Sir Fergus Montgomery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the outcome of his recent talks with the Chief Minister of Gibraltar.
  468
  Mrs. Chalker
  My right hon. and learned Friend and I had a useful initial exchange of views with the new Chief Minister of Gibraltar on 12 April. We discussed a wide range of subjects of mutual interest.

  Foreign Minister (China)
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the Foreign Minister of China; and what was discussed.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. and learned Friend had talks with the then Foreign Minister Wu Xueqian on 10 and 11 March during his visit to the United Kingdom. Their agenda covered a wide range of bilateral and international subjects, including East-West relations, disarmament, the middle east and Hong Kong. He has yet to meet the new Foreign Minister, Qian Qichen.

  Anglo-Mexican Relations
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about current Anglo-Mexican relations.

  Mr. Eggar
  We enjoy excellent bilateral relations with Mexico. This is reflected in recent ministerial exchanges, which will continue with my visit to Mexico City from 1 to 3 June.

  El Salvador
  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the implications for Her Majesty's Government's policy towards a settlement in Central America of the conduct of recent elections in El Salvador.

  Mr. Eggar
  The holding of elections in El Salvador was in keeping with the objectives of the Central American peace agreement, which we support, of establishing peace and democracy in the region.

  Republic of Ireland (Counter-terrorist Policy)
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of the Republic of Ireland about the implications for counter-terrorist policy of that country's trading links with Libya; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  The Irish Government are fully alive to the threat posed to both our countries by Libya's active support for terrorism. We have discussed this with them on a number of occasions recently, particularly in the context of increased security co-operation following the seizure of MV Eksund last October which revealed extensive Libyan support for the Provisional IRA.

  EC Structural Funds
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of European Community structural funds is due to be spent in Britain for the current year.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The detailed arrangements for structural fund spending for the current year are still under discussion. We cannot therefore say what proportion is likely to be spent in the United Kingdom.

  Poland
  Mr. Wood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met representatives of the Polish Government.

  Mr. Mellor
  My right hon. and learned Friend had several hours of useful discussion with the Polish Foreign Minister, Professor Orzechowski, during his visit to London from 6 to 10 December.

  Denmark
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the Danish ambassador, and what subjects were discussed.

  Mrs. Chalker
  My right hon. and learned Friend has frequent occasion to meet the Danish ambassador informally, but has not received a call from him on official business for some time.

  Guatemala and Belize
  Mr. Lofthouse
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on further progress in the territorial dispute between Guatemala and Belize; and what action the Government are taking to assist such progress.

  Mr. Eggar
  The territorial dispute is a matter for bilateral settlement between Belize and Guatemala. We wish to see the dispute resolved at an early date and are ready to assist the parties directly involved by being present at negotiations if both sides so wish.

  Kampuchea
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government will make it their policy to vote later in 1988 for the recognition by the United Nations of the Coalition Government of Kampuchea; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  We have consistently voted in favour of United Nations resolutions which have reaffirmed the need to adhere to the principles of the United Nations; and which call for the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Cambodia and the right of the Cambodian people to self-determination, free from outside interference. There has been no vote on the question of Cambodian representation at the United Nations since 1982.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy towards recognition of the coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea, with particular regard to the right to sit at the United Nations.

  Mr. Eggar
  Our policy is to recognise states, not governments. We have no dealings with either of the two rival Cambodian regimes as Governments. We support the retention by the Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea of the Cambodian seat at the United Nations in line with the recommendations of the Credentials Committee.

  Single European Market
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what 470
  representations he has received about the opportunities provided for business and trades unions by the single European market.

  Mrs. Chalker
  My right hon. and learned Friend and I are in regular contact with a number of business organisations and representative bodies about the completion of the single European market and the opportunities it affords for British businesses and for job opportunities.

  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met Lord Cockfield to discuss the completion of the internal European market.

  Mrs. Chalker
  My right hon. and learned Friend last met Lord Cockfield to talk about the single market on 18 November last year. He will he meeting him again shortly to discuss a number of issues including completion of the single market.

  EC Foreign Ministers
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects to discuss political co-operation with EEC Foreign Ministers.

  Mrs. Chalker
  My right hon. and learned Friend met colleagues from the twelve to discuss European political co-operation matters at an informal weekend meeting in Konstanz on 5–6 March, and again at a ministerial meeting on 22 March in Brussels. He expects to discuss these matters with them next on 13 June in Luxembourg.

  Atlantic Alliance
  Mr. Curry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made within the Western European Union to strengthen the European pillar of the Atlantic Alliance.

  Mr. Mellor
  Work is continuing on developing the Western European Union platform, on examining European security issues and on concerting policy on issues outside the NATO area affecting common security interests.

  Persian Gulf
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current position in the Persian Gulf.

  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current situation in the Gulf.

  Mr. Mellor
  The situation in the Gulf is relatively quiet at the moment. Since 18 April there has been only one attack on merchant shipping. Events on 18 April reminded Iran that she cannot expect to endanger the lives and interests of non-belligerents with impunity. The Armilla patrol, British minesweepers and other friendly navies in the area continue to contribute to maintaining freedom of navigation with a high level of vigilance.

  Cyprus
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current state of Anglo-Cypriot relations.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Anglo-Cypriot relations are good. My right Friend the Prime Minister held friendly and useful talks with President Vassiliou on 31 March.

  Mr. Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the prospects for settlement of the Cyprus dispute.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We continue to hope that the United Nations Secretary-General will be able to find a basis for the resumption of inter-communal talks. Good will gestures by both sides would facilitate his task.

  Ethiopia
  Mr. Andrew MacKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Ethiopian Government about human rights issues in that country.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Over the years we have made numerous representations. Most recently my hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development took the matter up with the Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister during a visit to Ethiopia in January. We shall continue to raise the subject at every suitable opportunity.

  Afghanistan
  Mr. Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any plans to pay an official visit to Afghanistan.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no such plans.

  Panama
  Mr. Haynes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether there have been any discussions with the United States Government concerning the current situation in Panama.

  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether there have been any discussions with the United States Government concerning the current situation in Panama.

  Mr. Eggar
  The situation has been discussed in the course of our normal contacts with the United States Government.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether there have been any discussions with the United States Government concerning the current situation in Panama.

  Mr. Eggar
  The situation in Panama has been discussed in the course of our normal contacts with the United States Government.

  Commonwealth Countries (Nuclear Policy)
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many 472
  Commonwealth states have policies of refusing access to nuclear-armed or nuclear-powered aircraft or naval vessels.

  Mr. Mellor
  New Zealand is the only Commonwealth country whose current policy in relation to declarations on the presence of nuclear weapons prevents visits by Royal Navy ships.

  Hong Kong
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received about progress with the transition to Chinese sovereignty in Hong Kong; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. and learned Friend has received no representations on the general question of the transition in Hong Kong. Good progress is being made in the implementation of the Sino-British joint declaration. The Sino-British joint liaison group and the Land Commission have held successful meetings, and have concluded agreements on a number of important issues which will facilitate a smooth transfer of Government in 1997.

  USSR
  Mr. Sackville
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to meet his Soviet counterpart to discuss nuclear matters.

  Mr. Mellor
  My right hon. Friend has had a series of meetings with Mr. Shevardnadze, most recently at Brize Norton in December and during his visit to Moscow in February, when they covered the full range of nuclear and arms control issues. No date has yet been fixed for their next meeting.

  Nicaragua
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards a settlement of the conflict in Nicaragua.

  Mr. Eggar
  We have consistently advocated a peaceful negotiated solution to the region's problems. Together with our European partners we warmly welcomed both the Guatemala peace agreement and the 60-day cease-fire agreement signed by the Government of Nicaragua and the Contras at Sapoa on 23 March. We hope negotiations for a definitive cease-fire now under way will lead to peace and reconciliation within a pluralistic democracy in Nicaragua.

  Federal Republic of Germany
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects to meet the ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany.

  Mrs. Chalker
  My right hon. and learned Friend has frequent occasion to meet the ambassador informally, but no immediate plans to meet him on official business.

  Chile
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received regarding the imprisonment of the former Chilean Foreign Secretary, Clodomiro Almeyda.

  Mr. Eggar
  On 19 April, Sr. Clodomiro Almeyda's brother met officials of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. He asked that Her Majesty's Government should intervene on his brother's behalf. He was informed that the Chilean Government are already well aware of our concern about Sr. Almeyda.

  West Indies
  Mr. Gerald Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he intends to pay an official visit to the West Indies.

  Mrs. Chalker
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans at present to pay an official visit to the West Indies.

  Human Rights
  Mr. Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Vienna Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe conference has so far yielded any advances in the area of human rights; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  Advances have been distinctly modest so far. When I addressed the Vienna CSCE meeting on 15 April, I made it clear that we could not conclude business without much more progress on human rights issues.

  Nigeria
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on United Kingdom-Nigeria relations.

  Mrs. Chalker
  As I told my hon. Friend on 3 February, the United Kingdom enjoys close and cordial relations with Nigeria. These were again demonstrated at the bilateral talks which my right hon. and learned Friend and I had with the Nigerian Foreign Minister at Chevening on 15 and 16 March.

  Singapore
  Mr. Coachman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current state of Anglo-Singaporean relations.

  Mr. Eggar
  Our relations with Singapore are excellent. My right hon. and learned Friend visited Singapore from 7 to 9 April as part of a wider tour of south-east Asia, which also included visits to Malaysia and Brunei. He had valuable discussions with Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, Deputy Prime Ministers Goh Chok Tong and Ong Teng Cheong, and with Foreign Minister Dhanabalan on bilateral links and a range of regional and international issues.

  Gibraltar (Checkpoints)
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to 474
  assess whether the border checkpoints on Gibraltar are working effectively and that staff are able and have powers to detain persons where this is considered necessary.

  Mrs. Chalker
  My right hon. and learned Friend is satisfied with the effectiveness of the frontier controls. We are currently looking for ways of streamlining them.

  Gibraltar (Police)
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps have been taken to assess the adequacy of the police establishment on Gibraltar; and what is the current approved establishment and actual staff in post.

  Mrs. Chalker
  My right hon. and learned Friend is satisfied with the police establishment in Gibraltar, which is kept under continuous review. The approved establishment is 232 and there are currently 230 staff in post.

  Miracle Bus Company
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he was first notified of the problems facing the Southend council and the Miracle Bus Company in securing permission from the West German Government to provide a bus from Ostend to Germany to connect with a plane from Southend airport; and if he will set out the action taken by his Department since that time.

  Mrs. Chalker
  My Department was first informed of the problems involved in setting up this service to Frankfurt in June 1986. Since then we have held many discussions with the German and Belgium authorities and with the European commission. Agreement was subsequently reached that the service should be authorised and I understand the British operator hopes to start the service at the end of this month.

  Irish Trust (Residual Funds)
  Sir John Biggs-Davison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the transfer of residual funds from the Irish Sailors' and Soldiers' Land Trust has been completed; to what extent this has benefited, or will benefit, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution in the island of Ireland; and if he will convey to Mr. Charles Haughey the appreciation of Her Majesty's Government of his interest in the matter.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The first (and major) tranche of surplus funds from the Irish Sailors' and Soldiers' Land Trust, £4·5 million, has been distributed in accordance with the 1987 Act. The distribution of the Irish Government's share is a matter for that Government, but I understand that they plan to pass a portion of the money to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (Ireland). I am happy to record the appreciation of Her Majesty's Government at this development.

DEFENCE

  Ex-departmental Staff (Appointments)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff have left his Department and
  475
  taken up employment in the private defence industry, for each year from 1979 to date; and what were the grades involved.

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  11988

  Below HEO

  5

  13

  4

  24

  34

  101

  159

  124

  50

  11

  HEO

  23

  20

  31

  71

  104

  115

  97

  110

  92

  12

  SEO

  33

  22

  41

  65

  121

  112

  173

  82

  72

  22

  Grade 7

  16

  24

  44

  31

  69

  66

  136

  60

  72

  14

  Grade 6

  1

  6

  3

  7

  19

  14

  31

  29

  12

  7

  Grade 5

  7

  10

  13

  14

  30

  15

  35

  16

  20

  6

  Grades 1–4

  6

  10

  23

  21

  34

  21

  46

  18

  16

  2

  Total

  91

  105

  159

  233

  411

  444

  677

  439

  334

  74

  1 To date.

  Notes:

  1. The table represents the number of individuals making applications rather than the number of applications received.

  2. The table includes all MOD civil servants and service officers at equivalent grades/ranks.

  3. The figures record the number of approvals given to prospective appointments; records do not exist of those appointments actually accepted.

  Prisoners of War, Wormhoudt
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in assessing the papers relating to the killing of 80 British prisoners of war captured in 1940 near the French village of Wormhoudt, near Dunkirk; what discussions he has had with others on this matter; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department announced on 21 April, we are examining the records relevant to the killing of the British prisoners of war in 1940 near Wormhoudt as a matter of urgency. We are in close touch with other interested Departments.

  Chipmunk
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many hours of Royal Air Force initial training are currently carried out on the de Havilland Chipmunk aircraft.

  Mr. Freeman
  Four thousand two hundred and fifty hours were flown on the de Havilland Chipmunk aircraft during elementary flying training in the year ending 31 March 1988.

  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many de Havilland Chipmunk aircraft are currently in Royal Air Force service.

  Mr. Freeman
  There are 77 Chipmunk aircraft currently in service with the RAF.

  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the de Havilland Chipmunk entered Royal Air Force service.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Chipmunk entered service with the RAF in February 1950.

  Targeting Pods
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he intends to order night vision targeting pods for Royal Air Force Tornado and Harrier GR5 aircraft.
  476
  Mr. Sainsbury
  The total number of approvals by grade to take up employment in defence industries since 1979 is as follows:

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Following a competition, a contract for development and production of a night vision forward-looking infra-red system for Tornado GR1 and Harrier GR5 aircraft was awarded to GEC Sensors of Basildon in December 1985.

  The competiton to select an advanced laser designator pod, a targeting aid for installation on Tornado GR1 aircraft, is in its final stages. There is no requirement for this system to be fitted on Harrier GR5 aircraft.

  Nimrod
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department is considering the conversion of Nimrod AEW aircraft for use as tankers.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  This is one of a number of possibilities we are considering for utilising the Nimrod AEW airframes, but no decision has yet been taken.

  Trident
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the total expenditure to date on the building of a road network for the establishment of a Trident base on the Clyde.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 3 May 1988]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen) on 4 March 1988 at column 687.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  European Agriculture Ministers
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met his counterparts from the other European Community countries; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 20 April to my hon. Friend the Member for Pembroke (Mr. Bennett), at columns 505–6.

  Sheep (Radioactivity)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent representations he has
  477
  received concerning the restrictions placed on the movement of sheep following the Chernobyl disaster and concerning compensation to those farmers affected by the restrictions.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I have received representations from the Cumbria branch of the National Farmers Union, which sent to the Ministry's Carlisle office the results of a survey it conducted concerning the operation of the sheep compensation scheme. The branch has listed 66 producers who feel that they have been inadequately compensated. Of the 66 producers, 57 have already received compensation under the arrangements totalling £78,447 up to April 1988. We have said all along that we would be prepared to look at the scheme and its operation, which has been discussed in detail with the farmers' unions before and following the introduction of the various elements. As a result, changes have been made to some aspects of the scheme.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether his Department has evidence of an increase in mutations of lambs born in the restricted area of Cumbria since the Chernobyl accident; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Congenital defects in lambs may be caused by a variety of factors, including environmental agents, nutritional deficiencies and viral infections. We are advised that the annual dose of radiation to sheep in Cumbria is within the normal range of background radiation in the United Kingdom. There is no reason to believe that the levels of contamination from Chernobyl present a health hazard to sheep or that it will effect their fertility or breeding potential. There is no evidence that lambs born in the restricted area of Cumbria have a higher incidence of congenital defects than lambs born elsewhere.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research is being undertaken into the mutation of lambs born in the restricted area of Cumbria since the Chernobyl accident; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I understand that a research project by Liverpool university into the effects of low-level radiation on sheep is being undertaken. I believe that the project is utilising sheep supplied by farmers in North Wales, but I am not aware that sheep have been supplied by farmers in the restricted area of Cumbria.

  Surplus Food and Drink
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total volume and value in pound sterling of surplus food and drink in the EEC.

  Mr. MacGregor
  A note setting out the volume of EC intervention stocks of agricultural commodities, which is not necessarily the same as surplus food and drink, is deposited in the Library of the House and updated monthly. The estimated book value of the EC stocks, excluding depreciation, set out in the most recently deposited note is £4·8 billion.

  Sheep
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he next expects to meet the farming unions to discuss the sheep sector.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I continue to maintain regular contacts with the farming unions and their representatives on matters relating to the sheep sector.

  Inshore Fishermen
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total number of licences that can be issued to an inshore fisherman; and if he will list them.

  Mr. Gummer
  The restrictive licensing scheme does not differentiate between inshore and offshore fishermen. The number of licences issued to a fisherman depends on his eligibility and the fish stocks he wishes to catch.

  Farm Incomes
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish in the Official Report figures showing at the latest available date (a) what proportion of fauns derived all their income from agriculture; (b) what proportion of those farmers' earnings were from non-agricultural employment, investment and pensions in (i) England, (ii) the south-western region and (iii) each of the counties in that region.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The latest information available is from the Inland Revenue's "Survey of Personal Incomes, 1984/85", and is given in table 4.5 of "Farm Incomes in the United Kingdom" 1988 edition. This shows that for those with a self-employment income from agriculture and horticulture in the United Kingdom:

  (a) 15 per cent. had no other income than that arising from self-employment (virtually all from agriculture and horticulture) and,

  (b) 30 per cent. had income from employment (in or out of agriculture) in addition to income from self-employment.

  The further information requested is not available.

  Milk
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has on producer prices for milk at the latest available date in(a) Japan, (b) the European Community, (c) the United States of America and (d) New Zealand.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The information requested is set out in the table.

  Producer price1 per kilogramme of milk: 1987

  Country

  Price per kilo

  Japan2

  Yen

  782·75

  Yen

  890·50

  United States3

  US$

  0·272

  New Zealand4

  NZ$

  60·159

  European Community Member States5

  United Kingdom

  £

  0·155

  Germany

  DM

  0·612

  France

  FF

  6l·757

  Italy

  Lire

  519·9

  Netherlands

  F1

  0·718

  479

  Country

  Price per kilo

  Belgium

  BF

  611·10

  Luxembourg

  LF

  12·21

  Ireland

  £IR

  60·174

  Denmark

  DKr

  2·45

  Greece

  Dra

  637·19

  Notes

  1 Relates to milk of varying fat content.

  2 Guaranteed price for manufacturing milk delivered to factory: average selling price for fluid milk.

  3 Average price for milk sold to plants.

  4 Farmgate price of milk fat converted to milk equivalent; actual fat content.

  5 Ex farm, actual fat content: net of co-responsibility levy. No data are readily available for Spain and Portugal.

  6 Provisional.

  7 Manufacturing.

  8 Fluid.

  Beef
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total amount of beef exported in the most recent annual period for which figures are available; which countries the exports were sent to; and what was the price of buying the meat into intervention and of subsidising its export, respectively.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  176,140 tonnes of beef were exported from the United Kingdom in 1987. The table gives details of destinations. In 1987, 20,406 tonnes of intervention beef were sold under sales which required the beef to be exported to third countries. This beef had been purchased during a period the prices paid for intervention ranged from £1,920/tonne to £2,140/tonne for steer carcases of R3 quality on the carcase classification scale. The total expenditure on refunds for all beef exports to third countries in 1987 (including sales from intervention and other exports as well) was £27,401,295.

  Tonnes

  EC member states

  France

  79,716

  West Germany

  15,766

  Irish Republic

  9,975

  Netherlands

  9,270

  Belgium/Luxembourg

  7,056

  Italy

  3,127

  Greece

  641

  Spain

  592

  Denmark

  318

  Portugal

  166

  Third countries:

  Brazil

  14,611

  Iraq

  9,619

  Egypt

  3,918

  Tunisia

  3,444

  South Africa

  3,064

  Iran

  2,145

  Turkey

  1,814

  Saudi Arabia

  1,534

  Barbados

  1,267

  Venezula

  1,219

  Cyprus

  887

  Zimbabwe

  829

  Mauritius

  725

  Israel

  662

  French Polynesia

  346

  Ivory Coast

  232

  Yugoslavia

  214

  Hong Kong

  196

  480

  Tonnes

  Sweden

  194

  Zaire

  157

  Dubai

  150

  Taiwan

  143

  Togo

  125

  Canary Island

  113

  Comoros

  109

  Malta

  102

  Angola

  98

  Romania

  89

  Antigua; Barbuda

  87

  Kuwait

  87

  Bahrain

  79

  India

  75

  Oman

  75

  Trinidad and Tobago

  73

  Gibralta

  69

  Jordan

  62

  Sharjah

  59

  Qatar

  57

  Bangladesh

  50

  Hungary

  47

  Niger

  43

  Bahamas

  42

  Sudan

  41

  Congo

  38

  Abu Dhabi

  37

  Senegal

  36

  Belize

  34

  Nigeria

  30

  Grenada

  27

  St. Lucia

  27

  Ghana

  23

  Gambia

  22

  Gabon

  20

  British Indian Occupied Territory

  18

  Czechoslovakia

  18

  Surinam

  18

  South Korea

  17

  Nauru

  16

  St. Vincent

  15

  Bolivia

  14

  Chad

  13

  Algeria

  12

  Andorra

  12

  Dominica

  11

  St. Helena

  10

  Djibouti

  9

  Japan

  8

  Libya

  8

  Tanzania

  8

  Bulgaria

  7

  Benin

  6

  Guatemala

  6

  North Yemen

  6

  Mayotte

  5

  Switzerland

  5

  Syria

  5

  Falkland Islands

  4

  Norway

  4

  Pakistan

  4

  Greenland

  3

  St. Kitts, Nevis Federation

  2

  Soviet Union

  2

  Zambia

  2

  Bermuda

  1

  Canada

  1

  Kenya

  1

  United States of America

  1

  Total trade with EC:

  126,627

  Total trade with 3rd countries:

  49,513

  Total trade:

  176,140

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much was spent by the EEC in purchasing meat into public and private intervention over
  481
  the most recent annual period for which figures are available; and how much was spent on storing and exporting such beef, respectively, during the same period.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Intervention purchases are paid for initially by the member state, but part of the storage and financing costs, as well as the eventual loss on sale, are borne by the European Community. Private storage aid is paid in full by the EC. No separate figures are kept for the cost of export refunds on beef which has been the subject of public intervention storage and aided private storage. 1986 figures are as follows:

  million ecus

  £ million

  Total intervention

  2,030·5

  1,315·5

  Private storage

  102·3

  66·3

  Public intervention

  1,928·2

  1,249·2

  Figures are available only for 10 months of 1987, as follows:

  million ecus

  £ million

  Total intervention

  1,050·3

  756

  Private storage

  66·3

  48

  Public intervention

  984·0

  708

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current range of prices offered for the purchase of beef into intervention; and what are the comparable figures offered to traders for such beef to be exported, including any specific export subsidy.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Prices for beef being bought into intervention in Great Britain range from £1,646·7/tonne to £1,717·8/tonne for straight cut forequarters depending on the quality.

  Prices for sales for export from intervention stocks are currently:

  Tonne

  Cuts

  £710·55–£3,908

  Forequarters

  £426·33–£994·76

  Hindquarters

  £1,456·22–£1,598·73

  In certain cases prices within these ranges are minimum prices for tender sales and actual prices paid may be higher.

  Export refunds are payable only in respect of some sales from intervention stocks, these being generally the sales for which higher prices are sought. The rate varies according to the eventual destination of the beef but the range of rates for frozen beef (adjusted by MCAs) in the week ending 29 April are:

  tonne

  Cuts

  £185·50–£727·80

  Forequarters

  £185·50–£483·60

  Hindquarters

  £315·60–£794·00

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his latest estimate of the amount of beef produced and consumed internally by the EEC; and if comparable figures are available for lamb and pork respectively.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The latest figures provided by the European Commission estimate the amount of beef produced and consumed in the EC in 1987 at 8,005,000 tonnes and 7,550,000 tonnes respectively. The equivalent estimates for mutton and lamb are 1,005,000 tonnes 482
  produced and 1,239,000 tonnes consumed, and for pigmeat 12,273,000 tonnes and 12,057,000 tonnes respectively.

  EC Meat Exports
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture. Fisheries and Food if any record is kept of the meat which is exported from the EEC with subsidy and then returns to the United Kingdom for domestic consumption. and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Export refunds are available for beef, pigmeat and poultry and are paid only when proof is provided that the meat has been cleared through Customs for consumption in the country of destination.

  Refunds are not generally payable for destinations which are significant exporters of beef to the Community. In 1986 when Brazil was suffering a meat shortage the Commission arranged tender sales of intervention beef to Brazil. A condition of these sales was that the beef should be imported by a Government agency, Interbras, and the Brazilian authorities gave an undertaking that the beef would be consumed there.

  To ensure that exports of poultrymeat are not returned to the Community export refunds are related to the basic levies charged on all third country imports. The Community is not a significant importer of pigmeat.

  Meat Prices
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the recent European Council agreement on agricultural spending will have the effect a making meat available to home manufacturers and canners at prices comparable to the prices offered to foreign canners.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  When the Council of Agriculture Ministers agreed on the level of imports of beef under the manufacturing balance sheet at its meeting on 8 February the Commission gave an undertaking that it recognised the need to ensure that additional supplies of beef are available to the Community meat processing industry on terms that enable Community production to be competitive with products from other sources. The recent decisions taken on agricultural spending should not affect the ability of the Commission to discharge this undertaking.

  Badgers
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many badgers were removed in each of the parishes listed under his badger control strategy in 1986 and 1987.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 25 April 1988]: The numbers of badgers taken in parishes where, under the present control strategy, badgers may be removed automatically in the event of an unexplained herd breakdown due to bovine tuberculosis, are shown in the following table. The table excludes badgers taken in removal operations prior to adoption in April 1986 of the revised control strategy recommended in the Dunnet Report.
  483

  County

  Parish

  Number of badgers taken

  1986

  1987

  Avon

  Batheaston

  13

  —

  Cold Ashton

  37

  6

  English Combe

  4

  —

  Hawkesbury

  3

  28

  St. Catherine

  1

  —

  Cornwall

  Camborne

  —

  9

  Helland

  4

  —

  Kirkhampton

  —

  18

  Linkinhorne

  —

  5

  Ludgvan

  —

  13

  Michaelstow

  4

  —

  Merwenstowe

  —

  1

  Sancreed

  13

  —

  South Hill

  2

  4

  Stithians

  19

  —

  Stoke Climsland

  —

  6

  St. Gulvias

  43

  —

  St. Just

  46

  —

  St. Neot

  23

  —

  St. Veep

  —

  11

  Wendron

  27

  35

  Devon

  Hartland

  —

  2

  Manaton

  —

  33

  Dorset

  Cheselbourne

  3

  10

  Stoke Abbott

  —

  11

  Gloucestershire

  Alderley

  —

  2

  Bisley with Lypiatt

  26

  35

  Boxwell with Leighterton

  —

  30

  Coates

  —

  5

  Edgeworth

  1

  3

  North Nibley

  1

  —

  Nympsfield

  1

  —

  Painswick

  —

  9

  Prestbury

  11

  5

  Standish

  40

  —

  Stinchcombe

  8

  —

  Stroud

  —

  17

  Uley

  6

  3

  Whittington

  17

  —

  Wotton Under Edge

  —

  45

  Somerset

  Cheddar

  —

  10

  484

  County

  Parish

  Number of badgers taken

  1986

  1987

  Wiltshire

  Box

  10

  4

  Compton Bassett

  20

  —

  North Wraxall

  10

  —

  Dyfed

  Bettws Evan

  —

  6

  Llangeler

  1

  7

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many badgers were removed in 1986 and 1987, by parish, for which prior approval of the consultative panel on badgers and tuberculosis was required.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 25 April 1988]: The number of badgers taken in parishes where prior approval of the consultative panel on badgers and tuberculosis was required are as follows:

  County

  Parish

  Number of badgers taken

  1986

  1987

  Avon

  Pucklechurch

  15

  —

  Cornwall

  Davidstowe

  —

  6

  Menheniot

  —

  —

  St. Martin

  —

  7

  Devon

  Holsworthy

  —

  31

  Milton Damerel

  —

  7

  Sutcombe

  —

  5

  Thornbury

  —

  15

  Gloucester

  Brookthorpe

  —

  17

  Duntisbourne Rouse

  —

  45

  Moreton Valence

  8

  —

  Somerset

  Rodney Stoke

  —

  12

  Westbury sub Mendip

  —

  52

  Wiltshire

  Brokenborough

  —

  46

  Malmesbury St. Paul without

  —

  1

  Sherston

  —

  12

  Dyfed

  Llanddarog

  —

  3

  Llanwinio

  —

  2

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Personal Taxation
  Sir Brandon Rhys Williams
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish tables comparable to those published to indicate the effect of the Budget income tax tables, continuing up to income of £2,000 per week, illustrating the tax and national insurance position of couples in 1989–90 both having income from employment and also where the wife's income is derived from

  Comparisons between the proposed 1988–89 regime and independent taxation

  £ per week

  NIC

  Income tax

  Net income

  Total income

  Husband's income

  Wife's income

  Husband's

  Wife's

  Existing joint tax charge

  Independent taxation

  Existing regime

  After independent taxation

  Husband's tax

  Wife's tax

  1. Total income split 50-50 per cent. between husband and wife. Income all earned

  100

  50

  50

  2·50

  2·50

  ·00

  ·00

  ·00

  95·00

  95·00

  200

  100

  100

  7·00

  7·00

  17·79

  5·31

  12·48

  168·21

  168·21

  400

  200

  200

  18·00

  18·00

  67·79

  30·31

  37·48

  296·21

  296·21

  800

  400

  400

  27·45

  27·45

  174·95

  80·31

  87·48

  570·15

  577·31

  1,000

  500

  500

  27·45

  27·45

  248·58

  112·83

  124·29

  696·52

  707·98

  1,500

  750

  750

  27·45

  27·45

  448·58

  212·83

  224·29

  996·52

  1,007·98

  2,000

  1,000

  1,000

  27·45

  27·45

  648·58

  312·83

  324·29

  1,296·52

  1,307·98

  2. Total income split 75–25 per cent. between husband and wife. Income all earned

  100

  75

  25

  5·25

  ·00

  ·00

  ·00

  ·00

  94·75

  94·75

  200

  150

  50

  13·50

  2·50

  17·81

  17·81

  ·00

  166·19

  166·19

  400

  300

  100

  27·00

  7·00

  67·79

  55·31

  12·48

  298·21

  298·21

  800

  600

  200

  27·45

  18·00

  201·76

  152·83

  37·48

  552·79

  564·25

  1,000

  750

  250

  27·45

  22·50

  274·26

  212·83

  49·98

  675·79

  687·25

  1,500

  1,125

  375

  27·45

  27·45

  455·51

  362·83

  81·23

  989·59

  1,001,05

  2,000

  1,500

  500

  27·45

  27·45

  648·58

  512·83

  124·29

  1,296·52

  1,307·98

  3. Total income split 50–50 per cent. between husband and wife. Husband's income all earned and wife's income all investment income1

  100

  50

  50

  2·50

  ·00

  5·31

  ·00

  ·00

  92·19

  97·50

  200

  100

  100

  7·00

  ·00

  30·31

  5·31

  12·48

  162·69

  175·21

  400

  200

  200

  18·00

  ·00

  80·31

  30·31

  37·48

  301·69

  314·21

  800

  400

  400

  27·45

  ·00

  232·83

  80·31

  87·48

  539·72

  604·76

  1,000

  500

  500

  27·45

  ·00

  312·83

  112·83

  124·29

  659·72

  735·43

  1,500

  750

  750

  27·45

  ·00

  512·83

  212·83

  224·29

  959·72

  1,035·43

  2,000

  1,000

  1,000

  27·45

  ·00

  712·83

  312·83

  324·29

  1,259·72

  1,335·43

  4. Total income split 75–25 per cent. between husband and wife. Husband's income all earned and wife's income all investment income1

  100

  75

  25

  5·25

  ·00

  5·31

  ·00

  ·00

  89·44

  94·75

  200

  150

  50

  13·50

  ·00

  30·31

  17·81

  ·00

  156·19

  168·69

  400

  300

  100

  27·00

  ·00

  80·31

  55·31

  12·48

  292·69

  305·21

  800

  600

  200

  27·45

  ·00

  232·83

  152·83

  37·48

  539·72

  582·25

  1,000

  750

  250

  27·45

  ·00

  312·83

  212·83

  49·98

  659·72

  709·75

  1,500

  1,125

  375

  27·45

  ·00

  512·83

  362·83

  81·23

  959·72

  1,028·50

  2,000

  1,500

  500

  27·45

  ·00

  712·83

  512·83

  124·29

  1,259·72

  1,335·43

  1 Assumed paid gross.

  Government Departments and Agencies (Re-location)
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which Government Departments and agencies have been transferred from London and the south-east of England to the regions since 1979.

  Mr. Brooke
  The Government's dispersal programme since 1979 has included significant transfers of Civil Service posts from London to regions outside the south-east, by the following Departments and agencies:

  Export Credits Guarantee Department (to Cardiff)

  Health and Safety Executive (to Bootle)

  Her Majesty's Stationery Office (to Norwich)

  Home Office (to Bootle)

  486
  investments and showing the tax and national insurance position and the resultant net income for couples over the same range of incomes after the introduction of independent taxation in 1990.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Illustrative examples of the effects of independent taxation for non-aged taxpayers at various levels of income up to £2,000 per week are given in the tables. They are based on income tax and national insurance contribution rates for 1988–89. The tables include two illustrations of the possible distribution of the amount of income between husband and wife.

  Manpower Services Commission (to Sheffield)

  Ministry of Defence (to Glasgow)

  Overseas Development Administration (to East Kilbride)

  Property Services Agency (to Bootle)

  Details of dispersals undertaken on Departments' own initiatives are not held centrally. However, Her Majesty's Land Registry opened a new office in Hull in 1987; the Department of Trade and Industry recently announced plans to relocate the Patent Office to Newport; and the Department of Health and Social Security has created a large number of new jobs at its Newcastle central office and at its family credit centre at North Fylde.

  Interest Rates
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received concerning the level of interest rates in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

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

THE ARTS

  Merseyside Arts Association
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will provide money additional to the 2·2 per cent. increase in development funds for the Merseyside regional arts associations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 3 May 1988]: No. It is for the Arts Council to determine the distribution of its grant.

  Distance Learning Scheme
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Minister for the Arts how much money he has allocated to his Department's distance learning scheme.

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 29 April 1988]: Negotiations are continuing between the Arts Council and the Institute of Marketing, which are to provide the distance learning package. No figure has yet been agreed, but it is likely to be in the region of £100,000.

EMPLOYMENT

  Availability for Work Test
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether individuals who are on the community programme who choose to leave when the adult training scheme is introduced in September will be liable to benefit loss under the availability for work test.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Participants who join the community programme (CP) from the end of February are entitled to six months on that programme. We have already made it clear that the new employment training programme is to be a voluntary one. Those CP participants who choose not to take advantage of the new programme at the end of their time on CP will not be liable to benefit loss under the availability for work test.

  Inter-union Disputes
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans for further legislation to limit the effects of inter-union disputes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My right hon. Friend has no such plans.

  Disabled Persons
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many of the United Kingdom's largest 100 employers hold permits exempting them from the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944; how many of these(a) hold permits covering multiple outlets—
  488
  operational sites and (b) do not hold exemption permits and who are failing to meet their quota obligations; and how such companies are being encouraged to meet their obligations under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944.

  Mr. Lee
  The information requested about the 100 largest employers is not available centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. In Great Britain the Department of Employment's employment service established a major organisations development unit in October 1987. This maintains contact with major employers at senior, head office, level and influences and assists large companies in the adoption of good practices in the employment of people with disabilities. At a local level, the employment service's disablement advisory service also promotes vigorously the employment of people with disabilities. In Northern Ireland these functions are undertaken by the Department of Economic Development's disablement resettlement officers.

  South Korea
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has as to how many hours there are in the average working week in South Korea, and on the average wage there.

  Mr. Lee
  The latest available information relates to 1986 and is published by the International Labour Office in its "Yearbook of Labour Statistics 1987." In nonagricultural activities, average hours worked per week by employees are shown as 52·5 and average earnings per month as 350,966 Won, approximately £63 per week.

  Retail Workers
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of workers in retail are(a) full-time and (b) part-time; and what were the comparable figures five years previously.

  Mr. Lee
  In December 1987, the latest date for which figures are available, the proportions of full-time and part-time employees in employment in the retail distribution industry in Great Britain were 54 per cent. and 46 per cent. respectively. There are no comparable estimates for December 1982 but comparable figures from the 1981 census of employment show that in September 1981 the proportions were 60 per cent. and 40 per cent. The figures have not been adjusted for the effects of seasonal variations.

  Training Schemes
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if people who(a) complete a course on the adult training strategy and (b) come off training courses prior to completion will be entitled to claim unemployment or supplementary benefit.

  Mr. Nicholls
  People who have completed their time in employment training or have left the programme early and who have not secured a job will be entitled to claim unemployment benefit or income support provided that they meet the statutory conditions for entitlements to these benefits.

  Enterprise Agencies
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a further statement on the progress of the enterprise agencies.

  Mr. Cope
  There are now over 400 local enterprise agencies in the United Kingdom. This Department, through the local enterprise agency grant scheme, is encouraging the development of a network of viable agencies in England; 200 agencies were supported under the scheme in the 1987–88 financial year.

  Enterprise Allowance Scheme
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people took up offers under the enterprise allowance scheme during the past 12 months; and what plans he has for extending this scheme.

  Mr. Cope
  During the year April 1987 to March 1988, 106,305 people joined the scheme; 110,000 places will be available during the current year.

  There are no plans at present to alter the main eligibility rules of the scheme.

  Labour Statistics
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people aged 16 to 18 years were unemployed in the London borough of Lewisham at the latest available date.

  Mr. Lee
  On 14 January 1988, the number of unemployed claimants in the London borough of Lewisham aged 16 to 18 years was 1,004.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total number of persons under the age of 23 years, by sex, who have been registered as unemployed for(a) less than six months, (b) between six and 12 months and (c) more than 12 months.

  Mr. Lee
  The following information is available in the Library. Unemployment figures are not available for the age range requested. However, the table shows the numbers of unemployed claimants under 25 years, by sex and duration, in the United Kingdom on the latest date available, 14 January 1988.

  Administrative and clerical staff

  Whole time equivalents

  Cost £000

  Cost relative to population £

  Northern Region

  Total

  6,263

  49,646

  16

  Hartlepool

  177

  1,395

  15

  North Tees

  342

  2,453

  14

  South Tees

  575

  4,387

  15

  East Cumbria

  301

  2,325

  13

  South Cumbria

  274

  2,047

  12

  West Cumbria

  229

  1,687

  12

  Darlington

  270

  2,017

  16

  Durham

  274

  2,771

  12

  North West Durham

  156

  1,225

  14

  South West Durham

  252

  2,034

  13

  Northumberland

  441

  3,464

  12

  Gateshead

  278

  2,236

  11

  Newcastle

  1,163

  8,328

  30

  North Tyneside

  239

  1,812

  9

  South Tyneside

  216

  1,729

  11

  490

  Unemployed

  Male

  Female

  Total

  Less than 6 months

  315,330

  205,569

  520,899

  6 to 12 months

  97,328

  60,279

  157,607

  Over 12 months

  144,392

  70,419

  214,811

  TOTAL

  557,050

  336,267

  893,317

  Family Expenditure Survey
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he intends to issue further data from the 1986 family expenditure survey.

  Mr. Cope
  Yes. Since the report on the 1986 survey was published on 30 December 1987, it has been discovered that, because of a fault in a computer programme, average weekly household expenditure in 1986 was overstated by £6·92; the published figure is £185·02 whereas the revised estimate is £178·10.

  An announcement of what has happened will appear in this month's Employment Gazette, together with revised data for broad groups of expenditure. The June Gazette will contain an article providing more detailed revised data.

  Corrected results from the 1986 survey will be made available in early July, free of charge to those customers who have purchased a copy of the original report.

SOCIAL SERVICES

  NHS Staff
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number and cost of administrative and clerical staff employed in the National Health Service by each district health authority; and what is this cost expressed relative to the population in each district.

  Mr. Newton
  Information for district health authorities in England and which relates to 1986–87 (the latest years available) is shown in the table.
  491

  Whole time equivalents

  Cost £000

  Cost relative to population £

  Sunderland

  626

  4,627

  16

  Yorkshire Region

  Total

  7,024

  56,508

  16

  Hull

  601

  4,389

  14

  East Yorkshire

  311

  2,561

  14

  Grimsby

  285

  2,153

  14

  Scunthorpe

  276

  1,993

  10

  Northallerton

  125

  1,014

  9

  York

  469

  3,871

  15

  Scarborough

  197

  1,624

  11

  Harrogate

  265

  1,988

  15

  Bradford

  584

  4,808

  14

  Airedale

  274

  2,218

  13

  Calderdale

  291

  2,241

  12

  Huddersfield

  409

  3,161

  15

  Dewsbury

  251

  1,897

  12

  Leeds Western

  764

  6,099

  17

  Leeds Eastern

  773

  5,945

  17

  Wakefield

  386

  3,227

  23

  Pontefract

  255

  2,095

  13

  Trent Region

  Total

  8,900

  71,906

  16

  North Derbyshire

  402

  3,067

  8

  Southern Derbyshire

  830

  6,659

  13

  Leicestershire

  1,440

  11,146

  13

  North Lincolnshire

  499

  3,837

  14

  South Lincolnshire

  422

  3,363

  11

  Bassetlaw

  134

  1,136

  11

  Central Nottinghamshire

  449

  3,568

  13

  Nottingham

  1,247

  10,941

  18

  Barnsley

  330

  3,613

  12

  Doncaster

  427

  3,321

  11

  Rotherham

  332

  2,668

  11

  Sheffield

  1,448

  10,691

  20

  East Anglian Region

  Total

  4,030

  32,221

  16

  Cambridge

  739

  5,651

  21

  Peterborough

  423

  3,045

  15

  West Suffolk

  346

  2,760

  12

  East Suffolk

  557

  4,247

  13

  Norwich

  769

  6,072

  13

  Great Yarmouth and Waveney

  343

  2,702

  14

  West Norfolk and Wisbech

  300

  2,334

  13

  Huntingdon

  224

  1,713

  13

  North West Thames Region

  Total

  7,736

  69,017

  20

  North Bedfordshire

  411

  3,056

  12

  South Bedfordshire

  450

  3,271

  12

  North Hertfordshire

  219

  1,673

  9

  East Hertfordshire

  272

  2,323

  8

  North West Hertfordshire

  588

  4,849

  19

  South West Hertfordshire

  331

  2,373

  10

  Barnet

  677

  6,342

  21

  Harrow

  416

  3,123

  15

  Hillingdon

  575

  5,008

  22

  Hounslow and Spelthorne

  582

  4,857

  17

  Ealing

  404

  4,020

  14

  Brent

  568

  4,592

  18

  Paddington and North Kensington

  629

  6,937

  58

  Riverside

  1,246

  12,889

  45

  North East Thames Region

  Total

  9,794

  89,209

  24

  Basildon and Thurrock

  498

  3,744

  13

  Mid Essex

  468

  3,838

  13

  North East Essex

  621

  4,587

  15

  West Essex

  391

  2,982

  12

  Southend

  580

  3,735

  12

  Barking Havering and Brentwood

  705

  5,623

  12

  Hampstead

  627

  5,868

  54

  492 493

  Whole time equivalents

  Cost £000

  Cosl relative to population £

  Bloomsbury

  1,159

  12,692

  97

  Islington

  486

  4,863

  29

  City and Hackney

  852

  7,914

  41

  Newham

  331

  3,385

  17

  Tower Hamlets

  803

  7,473

  49

  Enfield

  363

  3,189

  12

  Haringey

  461

  3,753

  19

  Redbridge

  353

  3,448

  15

  Waltham Forest

  553

  5,244

  24

  Soulh East Thames Region

  Total

  8,946

  79,171

  22

  Brighton

  710

  5,564

  19

  Eastbourne

  370

  3,035

  13

  Hastings

  326

  2,630

  16

  South East Kent

  396

  3,180

  12

  Canterbury and Thanet

  569

  4,399

  15

  Dartford and Gravesham

  434

  3,519

  16

  Maidstone

  370

  2,740

  14

  Medway

  482

  3,654

  11

  Tunbridge Wells

  426

  3,460

  18

  Bexley

  431

  3,472

  16

  Greenwich

  575

  4,950

  23

  Bromley

  497

  4,242

  14

  West Lambeth

  770

  8,135

  50

  Camberwell

  742

  7,302

  34

  Lewisham and North Southwark

  1,262

  12,402

  39

  South West Thatnes Region

  Total

  5,909

  64,371

  22

  North West Surrey

  368

  3,516

  17

  West Surrey and North East Hants

  361

  2,784

  10

  South West Surrey

  364

  2,996

  16

  Mid Surrey

  296

  2,808

  17

  East Surrey

  344

  3,016

  16

  Chichester

  325

  2,532

  14

  Mid Downs

  380

  3,006

  11

  Worthing

  335

  2,612

  11

  Croydon

  490

  4,779

  15

  Kingston and Esher

  356

  3,357

  19

  Richmond Twickenham and Roehampton

  331

  3,318

  14

  Wandsworth

  809

  7,714

  41

  Merton and Sutton

  596

  5,316

  16

  Wessex Region

  Total

  5,442

  46,009

  16

  East Dorset

  696

  5,999

  14

  West Dorset

  332

  2,770

  14

  Portsmouth and South East Hampshire

  826

  6,295

  12

  Southampton and South West Hampshire

  1,026

  7,934

  19

  Winchester

  324

  3,659

  18

  Basingstoke and North Hampshire

  376

  3,104

  14

  Salisbury

  298

  2,279

  19

  Swindon

  388

  3,491

  15

  Bath

  657

  5,437

  14

  Isle of Wight

  205

  1,975

  16

  Oxford Region

  Totat

  4,662

  36,815

  15

  East Berkshire

  505

  3,975

  11

  West Berkshire

  683

  5,257

  12

  Aylesbury Vale

  367

  2,930

  21

  Wycombe

  315

  2,431

  9

  Milton Keynes

  236

  1,826

  11

  Kettering

  331

  2,320

  9

  Northampton

  567

  4,262

  14

  Oxfordshire

  1,127

  8,226

  15

  South Western Region

  Total

  6,732

  53,519

  17

  Bristol and Weston

  1,130

  8,004

  22

  494 495

  Whole time equivalents

  Cost £000

  Cost relative to population £

  Frenchay

  548

  4,417

  20

  Southmead

  474

  4,076

  18

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  580

  4,678

  10

  Exeter

  713

  5,556

  18

  North Devon

  247

  1,781

  14

  Plymouth

  700

  5,393

  16

  Torbay

  406

  3,220

  14

  Cheltenham and District

  311

  2,653

  13

  Gloucester

  581

  4,126

  13

  Somerset

  611

  4,739

  12

  West Midlands Region

  Total

  11,283

  89,718

  17

  Bromsgrove and Redditch

  288

  2,324

  14

  Herefordshire

  257

  2,057

  13

  Kidderminster and District

  238

  1,779

  18

  Worcester and District

  475

  3,457

  15

  Shropshire

  604

  4,348

  11

  Mid Staffordshire

  416

  3,149

  10

  North Staffordshire

  805

  5,881

  13

  South East Staffordshire

  428

  3,122

  12

  Rugby

  116

  966

  11

  North Warwickshire

  299

  2,387

  14

  South Warwickshire

  420

  3,499

  16

  Central Birmingham

  891

  6,435

  36

  East Birmingham

  471

  3,222

  16

  North Birmingham

  358

  2,615

  16

  South Birmingham

  678

  4,816

  19

  West Birmingham

  600

  4,744

  22

  Coventry

  616

  4,593

  15

  Dudley

  587

  4,132

  14

  Sandwell

  410

  3,111

  10

  Solihull

  308

  2,300

  11

  Walsall

  405

  3,197

  12

  Wolverhampton

  550

  3,800

  15

  Mersey Region

  Total

  5,306

  41,784

  17

  Chester

  409

  3,128

  18

  Crewe

  372

  2,860

  12

  Halton

  173

  1,503

  11

  Macclesfield

  303

  2,361

  13

  Warrington

  379

  3,061

  17

  Liverpool

  1,308

  9,876

  20

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  529

  4,008

  11

  Southport and Formby

  232

  1,884

  16

  South Sefton

  488

  3,681

  20

  Wirral

  623

  4,542

  13

  Norlh Western Region

  Total

  9,563

  74,833

  19

  Lancaster

  381

  2,904

  22

  Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde

  497

  3,749

  12

  Preston

  626

  4,587

  37

  Blackburn Hyndburn and Ribble Valley

  550

  4,304

  16

  Burnley Pendle and Rossendale

  433

  3,032

  13

  West Lancashire

  234

  1,735

  16

  Chorley and South Ribble

  149

  1,153

  6

  Bolton

  418

  3,022

  12

  Bury

  247

  1,577

  9

  North Manchester

  589

  4,248

  29

  Central Manchester

  685

  5,123

  41

  South Manchester

  923

  6,362

  35

  Oldham

  393

  2,875

  13

  Rochdale

  284

  2,132

  10

  Salford

  722

  5,385

  23

  Stockport

  464

  3,451

  12

  Tameside and Glossop

  324

  2,335

  10

  TrafJford

  360

  2,645

  12

  Wigan

  498

  3,672

  12

  Sources:

  1. DHSS (SR7) annual census of NHS non medical manpower (staff in post at 30 September 1986).

  2. Annual accounts of regional and district health authorities—1986–87.
  496 497
  3. Mid year estimates of populations—1986 (Office of Population Censuses and Surveys).

  Notes to the Table:

  1. All RHA tables include

  (a) General Managers.

  (b) Regional totals include Regional Headquarters and Units Staff.

  (c) Figures are rounded to the nearest whole time equivalent.

  2. The staff numbers and costs (essentially expenditure on pay including employers' national insurance and superannuation contributions) shown in the table include all directly employed staff in the diversity of grades whose pay negotiations are dealt with by the Administrative and Clerical Staff Whitley Council together with general managers and non National Health Service (agency, etc.) administrative and clerical staff.

  3. Each region's totals include figures for regional headquarters and unit staff in addition to the totals for the districts.

  Housing Benefit
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many individuals in the Crewe and Nantwich constituency have lost housing benefit since the change in the Social Security Act on 1 April; and what is the total amount of housing benefit lost.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many recipients have had their housing benefit(a) withdrawn or(b) reduced in the Wakefield metropolitan district.

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

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether payments of transitional protection to claimants of housing benefit will be made as regular weekly payments or some other basis; and what period he expects a transitional protection certificate to cover;

  (2) what further subsidy he is offering to local authorities to compensate them for the administration needed to implement the certification process associated with the scheme of transitional protection for housing benefit; when he expects the scheme to be in operation; and what guidance he has issued in the meantime to local authorities on collection of the new higher rent and rate payments due.

  Mr. Portillo
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Walsall, North (Mr. Winnick) on 3 May 1988.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people have had their housing benefit(a) withdrawn or (b) reduced in the Walsall metropolitan borough.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 28 April 1988]: I regret that the information is not available.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will state the number in each region of the United Kingdom who have had their housing benefit withdrawn because their savings exceed £6,000; and if he will also give the number who have had their housing benefit reduced because their savings exceed £3,000;

  (2) if he will state the number of those who have lost housing benefit arising from the recent legislative changes in each region of the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 28 April 1988]: I regret that the information is not available in the form requested.

  Rates (Payments)
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider for the elderly and disabled direct payments of rates from pensions to the appropriate authority.
  498
  Mr. Portillo
  We have no plans to do so.

  Methadone (Hydrochloride)
  Sir Peter Hordern
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a table showing the amount of Methadone (Hydrochloride) prescribed in the National Health Service each year since 1975 to the latest convenient date.

  Mr. Newton
  The number of prescriptions and the volumes of Methadone dispensed by community pharmacists in England in each of the years 1975 to 1986 inclusive is as follows:

  Methadone (thousands)

  England

  Quantities prescribed

  Year

  Number of Prescriptions

  Tablets

  Mixture1 (ml)

  Linctus2 (ml)

  Injection (ampules)

  1975

  135·4

  1,634·7

  9,542·3

  7,529·0

  2,004·4

  1976

  85·7

  1,570·3

  2,200·5

  6,313·9

  612·2

  1977

  114·6

  1,380·8

  6,978·0

  5,991·1

  1,472·5

  1978

  95·4

  1,478·6

  5,072·5

  6,227·2

  620·3

  1979

  90·3

  833·4

  7,511·5

  4,012·1

  862·9

  1980

  93·6

  1,249·2

  5,896·4

  5,945·1

  793·1

  1981

  78·6

  1,321·6

  11,826·5

  4,459·9

  1,124·9

  1982

  95·1

  1,016·4

  7,689·9

  9,037·4

  650·0

  1983

  105·9

  1,443·0

  10,064·9

  6,713·0

  502·6

  1984

  101·9

  1,217·9

  11,716·3

  6,775·2

  588·7

  1985

  128·6

  1,048·6

  17,329·8

  5,538·4

  399·1

  1986

  184·9

  1,740·0

  26,738·9

  4,863·4

  1,175·3

  Note:

  These estimates are based on a sample of approximately 1 in 200 prescriptions dispensed in England by chemists and appliance contractors. Information on drugs dispensed in hospitals and by Dispensing doctors is not available.

  1 The mixture is 1mg/ml.

  1 The linctus is 2mg/5ml.

  Independent Living Fund
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what he anticipates will be the number of claimants receiving help from the Independent Living Fund(a) in 1988–89 and (b) in a full year; and how these figures have been derived;

  (2) whether payments from the Independent Living Fund will be treated as income for the purposes of calculating housing benefit entitlement.

  Mr. Scott
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the right hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ashley) on 3 May.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how much of the £5 million budget for the Independent Living Fund he anticipates will be spent on administration.

  Mr. Scott
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Morris) on 29 April at column 337.
  499
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether payments from the Independent Living Fund are available to claimants who were not receiving disability benefits prior to or on 11 April.

  Mr. Scott
  Yes.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether community care grants from the social fund will be taken into account when assessing entitlement to a payment from the Independent Living Fund;

  (2) whether he expects there to be (a) a maximum and (b) a minimum sum for a claim from the Independent Living Fund;

  (3) how entitlement to payments from the Independent Living Fund will be calculated for (a) someone in receipt of income support and (b) someone not on income support.

  Mr. Scott
  These will be matters for the trustees to determine.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether applicants to the Independent Living Fund will routinely be referred to the social fund.

  Mr. Scott
  I expect the trustees will wish to inform applicants of their possible entitlement to other forms of help where appropriate. However the social fund cannot make payments for domestic assistance and respite care.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether applications to the Independent Living Fund will be accepted from people who have applied to the social fund and been refused a payment.

  Mr. Scott
  The eligibility criteria do not preclude payments to such people. It will be for the trustees to determine what weight is to be given to such factors.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he expects payments from the Independent Living Fund to be made from his Department's local offices; and whether payment will be by order book or giro.

  Mr. Scott
  Payments from the Independent Living Fund will not be made from the Department's local offices. It will be for the trustees to determine the method and frequency of payments.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the Independent Living Fund will be able to make(a) one-off payments and (b) regular weekly payments; and for what period of time he envisages regular payments being made.

  Mr. Scott
  The Independent Living Fund is primarily intended to help severely disabled people pay for domestic or personal care. The fund's eligibility criteria do not place restrictions on the type of payments that may be made. It will be for the trustees to determine what form of payment is appropriate in each case.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether claimants will still be able to receive payments from the Independent Living Fund if they are(a) being cared for by someone receiving independent living assistance and (b) receiving any assistance from a local authority home help.

  Mr. Scott
  This will be a matter for the trustees to decide. However the Independent Living Fund's eligibility 500
  criteria provide that that part of personal care and domestic assistance provided by a local authority is not normally eligible for help from the fund.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what costs of disability will be covered by payments from the Independent Living Fund; and whether the fund will make payments to cover housing costs, debts or essential household equipment if these are judged necessary to prevent the claimant from entering an institution;

  (2) what is the definition of living alone for the purposes of entitlement to payment from the Independent Living Fund.

  Mr. Scott
  These will be matters for the trustees to determine in the light of the eligibility criteria which were published in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Newark (Mr. Alexander) on 31 March at columns 659–60.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what evidence claimants to the Independent Living Fund will be required to provide to support their claim; and whether they will be visited to assess that evidence.

  Mr. Scott
  The precise details will be for the trustees to determine. However it is envisaged that applicants will be visited by a social worker experienced in matters relating to disability to make an assessment of their care needs and offer other advice as appropriate.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services for how long he anticipates the Independent Living Fund will be in existence.

  Mr. Scott
  I anticipate that the duration of the fund will be in the region of three to five years.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services from where he anticipates the Independent Living Fund will be administered; and where, once it is in operation, claimants will make application.

  Mr. Scott
  It is proposed that the Independent Living Fund will be administered from offices in Nottingham and that applications will be made by post to a PO box address. These arrangements are subject to ratification by the trustees.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects guidelines to be available for trustees of the Independent Living Fund; and whether they will be published.

  Mr. Scott
  The rules governing the operation of the Independent Living Fund will be set out in the fund's eligibility criteria and trust deed. The eligibility criteria were published in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Newark (Mr. Alexander) on 31 March at columns 659–60. The trust deed will be subject to approval by the Charity Commissioners and will be available for public inspection in the usual way.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects the Independent Living Fund to be constituted; when he anticipates regulations covering its operation will be laid; and whether they will be available in draft for consultation or comment.

  Mr. Scott
  The Independent Living Fund will be constituted shortly. The provisions establishing the fund
  501
  and the rules governing its operation will be contained in the trust deed, which will be subject to approval by the Charity Commissioners and available for public inspection in the usual way. Regulations will however be laid to ensure that payments from the fund are disregarded in calculating entitlement to income support, family credit, and housing benefit.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what briefing has been issued to local offices to enable them to advise claimants who should apply to the Independent Living Fund for assistance; what publicity his Department intends to give the fund; and what expenditure on that publicity will be.

  Mr. Scott
  A letter has been written to regional controllers drawing their attention to the purpose of the fund and advising that people enquiring in local offices about the fund should be instructed to write to its temporary address: c/o room 520 New court, Carey street, London, WC2A 2LS.

  For details of other action undertaken or proposed to publicise the fund I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Morris) on 29 April, at column 338. The publicity budget has not yet been settled.

  Income Support
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the tear-off slip attached to form SB1(1988) will be accepted as a claim for income support.

  Mr. Portillo
  Yes.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are receiving full income support to cover(a) rest home fees and (b) nursing home fees.

  Mr. Portillo
  There were 84,500 people claiming supplementary benefit in residential care homes in May 1987, and 32,300 in nursing homes. Information is not available about the number of these receiving only supplementary benefit; many supplementary benefit or income support claimants have other income to help meet the fees of their home, including contributory or other benefits. For those who qualify, the income-related benefit is paid in addition to this up to prescribed limits.

  Social Workers (Education and Training)
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to be able to respond to the proposals from the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work for reforms to the education and training for social workers and other care staff.

  Mr. Newton
  I wrote yesterday to Professor Saul setting out the Government's position in response to the proposals of "Care for Tomorrow". The letter indicates that, while the Government do not feel able to commit resources to the extension of qualifying training for social workers to three years, as proposed by CCETSW, we wish to work closely with the council in developing a balanced package of improvement not only to improve qualifying training, but also to improve the skills of staff already working in the field.

  The training support programme announced by the Government last November is an important step already
  502
  taken in relation to those working in the care of elderly people. The Health and Medicines Bill includes powers which would enable us to make similar provision in the field of child care. We are making up to £1 million available to CCETSW to improve planning and cooperation between the colleges and employers and review the standards of teaching of various aspects of social work. We are also providing support for a variety of other initiatives aimed at extending the availability of training for social services staff in a number of specialist areas such as mental health and mental handicap and child abuse.

  In developing qualifying training, our view is that the most important immediate objectives are to improve the quality and availability of "practice placements" and to move to a uniform two-year training period for postgraduates. We attach high priority to both of these. We are seeking the help of the council to develop detailed proposals for phased development over a five-year period starting in 1989–90.

  These further measures, building on improvements already taking place, should help to ensure a better prepared and therefore more competent staff for the personal social services. The full text of my letter is as follows:

  "CARE FOR TOMORROW: THE CCETSW TRAINING REFORM PROPOSALS
  I am grateful to you, Tony Hall and Rachel Pierce for coming to see me on 20 April. We agreed that it would be helpful if I were to let you have a statement of the Government's position before your Council session on 4 May.
  I was able to assure you that the Government agrees that there is a need for improvement in training for the social services. The employers of social services staff have an important role to play in this, as does CCETSW. For social work staff this is necessary both at the qualifying and post-qualifying stages, and more training opportunities are vital for the other staff employed in the social services. We have already introduced a training support programme for staff working with elderly people with that in mind.
  We welcome the considerable effort the Council has already put into specifying what needs to be attained by student social workers at the point of qualification; improving planning and co-operation between the colleges and the employers and reviewing the standards of teaching of the various aspects of social work. These are all essential elements in getting the most from the existing public investment in the preparation of social workers. We very much want to encourage and support this work, and the developments that flow from it. We also welcome the contribution being made by CCETSW to the development of the National Vocational Qualification framework. I told you that the Government's financial allocation to CCETSW for this financial year is being increased by up to £1 million to enable the programme of improvements to increase in scale. I asked you to let officials have an action plan for this programme of improvements for their agreement.
  We had, in our earlier correspondence, asked CCETSW to provide a set of costed options to enable Ministers to form a view of their relative benefits. In the event the Council provided a single package of measures in its Care for Tomorrow proposals. We discussed those, and I made it clear that the Government did not feel able to make financial provision for the proposals it contains for the extension to three years of qualifying training for social workers. I explained that this conclusion was based principally on our assessment of the relative priority of this development for future generations of social workers among the many other competing calls on public resources in the short to medium term, both in the social services and in other fields, including not least those needed to improve the skills of existing social care staff in such fields as residential care of the elderly and child care.

  503
  You made it clear that three years training was essential in the view of the Council in order adequately to prepare social workers for the tasks they face, and that its achievement would remain your long-term goal.
  Against this background, I am concerned to respond to your request for a firm steer on where and how to concentrate planning effort in getting a practical programme of improvement in social work training under way. Our view, which I think you share, is that the two most important objectives in the short-term are to improve the quality and availability of "practice placements" and to move to a uniform two-year training period for postgraduates, both of which have the advantage of building on developments already taking place.
  I acknowledge that both require a measure of direct government encouragement or sponsorship, especially in advance of employment-led NVQ arrangements becoming a reality. You understand that I cannot commit myself to specific sums in advance of public expenditure discussions, which will not be completed until the autumn; but I can tell you that I attach very high priority indeed to finding the resources to make significant progress in these two respects, with a start being made from 1989–90. I hope therefore that the Council will bring forward proposals quickly for a phased programme to secure these improvements over a five-year period.
  I recognise that you and your Council would have wished us simply to accept the programme set out in "Care for Tomorrow". But I hope that you and they will recognise in turn that the important steps we are suggesting are consistent with the Council's long-term goal, and indeed can be seen as substantial progress towards it. I hope too that the arrangements that we have set in train for an annual programme and performance review will provide a good framework for us to work together in building further on this progress in due course.

  Accident and Emergency Service (Sheffield)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to ensure that the Sheffield district health authority retains a full accident and emergency service; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 3 May 1988]: Management of local health services is the responsibility of the district health authority concerned. The hon. Member may therefore wish to contact the chairman of Sheffield health authority for the information he seeks. However I understand that there has been a rota for

  Year

  Urgent needs payments £ million

  Maternity grants £ million

  Death grants £ million

  Single payments £ million

  1974–75

  n/a

  16

  n/a

  n/a

  1975–76

  n/a

  16

  16

  n/a

  1976–77

  n/a

  15

  n/a

  n/a

  1977–78

  n/a

  15

  n/a

  n/a

  1978–79

  n/a

  16

  16

  n/a

  1979–80

  n/a

  16

  16

  40

  1980–81

  n/a

  16

  16

  48

  1981–82

  n/a

  16

  17

  57

  1982–83

  n/a

  16

  17

  98

  1983–84

  n/a

  17

  17

  166

  1984–85

  0·5

  18

  17

  241

  1985–86

  0·4

  17

  18

  335

  1986–87

  1·0

  14

  18

  330

  504
  accident and emergency services in Sheffield since 1976 and the current rota has been in operation since 1981. Although it has been reviewed from time to time, it is still regarded locally as the most efficient way of serving the city's needs.

  Kidney Donor Cards
  Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons who were kidney donors in the past year were carrying, or in possession of, kidney donor cards.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 3 May 1988]: This information is not available centrally. The total number of organ transplant operations carried out in 1987 (as notified to the United Kingdom transplant service) was 1,972, which was again a record. The total number of cards issued in 1987 was approx 5·5 million. The value of the organ donor card cannot be assessed solely by the extent to which it is found on donors. It has proved a useful publicity tool in making the general public aware of the need for organ donation. It also encourages those who would be willing to be donors to discuss their wishes with their relatives so that, even if a card is not found, they will be receptive to, or perhaps initiate, a suggestion that organs should be donated. We are currently emphasising this aspect of the card in our publicity.

  Some 3 million cards have been issued in the first four months of 1988 and transplants appear to be approximately 57 per cent. higher than in the same period last year.

  Benefits and Grants
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what have been the figures for expenditure on supplementary benefits, urgent needs provision, maternity grants, death grants and all other benefits which now come under the social fund, for each year since 1974.

  Mr. Portillo
  [pursuant to his reply, 25 April 1988, c. 33–34]: I regret that some of the information relating to maternity grants and death grants was wrong. The table sets out the correct data.

ENVIRONMENT

  London Docklands Development Corporation
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much the London Docklands development corporation spent last year on consultants; what percentage that sum was of total expenditure; how many consultancies were awarded; and how many of those involved competition.

  Mr. Trippier
  In 1987–88 LDDC made 225 consultancy appointments to 145 consultants at a value of £6·2 million plus associated costs. Total payments amounting to £12·1 million were made to 199 consultants in respect of appointments let in 1987–88 and previous years, which was about 10 per cent. of LDDC's expenditure. The LDDC is satisfied that the requirements for competition were met. The external audit for 1987–88 will provide an idependent scrutiny.

  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what the London Docklands development corporation is doing to finance the building of new schools in docklands.

  Mr. Trippier
  The statutory responsibility for providing new schools rests with the local education authorities. The LDDC is continuing to consider with those authorities and other interested bodies what assistance it can provide to raise educational standards in docklands.

  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the policy of the London Docklands development corporation for the disposal of its assets and responsibilities when it is wound up; and what directions he has given on these matters.

  Mr. Trippier
  The corporation will be guided by the Secretary of State in these matters. No directions have been given.

  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements have been adopted by the London Docklands development corporation to ensure that there is no conflict of interest between the corporation and developers where members of the corporation's staff leave, or are intending to leave, to take up a post in the private sector with development companies.

  Mr. Trippier
  The corporation's code of conduct for its staff sets out requirements for the declaration of interests.

  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements have been made by the London Docklands development corporation to safeguard the use of(a) the Millwall outer dock and (b) the Royal Victoria dock for water sports; what arrangements exist to assess possible conflict between developments and water sport uses; what is the development corporation's policy on current development proposals at these docks which adversely affect water sports users; how much the development corporation has invested in water sports facilities at these two locations; and what has been invested by (i) other public bodies and (ii) private companies.

  Mr. Trippier
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Ms Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements have been made for the 506
  disposal of land on the south side of the King George V docks by the London Docklands development corporation; at what price it has been sold or leased; and what restrictions have been placed on its future use.

  Mr. Trippier
  Some 22 acres of LDDC land in the area have been leased to London City airport. Part has been disposed of for mixed development and part for airport related uses, subject to planning permission and LDDC's detailed approval as landlord. The price paid for individual sites is commercially confidential information.

  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what area of water currently in the enclosed docks will be required for the Canary wharf scheme: what arrangements have been made for its disposal or leasing to the developers of Canary wharf by the London Docklands development corporation; and what price has been fixed.

  Mr. Trippier
  A small part of the West India dock water has been sold to the developers. The price is contained within the agreement outlined in my answer of 23 July 1987, at column 377.

  Pensions (Underpayment)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to introduce legislation to ensure that local authority retired employees will receive compensation for the underpayment of their pensions from April 1987.

  Mr. Chope
  Pursuant to the statement made on 18 December 1987 by the Paymaster General (Official Report, columns 845–46), my right hon. Friend has no plans to introduce such legislation. But in the light of the statement he has invited the local government employers to consider what action might be taken in respect of the local government superannuation scheme.

  Water Privatisation
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations took place between his Department and the Water Authorities Association prior to their commissioning of a survey from Hill and Knowlton on the interests of environmental bodies in water privatisation.

  Mr. Moynihan
  None.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will answer the letter from the Prison Reform Trust dated 10 March regarding the eligibility of remand prisoners for the community charge.

  Mr. Howard
  A reply was sent to the Prison Reform Trust on 29 April. In accordance with the undertaking I gave at the Report stage of the Local Government Finance Bill. We are considering the possibility of exempting remand prisoners from the community charge.

  Inner Cities
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what response was received to the consultation document on the Government's proposal to introduce the new city grant for inner city projects.
  507
  Mr. Trippier
  The responses to the consultation document which was issued by the Department on city grant on 7 March to local authorities, businesses and other interested persons and organisations was extremely encouraging. The proposal to simplify the grants system and speed up the handling of cases were warmly welcomed by the great majority of respondents.

  A short summary of the written responses received has been placed today in the Libraries of the Houses of Parliament and, where respondents have explicitly authorised the Department to do so, copies of their responses have also been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  City grant will now operate in broadly the way proposed in the consultation document with a threshold of £200,000 project value. Copies of the guidance notes have also been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Palace of Westminster (Toilets)
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Wakefield of 20 April, if he will take steps to ensure that those toilets in the Palace of Westminster which are marked as reserved for the exclusive use of hon. Members of Parliament also designate the gender for which they are reserved.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 29 April 1988]: I will draw this to the attention of the Accommodation and Administration Sub-Committee.

  London Boroughs (Properties)
  Mr. Summerson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information his Department has on(a) how many commercial and industrial buildings and sites are owned by each London borough, (b) how many of them are let, (c) how much rent they produce, (d) how many of them are empty and (e) whether the borough owns them freehold or leasehold.

  Local Rates and Precepts 1987–88—1988–89

  Local rate or precept 1987–88 (p)

  Local rate or precept 1988–89 (p)

  Percentage change

  Local rate or precept 1987–88 £ per hereditament

  Local rate or precept 1988–89 £ per hereditament

  Political control at 1.4.88

  Avon

  228·50

  246·50

  7·9

  422

  456

  None

  Bedfordshire

  232·20

  246·40

  6·1

  544

  577

  None

  Berkshire

  178·50

  193·60

  8·5

  466

  505

  Conservative

  Buckinghamshire

  208·50

  227·70

  9·2

  579

  632

  Conservative

  Cambridgeshire

  206·00

  216·00

  4·9

  429

  450

  None

  Cheshire

  211·00

  232·00

  10·0

  430

  473

  None

  Cleveland

  252·00

  282·00

  11·9

  413

  462

  Labour

  Cornwall

  184·00

  207·70

  12·9

  288

  325

  None

  Cumbria

  246·50

  260·00

  5·5

  329

  347

  None

  Derbyshire

  262·00

  297·50

  13·5

  426

  484

  Labour

  Devon

  188·50

  209·75

  11·3

  335

  373

  None

  Dorset

  189·00

  203·00

  7·4

  409

  439

  Conservative

  Durham

  214·00

  246·00

  15·0

  281

  323

  Labour

  East Sussex

  190·30

  217·10

  14·1

  432

  493

  Conservative

  Essex

  199·50

  235·00

  17·8

  493

  580

  None

  Gloucestershire

  194·26

  217·30

  11·9

  372

  417

  None

  Hampshire

  184·10

  200·30

  8·8

  400

  436

  None

  Hereford and Worcester

  168·50

  185·00

  9·8

  365

  401

  Conservative

  Hertfordshire

  205·60

  240·40

  16·9

  541

  633

  None

  Humberside

  217·00

  261·00

  20·3

  326

  392

  None

  Isle of Wight

  207·14

  227·23

  9·7

  366

  402

  Liberal

  508
  Mr. Waldegrave
  This information is not available to my Department.

  Gipsy Sites
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Gower on 26 April regarding local authority gipsy sites in areas of outstanding natural beauty, if he will indicate for which of these sites he had considered what action to take under section 8 of the Caravan Sites Act.

  Mrs. Roe
  The sites at Redland depot, Robertsbridge and Chiseldon camp, Swindon were subject to directions under section 8 of the Caravan Sites Act 1968.

  Rates
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each English authority(a) their rate or precept for 1987–88 and 1988–89 expressed as pence in the pound, (b) the percentage change between the two above years, (c) the average rate or precept for 1987–88 and 1988–89 expressed as an average charge per domestic hereditament, (d) the average of (a) and (c) above and the percentage change between the two by class of authority and (e) the average of (a) and (c) above and the percentage change between the two by political control of authority.

  Mr. Chope
  The local rate for a district or borough is made up from the rate charged by the district itself together with the average of parish precepts and special district expenses and precepts charged by certain other specialised bodies such as waste disposal authorities. It does not include the precepts charged by higher tier authorities, for example, county councils in the shires, police, fire and civil defence and transport authorities in metropolitan areas and London, and the Inner London education authority.

  The table sets out the available information:
  509

  Local rate or precept 1987–88 (p)

  Local rate or precept 1988–89 (P)

  Percentage change

  Local rate or precept 1987–88 £ per hereditament

  Local rate or precept 1988–89 £ per hereditament

  Political control at 1.4.88

  Kent

  170·60

  192·00

  12·5

  322

  362

  Conservative

  Lancashire

  197·50

  234·00

  18·5

  297

  352

  None

  Leicestershire

  199·30

  221·20

  11·0

  381

  423

  None

  Lincolnshire

  179·00

  204·00

  14·0

  291

  332

  Conservative

  Norfolk

  173·60

  190·90

  10·0

  308

  339

  Conservative

  Northamptonshire

  199·00

  229·00

  15·1

  389

  448

  Conservative

  1Northumberland

  200·70

  230·10

  14·6

  310

  355

  None

  North Yorkshire

  194·00

  217·00

  11·9

  306

  342

  Conservative

  Nottinghamshire

  236·00

  253·00

  7·2

  384

  412

  Labour

  Oxfordshire

  218·30

  238·60

  9·3

  503

  550

  None

  Shropshire

  184·00

  200·00

  8·7

  331

  359

  None

  Somerset

  200·50

  224·00

  11·7

  364

  406

  None

  Staffordshire

  198·50

  215·00

  8·3

  373

  404

  Labour

  Suffolk

  189·00

  204·00

  7·9

  361

  390

  Conservative

  Surrey

  183·50

  202·70

  10·5

  517

  571

  Conservative

  Warwickshire

  196·00

  227·10

  15·9

  453

  525

  None

  West Sussex

  176·00

  192·00

  9·1

  387

  422

  Conservative

  Wiltshire

  203·40

  219·30

  7·8

  357

  385

  None

  Isles of Scilly

  192·71

  198·67

  3·1

  347

  357

  Independent

  Greater Manchester

  Bolton

  205·75

  218·79

  6·3

  342

  364

  Labour

  Bury

  227·84

  244·69

  7·4

  421

  452

  Labour

  Manchester

  316·14

  285·63

  -9·7

  523

  473

  Labour

  Oldham

  217·00

  239·01

  10·1

  316

  348

  Labour

  Rochdale

  262·14

  281·59

  7·4

  371

  399

  Labour

  Salford

  237·14

  257·59

  8·6

  404

  439

  Labour

  Stockport

  190·54

  207·39

  8·8

  416

  452

  None

  Tameside

  248·83

  268·50

  7·9

  364

  392

  Labour

  Trafford

  182·66

  201·15

  10·1

  409

  451

  None

  Wigan

  246·71

  270·17

  9·5

  384

  421

  Labour

  Merseyside

  Knowsley

  256·35

  265·88

  3·7

  467

  484

  Labour

  Liverpool

  264·93

  268·17

  1·2

  437

  442

  Labour

  St. Helens

  239·62

  253·22

  5·7

  410

  433

  Labour

  Sefton

  202·70

  217·76

  7·4

  419

  450

  None

  Wirral

  226·44

  242·68

  7·2

  466

  499

  None

  South Yorkshire

  Barnsley

  239·76

  261·18

  8·9

  286

  312

  Labour

  Doncaster

  244·29

  264·53

  8·3

  339

  367

  Labour

  Rotherham

  244·97

  263·66

  7·6

  329

  354

  Labour

  Sheffield

  259·06

  290·35

  12·1

  356

  399

  Labour

  Tyne and Wear/Gateshead

  231·45

  254·61

  10·0

  312

  344

  Labour

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  290·82

  270·01

  -7·2

  457

  424

  Labour

  North Tyneside

  265·77

  289·78

  9·0

  421

  459

  Labour

  South Tyneside

  234·71

  254·55

  8·5

  333

  361

  Labour

  Sunderland

  255·00

  264·58

  3·8

  348

  361

  Labour

  West Midlands

  Birmingham

  213·39

  220·25

  3·2

  439

  453

  Labour

  Coventry

  232·01

  250·55

  8·0

  456

  492

  Labour

  Dudley

  206·97

  210·99

  1·9

  451

  459

  Labour

  Sandwell

  209·15

  219·60

  5·0

  399

  419

  Labour

  Solihull

  169·94

  170·69

  0·4

  465

  467

  Conservative

  Walsall

  228·85

  239·50

  4·7

  480

  502

  None

  Wolverhampton

  211·00

  218·30

  3·5

  464

  480

  None

  West Yorkshire

  Bradford

  250·00

  277·60

  11·0

  317

  352

  Labour

  Calderdale

  240·33

  283·91

  18·1

  275

  325

  None

  Kirklees

  233·23

  265·35

  13·8

  273

  311

  None

  Leeds

  196·49

  212·12

  8·0

  288

  310

  Labour

  Wakefield

  233·83

  262·26

  12·2

  313

  351

  Labour

  I.L.E.A.

  79·73

  81·80

  2·6

  243

  249

  Labour

  City of London

  64·43

  67·06

  4·1

  339

  353

  Independent

  Camden

  120·07

  117·00

  -2·6

  425

  414

  Labour

  Greenwich

  120·89

  136·00

  12·5

  262

  295

  Labour

  Hackney

  123·30

  134·72

  9·3

  309

  338

  Labour

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  126·70

  133·32

  5·2

  315

  331

  Labour

  Islington

  78·90

  89·65

  13·6

  237

  270

  Labour

  510 511

  Local rate or precept 1987–88 (p)

  Local rate or precept 1988–89 (p)

  Percentage change

  Local rate or precept 1987–88 £ per hereditament

  Local rate or precept 1988–89 £ per hereditament

  Political control at 1.4.88

  Kensington and Chelsea

  5·73

  4·22

  -26·4

  30

  22

  Conservative

  Lambeth

  112·42

  92·32

  -17·9

  278

  229

  Labour

  Lewisham

  127·12

  131·76

  3·7

  297

  307

  Labour

  Southwark

  111·32

  101·00

  -9·3

  258

  234

  Labour

  Tower Hamlets

  110·38

  123·21

  11·6

  283

  316

  Liberal

  Wandsworth

  27·43

  36·12

  31·7

  69

  90

  Conservative

  Westminster

  51·23

  51·02

  -0·4

  279

  278

  Conservative

  Barking and Dagenham

  170·76

  181·36

  6·2

  371

  394

  Labour

  Barnet

  153·66

  177·56

  15·6

  560

  647

  Conservative

  Bexley

  148·36

  168·26

  13·4

  345

  392

  Conservative

  Brent

  224·84

  248·96

  10·7

  634

  702

  Labour

  Bromley

  131·26

  140·86

  7·3

  380

  408

  Conservative

  Croydon

  126·76

  136·86

  8·0

  384

  414

  Conservative

  Ealing

  221·26

  167·00

  -24·5

  598

  451

  Labour

  Enfield

  154·26

  185·86

  20·5

  419

  505

  Conservative

  Haringey

  238·37

  214·69

  -9·9

  596

  537

  Labour

  Harrow

  159·76

  173·36

  8·5

  487

  529

  Conservative

  Havering

  145·76

  157·36

  8·0

  394

  426

  None

  Hillingdon

  177·51

  190·66

  7·4

  477

  512

  None

  Hounslow

  205·97

  221·05

  7·3

  535

  574

  Labour

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  153·26

  169·36

  10·5

  439

  485

  Conservative

  Merton

  136·26

  151·02

  10·8

  377

  417

  Conservative

  Newham

  232·67

  259·66

  11·6

  493

  550

  Labour

  Redbridge

  130·16

  130·76

  0·5

  366

  368

  Conservative

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  162·63

  179·99

  10·7

  471

  522

  Liberal

  Sutton

  163·26

  178·86

  9·6

  448

  491

  Liberal

  Waltham Forest

  289·76

  199·14

  -31·3

  673

  463

  Labour

  1 Excluding Northumbria Police Authority precept.

  Local rates and precepts 1987–88 to 1988–89

  Local rate or precept 1987–88 (P)

  Local rate or precept 1988–89 (P)

  Percentage change

  Local rate or precept 1987–88 £ per hereditament

  Local rate or precept 1988–89 £ per hereditament

  Political control at 1 April 1988

  Avon

  Bath

  7·00

  9·00

  28·6

  12

  16

  None

  Bristol

  41·25

  47·44

  15·0

  71

  81

  Labour

  Kingswood

  16·39

  16·51

  0·7

  30

  30

  Conservative

  Northavon

  22·58

  24·72

  9·5

  44

  48

  Conservative

  Wansdyke

  11·50

  12·43

  8·1

  23

  24

  Conservative

  Woodspring

  23·51

  26·92

  14·5

  49

  56

  Conservative

  Bedfordshire

  North Bedfordshire

  22·20

  22·40

  0·9

  48

  48

  Conservative

  Luton

  27·60

  26·60

  -3·6

  67

  64

  Conservative

  Mid Bedfordshire

  22·61

  23·84

  5·4

  52

  54

  Conservative

  South Bedfordshire

  24·58

  27·65

  12·5

  62

  70

  Conservative

  Berkshire

  Bracknell

  14·41

  14·84

  3·0

  37

  38

  Conservative

  Newbury

  13·56

  15·11

  11·4

  34

  38

  Conservative

  Reading

  23·00

  28·00

  21·7

  51

  63

  Labour

  Slough

  10·31

  10·33

  0·2

  24

  24

  Labour

  Windsor and Maidenhead

  16·10

  16·14

  0·2

  47

  47

  Conservative

  Wokingham

  17·55

  22·71

  29·4

  52

  68

  Conservative

  Buckinghamshire

  Aylesbury Vale

  12·49

  12·69

  1·6

  29

  30

  Conservative

  South Buckinghamshire

  13·48

  16·36

  21·4

  50

  60

  Conservative

  Chiltern

  18·72

  20·08

  7·3

  67

  72

  Conservative

  Milton Keynes

  28·44

  29·55

  3·9

  61

  63

  None

  Wycombe

  15·18

  15·64

  3·0

  45

  47

  Conservative

  Cambridgeshire

  Cambridge

  18·50

  23·50

  27·0

  46

  59

  None

  East Cambridgeshire

  13·61

  13·48

  -1·0

  24

  24

  Independent

  Fenland

  19·03

  21·14

  11·1

  31

  34

  Conservative

  Huntingdonshire

  15·36

  16·06

  4·6

  31

  32

  Conservative

  Peterborough

  34·00

  37·00

  8·8

  63

  68

  None

  South Cambridgeshire

  13·91

  14·14

  1·7

  36

  37

  Independent

  512 513

  Local rate or precept 1987–88 (P)

  Local rate or precept 1988–89 (P)

  Percentage change

  Local rate or precept 1987–88 £ per hereditament

  Local rate or precept 1988–89 £ per hereditament

  Political control at 1 April 1988

  Cheshire

  Chester

  27·98

  29·63

  5·9

  59

  63

  None

  Congleton

  26·39

  27·75

  5·2

  55

  58

  None

  Crewe and Nantwich

  30·71

  33·86

  10·3

  58

  64

  None

  Ellesmere and Neston

  30·00

  31·50

  5·0

  63

  66

  Labour

  Halton

  31·93

  33·53

  5·0

  56

  59

  Labour

  Macclesfield

  20·84

  21·82

  4·7

  53

  55

  Conservative

  Vale Royal

  28·65

  31·45

  9·8

  55

  61

  None

  Warrington

  31·67

  35·08

  10·8

  58

  65

  Labour

  Cleveland

  Hartlepool

  36·02

  40·02

  11·1

  51

  57

  Labour

  Langbaurgh-on-Tees

  43·33

  48·41

  11·7

  72

  80

  None

  Middlesbrough

  44·56

  32·16

  -27·8

  73

  53

  Labour

  Stockton on Tees

  30·18

  37·17

  23·2

  52

  65

  Labour

  Cornwall

  Caradon

  19·55

  23·82

  21·8

  31

  38

  Independent

  Carrick

  23·91

  27·29

  14·1

  39

  44

  None

  Kerrier

  25·29

  29·61

  17·1

  37

  43

  None

  North Cornwall

  22·82

  25·68

  12·5

  37

  41

  Independent

  Penwith

  23·78

  26·84

  12·9

  35

  39

  None

  Restormel

  21·58

  22·67

  5·1

  35

  37

  None

  Cumbria

  Allerdale

  26·12

  26·12

  0·0

  33

  33

  None

  Barrow in Furness

  30·22

  35·22

  16·5

  34

  40

  Labour

  Carlisle

  30·70

  30·79

  0·3

  43

  43

  Labour

  Copeland

  25·85

  26·01

  0·6

  31

  31

  Labour

  Eden

  21·44

  22·72

  6·0

  28

  29

  Independent

  South Lakeland

  19·34

  19·48

  0·7

  31

  31

  None

  Derbyshire

  Amber Valley

  27·08

  24·76

  -8·6

  42

  38

  None

  Bolsover

  45·73

  50·23

  9·8

  60

  66

  Labour

  Chesterfield

  34·53

  34·72

  0·6

  52

  52

  Labour

  Derby

  26·50

  25·00

  -5·7

  48

  45

  Labour

  Erewash

  18·26

  21·26

  16·4

  30

  34

  Conservative

  High Peak

  33·71

  35·81

  6·2

  50

  53

  None

  North East Derbyshire

  39·19

  46·15

  17·8

  63

  75

  Labour

  South Derbyshire

  24·34

  26·29

  8·0

  42

  46

  Labour

  Derbyshire Dales

  25·56

  29·12

  13·9

  45

  52

  Conservative

  Devon

  East Devon

  18·83

  19·11

  1·5

  36

  36

  Conservative

  Exeter

  14·80

  15·96

  7·8

  26

  29

  None

  North Devon

  24·21

  26·91

  11·2

  35

  39

  None

  Plymouth

  18·50

  21·50

  16·2

  35

  41

  Conservative

  South Hams

  23·72

  25·57

  7·8

  42

  46

  Conservative

  Teignbridge

  23·45

  26·67

  13·7

  42

  48

  None

  Mid Devon

  22·07

  25·08

  13·6

  34

  39

  Independent

  Torbay

  32·30

  34·50

  6·8

  64

  69

  Conservative

  Torridge

  27·00

  27·28

  1·0

  34

  35

  Independent

  West Devon

  20·58

  25·26

  22·7

  33

  41

  Independent

  Dorset

  Bournemouth

  25·00

  25·00

  0·0

  55

  55

  Conservative

  Christchurch

  20·09

  21·62

  7·6

  47

  50

  Conservative

  North Dorset

  13·67

  17·05

  24·7

  25

  32

  Independent

  Poole

  18·00

  19·00

  5·6

  43

  45

  Conservative

  Purbeck

  13·42

  14·33

  6·8

  28

  30

  None

  West Dorset

  13·70

  15·85

  15·7

  24

  28

  Independent

  Weymouth and Portland

  23·00

  23·00

  0·0

  42

  42

  None

  East Dorset

  22·53

  26·72

  18·6

  58

  68

  Conservative

  Durham

  Chester le Street

  40·84

  43·82

  7·3

  61

  65

  Labour

  Darlington

  56·70

  62·20

  9·7

  85

  93

  None

  Derwentside

  53·27

  64·27

  20·6

  66

  79

  Labour

  Durham

  44·49

  48·99

  10·1

  67

  93

  Labour

  Easington

  36·08

  55·49

  53·8

  42

  64

  Labour

  Sedgefield

  60·80

  66·60

  9·5

  77

  85

  Labour

  514 515

  Local rate or precept 1987–88 (p)

  Local rate or precept 1988–89 (p)

  Percentage change

  Local rate or precept 1987–88 £ per hereditament

  Local rate or precept 1988–89 £ per hereditament

  Political control at 1 April 1988

  Teesdale

  19·08

  20·93

  9·7

  22

  24

  Independent

  Wear Valley

  59·69

  66·72

  11·8

  67

  75

  Labour

  East Sussex

  Brighton

  22·50

  30·00

  33·3

  47

  63

  Labour

  Eastbourne

  26·60

  26·60

  0·0

  65

  65

  Liberal

  Hastings

  24·80

  26·00

  4·8

  48

  51

  None

  Hove

  0·00

  4·90

  —

  0

  12

  Conservative

  Lewes

  21·38

  22·81

  6·7

  52

  55

  Conservative

  Rother

  22·90

  23·54

  2·8

  56

  57

  Conservative

  Wealden

  25·71

  27·33

  6·3

  57

  61

  Conservative

  Essex

  Basildon

  52·84

  49·68

  -6·0

  133

  125

  None

  Braintree

  19·55

  22·96

  17·4

  41

  48

  None

  Brentwood

  19·87

  18·87

  -5·0

  62

  59

  Conservative

  Castle Point

  18·00

  19·00

  5·6

  45

  48

  Conservative

  Chelmsford

  14·36

  19·55

  36·1

  38

  51

  Liberal

  Colchester

  14·65

  16·84

  14·9

  32

  37

  None

  Epping Forest

  21·41

  22·47

  5·0

  61

  64

  Conservative

  Harlow

  87·40

  92·90

  6·3

  201

  213

  Labour

  Maldon

  20·12

  18·91

  ·60

  48

  45

  None

  Rochford

  23·09

  26·53

  14·9

  62

  71

  Conservative

  Southend-on-Sea

  21·00

  21·00

  0·0

  52

  52

  None

  Tendring

  24·92

  25·04

  0·5

  53

  53

  Conservative

  Thurrock

  39·90

  46·90

  17·5

  95

  112

  Labour

  Uttlesford

  21·07

  21·60

  2·5

  56

  57

  Conservative

  Gloucestershire

  Cheltenham

  18·77

  19·71

  5·0

  39

  41

  None

  Cotswold

  17·82

  18·91

  6·1

  39

  41

  Independent

  Forest of Dean

  24·46

  24·97

  2·1

  38

  38

  None

  Gloucester

  20·83

  22·00

  5·6

  36

  38

  Conservative

  Stroud

  25·20

  30·41

  20·7

  47

  56

  None

  Tewkesbury

  16·39

  16·67

  1·7

  35

  36

  None

  Hampshire

  Basingstoke & Deane

  8·19

  9·73

  18·8

  18

  22

  Conservative

  East Hampshire

  23·07

  26·91

  16·6

  57

  67

  Conservative

  Eastleigh

  22·19

  23·47

  5·8

  49

  52

  None

  Fareham

  26·00

  28·00

  7·7

  63

  67

  None

  Gosport

  21·50

  23·50

  9·3

  43

  47

  Conservative

  Hart

  32·38

  36·34

  12·2

  89

  100

  None

  Havant

  19·80

  24·10

  21·7

  45

  55

  Conservative

  New Forest

  24·30

  29·25

  20·4

  51

  61

  Conservative

  Portsmouth

  29·00

  30·00

  3·4

  53

  55

  Conservative

  Rushmoor

  26·00

  25·00

  -3·8

  61

  59

  Conservative

  Southampton

  25·00

  26·00

  4·0

  45

  47

  None

  Test Valley

  19·68

  21·58

  9·7

  46

  50

  Conservative

  Winchester

  24·85

  26·22

  5·5

  60

  63

  None

  Hereford and Worcester

  Bromsgrove

  17·51

  20·16

  15·1

  44

  51

  Conservative

  Hereford

  23·80

  15·80

  -33·6

  40

  27

  Liberal

  Leominster

  23·10

  25·27

  9·4

  38

  42

  Independent

  Malvern Hills

  28·83

  30·35

  5·3

  65

  69

  None

  Redditch

  34·01

  36·51

  7·4

  73

  79

  Labour

  South Herefordshire

  16·02

  16·40

  2·4

  29

  30

  Independent

  Worcester

  29·01

  30·20

  4·1

  64

  67

  Labour

  Wychavon

  28·46

  30·33

  6·6

  70

  74

  Conservative

  Wyre Forest

  32·90

  37·38

  13·6

  68

  77

  None

  Hertfordshire

  Broxbourne

  22·25

  22·25

  0·0

  54

  54

  Conservative

  Dacorum

  19·94

  20·96

  5·1

  52

  55

  Conservative

  East Hertfordshire

  22·89

  25·88

  13·1

  56

  64

  Conservative

  Hertsmere

  30·88

  31·06

  0·6

  87

  88

  Conservative

  North Hertfordshire

  23·69

  28·73

  21·3

  60

  73

  Conservative

  St. Albans

  19·00

  26·52

  39·6

  54

  75

  None

  Stevenage

  41·30

  41·30

  0·0

  101

  101

  Labour

  Three Rivers

  28·70

  28·93

  0·8

  88

  88

  Liberal

  Watford

  30·86

  30·86

  0·0

  74

  74

  Labour

  Welwyn Hatfield

  35·90

  38·45

  7·1

  95

  102

  Labour

  516 517

  Local rate or precept 1987–88 (P)

  Local rate or precept 1988–89 (p)

  Percentage change

  Local rate or precept 1987–88 £ per hereditament

  Local rate or precept 1988–89 £ per hereditament

  Political control at 1 April 1988

  Humberside

  Beverley

  26·68

  29·68

  11·2

  55

  61

  Conservative

  Boothferry

  29·70

  33·83

  13·9

  40

  45

  None

  Cleethorpes

  32·81

  35·77

  9·0

  52

  57

  None

  Glanford

  24·84

  25·00

  0·6

  40

  40

  Conservative

  Great Grimsby

  26·00

  29·00

  11·5

  39

  44

  Labour

  Holderness

  20·96

  26·21

  25·0

  34

  42

  Independent

  Kingston-upon-Hull

  56·61

  47·00

  -17·0

  71

  59

  Labour

  East Yorkshire

  37·00

  46·01

  24·4

  52

  64

  Conservative

  Scunthorpe

  42·50

  45·00

  5·9

  68

  72

  Labour

  Isle of Wight

  Medina

  26·24

  27·26

  3·9

  45

  47

  Conservative

  South Wight

  33·50

  34·93

  4·3

  62

  64

  Conservative

  Kent

  Ashford

  23·53

  24·74

  5·1

  47

  49

  Conservative

  Canterbury

  26·37

  28·69

  8·8

  49

  53

  Conservative

  Dartford

  25·21

  25·48

  1·1

  46

  46

  Conservative

  Dover

  19·98

  25·18

  26·0

  34

  42

  Conservative

  Gillingham

  4·89

  6·96

  42·3

  10

  14

  Conservative

  Gravesham

  24·83

  26·26

  5·8

  49

  51

  Conservative

  Maidstone

  21·21

  21·51

  1·4

  42

  42

  None

  Rochester on Medway

  10·21

  10·24

  0·3

  19

  19

  Conservative

  Sevenoaks

  25·71

  29·05

  13·0

  54

  62

  Conservative

  Shepway

  28·03

  37·28

  33·0

  57

  75

  None

  Swale

  27·72

  29·15

  5·2

  42

  44

  None

  Thanet

  29·85

  32·79

  9·8

  56

  61

  None

  Tonbridge and Malling

  28·75

  31·86

  10·8

  55

  61

  Conservative

  Tonbridge Wells

  22·24

  26·75

  20·3

  44

  52

  Conservative

  Lancashire

  Blackburn

  49·04

  47·04

  -4·1

  59

  57

  Labour

  Blackpool

  36·00

  38·50

  6·9

  62

  66

  None

  Burnley

  63·04

  63·04

  0·0

  64

  64

  Labour

  Chorley

  28·61

  30·05

  5·0

  47

  49

  None

  Fylde

  28·40

  29·68

  4·5

  57

  60

  Conservative

  Hyndburn

  43·15

  43·90

  1·7

  48

  49

  Labour

  Lancaster

  25·00

  27·00

  8·0

  39

  42

  None

  Pendle

  47·00

  51·50

  9·6

  48

  53

  Liberal

  Preston

  38·06

  45·07

  18·4

  57

  67

  Labour

  Ribble Valley

  30·55

  32·74

  7·2

  52

  55

  Conservative

  Rossendale

  49·64

  54·23

  9·2

  60

  65

  Labour

  South Ribble

  26·17

  29·15

  11·4

  42

  47

  Conservative

  West Lancashire

  28·53

  28·59

  0·2

  57

  58

  Conservative

  Wyre

  24·23

  25·02

  3·3

  43

  45

  Conservative

  Leicestershire

  Blaby

  20·13

  19·27

  -4·3

  43

  41

  Conservative

  Charnwood

  18·72

  18·23

  -2·6

  40

  39

  Conservative

  Harborough

  26·70

  28·16

  5·5

  59

  62

  None

  Hinckley and Bosworth

  16·33

  18·89

  15·7

  32

  37

  Conservative

  Leicester

  47·75

  52·30

  9·5

  74

  81

  Labour

  Melton

  4·13

  5·83

  41·2

  9

  12

  Conservative

  North West Leicester

  33·60

  35·72

  6·3

  61

  65

  None

  Oadby and Wigston

  20·50

  21·50

  4·9

  46

  48

  Conservative

  Rutland

  19·68

  19·94

  1·3

  44

  44

  None

  Lincolnshire

  Boston

  19·50

  22·00

  12·8

  32

  36

  None

  East Lindsey

  23·78

  28·14

  18·3

  37

  44

  Independent

  Lincoln

  27·00

  31·00

  14·8

  40

  46

  Labour

  North Kesteven

  25·12

  26·75

  6·5

  43

  46

  None

  South Holland

  25·66

  27·39

  6·7

  42

  45

  Independent

  South Kesteven

  18·38

  18·73

  1·9

  33

  33

  Conservative

  West Lindsey

  29·63

  31·74

  7·1

  47

  51

  Liberal

  Norfolk

  Breckland

  17·68

  20·59

  16·5

  31

  36

  Conservative

  Broadland

  18·20

  21·02

  15·5

  37

  43

  Conservative

  Great Yarmouth

  29·31

  30·46

  3·9

  47

  49

  None

  North Norfolk

  16·86

  18·49

  9·7

  29

  32

  Independent

  518

  519

  Local rate or precept 1987–88 (p)

  Local rate or precept 1988–89 (P)

  Percentage change

  Local rate or precept 1987–88 £ per hereditament

  Local rate or precept 1988–89 £ per hereditament

  Political control at 1 April 1988

  Norwich

  43·70

  45·50

  4·1

  75

  78

  Labour

  South Norfolk

  18·52

  22·23

  20·0

  37

  45

  Conservative

  Kings Lynn/West Norfolk

  20·37

  22·20

  9·0

  33

  36

  Conservative

  Northamptonshire

  Corby

  25·50

  25·50

  0·0

  47

  47

  Labour

  Daventry

  25·61

  25·61

  0·0

  57

  57

  Conservative

  East Northampton

  9·82

  12·19

  24·1

  17

  21

  Conservative

  Kettering

  22·75

  24·60

  8·1

  40

  43

  None

  Northampton

  29·89

  34·62

  15·8

  60

  69

  Conservative

  South Northampton

  11·13

  12·95

  16·4

  25

  29

  Conservative

  Wellingborough

  18·80

  19·00

  1·1

  34

  34

  Conservative

  Northumberland

  Alnwick

  19·44

  23·78

  22·3

  29

  36

  None

  Berwick-upon-Tweed

  20·72

  24·23

  16·9

  28

  33

  None

  Blyth Valley

  49·25

  54·00

  9·6

  75

  83

  Liberal

  Castle Morpeth

  29·17

  33·54

  15·0

  59

  67

  None

  Tynedale

  25·35

  27·39

  8·0

  39

  43

  None

  Wansbeck

  54·00

  58·00

  7·4

  71

  76

  Labour

  North Yorkshire

  Craven

  22·66

  25·05

  10·5

  32

  35

  None

  Hambleton

  21·07

  25·43

  20·7

  38

  45

  None

  Harrogate

  37·57

  40·14

  6·8

  68

  73

  Conservative

  Richmondshire

  24·46

  27·71

  13·3

  43

  48

  Independent

  Ryedale

  20·92

  22·51

  7·6

  32

  35

  Independent

  Scarborough

  29·57

  31·82

  7·6

  42

  46

  None

  Selby

  30·08

  31·22

  3·8

  46

  48

  Conservative

  York

  13·50

  14·80

  9·6

  18

  20

  Labour

  Nottinghamshire

  Ashfield

  30·48

  33·17

  8·8

  42

  45

  Labour

  Bassetlaw

  39·72

  43·24

  8·9

  59

  64

  Labour

  Broxtowe

  23·69

  25·03

  5·7

  41

  44

  Conservative

  Gedling

  24·10

  27·23

  13·0

  44

  50

  Conservative

  Mansfield

  31·00

  36·00

  16·1

  46

  53

  Labour

  Newark and Sherwood

  25·33

  31·27

  23·5

  40

  49

  None

  Nottingham

  29·00

  29·00

  0·0

  46

  46

  Conservative

  Rushcliffe

  27·42

  27·79

  1·3

  56

  57

  Conservative

  Oxfordshire

  Cherwell

  11·38

  11·88

  4·4

  25

  26

  Conservative

  Oxford

  22·10

  41·60

  88·2

  52

  98

  Labour

  South Oxfordshire

  16·11

  16·91

  5·0

  39

  41

  Conservative

  Vale of White Horse

  8·99

  9·21

  2·4

  21

  22

  Conservative

  West Oxfordshire

  16·14

  16·66

  3·2

  35

  36

  Conservative

  Shropshire

  Bridgnorth

  17·58

  18·56

  5·6

  36

  38

  Independent

  North Shropshire

  19·39

  24·52

  26·5

  34

  43

  Independent

  Oswestry

  24·47

  30·49

  24·6

  37

  46

  None

  Shrewsbury and Atcham

  24·02

  26·25

  9·3

  45

  50

  None

  South Shropshire

  17·22

  19·37

  12·5

  27

  30

  Independent

  The Wrekin

  34·92

  40·23

  15·2

  63

  73

  Labour

  Somerset

  Mendip

  17·81

  19·94

  12·0

  33

  36

  None

  Sedgemoor

  22·85

  22·90

  0·2

  43

  43

  Conservative

  Taunton Deane

  18·20

  18·96

  4·2

  33

  34

  Conservative

  West Somerset

  18·11

  21·62

  19·4

  32

  38

  Independent

  South Somerset

  18·49

  24·23

  31·0

  33

  43

  Liberal

  Staffordshire

  Cannock Chase

  29·20

  29·89

  2·4

  53

  55

  Labour

  East Staffordshire

  22·48

  23·16

  3·0

  40

  41

  None

  Lichfield

  21·00

  22·59

  7·6

  51

  54

  Conservative

  Newcastle Under Lyme

  28·69

  30·28

  5·5

  51

  53

  Labour

  South Staffordshire

  19·41

  20·75

  6·9

  47

  50

  Conservative

  Stafford

  16·57

  20·17

  21·7

  34

  42

  None

  Staffs. Moorlands

  24·45

  29·97

  22·6

  44

  54

  Conservative

  Stoke-on-Trent

  28·00

  29·00

  3·6

  43

  44

  Labour

  Tamworth

  19·00

  19·00

  0·0

  38

  38

  Conservative

  520 521

  Local rate or precept 1987–88 (P)

  Local rate or precept 1988–89 (P)

  Percentage change

  Local rate or precept 1987–88 £ per hereditament

  Local rate or precept 1988–89 £ per hereditament

  Political control at 1 April 1988

  Suffolk

  Babergh

  21·75

  23·01

  5·8

  43

  46

  None

  Forest Heath

  16·60

  19·50

  17·5

  30

  35

  Conservative

  Ipswich

  36·90

  40·50

  9·8

  69

  76

  Labour

  Mid Suffolk

  23·49

  26·16

  11·4

  44

  49

  Conservative

  St. Edmundsbury

  16·13

  18·71

  16·0

  31

  36

  Conservative

  Suffolk Coastal

  26·31

  36·60

  39·1

  56

  78

  Conservative

  Waveney

  23·45

  25·27

  7·8

  41

  44

  None

  Surrey

  Elmbridge

  24·82

  25·44

  2·5

  83

  85

  None

  Epsom and Ewell

  30·60

  33·90

  10·8

  96

  107

  Independent

  Guildford

  20·61

  20·61

  0·0

  56

  56

  Conservative

  Mole Valley

  21·51

  22·85

  6·2

  57

  61

  None

  Reigate and Banstead

  27·11

  29·07

  7·2

  75

  80

  Conservative

  Runnymede

  19·90

  17·00

  -14·6

  51

  43

  Conservative

  Spelthorne

  15·50

  4·20

  -72·9

  39

  11

  Conservative

  Surrey Heath

  18·73

  20·71

  10·6

  58

  64

  Conservative

  Tandridge

  16·82

  17·57

  4·5

  44

  46

  Conservative

  Waverley

  24·32

  26·61

  9·4

  70

  76

  Conservative

  Woking

  26·00

  29·00

  11·5

  68

  76

  None

  Warwickshire

  North Warwickshire

  44·28

  46·32

  4·6

  89

  93

  Labour

  Nuneaton & Bedworth

  40·70

  44·10

  8·4

  82

  88

  Labour

  Rugby

  25·89

  26·29

  1·5

  56

  57

  Conservative

  Stratford-on-Avon

  21·45

  21·08

  -1·7

  57

  56

  Conservative

  Warwick

  23·42

  25·16

  7·4

  60

  64

  Conservative

  West Sussex

  Adur

  43·87

  47·29

  7·8

  89

  96

  Liberal

  Arun

  24·40

  26·46

  8·4

  53

  58

  Conservative

  Chichester

  18·83

  20·14

  7·0

  42

  45

  Conservative

  Crawley

  42·75

  48·00

  12·3

  83

  93

  Labour

  Horsham

  20·97

  22·86

  9·0

  47

  51

  Conservative

  Mid Sussex

  28·15

  33·11

  17·6

  69

  81

  Conservative

  Worthing

  22·50

  22·50

  0·0

  49

  49

  Conservative

  Wiltshire

  Kennet

  19·21

  20·63

  7·4

  36

  39

  Independent

  North Wiltshire

  26·23

  33·03

  25·9

  44

  56

  Conservative

  Salisbury

  11·37

  12·99

  14·2

  23

  27

  Conservative

  Thamesdown

  55·17

  51·10

  -7·4

  88

  82

  Labour

  West Wiltshire

  18·23

  25·78

  41·4

  31

  44

  Conservative

  Local Rates and Precepts 1987–88—1988–89

  Local rate or precept 1987–88 (p)

  Local rate or precept 1988–89 (p)

  Percentage change

  Local rate or precept 1987–88 £ per hereditament

  Local rate or precept 1988–89 £ per hereditament

  Metropolitan Police PA

  15·75

  16·87

  7·1

  n/a

  n/a

  Greater Manchester PA

  15·65

  15·38

  -1·7

  27

  26

  Merseyside PA

  22·64

  19·30

  -14·8

  42

  36

  South Yorkshire PA

  16·00

  15·59

  -2·6

  21

  21

  Northumbria PA

  14·20

  14·40

  1·4

  21

  21

  West Midlands PA

  12·32

  14·11

  14·5

  26

  30

  West Yorkshire PA

  18·20

  15·72

  -13·6

  24

  21

  London Fire Authority

  8·07

  8·07

  0·0

  23

  23

  Greater Manchester Fire Authority

  9·75

  10·45

  7·2

  17

  18

  Merseyside Fire Authority

  6·80

  8·39

  23·4

  13

  16

  South Yorkshire Fire Authority

  10·26

  11·21

  9·3

  14

  15

  Tyne and Wear Fire Authority

  10·54

  11·04

  4·7

  15

  16

  West Midlands Fire Authority

  6·62

  7·48

  13·0

  14

  16

  West Yorkshire Fire Authority

  11·59

  13·41

  15·7

  15

  18

  Greater Manchester PTA

  12·96

  15·58

  20·2

  22

  27

  522 523

  Local rate or precept 1987–88 (p)

  Local rate or precept 1988–89 (p)

  Percentage change

  Local rate or precept 1987–88 £ per hereditament

  Local rate or precept 1988–89 £ per hereditament

  Merseyside PTA

  28·48

  26·50

  -7·0

  53

  49

  South Yorkshire PTA

  34·28

  30·35

  -11·5

  46

  41

  Tyne and Wear PTA

  14·51

  9·58

  -34·0

  21

  14

  West Midlands PTA

  7·81

  10·31

  32·0

  16

  22

  West Yorkshire PTA

  23·78

  24·82

  4·4

  31

  33

  Local rates and precepts 1987–88 to 1988–89

  Local rate or precept 1987–88 (p)

  Local rate of precept 1988–89 (p)

  Percentage change

  Local rate or precept 1987–88 £ per hereditament

  Local rate or precept 1988–89 £ per hereditament

  Shire Counties

  All

  200·0

  223·0

  11·5

  396

  411

  Conservative

  183·4

  203·0

  10·7

  391

  433

  Labour

  231·8

  256·5

  10·6

  381

  421

  Other

  203·7

  228·5

  12·2

  401

  450

  Inner London (excluding City)

  All

  78·9

  79·5

  0·8

  240

  242

  Conservative

  41·3

  41·8

  1·1

  176

  178

  Labour (excluding rate limited)

  98·4

  107·5

  9·2

  271

  296

  Rate limited

  117·3

  116·1

  -1·0

  298

  295

  Outer London

  All

  174·9

  180·7

  3·3

  481

  497

  Conservative

  142·6

  158·5

  11·1

  418

  465

  Labour (excluding rate limited)

  211·8

  231·5

  9·3

  521

  570

  Rate limited

  243·6

  189·0

  -22·4

  615

  477

  Other

  164·2

  178·3

  8·6

  452

  491

  Shire Districts

  All

  26·0

  28·2

  8·1

  52

  56

  Conservative

  21·2

  22·9

  8·0

  46

  50

  Labour (excluding rate limited)

  35·6

  39·5

  10·9

  61

  67

  Rate limited

  53·0

  46·1

  -13·0

  89

  77

  Other

  24·6

  27·0

  9·7

  47

  51

  Metropolitan Districts

  All

  232·7

  245·0

  5·3

  391

  412

  Conservative

  169·9

  170·7

  0·4

  465

  467

  Labour (excluding rate limited)

  229·3

  246·1

  7·3

  368

  395

  Rate limited

  292·1

  275·9

  -5·5

  477

  450

  Other

  212·3

  230·2

  8·4

  399

  432

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in descending order for each English authority on the basis of the percentage change in their rate or precept from 1987–88 and 1988–89, showing in each case the political control of the authority at the time of setting the later rate or precept.

  Mr. Chope
  The local rate for a district or borough is made up from the rate charged by the district itself together with the average of parish precepts and special district expenses and precepts charged by certain other specialised bodies such as waste disposal authorities. It does not include the precepts charged by higher tier authorities, for example county councils in the shires, police, fire and civil defence and transport authorities in metropolitan areas and London, and the Inner London Education Authority.

  The table sets out the available information for each English authority:
  524

  Change in local rate or precept 1987–88 to 1988–89

  Percentage change

  Political control at 1 April 1988

  Oxford

  88·2

  Labour

  Easington

  53·8

  Labour

  Gillingham

  42·3

  Conservative

  West Wiltshire

  41·4

  Conservative

  Melton

  41·2

  Conservative

  St. Albans

  39·4

  No overall control

  Suffolk Coastal

  39·1

  Conservative

  Chelmsford

  36·1

  Liberal

  Brighton

  33·3

  Labour

  Shepway

  33·0

  No overall control

  West Midlands PTA

  32·0

  —

  Wandsworth

  31·7

  Conservative

  South Somerset

  31·0

  Liberal

  Wokingham

  29·4

  Conservative

  Bath

  28·6

  No overall control

  Cambridge

  27·0

  No overall control

  North Shropshire

  26·5

  Independent

  Dover

  26·0

  Conservative

  North Wiltshire

  25·9

  Conservative

  Holderness

  25·0

  Independent

  525

  Percentage change

  Political control at 1 April 1988

  North Dorset

  24·7

  Independent

  Oswestry

  24·6

  No overall control

  East Yorkshire

  24·4

  Conservative

  East Northampton

  24·1

  Conservative

  Newark and Sherwood

  23·5

  No overall control

  Merseyside Fire

  23·4

  —

  Stockton on Tees

  23·2

  Labour

  West Devon

  22·7

  Independent

  Staffordshire Moorlands

  22·6

  Conservative

  Alnwick

  22·3

  No overall control

  Caradon

  21·8

  Independent

  Reading

  21·7

  Labour

  Havant

  21·7

  Conservative

  Stafford

  21·7

  No overall control

  South Buckinghamshire

  21·4

  Conservative

  North Hertfordshire

  21·3

  Conservative

  Stroud

  20·7

  No overall control

  Hambleton

  20·7

  No overall control

  Derwentside

  20·6

  Labour

  Enfield

  20·5

  Conservative

  New Forest

  20·4

  Conservative

  Humberside

  20·3

  No overall control

  Tunbridge Wells

  20·3

  Conservative

  South Manchester PTA

  20·2

  —

  South Norfolk

  20·0

  Conservative

  West Somerset

  19·4

  Independent

  Basingstoke and Deane

  18·8

  Conservative

  East Dorset

  18·6

  Conservative

  Lancashire

  18·5

  No overall control

  Preston

  18·4

  Labour

  East Lindsey

  18·3

  Independent

  Calderdale

  18·1

  No overall control

  Essex

  17·8

  No overall control

  North East Derbyshire

  17·8

  Labour

  Mid Sussex

  17·6

  Conservative

  Thurrock

  17·5

  Labour

  Forest Heath

  17·5

  Conservative

  Braintree

  17·4

  No overall control

  Kerrier

  17·1

  No overall control

  Hertfordshire

  16·9

  No overall control

  Berwick-upon-Tweed

  16·9

  No overall control

  East Hampshire

  16·6

  Conservative

  Barrow in Furness

  16·5

  Labour

  Breckland

  16·5

  Conservative

  Erewash

  16·4

  Conservative

  South Norhampton

  16·4

  Conservative

  Plymouth

  16·2

  Conservative

  Mansfield

  16·1

  Labour

  St. Edmundsbury

  16·0

  Conservative

  Warwickshire

  15·9

  No overall control

  Northampton

  15·8

  Conservative

  West Dorset

  15·7

  Independent

  Hinkley and Bosworth

  15·7

  Conservative

  West Yorkshire Fire

  15·7

  —

  Barnet

  15·6

  Conservative

  Broadland

  15·5

  Conservative

  The Wrekin

  15·2

  Labour

  Northamptonshire

  15·1

  Conservative

  Bromsgrove

  15·1

  Conservative

  Durham

  15·0

  Labour

  Bristol

  15·0

  Labour

  Castle Morpeth

  15·0

  No overall control

  Colchester

  14·9

  No overall control

  Rochford

  14·9

  Conservative

  Lincoln

  14·8

  Labour

  Northumberland1

  14·6

  No overall control

  Woodspring

  14·5

  Conservative

  West Midlands P.A.

  14·5

  —

  East Sussex

  14·1

  Conservative

  Carrick

  14·1

  No overall control

  Lincolnshire

  14·0

  Conservative

  Derbyshire Dales

  13·9

  Conservative

  Boothferry

  13·9

  No overall control

  Salisbury

  13·9

  Conservative

  Kirklees

  13·8

  No overall control

  Teignbridge

  13·7

  No overall control

  526

  Percentage change

  Political control at 1 April 1988

  Islington

  13·6

  Labour

  Mid Devon

  13·6

  Independent

  Wyre Forest

  13·6

  No overall control

  Derbyshire

  13·5

  Labour

  Bexley

  13·4

  Conservative

  Richmondshire

  13·3

  Independent

  East Hertfordshire

  13·1

  Conservative

  Sevenoaks

  13·0

  Conservative

  Gedling

  13·0

  Conservative

  West Midlands Fire

  13·0

  —

  Cornwall

  12·9

  No overall control

  Penwith

  12·9

  No overall control

  Boston

  12·8

  No overall control

  Kent

  12·5

  Conservative

  Greenwich

  12·5

  Labour

  South Bedfordshire

  12·5

  Conservative

  North Cornwall

  12·5

  Independent

  South Shropshire

  12·5

  Independent

  Crawley

  12·3

  Labour

  Wakefield

  12·2

  Labour

  Hart

  12·2

  No overall control

  Sheffield

  12·1

  Labour

  Mendip

  12·0

  No overall control

  Cleveland

  11·9

  Labour

  Gloucestershire

  11·9

  No overall control

  North Yorkshire

  11·9

  Conservative

  Wear Valley

  11·8

  Labour

  Somerset

  11·7

  No overall control

  Langbaurgh-on-Tees

  11·7

  No overall control

  Tower Hamlets

  11·6

  Liberal

  Newham

  11·6

  Labour

  Great Grimsby

  11·5

  Labour

  Woking

  11·5

  No overall control

  Newbury

  11·4

  Conservative

  South Ribble

  11·4

  Conservative

  Mid Suffolk

  11·4

  Conservative

  Devon

  11·3

  No overall control

  North Devon

  11·2

  No overall control

  Beverley

  11·2

  Conservative

  Fenland

  11·1

  Conservative

  Hartlepool

  11·1

  Labour

  Leicestershire

  11·0

  No overall control

  Bradford

  110

  Labour

  Merton

  10·8

  Conservative

  Warrington

  10·8

  Labour

  Tunbridge and Malling

  10·8

  Conservative

  Epsom and Ewell

  10·8

  Independent

  Brent

  10·7

  Labour

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  10·7

  Liberal

  Surrey

  10·5

  Conservative

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  10·5

  Conservative

  Craven

  10·5

  No overall control

  Surrey Heath

  10·5

  Conservative

  Crewe and Nantwich

  10·3

  No overall control

  Oldham

  10·1

  Labour

  Trafford

  10·1

  No overall control

  Durham

  10·1

  Labour

  Cheshire

  10·0

  No overall control

  Norfolk

  10·0

  Conservative

  Gateshead

  10·0

  Labour

  Hereford and Worcester

  9·8

  Conservative

  Vale Royal

  9·8

  No overall control

  Thanet

  9·8

  No overall control

  Ipswich

  9·8

  Labour

  Isle of Wight

  9·7

  Liberal

  Bulsover

  9·7

  Labour

  Darlington

  9·7

  No overall control

  Teesdale

  9·7

  Independent

  Test Valley

  9·7

  Conservative

  North Norfolk

  9·7

  Independent

  Sutton

  9·6

  Liberal

  Pendle

  9·6

  Liberal

  Blyth Valley

  96

  Liberal

  York

  9·6

  Labour

  Wigan

  9·5

  Labour

  Northavon

  9·5

  Conservative

  527

  Percentage change

  Political control at 1 April 1988

  Sedgefield

  9·5

  Labour

  Leicester

  9·5

  Labour

  Leominster

  9·4

  Independent

  Waverley

  9·4

  Conservative

  Oxfordshire

  9·3

  No overall control

  Hackney

  9·3

  Labour

  Gosport

  9·3

  Conservative

  Shrewsbury and Atcham

  9·3

  No overall control

  South Yorkshire Fire

  9·3

  —

  Buckinghamshire

  9·2

  Conservative

  Rossendale

  9·2

  Labour

  West Sussex

  9·1

  Conservative

  North Tyneside

  9·0

  Labour

  Cleethorpes

  9·0

  No overall control

  Kings Lynn/West Norfolk

  9·0

  Conservative

  Horsham

  9·0

  Conservative

  Barnsley

  8·9

  Labour

  Bassetlaw

  8·9

  Labour

  Hampshire

  8·8

  No overall control

  Peterborough

  8·8

  No overall control

  Stockport

  8·8

  No overall control

  Canterbury

  8·8

  Conservative

  Ashfield

  8·8

  Labour

  Shropshire

  8·7

  No overall control

  Salford

  8·6

  Labour

  Berkshire

  8·5

  Conservative

  South Tyneside

  8·5

  Labour

  Harrow

  8·5

  Conservative

  Nuneaton and Bedworth

  8·4

  Labour

  Arun

  8·4

  Conservative

  Staffordshire

  8·3

  Labour

  Doncaster

  8·3

  Labour

  Wansdyke

  81

  Conservative

  Kettering

  8·1

  No overall control

  Coventry

  8·0

  Labour

  Leeds

  8·0

  Labour

  Croydon

  8·0

  Conservative

  Havering

  8·0

  No overall control

  South Derbyshire

  8·0

  Labour

  Lancaster

  8·0

  No overall control

  Tynedale

  8·0

  No overall control

  Avon

  7·9

  No overall control

  Suffolk

  7·9

  Conservative

  Tameside

  7·9

  Labour

  Wiltshire

  7·8

  No overall control

  Exeter

  7·8

  No overall control

  South Hams

  7·8

  Conservative

  Waveney

  7·8

  No overall control

  Adur

  7·8

  Liberal

  Fareham

  7·7

  No overall control

  Rotherham

  7·6

  Labour

  Christchurch

  7·6

  Conservative

  Ryedale

  7·6

  Independent

  Scarborough

  7·6

  No overall control

  Lichfield

  7·6

  Conservative

  Dorset

  7·4

  Conservative

  Bury

  7·4

  Labour

  Rochdale

  7·4

  Labour

  Sefton

  7·4

  No overall control

  Hillingdon

  7·4

  No overall control

  Redditch

  7·4

  Labour

  Wansbeck

  7·4

  Labour

  Reigate and Banstead

  7·4

  Conservative

  Warwick

  7·4

  Conservative

  Kennet

  7·4

  Independent

  Bromley

  7·3

  Conservative

  Hounslow

  7·3

  Labour

  Chiltern

  7·3

  Conservative

  Chester le Street

  7·3

  Labour

  Nottinghamshire

  7·2

  Labour

  Wirral

  7·2

  No overall control

  Ribble Valley

  7·2

  Conservative

  Greater Manchester Fire

  7·2

  —

  Welwyn Hatfield

  7·1

  Labour

  West Lindsey

  7·1

  Liberal

  Metropolitan Police P.A.

  7·1

  —

  528

  Percentage change

  Political control at 1 April 1988

  Chichester

  7·0

  Conservative

  Blackpool

  6·9

  No overall control

  South Staffordshire

  6·9

  Conservative

  Torbay

  6·8

  Conservative

  Purbeck

  6·0

  No overall control

  Harrogate

  6·8

  Conservative

  Lewes

  6·7

  Conservative

  South Holland

  6·7

  Independent

  Wychavon

  6·6

  Conservative

  North Kesteven

  6·5

  No overall control

  Bolton

  6·3

  Labour

  Wealden

  6·3

  Conservative

  Harlow

  6·3

  Labour

  North West Leicester

  6·3

  No overall control

  Barking and Dagenham

  6·2

  Labour

  High Peak

  6·2

  No overall control

  Mole Valley

  6·2

  No overall control

  Bedfordshire

  6·1

  No overall control

  Cotswold

  6·1

  Independent

  Eden

  6·0

  Independent

  Chester

  5·9

  No overall control

  Scunthorpe

  5·9

  Labour

  Eastleigh

  5·8

  No overall control

  Gravesham

  5·8

  Conservative

  Babergh

  5·8

  No overall control

  St. Helens

  5·7

  Labour

  Broxtowe

  5·7

  Conservative

  Poole

  5·6

  Conservative

  Castle Point

  5·6

  Conservative

  Gloucester

  5·6

  Conservative

  Bridgnorth

  5·6

  Independent

  Cumbria

  5·5

  No overall control

  Winchester

  5·5

  No overall control

  Harborough

  5·5

  No overall control

  Newcastle under Lyme

  5·5

  Labour

  Mid Bedfordshire

  5·4

  Conservative

  Malvern Hills

  5·3

  No overall control

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  5·2

  Labour

  Congleton

  5·2

  No overall control

  Swale

  5·2

  No overall control

  Restormel

  5·1

  No overall control

  Dacorum

  5·1

  Conservative

  Ashford

  5·1

  Conservative

  Sandwell

  5·0

  Labour

  Ellesmere Port and Neston

  5·0

  Labour

  Halton

  5·0

  Labour

  Epping Forest

  5·0

  Conservative

  Cheltenham

  5·0

  No overall control

  Chorley

  5·0

  No overall control

  South Oxfordshire

  5·0

  Conservative

  Cambridgeshire

  4·9

  No overall control

  Oadby and Wigston

  4·9

  Conservative

  Hastings

  4·8

  No overall control

  Walsall

  4·7

  No overall control

  Macclesfield

  4·7

  Conservative

  Tyne and Wear Fire

  4·7

  —

  Huntingdonshire

  4·6

  Conservative

  North Warwickshire

  4·6

  Labour

  Fylde

  4·5

  Conservative

  Tandridge

  4·5

  Conservative

  Cherwell

  4·4

  Conservative

  West Yorkshire PTA

  4·4

  —

  South Wight

  4·3

  Conservative

  Taunton Deane

  4·2

  Conservative

  City of London

  4·1

  Independent

  Worcester

  4·1

  Labour

  Norwich

  4·1

  Labour

  Southampton

  4·0

  No overall control

  Milton Keynes

  3·9

  No overall control

  Medina

  3·9

  Conservative

  Great Yarmouth

  3·9

  No overall control

  Sunderland

  3·8

  Labour

  Selby

  3·8

  Conservative

  Knowsley

  3·7

  Labour

  Lewisham

  3·7

  Labour

  Stoke-on-Trent

  3·6

  Labour

  529

  Percentage change

  Political control at 1 April 1988

  Wolverhampton

  3·5

  No overall control

  Portsmouth

  3·4

  Conservative

  Wyre

  3·3

  Conservative

  Birmingham

  3·2

  Labour

  West Oxfordshire

  3·2

  Conservative

  Isles of Scilly

  3·1

  Independent

  Bracknell

  3·0

  Conservative

  Wycombe

  5·0

  Conservativc

  East Staffordshire

  3·0

  No overall control

  Rother

  2·8

  Conservative

  I.L.E.A.

  2·6

  Labour

  Uttlesford

  2·5

  Conservative

  Elmbridge

  2·5

  No overall control

  South Herefordshire

  2·4

  Indepcndent

  Vale of White Horse

  2·4

  Conservative

  Cannock Chase

  2·4

  Labour

  Forest of Dean

  2·1

  No overall control

  Dudley

  1·9

  Labour

  South Kesteven

  1·9

  Conservative

  South Cambridgeshire

  1·7

  Independent

  Tewkesbury

  1·7

  No overall control

  Hyndburn

  1·7

  Labour

  Aylesbury Vale

  1·6

  Conservative

  East Devon

  1·5

  Conservative

  Rugby

  1·5

  Conservative

  Maidstone

  1·4

  No overall control

  Northumbria P.A.

  1·4

  —

  Rutland

  1·3

  No overall control

  Rushcliffe

  1·3

  Conservative

  Liverpool

  1·2

  Labour

  Dartford

  1·1

  Conservative

  Wellingborough

  1·1

  Conservative

  Torridge

  1·0

  Independent

  North Bedfordshire

  0·9

  Conservative

  Three Rivers

  0·8

  Liberal

  Kingswood

  0·7

  Conservative

  South Lakeland

  0·7

  No overall control

  Copeland

  0·6

  Labour

  Chesterfield

  0·6

  Labour

  Hertsmere

  0·6

  Conservative

  Glanford

  0·6

  Conscrvative

  Redbridge

  0·5

  Conservative

  Tendring

  0·5

  Conservative

  Solihull

  0·4

  Conservative

  Carlisle

  0·3

  Labour

  Rochester on Medway

  0·3

  Conservativc

  Slough

  0·2

  Labour

  Windsor and Maidenhead

  0·2

  Conservative

  West Lancashire

  0·2

  Conservative

  Sedgemoor

  0·2

  Conservative

  Allcrdale

  0·0

  No overall control

  Bournemouth

  0·0

  Conservative

  530

  Percentage change

  Political control at 1 April 1988

  Weymouth and Portland

  0·0

  No overall control

  Eastbourne

  0·0

  Liberal

  Southend on Sea

  0·0

  No overall control

  Broxbourne

  0·0

  Conservative

  Stevenage

  0·0

  Labour

  Watford

  0·0

  Labour

  Burnley

  0·0

  Labour

  Corby

  0·0

  Labour

  Daventry

  0·0

  Conservative

  Nottingham

  0·0

  Conservative

  Tamworth

  0·0

  Conservative

  Guildford

  0·0

  Conservative

  Worthing

  0·0

  Conservative

  London Fire Authority

  0·0

  —

  Westminster

  -0·4

  Conservative

  East Cambridgeshire

  -0·9

  Independent

  Stratford-on-Avon

  -1·7

  Conservative

  Greater Manchester P.A.

  -1·7

  —

  Camden

  -2·6

  Labour

  Charnwood

  -2·6

  Conservative

  South Yorkshire P.A.

  -2·6

  —

  Luton

  -3·6

  Conservative

  Rushmoor

  -3·8

  Conservative

  Blackburn

  -4·1

  Labour

  Blary

  -4·3

  Conservative

  Brentwood

  -5·0

  Conservative

  Derby

  -5·7

  Labour

  Basildon

  -6·0

  No overall control

  Maldon

  -6·0

  No overall control

  Merseyside PTA

  -7·0

  —

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  -7·2

  Labour

  Thamesdown

  -7·4

  Labour

  Amber Valley

  -8·6

  No overall control

  Southwark

  -9·3

  Labour

  Manchester

  -9·7

  Labour

  Haringey

  -9·9

  Labour

  South Yorkshire PTA

  -11·5

  —

  West Yorkshire P.A.

  -13·6

  —

  Runnymede

  -14·6

  Conservative

  Merseyside P.A.

  -14·8

  —

  Kingston-upon-Hull

  -17·0

  Labour

  Lambeth

  -17·9

  Labour

  Ealing

  -24·5

  Labour

  Kensington and Chelsea

  -26·4

  Conservative

  Middlebrough

  -27·0

  Labour

  Waltham Forest

  -31·3

  Labour

  Hereford

  -33·6

  Liberal

  Tyne and Wear PTA

  -34·0

  —

  Spelthorne

  -72·9

  Conservative

  1 Excluding Northumbria Police Authority precept.

  Note: Hove (Conservative) increased its local from op to 4·9p, but this can not be expressed as a percentage.

  DIPLOMATS: SERIOUS OFFENCES
  DIPLOMATS: SERIOUS OFFENCES
  DIPLOMATS: UNPAID PARKING FINES
  DIPLOMATS: UNPAID PARKING FINES
  LEGAL AID BOARD
  LEGAL AID BOARD
  PROFIT-RELATED PAY SCHEMES
  PROFIT-RELATED PAY SCHEMES
  TRAVEL-TO-WORK AREAS: PRIORITY STATUS
  TRAVEL-TO-WORK AREAS: PRIORITY STATUS
  AGRICULTURE: LESS FAVOURED AREAS MAP
  AGRICULTURE: LESS FAVOURED AREAS MAP
  NHS: OFFICES REMOTE FROM HOSPITALS
  NHS: OFFICES REMOTE FROM HOSPITALS
  NHS: COMPUTERISED STATISTICAL RECORDS
  NHS: COMPUTERISED STATISTICAL RECORDS
  CORONARY ARTERY BY-PASS OPERATIONS: COST
  CORONARY ARTERY BY-PASS OPERATIONS: COST
  M.4: CLOSURE, 24th APRIL 1988
  M.4: CLOSURE, 24th APRIL 1988
  COMMUNITY CHARGE: EXEMPTIONS
  COMMUNITY CHARGE: EXEMPTIONS