Written Answers of 21 April 1989

TRANSPORT

  Vehicle Registration Numbers
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 22 March,Official Report, column 595, if he will describe the circumstances in which he allows the police access to the vehicle registration numbers in his possession in order to trace the owner of a particular vehicle; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Regulation 15 of the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) Regulations 1971 requires the Secretary of State to supply to the police, free of charge, such particulars as may be requested of any vehicle contained in the DV LC vehicle register. In practice the police national computer contains a register of vehicles and keepers including much of the information on the DVLC record, from which it is updated on a daily basis. Other vehicles information available to DVLC is provided to the police on request.

  Regulation 15, which permits the release of this information takes precedence over the Data Protection Act 1984 provisions. Section 34(1) of that Act exempts the data held by this Department which is required to be made available by other enactments. Notwithstanding this exemption the DVLC has registered its computer data under the the Data Protection Act 1984 and adheres closely to the data protection principles.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of Transport, pursuant to his answer of 22 March,Official Report, column 595, if he will describe the circumstances in which the police or security services could have access to the vehicle registration numbers collected by Autoguide or similar traffic systems; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The operation of a driver information system which was licensed under the Road Traffic (Driver Licensing and Information Systems) Bill would have to comply with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1984. Sections 27 and 28 of the Act are concerned with national security and with crime and taxation.

  Vehicles (East Sussex)
  Mr. Rathbone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many vehicles in each band of excise duty are registered at addresses in East Sussex.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  At the December 1988 census there were 313,279 licensed vehicles registered in East Sussex. These are analysed by tax class groups as follows:

  Number

  Private and Light Goods

  280,024

  Motorcycles, Scooters etc

  12,172

  Farmers Goods

  580

  306

  Number

  General Goods

  6,802

  Exempt Vehicles (Emergency services, specialist road construction etc)

  3,862

  Exempt Vehicles (limited mileage on public roads section 7(1) Vehicle Excise Act)

  260

  Electric Vehicles

  224

  Hackney (taxis, buses)

  1,560

  Others

  4,370

  Unlicensed (used on private roads)

  3,425

  TSG and Capital Allocations
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he proposes to make any additional allocations for 1989–90 in respect of TSG and capital allocations.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The amount of transport supplementary grant payable to local highway authorities for 1989–90 was determined at the time of the annual settlement. It cannot be changed.

  Capital allocations for roads in 1989–90 have also been settled. However, supplementary capital allocations may be made if any of the resources earmarked for a highway project of national or regional importance, or for other local transport projects, are not in the event needed. It is too soon to say if there are likely to be such supplementary allocations this year.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Speed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the original forecast dates for improvements to trunk roads and local authority roads in connection with the Channel tunnel in Kent and East Sussex; and what is the latest revised forecast completion dates.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  It is not the Department's practice generally to give forecast completion dates for trunk road schemes in preparation since they are subject to the satisfactory completion of statutory procedures and detailed design. We have the Channel tunnel in mind in our planning and we aim to complete the major improvements in Kent and East Sussex as soon as possible.

  The Maidstone to Ashford section of the M20 motorway is under construction. It is due for completion by mid-1991.

  Local authority roads are the responsibility of Kent and East Sussex county councils.

  M25
  Mr. Speed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people have been killed and seriously injured on the M25 over the last 12 months.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Too many.

  Provisional figures for the 12 months December 1987 to November 1988 show that there were 28 people killed and 130 seriously injured on the M25 motorway. More recent figures are not yet available.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Attorney-General how many and what percentage of officers in grades 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and
  307
  7 respectively, and overall in the Lord Chancellor's Department and the Treasury Solicitor's Department respectively, are (a) women and (b) members of ethnic minorities.

  The Attorney-General
  The table shows the number and percentage of women in grades 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 in the Lord Chancellor's Department and the Treasury Solicitor's Department.

  Lord Chancellor's Department

  Treasury Solicitor's Department

  Grade

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  3

  0

  0

  1

  10

  4

  0

  0

  0

  0

  5

  2

  7·1

  3

  7·7

  6

  14

  25·5

  16

  29·6

  7

  27

  21·3

  8

  20·0

  A total of 5·6 per cent. of respondents to a survey of ethnic origins carried out in the Lord Chancellor's Department in 1988 were members of ethnic minority groups; the number of respondents in grades 1 to 7 is insufficient to provide reliable figures.

  Two officers at grade 6, representing 3·7 per cent., and three officers at grade 7, representing 7·5 per cent. of staff at those grades in the Treasury Solicitor's Department are members of ethnic minority groups.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Attorney-General when the Lord Chancellor's Department and the Treasury Solicitor's Department last conducted a survey of the ethnic origin of its employees; when it next plans to do so; and whether he will make a statement.

  Solicitors' fees

  Counsels' fees

  Disbursements

  Total

  £

  £

  £

  £

  1978–79

  593,773

  334,672

  151,142

  1,079,587

  1979–80

  863,589

  486,749

  219,822

  1,570,160

  1980–81

  1,209,249

  659,971

  284,143

  2,153,363

  1981–82

  1,091,013

  638,138

  283,910

  2,013,061

  1982–83

  1,606,005

  645,793

  389,173

  2,640,971

  1983–84

  2,603,707

  1,365,494

  646,844

  4,616,045

  1984–85

  2,221,995

  1,193,056

  608,699

  4,023,750

  1985–86

  2,494,360

  1,776,113

  772,643

  5,043,116

  1986–87

  2,450,505

  1,538,623

  756,001

  4,745,129

  1987–88

  2,907,512

  1,631,829

  799,600

  5,338,941

  Totals

  18,041,708

  10,270,438

  4,911,977

  33,224,123

  Legal aid in civil proceedings

  Solicitors' and Counsels' fees

  Disbursements

  Total

  £

  £

  £

  1978–79

  200,952

  49,296

  250,248

  1979–80

  247,740

  68,552

  316,292

  1980–81

  388,026

  51,338

  439,364

  1981–82

  343,472

  112,240

  455,712

  1982–83

  388,300

  150,842

  539,142

  1983–84

  468,294

  209,513

  677,807

  1984–85

  542,362

  228,372

  770,734

  1985–86

  951,040

  360,727

  1,311,767

  1986–87

  1,167,262

  435,749

  1,603,011

  1987–88

  1,217,467

  489,326

  1,706,793

  TOTALS

  5,914,915

  2,155,955

  8,070,870

  308
  The Attorney-General
  The Lord Chancellor's Department and the Treasury Solicitor's Department completed the surveys of the ethnic origin of their employees in 1988, and continue to monitor the ethnic origin of all recruits to the Departments.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Attorney-General what steps he has taken to recruit members of ethnic minorities in top grades of employment at the Lord Chancellor's Department and the Treasury Solicitor's Department.

  The Attorney-General
  The Civil Service Commission recruits by fair and open competition all staff graded executive officer and above. Thereafter, promotion is dependent upon performance in the grade and consideration of the officer's ability to perform the duties of the higher grade through Departmental procedures designed to test these criteria. The Civil Service is an equal opportunities employer and the ethnic origin of the officer plays no part in recruitment or promotion procedures.

  Legal Aid
  Mr. McCusker
  To ask the Attorney-General how much has been paid each year in Northern Ireland during the past 10 years from the legal aid fund; and how many Queen's counsel, junior counsel and solicitors have received such payments in each year.

  The Attorney-General
  The figures for payments out of the legal aid fund for each of the financial years from 1978–79 to 1987–88 for each category of legal aid are as follows:

  Legal advice and assistance

  Total

  £

  1978–79

  30,640

  1979–80

  96,249

  1980–81

  170,097

  1981–82

  214,980

  1982–83

  312,025

  1983–84

  384,548

  1984–85

  477,251

  1985–86

  732,313

  1986–87

  806,432

  1987–88

  1,212,649

  TOTAL

  4,443,184

  309

  Assistance by way of representation

  Solicitors' fees £

  Counsels' Fees £

  Total £

  1980–811

  12,683

  2,690

  15,373

  1981–1982

  177,694

  37,692

  215,386

  1982–1983

  334,772

  70,829

  405,601

  1983–1984

  408,666

  89,921

  498,587

  1984–1985

  350,593

  82,961

  433,554

  1985–1986

  525,998

  119,056

  645,054

  1986–1987

  755,986

  162,634

  918,620

  1987–1988

  757,215

  161,247

  918,462

  Totals

  3,323,607

  727,030

  4,050,637

  1 This scheme commenced in November 1980.

  Total expenditure over the period = £49,788,814.

  Information on the number of Queen's counsel, junior counsel an solicitors who have received payments in each of the years is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Frederick Andrews
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Attorney-General what information he has as to why the Official Solicitor in Northern Ireland refuses to make available copies of the financial records of Frederick Andrews, 1978 No. 516, to his family; and what information he has on the alleged mismanagement of the affairs of mental patient Frederick Andrews, 1978 No. 516, since he was placed under the Care and Protection Office.

  The Attorney-General
  I refer the hon. Member to my earlier replies to him about this case on 25 February 1988, at columns 257–59. It would not be appropriate for me to comment further on this case.

  Baby C
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Attorney-General if he has any plans to arrange for a full investigation into the public interest implications of the case heard recently by Mr. Justice Ward in the family division of the High Court in Leeds relating to the treatment of baby C; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  The Lord Chancellor is having inquiries made into the background to these proceedings, including obtaining a copy of any judgment, and will consider what implications there may be.

  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will call for a report from the Official Solicitor into the public interest implications of the recent handling in the Leeds High Court of the case on behalf of baby C.

  The Attorney-General
  It is not part of the Official Solicitor's normal functions to report on the public interest implications of an individual case in which he is involved. The Lord Chancellor is, however, having inquiries made into the background of these proceedings, including obtaining a copy of any judgment, and will consider what implications there may be.

  Wards of Court
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Attorney-General on how many occasions over the last 12 months for which figures are available the medical evidence submitted in proceedings in the High Court in Leeds in cases pertaining to the medical treatment of wards of court has been withheld from the public and the media.
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  The Attorney-General
  The information requested is not available but generally it is the practice for the courts hearing wardship cases to sit in private.

  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Attorney-General on how many occasions over the last 12 months for which figures are available proceedings in the High Court in Leeds pertaining to the medical treatment of wards of court have been held in camera.

  The Attorney-General
  This information is not available but the general practice of the courts is to hear wardship cases in private.

  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will make it his policy to ensure that the Official Solicitor routinely seeks a second medical opinion when he is acting on behalf of minors who are wards of court in proceedings pertaining to their access to medical treatment.

  The Attorney-General
  Where an independent medical report is needed in relation to wardship proceedings in which the Official Solicitor is acting as the ward's guardian ad litem, subject to the court's permission he routinely obtains one.

  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Attorney-General if he has any plans to request a report from Mr. Justice Ward of the family division of the Leeds High Court into the public interest implications of his reported decision to instruct doctors to treat a ward of court to die.

  The Attorney-General
  No. The exercise of the wardship jurisdiction is a judicial function and it would not therefore be appropriate for any member of the Government to ask a judge to report to him on any aspect of his decision in an individual case. The Lord Chancellor is, however, having inquiries made into the background to these proceedings, including obtaining a copy of any judgment, and will consider what implications there may be.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  House of Fraser
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement setting out the reasons why he did not previously refer the House of Fraser report to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 10 April 1989]: As my right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has indicated in another place, in his view there are no public interest grounds for such a reference.

ENERGY

  Public Service Broadcasts
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will assess the likely implications for the transmission by Channel 4 of public service broadcasts emanating from his Department of the White Paper, "Broadcasting in the 90s: Competition, Choice and Quality".
  311
  Mr. Parkinson
  There is no reason to suppose that the proposals in the White Paper will alter the present arrangements whereby public service messages are broadcast by Channel 4. The arrangements for paid Government advertising on television will not be affected by the proposals.

  Yorkshire Coal
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will take steps to ensure a long-term supply contract for Yorkshire coal between British Coal and the Central Electricity Generating Board for export and to other outlets; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  I have already made it clear that, while the new generating companies are likely to wish to buy a significant proportion of their coal needs on a contractual basis, the proportion of coal sold on contract and the length of the contracts is a matter for commercial negotiation, as in other sectors of the coal market.

PRIME MINISTER

  Iraq (Weapons)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Prime Minister whether Her Majesty's Government propose to change their current policy of prohibiting the export to Iraq of any weapon which could enhance its offensive capability, or will agree to granting export licences for the supply of weaponry to Iraq, to accommodate United Kingdom exhibitors at the first Baghdad international exhibition for military procurement; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  The Government have not changed their policy on defence sales to Iraq. Applications for export licences continue to be considered on a case-by-case basis, according to the guidelines as announced in the House by the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary on 29 October 1985 at column 454, and in the light of developments in the peace negotiations with Iran.

  Engagements
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Prime Minister what are her criteria for deciding whether to give priority engagements at home or abroad over being present to answer questions in the House on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

  The Prime Minister
  I am present in the House to answer questions on Tuesdays and Thursdays as often as possible.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Sylvan High School
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he intends to take to consult the parents, pupils and staff of Sylvan high school about the proposal by the London borough of Croydon to close the school.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Any local authority wishing to close a school must follow the statutory procedures laid down by the Education Acts. Under section 12 of the Education Act 312
  1980, authorities must publish their proposals and submit a copy to my right hon. Friend. There follows a two-month period during which statutory objections can be submitted to the local education authority. Proposals concerning county schools fall to my right hon. Friend to decide if statutory objections have been submitted or if he exercises his power to call them in. In making his decision on proposals which fall to him to decide, my right hon. Friend weighs carefully the views expressed by those who support or oppose the proposals. My right hon. Friend expects the local education authority concerned—in this case, the London borough of Croydon—to have carried out appropriate consultation with those affected before publishing proposals.

  Qualifications (Statutory Approval)
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what is his policy, in relation to the proposed circular on statutory approval of qualifications under the Education Reform Act, on approving the continuation for 1989–90 of existing two-year courses; whether he intends to approve all existing courses for 1989–90 in order to enable pupils to complete courses they have already started; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what assessment he has made of the efficacy of the arrangements made by his Department and the Schools Examination and Assessment Council to draw up a complete list of existing two-year courses for the purpose of enabling their completion by pupils before August 1990; what arrangements he proposes to make regarding (a) the statutory approval of any courses that prove to have been omitted from the first list to be approved and (b) enforcement of the relevant provisions of the Education Reform Act concerning unapproved courses; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  I shall exercise my powers under section 5 of the Education Reform Act 1988 to approve qualifications on the advice of the School Examinations and Assessment Council (SEAC). I expect shortly to receive the council's advice about qualifications for certification in July 1990 and July 1991. In considering that advice, I shall naturally have careful regard to the implications for pupils and schools. I expect to reach decisions next month. Those decisions will be made public and my Department will simultaneously issue a circular describing the basis on which they were arrived at and the procedures for implementation.

  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will estimate the overall cost to his Department, the Schools Examination and Assessment Council, local education authorities and schools of the recent draft circular on statutory approval of qualifications; what proportion of this overall cost relates to the list A compilation of courses which are to be given temporary approval for 1989–90; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  A number of staff in my Department, the School Examinations and Assessment Council, local education authorities and schools have contributed to drawing up and responding to the draft circular on the approval of qualifications. That work in the great majority of cases represents a negligible addition to the duties of those at each level in the education system responsible for the administration of examinations. It would therefore not be meaningful to assess additional
  313
  costs associated with that work, still less with any particular aspect of it; and to seek to do so would itself involve the Department and others in disproportionate cost. The cost of printing the draft circular was £3,410.

  School Governors
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has received representations concerning the increase in responsibilities placed upon school governors.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  There have been some representations on this point. But the successful recruitment of thousands of new governors last year suggests that they are not daunted by their new responsibilities. The Government are working to ensure that school governors get the support and training that they need to carry out their role effectively.

  Capital Allocations
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he proposes to review the method of assessing potential income from disposal of assets when making future capital allocations.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  From April 1990 the proposed new system of local authority capital finance, as outlined in the Local Government and Housing Bill, will allow Ministers, when determining annual capital guidelines and corresponding credit approvals, to take into account the ability of individual authorities to spend from their capital receipts.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Brazil
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish his response to the Amnesty International report entitled, "Brazil, Authorised Violence in Rural Areas"; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth

  United Kingdom contributions to the United Nations regular budget and the specialised agencies from 1985–88

  (£ million)1

  Year

  United Nations regular budget

  United Nations agencies regular budgets

  United Nations separate peacekeeping forces (UNDOF, UNIFIL and UNFICYP)2

  United Nations agencies voluntary contributions

  Total

  1985

  24·63

  35·57

  31·49

  62·26

  153·95

  1986

  23·62

  27·11

  31·41

  60·34

  4142·49

  1987

  21·50

  29·23

  29·23

  81·57

  161·52

  1988

  19·36

  31·72

  332·26

  81·73

  165·07

  1 Because of different accounting periods of Her Majesty's Government and United Nations Bodies, exchange rate fluctuations and extraordinary items, such as donations to appeals following natural disasters, these figures, although a best estimate, should not be taken as definitive.

  2 United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), Syria/Israel.

  United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

  United Nations Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP).

  3 Includes United Nations Iran-Iraq Military Observer Group (UNIIMOG) contribution. UNIIMOG commenced operation on 9 August 1988.

  4 Apparent decrease due to sharp decline in United States dollar.

  314
  Affairs discussed the allegations in the report with the former Brazilian Justice Minister when he visited Brazil in November 1988. The gist of this conversation was passed to Amnesty International last year. As we have told Amnesty International, we have no doubt that the case descriptions in the report are broadly accurate. But it is quite a different matter to assert that the fedeiral government in Brazilia connives at the killings. We believe that Amnesty International may have overstated its case on this.

  Economic Commission for Europe
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give the names of the United Kingdom representatives attending the plenary session of the Economic Commission for Europe in 1989.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The United Kingdom representatives attending the annual session (including the plenary and sessional committee) of the Economic Commission for Europe in 1989 are:

  Mr. J. A. Sankey CMG, the United Kingdom permanent representative to the office of the United Nations at Geneva.

  Mr. G. W. Hewitt, deputy permanent representative to the office of the United Nations at Geneva.

  Mr. J. R. McCulloch, first secretary at the United Kingdom mission to the office of the United Nations at Geneva.

  Mr. S. Wall, second secretary at the United Kingdom mission to the office of the United Nations at Geneva.

  United Nations Organisation
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give details of the United Kingdom's contributions to the United Nations Organisation, and to its agencies, in each of the years from 1979 to date; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Until 1987 no central record was kept of Her Majesty's Government's contributions through various Government Departments to the United Nations and its agencies. Since then the figures have been centrally collated and are set out in the table:

  Council of Europe
  Mr. Speed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the measures being taken to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Council of Europe.

  Mrs. Chalker
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State will represent the Government at the 40th anniversary celebrations of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg on 5 May 1989. I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth, East (Mr. Atkinson) on 14 February.

  Vietnamese Refugees
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the Government are taking to help Hong Kong cope with the problem of Vietnamese refugees in the territory.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  I am very conscious of the financial burden that has been imposed on the territory by Vietnamese boat people. I have, therefore, decided that the Government should make a contribution of up to £6 million in response to an international appeal which UNHCR will shortly launch for funds to meet the capital costs of Pillar Point, a new refugee centre which the Hong Kong Government are constructing in the territory for refugees awaiting resettlement. This underlines our firm intention to help Hong Kong deal with this immensely difficult humanitarian problem in every way we can.

  Table 1

  Appeals to county court

  Total

  Settled out of court

  Findings upheld

  Findings overturned

  Result unknown

  Withdrawn

  Appeals by respondent under section 28(2)

  37

  20

  6

  8

  3

  —

  Appeals by complainant under section 28(3)

  22

  3

  6

  1

  11

  1

  Table 2

  Appeals by respondents against FEA findings of discrimination under section 28(2) of The Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act 1976

  Date appeals lodged

  Organisation involved

  Outcome of appeal (findings upheld or overturned)

  November 1977

  Civil Service Commission

  Overturned

  December 1978

  Craigavon Borough Council

  1Overturned

  January 1979

  Newry and Mourne District Council

  Overturned

  May 1979

  Craigavon Borough Council

  Overturned

  September 1981

  Armagh District Council

  2Upheld

  November 1981

  Lisburn Borough Council

  Upheld

  December 1984

  Southern Health and Social Services

  Overturned

  April 1985

  Derry City Council

  Overturned

  April 1985

  Northern Ireland Electricity

  3Overturned

  February 1986

  Department of Environment (NI)

  Overturned

  August 1986

  Southern Health and Social Services Board

  Upheld

  November 1986

  The Village Inn

  Upheld

  May 1987

  Ministry of Defence

  Upheld

  1 Original FEA findings upheld by Court of Appeal.

  2 Original FEA findings overturned by Court of Appeal.

  3 FEA appeal pending at Court of Appeal.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Fair Employment
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the employers in Northern Ireland the Fair Employment Agency has(a) chosen or (b) had discussions with to revoke or modify directions previously given under subsection 2(i) or 2(ii) under part II, section 13(5)(a) or (b) of the Fair Employment Act (Northern Ireland) 1976 to date.

  Mr. Viggers
  Following is the information requested.

  Cookstown district council.

  Armagh district council.

  Lough Neagh fishermen's co-operative.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list(a) the number and type of cases referred under the Fair Employment Act (Northern Ireland) 1976 to the county court, the number and (b) type of findings upheld or overturned by the court and the employers concerned; and if he will place in the Library copies of the judgments in each case.

  Mr. Viggers
  The tables provide details of cases heard by the county court. It is not normal practice to place judgments in the Library but they may be obtained on request from the county court, Courthouse, Crumlin road, Belfast.

  Table 3

  Appeals by complainants against FEA findings of no discrimination under section 28(3) of The Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act 1976

  Date appeal lodged

  Respondent organisation

  Outcome of appeal (findings upheld or overturned)

  June 1979

  Department of Health and Social Services

  Upheld

  July 1984

  Department of the Environment

  Upheld

  October 1984

  F. A. Wellworth Co. Ltd.

  Upheld

  January 1985

  Anglo Irish Meats

  Overturned

  November 1985

  Short Brothers Pic

  Upheld

  April 1986

  NI Postal and Telecommunications Board

  Upheld

  June 1988

  Belfast City Council

  Upheld

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which employers have made a compensatory payment to a complainant under the Fair Employment Act (Northern Ireland) 1976; and what were the sums involved in each case, the original date of each settlement and the eventual date of payment, from 1976 to the present time.

  Mr. Viggers
  This is a matter for the chairman of the Fair Employment Agency. I understand that there have been 41 cases, the details of which are in the following
  317
  table. It would not be in the best interests of the work of the agency to release the names of parties involved in the cases under section 24 of the Act.

  Respondent

  Date of settlement

  Date of Payment

  Amount

  Food, Drink and Tobacco

  22 September 1980

  7 October 1980

  780·00

  Textile and Clothing

  14 January 1982

  3 March 1982

  750·00

  Construction

  6 June 1981

  10 March 1982

  500·00

  Manufacturing

  11 June 1982

  18 July 1982

  5,500·00

  Local Authority

  6 August 1982

  26 August 1982

  1,000·00

  Other Employer

  14 September 1982

  16 September 1982

  550·00

  Health and Social Services Board

  27 August 1982

  22 September 1982

  4,350·00

  Local Authority

  30 November 1982

  22 December 1982

  3,000·00

  Other Public Body

  19 October 1983

  14 November 1983

  1,500·00

  Food, Drink and Tobacco

  25 October 1983

  17 November 1983

  1,500·00

  Local Authority

  20 October 1983

  2 December 1983

  1,500·00

  Other Public Body

  24 October 1983

  22 December 1983

  2,500·00

  Health and Social Services Board

  25 January 1984

  9 March 1984

  1,400·00

  Vocational Organisation

  7 March 1984

  3 May 1984

  10,000·00

  Education and Library Board

  8 June 1984

  12 October 1984

  1,500·00

  Vocational Organisation

  26 October 1984

  15 November 1984

  250·00

  Vocational Organisation

  26 October 1984

  15 November 1984

  250·00

  Vocational Organisation

  26 October 1984

  15 November 1984

  250·00

  Distributive

  6 December 1984

  14 December 1984

  350·00

  Other Employer

  1 May 1985

  2 May 1985

  1,000·00

  Food, Drink and Tobacco

  8 November 1985

  20 December 1985

  2,100·00

  Education and Library Board

  not available

  11 April 1986

  2,000·00

  Engineering

  not available

  15 October 1986

  507·50

  Engineering

  not available

  15 October 1986

  510·00

  Other Employer

  not available

  30 October 1986

  4,900·00

  Education and Library Board

  not available

  18 November 1986

  4,7590·4

  Education and Library Board

  not available

  12 May 1987

  3,279·48

  Local Authority

  13 May 1987

  17 June 1987

  1,500·00

  Other Employer

  13 May 1987

  23 June 1987

  1,892·28

  Education and Library Board

  not available

  13 October 1987

  2,035·26

  Local Authority

  not available

  12 November 1987

  3,425·75

  Manufacturing

  16 November 1987

  19 November 1987

  2,350·00

  Manufacturing

  not available

  28 November 1987

  5,000·00

  Construction

  not available

  22 December 1987

  3,500·00

  Engineering

  5 January 1988

  5 January 1988

  2,000·00

  Health and Social Services Board

  not available

  3 February 1988

  1,673·80

  Health and Social Services Board

  not available

  29 March 1988

  4,000·00

  Other Employer

  not available

  8 April 1988

  1,000·00

  Education and Library Board

  not available

  14 April 1988

  3,541·09

  Education and Library Board

  not available

  17 October 1988

  2,397·29

  Local Authority

  not available

  3 April 1989

  19,319·57

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many complaints under section 24 of the Fair Employment Act (Northern Ireland) 1976, of unlawful discrimination the Fair Employment Agency has declined to pursue; and what reasons have been given in each case.

  Mr. Viggers
  I understand from the chairman of the Fair Employment Agency that the agency has declined to pursue 137 complaints under section 24 of the Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act 1976 for the reasons specified:

  Number

  (1) Adjudged Frivolous

  35

  (2) Outside the time limits

  71

  (3) Outside the Scope of the Legislation

  15

  (4) Considered by another Statutory Body

  1

  (5) Failure by Complainant to provide sufficient information

  15

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many complaints under section 24 of the Fair Employment Act (Northern Ireland) 1976, have been made against(a) public bodies, and (b) private employers; and what has been the outcome in each case.
  318
  Mr. Viggers
  The position as at 31 March 1989 is shown in the following table:

  Private Sector

  Public Sector

  Trade Unions

  Total Number of Complaints

  391

  432

  3

  Unlawful Discrimination

  26

  32

  1

  No Discrimination

  190

  208

  2

  Section 42

  1

  26

  —

  Section 52

  —

  1

  —

  Withdrawn or not pursued

  103

  112

  —

  Outstanding

  71

  53

  —

  The agency's annual reports, which are available in the Library, contain an account of investigations under section 24 of the Act.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many complaints by year under the Fair Employment Act (Northern Ireland) 1976 have been discontinued by virtue of section 42 of the Act, listing the employing body in each case and the religious affiliation of the complainant.

  Mr. Viggers
  The recorded number of section 42 certificates signed by Northern Ireland Office Ministers in each year since 1976 is as follows:
  319

  Year

  Number

  1976

  0

  1977

  1

  1978

  3

  1979

  0

  1980

  1

  1981

  3

  1982

  1

  1983

  1

  1984

  3

  1985

  1

  1986

  1

  1987

  2

  1988

  5

  1989

  1

  Nine cases involved either the Northern Ireland Office or Northern Ireland Departments whilst the other 14 involved public bodies in Northern Ireland. It is understood that of the complainants involved, 20 were Roman Catholic and three were Protestants.

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many subscribers there have been in Northern Ireland to the register for equal opportunity employers and organisations for each quarter since 30 April 1988; and how many of such subscribers have been removed from the register each quarter since since this date.

  Mr. Viggers
  The number of subscribers at the end of each quarter is as follows:

  Quarter ended

  Number of sub-scribers

  31 July 1988

  9,630

  31 October 1988

  9,817

  31 January 1989

  10,024

  31 March 1989 (two month period only)

  10,181

  No subscribers have been removed from the register in this period.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give the most recent unemployment rates by Belfast local government district wards in percentage and numerical terms.

  Mr. Viggers
  The numbers unemployed in each ward, within the Belfast district council area, at 9 March 1989, are as follows. Unemployment rates are available only for travel-to-work areas.

  Numbers unemployed in Belfast district council area, by ward, at 9 March 1989

  Ward

  Number

  Sydenham

  332

  Island

  507

  Ballymacarret

  648

  Bloomfield

  346

  Ballyhackamore

  317

  Belmont

  296

  Stormont

  136

  Cherryvalley

  238

  Knock

  248

  Orangefield

  206

  The Mount

  652

  320

  Ward

  Number

  Woodstock

  452

  Ravenhill

  277

  Ballynafeigh

  457

  Rosetta

  228

  Upper Malone

  200

  Finaghy

  225

  Blackstaff

  488

  Malone

  348

  Stranmillis

  229

  Windsor

  470

  Botanic

  1,250

  Shaftesbury

  679

  Ladybrook

  616

  Glencolin

  948

  Andersonstown

  559

  Glen Road

  796

  Falls Park

  709

  Upper Springfield

  1,097

  Whiterock

  988

  Beechmount

  636

  Highfield

  487

  Glencairn

  556

  Woodvale

  406

  Crumlin

  451

  Shankill

  497

  Clonard

  848

  Falls

  878

  St. Annes

  813

  New Lodge

  959

  Duncairn

  541

  Waterworks

  883

  Ardoyne

  983

  Ligoniel

  400

  Ballysillan

  381

  Cliftonville

  484

  Chichester Park

  513

  Fort william

  279

  Cavehill

  231

  Castleview

  353

  Bellevue

  310

  TOTAL

  26,831

  Investment
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the level of investment by(a) United States companies, (b) the European Economic Community and regional development agencies and (c) other public sector sources since 1980, indicating the numbers employed in each case.

  Mr. Viggers
  The level of investment and the numbers of jobs assisted since 1980 are:

  Investment

  Jobs assisted

  (a) United Stales companies£397·5 million

  21,253

  (b) European Economic Community and Regional Development Agencies EEC £55·60 million

  30,630

  Department of Commerce/IDB £723·9 million

  111,056

  LEDU £144·887 million

  33,256

  (c) Other Public Sector Sources DED Assistance to Harland & Wolff and Shorts£533·1 million

  12,371

  Government Aid
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list by country of origin the firms in receipt of Government assistance that have opened or closed in Northern Ireland for the period for which details are available and the date of their opening and closure.

  Mr. Viggers
  The following list shows firms by country of origin which have opened since 1972 with assistance from the Industrial Development Board or its predecessor, the Department of Commerce. Those marked by ' subsequently closed. The dates of opening and closure are not readily available and to identify them would involve disproportionate cost.

  In addition, since 1979, the local enterprise development unit has assisted 4,011 small firms to begin operating. These were almost exclusively of Northern Ireland origin, and in many cases one-man businesses. Identification of these firms individually would entail disproportionate cost. Information on LEDU-assisted firms which closed in the period is not available.

  COMPANIES WHICH HAVE OPENED IN NORTHERN IRELAND SINCE 1972 SHOWING COUNTRY OF ORIGIN

  Northern Ireland

  Texmotif Ltd.

  Maydown Precision Engineering Ltd.

  Tirnanog Ltd.1

  Wilson Double-Deck Trailers Ltd.

  Sandown Private Nursing Homes Ltd.

  Sefco Engineering Ltd. Samson Yarns Ltd.

  Euro-Shellfish Ltd.

  Tri-sum Snacks Ltd. Flax Fibres Ltd.1

  Pla shapes Ltd.

  North Star Plastics Ltd.

  Cookstown Meats Ltd.

  Ivex Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Merm Ltd.

  Tamnaharry Developments Ltd.

  Lenticle Ltd.1

  John Cleland and Sons (Labels) Ltd.

  John Finlay (Site Handlers) Ltd.

  Glenbrook Foods Ltd.

  St. Brendans Irish Cream Liquer Co. Ltd.

  Munton (Antrim) Ltd.1

  Desmond and Sons (Enniskillen) Ltd.

  Finlay (Block Machinery) Ltd.

  Quaterfoil Ltd.1

  Phoenix Picture Frames Ltd.

  InchProcessors Ltd.

  Irlandus Prototypes Ltd.1

  Cookstown Clothing Ltd.1

  Springtown Engineering Ltd. Four M (NI) Ltd.1

  Munton Textiles Ltd.

  Power Automation Products Ltd.1

  Concrete Systems Ltd.

  Portaferry Pumps and Equipment Ltd.

  TBF Thompson Ltd.

  Parkgate Spinners Ltd.1

  Taste Rite Foods Ltd.

  Flying Horse Sports Ltd.1

  Dunluce Knitwear Ltd.1

  B. H. McCleery and Co. Ltd.

  Altona Wood Craft Ltd.1

  Cor Van Heughten Ltd.

  McNeill Assemblers Ltd.1

  Millbrook Engineering Ltd.1

  SMS Locks Ltd.1

  Sugna Ltd.

  Co-Tern-Co. Ltd.

  Viking Manufacturing Co. Ltd.1

  322

  Green Point Appliances Ltd.

  Electronic Patentees Ltd.1

  MHM International Ltd.

  G. A. General Works (Ards Holdings)1

  Textile Recycling Ltd.1

  Foyle Meats Ltd.

  Shergrim Ltd.

  Fleming Poultry Ltd.

  Castledawson Shirt Co. Ltd.

  McQuillan Bros. Ltd.

  Acquaculture Ltd.1

  Textile Engineering Co. Ltd.1

  Ulster Crystal Ltd.1

  Regna International Ltd.1

  Tyrone Scientific Ltd.1

  B. and J. Jupiter Crusiers1

  Enniskillen Meat Packers (Fermanagh Meats)

  Featherlite Plastics Ltd.1

  Moy Central Manufacturing Co. Ltd.

  Masstock Systems Ltd.1

  Denroy Plastics Ltd. Cyntex Ltd1

  John Mackle (T/A Collegeland Farms)

  BIS Beecom (Int) Ltd

  Armagh Designs Ltd1

  Copeland Clothes Ltd

  Ballyrashane Foods Ltd

  Brookhaven Ltd

  Textflow Services Ltd

  Acheson and Glover Chemicals Ltd

  Strangford Brick Ltd

  Powerscreen Manufacturing Ltd

  Sandstock Brick Ltd

  W. J. Farrell Exports Ltd

  Tobermore Paving Products Ltd

  Linfield Group Ltd (Castlewellan Division)

  Great Britain

  ISA Poultry Services Ltd

  McCourquodale plc

  Airport Catering Services Ltd

  Rumenco Ltd

  Cooper Technical Components Ltd

  Lynjoy Ltd

  Winner Shoes Ltd1

  Thermomax Ltd

  C. P. Trim Ltd1

  Software Ireland Ltd

  Pharmaceutex (IV Fluids) Ltd1

  Walmsleys Games Components1

  Nocobond Ltd

  Ulcon Ltd

  Oakland Foods Ltd1

  Pactgreen Ltd1

  Fairfax Jersey Ltd1

  Moss Lane Spinning Ltd1

  Glenbank Finishing Ltd1

  Maine Spinning Co Ltd1

  Perry Heating (Supermatic Ltd)1

  Abacus Engineering Ltd1

  Groadawick (NI) Ltd.1

  Swaddlers (Europe) Ltd.1

  United Meat Packers (NI) Ltd.

  McDonnell Douglas Information Systems Ltd.

  Stern Fenster UPVC Ltd.

  Group Publishing Co. Ltd.

  Capita (NI) Ltd.

  Liam Williams Knitwear Ltd.

  Kalon Group plc

  Tensator (NI) Ltd.

  United States of America

  Quad Signs (NI) Ltd.

  Falconette Ltd.1

  Heritage Crystal Ltd.1

  O'Brien Machinery Ltd.1

  Lear Fan Ltd.1

  Oaks Development Ltd.1

  Chesapeake Cutters Ltd.1

  DPP Shreiber Cheese Co. Ltd.

  323

  AVX Ltd.

  De Lorean Motor Co.1

  Coronary Care Systems Ltd.1

  Fisher Body Ltd.

  Hyster (NI) Ltd.

  National Supply Co. Ltd.1

  LFE International BV

  American Monitor International Ltd.1

  Sam Fox (Synthetic Industries Ltd.)

  Fastigium Ltd.

  Neotech Industries Europe Ltd.

  Canada

  Universal Sections (Yardmaster)1

  Denmark

  Thrige-Scott Ltd.

  Bulrush Peat Co. Ltd.

  Tyrone Shoes (1975) Ltd.1

  Scan Candles Ltd.1

  Netherlands

  Multi-Food Machinery Ltd.

  NI Paper Mill Co. Ltd.

  Tufted Carpet Tiles Ltd.

  Van Oerle Alberton (NI) Ltd.

  Switzerland

  Smart (UK) Ltd.

  Scandanavian Hosiery Ltd.1

  Japan

  IWAX (UK) Ltd.1

  Canyon Europe Ltd.

  Pakistan

  Down Linen Yarns Ltd.

  Hong Kong

  Texlin Yarns Ltd.1

  Sweden

  Tilgman Keramik Ltd.1

  Regal Foods Ltd.

  Cyprus

  Quality Dairies Ltd.1

  West Germany

  Elastic Berger Ltd.

  Keese Label Presses1

  Rusi Cosmetics Ltd.1

  Andus Electronics Ltd.

  Gerd Ney Ltd.1

  Tools and Cans Ltd.

  France

  Montupet (UK) Ltd./Willace (UK) Ltd.

  B S Toolings Ltd.

  Republic of Korea

  Daewoo Electronics (UK) Ltd.

  Republic of Ireland

  Mastercut Meat Packers Ltd.

  Norish (NI) Ltd.

  UAP Ltd.

  Powercrusher Ltd.1

  Associated Polymers Ltd.1

  Container Refurbishing Ltd.1

  MCL Plastics Ltd.1

  Glen Electric Ltd.

  De La Rue Smurfitt (NI) Ltd.

  Camella Foods Ltd.

  Mastercut Foods Ltd.

  Henry Denny and Sons (NI) Ltd.

  ETI Ltd.

  Crosspharma Ltd.

  324

  Grassland Fertilisers Ltd.

  Atlantic Leathers Ltd.

  1Denotes closure.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list and identify the medium, large and small companies who received Government assistance and which have defaulted on their loans; and how much in each case has had to be written off as bad debts for the period for which data is available, identifying in each case whether the company was supported by LEDU, the Industrial Development Board or its predecessor the Department of Commerce.

  Mr. Viggers
  Information about individual companies which have defaulted on loans from Government agencies is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The cumulative value of Government loans written off as irrecoverable by the agencies concerned is as follows. The local enterprise development unit, Northern Ireland's small business agency, has written off £2·5 million since it was formed in 1971. A total of approximately £37·5 million owed to the former Northern Ireland development agency and its predecessor, the Northern Ireland Finance Corporation, was written off between 1972 and 1982, comprising both share capital and loan investments. Since 1966, loans issued by the former Department of Commerce totalling £16,482,572 have been written off, as has £207,660 relating to loans issued by its successor, the Industrial Development Board.

  Harland and Wolff and Short Bros.
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the average cost per job in Short Bros. and Harland and Wolff by year for the period for which data is available; and what will be the average cost per job to transfer these companies into the private sector over keeping them in the public domain.

  Mr. Viggers
  Government support for Harland and Wolff and Short Bros. takes various forms, some of which cannot be quantified in cost per job terms.

  However, based on the external funding requirement (loans and Government grants) for both companies the average cost per job figures in each of the last five years has been:

  Harland and Wolff

  Short Bros.

  £

  £

  1983–84

  7,286

  3,000

  1984–85

  7,360

  1,000

  1985–86

  7,494

  4,100

  1986–87

  13,063

  5,500

  1987–88

  14,342

  16,300

  Transferring both companies to the private sector will result in a decrease and not an increase in the level of future Government support to Harland and Wolff and Short Bros.

  It is anticipated that there will be a cost to Government on a one-off basis in transferring each company to the private sector; thereafter each company will be regarded as eligible for Government support in line with other private sector companies in Northern Ireland.

  Criminal Injuries (Compensation)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish in the Official Report a table giving the amounts in the fiscal years 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88 and 1988–89 of payments made to (a) civilians under the Criminal Injuries Compensation (Northern Ireland) Order 1977, (b) members of the security forces (Royal Ulster Constabulary, Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserve, British Army and Ulster Defence Regiment) under the Criminal Injuries Compensation (Northern Ireland) Order 1977, (c) compensation payments made under the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1978 and (d) compensation payments under the Criminal Damage (Compensation) (Northern Ireland) Order 1977 and subsequent legislation.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  For the years 1985–88, I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave on 4 November 1988 at column.826. The corresponding figures for 1988–89 are as follows:

  1998–89 £

  Compensation payments to civilians under the Criminal Injuries (Compensation) (NI) Order 1977

  111,632,823

  Compensation payments to members of the security forces under the Criminal Injuries (Compensation) (NI) Order 1977

  23,298,305

  Compensation payments under the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1978

  1,258,294

  Compensation payments under the Criminal Damage (Compensation) (NI) Order 1977 and earlier legislation3

  20,606,264

  1 Includes £7,770 paid under the Criminal Injuries (Compensation) (NI) Order 1988.

  October 1988

  November 1988

  December 1988

  January 1989

  February 1989

  Number of searches

  Total number of searches carried out

  20

  32

  36

  22

  28

  Total number of inmates searched

  14

  22

  23

  19

  23

  Number of prisoners searched once

  8

  14

  14

  16

  19

  Number of prisoners searched twice

  6

  7

  7

  3

  3

  Number of prisoners searched more than twice

  —

  1

  2

  —

  1

  (4 times)

  (4 times)

  (3 times)

  Reasons for search

  First admission on remand/awaiting trial

  4

  10

  6

  11

  9

  First' admission on sentence/final discharge

  12

  16

  13

  7

  17

  Attending remand court

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Attending trial

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Inter-prison visits

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Pre-release home leave

  2

  6

  16

  4

  —

  Visits to outside hospital

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Returning from bail application

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  No prohibited article was found during these searches. On one occasion a prisoner refused to co-operate in a full reception search or talk to any member of staff. A full search was then carried out by two officers; the prisoner did not assist or resist as it was taking place.

  Post-Chernobyl Restrictions
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the number of farms, number of sheep and number of acres subject to post-Chernobyl restrictions as at February; and if he will make a statement.
  326

  2 Includes £850 paid under the Criminal Injuries (Compensation) (NI) Order 1988.

  3 The current criminal damage legislation is the Criminal Damage (Compensation) (NI) Order 1977.

  Notes:

  1. It is regretted that due to a computational error an incorrect figure (£686,242) was previously shown—column 826, 4 November 1988—under Compensation Payments under the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1978 for 1987–88—the correct figure should read £578,699.

  2. The amounts shown for 1988–89 may be subject to slight variation on completion of the appropriation account.

  Strip Searches
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many strip searches were made on female prisoners in Her Majesty's prison, Maghaberry, in each month from October 1988 to February 1989; if he will give the number of persons involved and the number of times each person was searched; whether any prison contraband, smuggled item or illegal correspondence was discovered in any search, indicating which items; in how many cases prisoners refused to be searched and had to be restrained while the search was being conducted; and if he will indicate the reasons for the search, namely, making a remand appearance at court, attending trial, inter-prison visit or other reasons.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The information requested is as follows:

  Mr. Viggers
  [holding answer 20 April 1989]: The following is the information:

  Number of farms—123

  Number of sheep—21,000

  Area of land—21,612 acres

SCOTLAND

  National Health Service Land and Site Values
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a list of the land and site values referred to in paragraph 2·7 of the health White Paper.
  327
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I understand that the hon. Member is referring to paragraph 2.7 of Scottish working paper 5 "Capital Charging", rather than to the White Paper Cm. 555. As indicated in paragraph 4.1 of that working paper, health boards are expected to record their capital assets and to value them on a provisional basis during 1989–90 and to refine these values during 1990–91. There are no plans to publish details of individual landholdings and site values of health board properites.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  EC Economic and Finance Council
  Mr. Gerald Bowden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the outcome of the latest meeting of the European Community's Economic and Finance Council.

  Mr. Lawson
  The ECOFIN Council met in Luxembourg on 17 April. I represented the United Kingdom.

  The council reached agreement with a delegation of the European Parliament, under the conciliation procedure, on the regulations required to implement the new own resources decision of June 1989 which include measures to tighten controls against fraud.

  The council had a further discussion of the Commission's proposals on taxation of savings, of direct tax measures to encourage cross-border co-operation between enterprises, and of the proposed 18th VAT directive.

  The council discussed indirect tax approximation, stressing the need to consider alternative approaches for the abolition of fiscal frontiers.

  The council heard a presentation from the Commission on the revised proposal for a second banking co-ordination directive.

  The council adopted a common position on the proposed directive on own funds of credit institutions.

  The President of the Commission outlined the main features of the report of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Union which is to be discussed further by the council. I made it clear that, while supporting practical steps within the framework of the existing treaty designed to improve economic and monetary co-operation, the United Kingdom cannot accept the transfer of sovereignty implied by the proposals for full economic and monetary union contained in the Delors report.

  Internal Market
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the total value at the latest available full year of public sector contracts in each of the European Community countries other than the United Kingdom of a character which will make them open to Community-wide bidding as part of the creation of the internal market.

  Mr. Brooke
  None. The cost would not be justified. Information is available from European Commission studies on the size of the procurement market in various industrial sectors in other member states but the value of the contracts to be opened to Community-wide bidding will depend on the coverage of the proposed directives and 328
  the threshold above which they will apply. The Commission is investigating the effect of setting the threshold at various levels.

  EC (Payments)
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Southend, East (Mr. Taylor)Official Report, 8 November 1988, column 112, what was the net payment made to the European Community by the United Kingdom for each year since 1979; and what was in each case the net payment to European Economic Community institutions as a percentage of gross domestic product.

  Mr. Brooke
  The information requested is set out in the table.

  Total net payments to European Community institutions'

  £ million

  Percentage of money GDP

  1979–80

  841

  0·4

  1980–81

  168

  0·1

  1981–82

  117

  0·1

  1982–83

  589

  0·2

  1983–84

  836

  0·3

  1984–85

  974

  0·3

  1985–86

  822

  0·2

  1986–87

  1,079

  0·3

  1987–88

  1,664

  0·4

  1988–89

  950

  0·2

  1 Excluding overseas aid: for domestic public expenditure planning purposes, part of the United Kingdom's contribution to the Community budget is attributed to the overseas aid programme.

  Treasury Stock
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of persons holding 21/2 per cent. Treasury stock 1975 issued in 1946–47; and what is the size of the average holding.

  Mr. Lilley
  There are approximately 12,300 registered holders of 21 per cent. Treasury stock 1975 or after with an average size holding of £38,700. It is impossible without undue cost to distinguish between personal and corporate holdings.

  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost of redemption of 21/2 per cent Treasury stock 1975.

  Mr. Lilley
  The cost of redemption of 2± per cent Treasury stock 1975 or after would be £475 million.

  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to redeem 21/2 per cent Treasury stock 1975.

  Mr. Lilley
  None.

  Personal Imports
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any plans to increase the duty free limit on personal imports of gifts into the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lilley
  The travellers' allowances for goods purchased duty free for importation as personal gifts are
  329
  provided for under European Community legislation. The Government has long supported the Commission's proposals to increase substantially the £32 allowance for goods other than tobacco, spirits, wines and so on, but it has not so far been possible to obtain the necessary agreement of all member states.

  Reverse Auctioning
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the practice of reverse auctioning of Government debt began; and how it is regulated.

  Mr. Lilley
  The first reverse auction was held in January 1989, and was carried out by the Bank of England.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which financial institutions or sectors have participated in buying Government debt through reverse auctioning.

  Mr. Lilley
  Only the Bank of England buys Government debt through reverse auctions. Figures are not available for the institutions or sectors selling stock, because many of the offers will be channelled through gilt edged market makers.

  Figures showing transactions in Government stock by various sectors in 1989 Q I (the quarter in which the first reverse auction took place) will be published in the May Bank of England Quarterly Bulletin.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much Government debt has been reverse auctioned over each of the last 30 years for which records are available.

  Mr. Lilley
  Only one reverse auction has been held so far and this took place in January 1989. This reverse auction was for £500 million nominal of stock.

  Empty Property
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of properties owned by Her Majesty's

  Net Public Sector Debt (End Year)

  Current prices

  1988–89 prices

  £ billion

  Change on previous year

  £ billion

  Change on previous year

  1974–75

  59·5

  —

  234·0

  —

  1975–76

  71·8

  12·3

  224·9

  -90

  1976–77

  81·3

  9·4

  224·6

  -0·3

  1977–78

  87·9

  6·6

  213·5

  -11·1

  1978–79

  95·3

  7·4

  208·8

  -4·7

  1979–80

  102·1

  6·8

  191·7

  -17·1

  1980–81

  116·5

  14·4

  184·6

  -7·2

  1981–82

  127·2

  10·7

  183·7

  -0·9

  1982–83

  135·0

  7·8

  182·0

  -1·6

  1983–84

  147·3

  12·3

  189·8

  7·8

  1984–85

  160·7

  13·4

  197·4

  7·6

  1985–86

  166·8

  6·1

  194·2

  -3·2

  1986–87

  171·1

  4·3

  192·7

  -1·5

  1987–88

  171·3

  0·2

  183·7

  -9·0

  1988–89 (forecast)

  157·0

  -14·3

  157·0

  -26·7

  330
  Treasury and suitable for residential accommodation have been empty for (i) up to a year and (ii) over a year; and where these properties are located, by region of the United Kingdom or local authority area.

  Mr. Brooke
  [holding answer 20 April 1989]: (i ) Nil; (ii) Nil.

  Village Halls
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the consequences on village halls of the extension of value added tax on the construction of new buildings, fuel and power, water and sewerage supplies.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 20 April 1989]: Where village halls are engaged in business activities, VAT will he due on supplies to them of construction services and fuel and power. Water and sewerage services will, however, remain zero-rated. The imposition of tax on supplies of construction services and fuel and power is a consequence of the unwelcome European Court of Justice ruling published on 21 June last year. Business is defined widely in EC VAT law and could include the hiring out of village halls to local groups and other users.

  Public Sector Debt
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state for each year from 1970–71 to 1987–88, and estimate for 1988–89 (i) the public sector net debt outstanding at current and 1988 prices, (ii) the net change from the previous year at current and 1988 prices and (iii) the components of the public sector net debt including assets such as foreign exchange reserves for each year both at current and 1988 prices.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 17 April 1989]: The available information is as follows:
  331

  Components of net public sector debt (£ billion)

  Current prices

  Net public sector debt1

  Gross public sector debt

  Total

  Public Sector liquid assets of which

  Other

  Gold and foreign exchange

  Commercial Bills

  1974–75

  59·5

  63·0

  3·4

  2·5

  0·0

  0·9

  1975–76

  71·8

  75·8

  4·1

  3·1

  0·1

  0·9

  1976–77

  81·3

  88·6

  7·3

  5·6

  0·1

  1·6

  1977–78

  87·9

  100·2

  12·3

  10·9

  0·0

  1·4

  1978–79

  95·3

  108·5

  13·2

  10·6

  0·3

  2·3

  1979–80

  102·1

  117·3

  15·2

  12·5

  0·8

  2·0

  1980–81

  116·5

  135·3

  18·9

  12·6

  2·8

  3·5

  1981–82

  127·2

  147·2

  20·0

  10·6

  7·0

  2·3

  1982–83

  135·0

  156·5

  21·5

  11·7

  6·3

  3·6

  1983–84

  147·3

  172·2

  24·9

  11·6

  9·8

  3·4

  1984–85

  160·7

  189·7

  29·0

  11·0

  7·2

  10·8

  1985–86

  166·8

  197·9

  31·1

  12·7

  8·7

  9·7

  1986–87

  171·1

  204·6

  33·5

  16·9

  7·0

  9·7

  1987–88

  171·3

  213·4

  42·1

  25·2

  8·3

  8·6

  1988–89 (forecast)

  157·0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1988–89 prices

  1974–75

  234·0

  247·5

  13·4

  9·8

  0·0

  3·5

  1975–76

  224·9

  237·3

  12·8

  9·7

  0·3

  2·8

  1976–77

  224·6

  244·8

  20·2

  15·5

  0·3

  4·4

  1977–78

  213·5

  243·5

  29·9

  26·5

  0·0

  3·4

  1978–79

  208·8

  237·7

  28·9

  23·2

  0·7

  5·0

  1979–80

  191·7

  220·3

  28·6

  23·4

  1·5

  3·7

  1980–81

  184·6

  214·5

  29·9

  19·9

  4·4

  5·5

  1981–82

  183·7

  212·5

  28·8

  15·4

  10·2

  3·3

  1982–83

  182·0

  211·0

  29·0

  15·8

  8·4

  4·8

  1983–84

  189·8

  221·9

  32·1

  15·0

  12·7

  4·4

  1984–85

  197·4

  233·0

  35·6

  13·5

  8·8

  13·3

  1985–86

  194·2

  230·4

  36·2

  14·8

  10·1

  11·3

  1986–87

  192·7

  230·4

  37·8

  19·0

  7·9

  10·9

  1987–88

  183·7

  228·9

  45·2

  27·0

  8·9

  9·2

  1988–89 (forecast)

  157·0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1 Net public sector debt = Gross public sector debt minus public sector liquid assets.

  No net public sector debt figures are published for the years prior to 1974–75.

DEFENCE

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what percentage of officers in grades 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, respectively, and overall in his Department are(a) women and (b) members of ethnic minorities.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The numbers and percentages of women in senior posts are as follows:

  Grade

  Number

  Percentage

  1–4

  2·0

  1·8

  5

  13·0

  3·7

  6

  10·0

  1·2

  7

  111·5

  3·6

  Total 1–7

  136·5

  3·1

  There are 41 (1 per cent.) staff at grades 1 to 7 who are from ethnic minorities all at grades 5 to 7.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department last conducted a survey of the ethnic origin of its employees; when it next plans to do so; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Ministry of Defence has recently completed a survey in which all staff were asked to state their ethnic origin. Over 76 per cent. of staff responded. Information on ethnic origin is now sought as a matter of routine from all those who join the Department.
  332
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken to recruit members of ethnic minorities in top grades of employment at his Department.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Posts in senior grades in the Department are generally filled through promotion from within. Members of ethnic minorities who have the appropriate qualifications are considered for promotion to such posts on the same basis as other staff. As I said in my reply of 24 June 1988 at column 740–41, a programme of positive action is now in hand which includes special steps to recruit staff from ethnic minorities. It is hoped that these steps will in time lead to a greater number of such staff being considered for senior posts.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 23 March,Official Report column 756, in which form central records hold information regarding low-flying sorties; and how the information requested in the questions can be obtained.

  Mr. Neubert
  For management purposes, central records of low-flying sorties are held as monthly and annual totals for the whole of the United Kingdom low flying system. The records neither show where the sorties originated or terminated nor which counties were overflown during the sortie. The information requested in the hon. Member's questions in the Official Report, column 756, of 23 March is not therefore available.

  Brigade of Gurkhas
  Mr. Hague
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are his plans for the Brigade of Gurkhas.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We have made it clear that we intend that there shall be a continuing role for the Gurkhas in the British Army following the withdrawal from Hong Kong in 1997. We hope to be in a position to make a further statement soon.

  United States Exercises
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the exercises involving United States forces personnel at RAF Nocton Hall in September 1988.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  From 25 September to 4 October 1988 the United States Air Force wartime contingency hospital at RAF Nocton hall was activated for the reception of simulated United States casualties evacuated from Germany, via RAF Coningsby, as part of the aeromedical element of exercise Reforger 88.

  Aircraft Shelters
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will give the number of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation standard hardened aircraft shelters completed at RAF bases in the United Kingdom in each year since 1979 for which numbers are available in the following categories; (i) shelters paid for directly by his Department, (ii) shelters paid for out of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation infrastructure programme funds that are for use by RAF aircraft, (iii) shelters paid for out of United States Government funds and (iv) shelters paid for out of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation infrastructure programme funds that are for use by United States aircraft;

  (2) if he will give the number of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation standard hardened aircraft shelters at each Royal Air Force base in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It is not our practice to publish this information.

  Service Schools
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements he makes for out of school

  1979

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Direct employees

  Professional grades

  185

  165

  165

  161

  160

  148

  Administrative grades

  133

  113

  120

  128

  125

  117

  Industrial grades

  1,177

  723

  689

  646

  599

  522

  Contractors1

  717

  587

  648

  673

  679

  713

  Total

  2,212

  1,588

  1,622

  1,608

  1563

  1,500

  1 Contractors include people working for timber merchants in Forestry Commission woodland.

  Home Improvement Grants (Rhondda)
  Mr. Allan Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the amount given to Rhondda borough council for home improvement grants in each of the financial years from 1978–79 to the present at 1988 prices; and how many individual grants were given by Rhondda borough council in each year.
  334
  in-service training for (a) primary and (b) secondary teachers in each country where service schools are situated; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neubert
  The Service Children's education authority arranges a wide range of out of school in-service training for primary and secondary teachers on a regular basis, both in the United Kingdom and in countries where service children's schools are situated. These are provided by LEA advisers retained by SCEA, Her Majesty's inspectorate and independent consultants, according to the subject matter.

  In addition SCEA organises support visits to service children's schools over and above the normal in-service training, throughout the academic year.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the pupil teacher ratio, the total pupil roll, the total number of teachers employed and the annual pupil turnover for each service secondary school.

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

WALES

  Internal Market
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the total value to the latest available full year of public sector contracts in Wales of a character which will make them open to Community-wide bidding as part of the creation of the internal market.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  None. The assessment could he made only at disproportionate cost.

  Forestry Commission Staff
  Mr. Allan Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people were(a) working for and (b) working in the different occupational categories for the Forestry Commission in Wales in 1979, 1985 and each subsequent year.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The numbers of people working for the Forestry Commission in Wales in the different occupational categories are given in the following table:

  Mr. Grist
  Provision for capital expenditure on home improvement grants forms part of an authority's overall housing capital allocation. It is for local authorities to decide how their resources are best used to meet the needs of their particular area. Rhondda's total housing allocations since 1978–79 at 1988–89 prices are given in the following table, along with the number of completed grants given by Rhondda district council in each of those years.
  335

  Housing Capital Allocation (at 1988–89 Prices)1£000

  Number of completed grant given

  1978–79

  12,961

  343

  1979–80

  12,962

  397

  1980–81

  9,793

  417

  1981–82

  6,223

  523

  1982–83

  7,478

  940

  1983–84

  15,503

  3,095

  1984–85

  9,171

  2,999

  1985–86

  6,953

  2,004

  1986–87

  10,383

  1,993

  1987–88

  11,598

  1,498

  1988–892

  14,463

  1,293

  1 Expressed at 1988–89 prices using GDP deflators. Allocations prior to 1981–82 are not comparable with 1981–82 and subsequent years as a new system of local authority finance was introduced in 1981–82.

  2 Housing capital allocations figure is provisional. Number of completed grants given is for April-December 1988.

  Valleys Initiative
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what are the estimates of(a) deadweight and (b) displacement with respect to the valleys initiative estimate of 25,000 to 30,000 jobs; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) how many of the new jobs created in the valleys initiative area have been forthcoming from grants made since the initiative was launched;

  (3) what proportion of the estimated 25,000 to 30,000 jobs to be created by the valleys initiative will be (i) full-time and (ii) part-time;

  (4) what is the estimated full-time equivalent number of jobs to be created by the valleys initiative.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  I indicated in the document "The Valleys: A Programme for the People" that on past experience Government commitments of regional development grant and regional selective assistance on the scale anticipated for the three years of the valleys programme would be likely to create between 25,000 and 30,000 full-time equivalent jobs. This would involve a large number of projects spread over a wide area and it is not practicable to provide estimates of deadweight and displacement. However, it is not anticipated that the deadweight and displacement elements would be very great.

  During the nine months to 31g March 1989 offers of RDG and RSA assistance have been made to 310 projects in the valleys involving the forecast creation of over 7,000 full-time equivalent jobs.

  New jobs will also be created with the aid of grants and investment under other headings.

  NHS Land and Site Valuations
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a list of the land and site valuations mentioned in paragraph 2.7 of the health White Paper.

  Mr. Grist
  Some 888 NHS properties in Wales were valued in 1987 by the office of the chief valuer of the Inland Revenue. The current use value of these properties was estimated at approximately £285 million and the open market value at £219 million.

  Economic Policy (Speech)
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has had on the proposals on general economic policy contained in his speech on 10 April to the Tory Reform Group.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  None.

  Untreated Milk
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many milk producers in(a) Pembrokeshire and (b) Wales produce untreated milk.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The information requested is as follows:

  (a) 46

  (b) 267

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many(a) males and (b) females were in full-time employment in May 1979 in Wales; how many people are in full-time employment in Wales in the current year; how many part-time (i) males and (ii) females were employed in May 1979 and are in full-time employment in the current year; and how many apprentices there were in May 1979 and how many apprentices there are in the current year.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  [holding answer 10 April 1989]: The only figures available are those derived from quarterly returns to the Department of Employment and from the annual labour force survey of a sample of households in Great Britain, 3,000 of which are in Wales, carried out on behalf of the Department of Employment.

  The hon. Gentleman will find estimates of the number of male and female employees in employment, the self-employed and the civilian work force in employment in June 1979 (the closest date to May 1979 for which information is available) in table 9 of the supplement to Welsh Economic Trends, Volume 11.

  The breakdown of the estimated number of male and female self-employed in June 1979 is published on page 22 of the Employment Gazette, October 1987, historical supplement No. 2. The latest comparable figures for June 1988 of male and female employees in employment, self-employed, those engaged in work-related Government training schemes and in the civilian work force are published in the Employment Gazette April 1989 page 205.

  No information for June 1979 and June 1988 is available on the breakdown between full-time and part-time male employees in employment, but table 9 of the supplement to Welsh Economic Trends volume 11 provides estimates of full and part-time female employees in employment for June 1979. Comparable figures for June 1988 may be obtained from table 1.5 of the Employment Gazette, February 1989—but revised figures are available from the Department of Employment and will be published in table 1.5 of the May 1989 Employment Gazette.

  Information from the labour force surveys during the spring of 1979 and 1988 show the number of apprentices in Wales to be 17,000 and 16,000 respectively.

  Copies of all the above publications are in the House of Commons Library.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Poverty
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish in the Official Report a copy of his letter to the director of social work of the National Children's Home concerning poverty.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The text of the letter is as follows:"Thank you for sending me your Factfile on children. The document as a whole covers an enormous amount of ground, but I was particularly interested in the point highlighted in your front page on 'dividing the cake'.
  In essence, your Factfile invites the unwary reader to freely associate 'poverty' with the pattern of household income distribution. Any suggestion that 'poverty' can be measured by the distribution of the cake without regard for the changing size of that cake must be questioned. Between 1975 and 1985—a period almost identical to the one you quote —average household real incomes and the incomes of the lowest fifth of households both grew by 14 per cent. Indeed, real household incomes grew throughout the distribution. Those who purport to claim that people are getting poorer —when in fact people are getting better off—cannot have got it right.
  It is also more than a little fanciful to invite the reader to use the value of Child Benefit as an indication of 'poverty'. Some 70 per cent. of families who stand to gain from an increase in Child Benefit have incomes above average male earnings and what matters to them and most other working families is the real value of take-home pay. It is therefore worth noting that since 1978–79, at all multiples of full-time adult male earnings, real take-home pay has increased by well over a fifth.
  I am releasing a copy of this letter to the press tomorrow."

  Widows' Pensions
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) why Mrs. Marion Ing of 1 Chilton close, Acklam, Middlesbrough, receives £16·07 per week by way of a widow's pension; and if he will make a statement about Government policy relating to pensions for widows in this position;

  (2) why a letter to him dated 3 March about Mrs. Marion trig of 1 Chilton close, Middlesbrough, has not yet received a reply.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  A letter has been sent to my hon. Friend today which explains how Mrs. Ing's widow's pension has been calculated.

  Entitlement to widows' benefit for women widowed after 10 April 1988 is determined by the changes introduced at that time. These changes reflected the changing employment patterns amongst widows and have resulted in a scheme which is better targeted and overall more equitable.

  Lone Parents
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field) of 10 November,Official Report, column 294, what was the total number of lone parents and their dependants in November 1979 and November 1988 (a) dependent on receipt of income support or family income, and (b) the total number of lone parents and their dependants on the same dates, showing in each case, the percentage change since 1979.
  338
  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The latest date for which all the information requested is available is 1986 and this is reflected in the table. The reference to family income has been understood to mean family income supplement.

  1979

  1986

  Percentage increase

  Supplementary benefit (now Income Support)1

  Lone parents

  318.000

  602,000

  89

  Dependants

  558,000

  996.000

  78

  Family income supplement (now Family Credit)2

  Lone parents

  42,000

  91.000

  117

  Dependants

  73,000

  142,000

  95

  Total of lone parent families3

  Lone parents

  840,000

  1,010,000

  20

  Dependants

  1.400,000

  1,600,000

  14

  1 Annual Statistical Enquiries—November 1979 and February 1986.

  2 10 per cent, sample of Family Income Supplement load.

  3 Office of Population, Censuses and Surveys—"Population Trends 45" (Autumn 1986) and "Population Trends 55" (Spring 1989).

  Eviction
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Stoke on Trent, North on 17 April, what arrangements he proposes to recommend to(a) landlords and (b) claimants to avoid the possibility of eviction resulting from benefit changes introduced on 10 April.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The Government believe that landlords will adapt to the new situation by adjusting their charges for board and lodging accommodation so that they are in line with the rest of the market. Claimants will be able to select accommodation in this market, and will no longer have their options constrained by anomalous benefit provisions for people staying in board and lodging accommodation. We have no plans to provide information to claimants beyond that already available from the Department.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Asylum
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have applied for admission to the United Kingdom as refugees or otherwise seeking asylum, by national origin, in each of the two years subsequent to and prior to the coming into force of the Immigration (Carriers' Liability) Act) 1987; how many and what percentage of applicants were granted admission to the United Kingdom during each such period; and what was their national origin.

  Mr. Renton
  The Immigration (Carriers' Liability) Act) 1987 came into force in March 1987. Information on applications for refugee status, and on grants and other decisions in the years 1985 to 1987, by nationality, is published in the 1986 and 1987 volumes of the annual Home Office statistical bulletin "Refugee Statistics, United Kingdom" (table 6 of bulletin issue 13/87 and tables 6 and 7 of bulletin issue 16/88), copies of which are in the Library. These figures include applications for refugee status made by persons after their admission to the United
  339
  Kingdom in another capacity, as well as those seeking admission as a refugee. Corresponding information for 1988 is not yet available but will be published in the 1988 volume of this bulletin in the summer of 1989.

  These figures do not include South-East Asian refugees who are dealt with under separate arrangements and are granted settlement on their arrival in the United Kingdom. The number granted settlement in the years 1985 to 1988 is published in table 18 of "Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom 1987" (Cm 415) and table 3 of Home Office statistical bulletin, issue 10/89 "Control of Immigration: Statistics—Fourth Quarter and Year 1988", copies of which are in the Library.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average length of time taken to reach a decision on an application for admission to the United Kingdom as a refugee or otherwise by way of asylum excluding time accounted for by appeals against his decisions in each of the two years prior to and subsequent to the coming into force of the Immigration (Carriers' Liability) Act 1987.

  Mr. Renton
  The available information is given in the following table. Information for 1988 is not yet available.

  Estimated average length of time1 taken to reach a decision on an application for refugee status in the United Kingdom, for cases decided during the year.

  Average time in months

  Months 12

  1985

  12

  1986

  14

  1987

  14

  1 Excluding the time accounted for by an appeal where practicable, although this cannot be done in all cases.

  Remand Prisoners
  Sir Eldon Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he has not yet introduced into

  Prisoner A

  Prisoner B

  Prisoner C

  Prisoner D

  September

  2

  7

  4

  —

  October

  3

  6

  2

  1

  November

  4

  5

  4

  4

  December

  4

  6

  3

  4

  January

  1

  —

  1

  1

  February

  5

  2

  1

  2

  March

  3

  2

  2

  3

  Passport Applications
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current average waiting time for passport applications to be processed at each of the United Kingdom issuing offices.

  Mr. Renton
  The current processing times for straight-forward non-urgent postal applications at the six United Kingdom passport offices are shown in the table. Urgent applications are given priority, and are not normally subject to delay.
  340
  East Anglia the same time limits as he has applied in other regions on the length of time defendants may be held in custody while awaiting trial; when he expects to do so; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  Custody time limits will be extended on 1 June this year to a further 22 English counties including Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.

  Category A Prisoners (Searches)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give details of the number of body searches, cell searches and cell changes and strip searches carried out on category A prisoners being held at Winchester police station during September and October 1988.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  No category A prisoners were held at Winchester police station during the period in question.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give details of the number of body searches, cell searches and cell changes and strip searches carried out on each of the category A prisoners being held at Her Majesty's Prison, Durham, monthly since Septembr 1988.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  As the hon. Member knows, records are not kept of the occasions when rub down seaching or "frisking" is carried out in prisons and it is not the practice to disclose detailed information about security arrangements such as that requested about the frequency of cell searches and cell changes.

  Comprehensive records of strip searches are available only in respect of category A women prisoners, of whom there were three in Durham prison between 1 September and 30 October, and four between 31 October and 31 March. The number of occasions on which each was strip searched in each month from September to March is shown in the following table.

  Average time between receipt of application and issue of passport (working days) 16 April 1989

  Passport Office

  Working days

  London

  20

  Glasgow

  37

  Peterborough

  27

  Newport

  33

  Liverpool

  46

  Belfast

  4

  Poppewell Report
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the actions taken by Her Majesty's Government in respect of each of the recommendations of the Popplewell report.
  341
  Mr. John Patten
  The action taken relating to the recommendations of the final report of the Popplewell inquiry has been as follows.

  Designation under the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975 has been extended to all sports grounds used for either association football, rugby union, rugby league or cricket and identified as having accommodation for over 10,000 spectators (recommendation 2).

  As from 1 January 1988 parts I and II of the Fire Safety and Safety of Places of Sport Act 1987 abolished the distinction in the 1975 Act between "sports grounds" and "sports stadia" (recommendation 1), introduced a power for local authorities and fire authorities to issue prohibition notes or restriction notices (recommendations 7 and 8), and required local authorities to arrange annual inspections of designated sports grounds (recommendation 9(ii)).

  As from 1 January 1989 part III of the 1987 Act introduced a system of safety certification for stands able to accommodate at least 500 spectators under cover at undesignated sports grounds and for their periodical inspection by local authorities (recommendations 3 and 4).

  As from 1 June 1988 part IV of the 1987 Act extended entertainment licensing to indoor sports entertainments to which the public are invited as spectators (recommendations 5 and 6).

  The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 which came into force on 1 January 1986 had already extended the police powers of search and arrest in ways which help them to deal with troublemakers at football grounds (recommendations 11 and 13). The Public Order Act 1986 created a new offence of disorderly conduct to cover hooliganism in football grounds as elsewhere (recommendation 12).

  Following a review (recommendation 14) a relaxation of the controls over the sale and possession of alcohol in executive boxes was introduced in the Public Order Act 1986.

  The Government's existing proposals for a membership scheme are contained in the Football Spectators Bill [Lords]. This follows previous efforts to encourage the football authorities to introduce membership schemes on a voluntary basis (recommendation 15).

  The question of structural fire precautions and means of escape in buildings (including covered sports stands) (recommendation 10) is under review as part of the Government's comprehensive overhaul of the building regulations. It is the intention of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment to issue a consultative paper by the end of this year seeking comment on a package of proposals dealing with these issues.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps have been taken by Her Majesty's Government in pursuit of recommendations 34 and 35 of the report from the working group on the green guide on football grounds, published as an adjunct to the Popplewell report.

  Mr. John Patten
  The guide to safety at sports grounds was revised in 1986. It provides guidance on the function of pitch perimeter fences including the importance of providing gates or access points to allow full access to the playing area (or perimeter track) where it is likely to be used as a place of safety in an emergency.

  Hillsborough (Public Order)
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has received showing the number of people who were(a) arrested and (b) charged inside or outside the Sheffield Wednesday football ground on Saturday 15 April for (a) drink-related offences, (b) obstruction or assault on police officers, (c) robbery, (d) looting, (e) pilfering and (f) urinating in a public place.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The chief constable of South Yorkshire police has informed us that 43 persons were arrested of whom 10 were charged, 10 ejected from the ground and 23 were cautioned and released. Of the 43 arrests 19 were for drink-related offences, one for obstructing or assaulting the police, none for robbery, looting or pilfering, and one for urinating in a public place.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has received about how many(a) police officers and (b) emergency service personnel on duty at Hillsborough on Saturday. 15 April required medical treatment because of injuries sustained during their duties on that day.

  Mr. John Patten
  I am informed by the chief constable that 19 police officers have so far been recorded as having received medical treatment for physical injuries. The chief fire officer informs me that so far none of his staff have reported a need for such treatment and I am informed by the chief ambulance officer that he is still engaged in debriefing his staff and that this information is not yet available. A number of members of the different services are suffering from stress and other problems relating to their experiences at Hillsborough.

  Broadcasting White Paper
  Mr. Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which organisations have responded to his White Paper "Broadcasting in the '90s: Competition, Choice and Quality" November 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hurd
  I have today placed in the Library a list of the main organisations which have submitted comments on the broadcasting White Paper. We have received over 3,000 responses altogether. Further details may be obtained from the Home Office broadcasting department, room 669, 50 Queen Anne's Gate, London SW1H 9AT.

HEALTH

  Operations (Contracting Out)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many operations within the Trent regional health authority were contracted out to private hospitals, and at what cost, for the year in which he has the latest figures; what was the position five and 10 years ago; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen) on 4 April at columns 88–89. The 816 deaths and discharges quoted break down into 21 surgical, 353 convalescent, 441 terminal care and 1 unspecified.

  Mental Illness
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the most recently available figures for admission rate(a) for mental illness generally and (b) schizophrenia to mental hospitals, broken down by country of birth.

  Mr. Freeman
  The figures in the table show the proportion of all such admissions for all mental illness and for schizophrenia only, broken down by place of birth. The information relates to admissions, and not to individual patients, since the same patient may be admitted more than once during the year.

  All admissions to National Health Service mental illness hospitals and units, England during 1986, by place of birth

  Percentage of all admissions

  Place of birth

  AH mental illness per cent.

  Schizophrenia only per cent.

  England

  51·1

  54·0

  Ireland1

  2·4

  2·2

  Scotland

  1·6

  1·2

  Wales

  0·6

  0·4

  Europe

  1·2

  1·8

  Africa

  0·7

  1·4

  Central South Asia2

  1·0

  1·8

  Rest of Asia

  0·4

  0·7

  Australasia

  0·1

  0·1

  Americas

  0·3

  0·4

  Caribbean

  0·7

  2·5

  Not known

  39·9

  33·5

  1 Including Northern Ireland.

  2 Central South Asia comprises Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

  Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment of the research and development of a monitoring alarm into the prevention of sudden infant death syndrome by Clifton Towers Products Ltd. has been carried out by his Department; and whether Her Majesty's Government will financially support further research and development of this invention.

  Mr. John Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has on the work done by Clifton Towers Products Ltd. at Port Talbot into cot deaths; what requests have been made to his Department for the funding of research and development; and what parallel or similar research and development is being carried out with the support of his Department.

  Mr. Freeman
  Clifton Tower Products Ltd. contacted this Department in April 1988 to say that it had developed a monitor which would help save many babies' lives by triggering an alarm when the baby's temperature rose or fell by 2' from the normal. In subsequent correspondence they said that the alarm would prevent a significant proportion of sudden infant deaths. The evidence for this claim was requested. In September, material on the association between sudden infant death syndrome and temperature was submitted together with a request for unspecified financial support for the development of the alarm. (A subsequent letter requested £120,000 for further research.)

  I understand that prior to, and during, this correspondence Clifton Towers was also in discussion with the Welsh Office. The results of these discussions were that,
  344
  while no assistance was provided for research and development work, assistance was given by the Welsh Office for market research and associated activities under the business improvement services scheme (BIS), and the establishment of a manufacturing facility has been aided under the regional development scheme (RDG).

  Officials have taken expert medical advice. The conclusion is that while, as we already knew, there is an association between some sudden infant deaths and temperature, the nature of the relationship is unknown. We are discussing further with the Medical Research Council what is known about the relationship between temperature and infant mortality and morbidity. On the basis of the conclusions of those discussions we will be able to consider the merits of a scientific evaluation of the usefulness and effectiveness of temperature monitors/ alarms.

  Hospital Trusts
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from the Calderdale health authority and others on setting up National Health Service hospital trusts.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I have not received any representations from Calderdale health authority. Duncan Nichol, the chief executive of the National Health Service, has asked for initial expressions of interest in the proposals to be sent to my Department through regional health authorities, by 31 May.

  Elderly People (Provision)
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are his Department's guidelines for(a) the provision of geriatric beds, (b) homes for the elderly and (c) home help staff per head of population.

  Mr. Mellor
  The level of service provision is a matter for the local health authority or local social services authority respectively to decide. Authorities should take into account local needs and where appropriate, the potential contribution of voluntary, private and informal care.

  The Department's planning guidelines to health authorities (circular HC (88) 43) state that they should provide an integrated range of services for elderly people, comprising community health services, acute geriatrics/ geriatric assessment, rehabilitation and continuing care.

  Hearing Therapy Service
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what stage has been reached in the review being undertaken by the National Health Service Training Agency into the hearing therapy service; when he expects the report to be published; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  Provision of hearing therapy and employment of hearing therapists in the National Health Service are the responsibility of health authorities. The National Health Service training authority is concerned with the training required for health authorities to achieve the supply of skills they require. In this connection the authority has been reviewing future training provision for hearing therapists and the development of standards-based vocational qualifications. Proposals have been made
  345
  to the care sector consortium and the Training Agency, and the British Society of Hearing Therapists has been invited to comment.

  Capitation Fees
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the possibility of the new standard capitation fees for general practitioners, proposed in "General Practice in the National Health Service—A New Contract", leading to general practitioners screening out patients before taking them on in their practice; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  Our intention to increase standard capitation fees is an important part of our proposals for a new contract for GPs. By increasing capitation payments as a proportion of a GP's income we will encourage GPs to recognise the importance of providing full services that will attract patients to their lists and keep them with the practice. In the case of patients aged 75 and over, we will be paying a much higher capitation fee than before. These measures will introduce a degree of competition in general practice which has not existed before and will, we believe, reduce rather than increase the likelihood that GPs will refuse to accept patients onto their lists. If any patient has difficulty in being accepted onto a GP's list the family practitioner committee has and will continue to have the power to assign the patient to a particular GP.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what assumptions on future numbers of(a) surgery sessions, (b) doctors' clinics and (c) general practitioners, his proposals for the introduction of capitation arrangements in "General Practice in the National Health Service—A New Contract" are based.

  Mr. Mellor
  The examples at appendix F of "General Practice in the National Health Service: A New Contract" are intended to illustrate in broad terms the effect of the proposed new contract on the remuneration of the average GP with a list size of a specified level. The notes on each example explain the assumptions made about the number of minor surgery sessions and health promotion clinics which the average GP with the list size specified in each case might undertake. No assumption has been made about the number of GPs as this does not affect the figures.

  General Practice (Targets)
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the attainability of the assumptions of 80 per cent. screening of eligible women and 90 per cent. of childhood immunisation set out in "General Practice in the National Health Service—A New Contract" and what account was paid to patient resistance in setting these targets;

  (2) what estimate he has made of the potential disincentive effect on general practitioners undertaking screening and childhood immunisation of the levels at which the target take-up rates have been set.

  Mr. Mellor
  GPs will be required under their terms of service to provide health promotion and illness prevention services. These services will include advising patients on the wisdom of attending for screening and of immunising children. It is Departmental policy to achieve 80 per cent. coverage of women aged 20–65 for cervical cancer 346
  screening, and 90 per cent. coverage for immunisation of children under five. These target coverage levels provide a sufficient margin to allow for cases where screening or immunisation would not be appropriate.

  We believe that these levels are attainable. In 1987–88 in England childhood immunisation coverage levels were 87 per cent. for polio (with diphtheria and tetanus), 76 per cent. for measles and 71 per cent. for whooping cough with uptake rates for the last two accelerating. Recent initiatives such as the introduction of the MMR vaccine will lead to further improvements. By replacing item of service payments for these services with payments related to achievement of the target coverage levels we will reward the good GPs who already reach those levels and introduce a powerful incentive for those who do not.

  GP Contracts
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what will be the transitional arrangements to the introduction of the new general practitioner contracts.

  Mr. Mellor
  No decisions have been made on this matter. Officials are in consultation with the General Medical Services Committee on what transitional arrangements if any will he needed when the new GPs' contract is introduced.

  NHS Reform
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how antenatal care will be costed under the new financial arrangements for general practitioners and National Health Service services; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) whether patients readmitted to hospital will be accounted as new patients in every individual instance for the purposes of financial monitoring under the White Paper "Working for Patients."

  Mr. Mellor
  The detailed implementation of our proposals for funding hospital services through contracts between health authorities, or general practitioners, and hospitals is currently being considered and discussed with those most closely involved. We plan to issue guidance and model forms of contract by April 1990 as made clear in the second of the working papers published on 20 February.

  "Working for Patients"
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish(a) a list of those commenting and (b) a summary of the comments of the relevant professional bodies, on the Government's National Health Service White Paper "Working for Patients."

  Mr. Mellor
  I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. and learned Friend's reply to the right hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ashley) on 17 April at column 53.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what expressions of public support he has received for his proposals on the National Health Service White Paper "Working for Patients".

  Mr. Mellor
  We have received many expressions of public support, both at local and national levels, for our proposals for an NHS able to provide more choice and better care for all patients.

EMPLOYMENT

  Youth Training Scheme
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the ethnic data for youth training scheme trainees as at March and October 1988 separately for each youth training scheme, both local and large company unit, operating in the Birmingham and Solihull, and Coventry and Warwickshire areas.

  Mr. Cope
  Because of the exceptional length of the reply, I am sending the hon. Member the information requested, a copy of which has also been placed in the Library.

  1979–80

  1987–88

  Scheme

  Number (000s)

  £ million

  Number (000s)

  £ million

  Youth Opportunities Programme

  216

  123

  —

  —

  Training Opportunites Programme

  91

  229

  —

  —

  Special Temporary Employment Programme

  22

  51

  —

  —

  Community Industry

  9

  17

  9

  26

  Youth Training Scheme

  —

  —

  398

  1,066

  Old Job Training Scheme

  —

  —

  49

  157

  New Job Training Scheme

  —

  —

  99

  67

  Training For Enterprise

  —

  —

  108

  23

  Access to Information Technology

  —

  —

  22

  1

  Local Grants to Employers

  —

  —

  124

  131

  Self Standing Work Preparation

  —

  —

  46

  —

  Training Linked to Community Programme

  —

  —

  41

  31

  Community Programme

  —

  —

  269

  1,110

  Voluntary Projects Programme

  —

  —

  106

  15

  Total

  338

  420

  1,271

  2,527

  1 Does not include local consultancy grants.

  Industrial Injuries
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to change the system of reporting and recording of industrial injuries; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985 came into force on 1 April 1986. They changed and augmented the previous reporting requirements, in particular by extending definition of major injuries and introducing an obligation to report injuries resulting from accidents at work which cause incapacity for more than three days. Although there are no immediate plans for any further change to the reporting and recording system, the operation of the new regulations is being kept under close scrutiny.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he now anticipates that unemployment levels will fall to 1979 levels.

  Mr. Lee
  The Department does not forecast future levels of unemployment.

  Training and Work Experience
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Fife, Central (Mr. McLeish) of 7 November,Official Report, column 51, if he will tabulate the total number of people on each Government training and work experience scheme in (i) 1979 and (ii) the latest date for which figures are available, giving the total of all such persons in each case and the overall cost.

  Mr. Cope
  The table shows the number of people in Great Britain who started a training or work experience scheme in the years 1979–80 and 1987–88 and the total cost to the Training Agency (formerly Training Commission, formerly Manpower Services Commission). The figures include those who started for a second or subsequent time. Average numbers of trainees in training as quoted in my reply of 7 November are not available for every scheme.

  Wages (Underpayment)
  Mrs. Golding
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he will take to reduce the underpayment of wages by employers which are attributed to ignorance or inadvertence.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Measures designed to inform employers about statutory obligations on minimum pay include the provision of information in employer and business guides, talks and advice given by the wages inspectorate to individuals and groups, and the maintenance of a register of employers in scope of wages councils and to whom wages orders need to be sent. Given the very high level of compliance with wages orders these measures are considered adequate. However, particular efforts have recently been made to ensure that the inspectorate's register is kept up-to-date and there has been increased contact between the inspectorate and organisations which advise the public.

  Sherrards Training Centre
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment in view of Manpower Services Commission funding what discussions his Department had with the Spastics Society regarding Sherrards training centre, Welwyn Garden City, prior to its closure; and what reasons were given for the closure of this centre.
  349
  Mr. Lee
  The Training Agency, formerly the Manpower Services Commission, has had a number of detailed discussions over the last 18 months with the Spastics Society covering both funding and the need to improve and modernise the assessment and employer rehabilitation services at Sherrards training centre.

  Detailed funding proposals were put to the society in November 1988 offering a continued level of support up to 31 March 1990.

  Subsequently in a letter to the Training Agency the society stated that a review of the society's services had been carried out to ensure that the organisation was using its resources in the most effective and efficient means for the benefit of its clients. As a result of the review, the society has decided to close the Sherrards training centre.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he is prepared to meet part of the funding of residential costs for training disabled people at Sherrards training centre.

  Mr. Lee
  The Sherrards training centre closed on 31 March.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will discuss with the relevant local authorities the possibility of joint funding for Sherrards training centre.

  Mr. Lee
  No. The Training Agency paid up to 90 per cent. of the running costs of the Sherrards centre. The society, however, made it clear that even with a high level of funding it wished to close the centre.

  The centre closed on 31 March 1989.

  Jobcentres
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he intends to publish his responses to his Department's management report concerning evaluation of the integration pilot schemes between jobcentres and unemployment benefit offices; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Fowler
  [holding answer 20 March 1989]: Work to test a number of different approaches to integrate employment service local offices and the services they provide began in March 1989. I am currently considering the results of this exercise.

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the ethnic monitoring details of YTS trainees for each individual large company unit scheme in the United Kingdom as at October 1989 or the most recent date.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 17 April 1989]: Because of the length of the reply, I am sending the hon. Member the available information, copies of which have also been placed in the Library.

  EC Employment Council
  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on his recent meeting with the Spanish Employment Minister, president of the Employment Council of Ministers, at Seville.
  350
  Mr. Fowler
  [holding answer 18 April 1989]: I attended the informal meeting of Labour and Social Affairs Ministers in Seville on 7 March 1989. We had wide-ranging discussions on the social dimension of the single European market.

ENVIRONMENT

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will reimburse in full to Lambeth council the estimated cost of £3 million for preparations for the collection of poll tax to be incurred in the financial year 1989–90.

  Mr. Gummer
  No. The Government's grants and capital allocations towards the cost of preparing for the community charge will not necessarily reimburse in full the cost of implementation in each particular authority in view of the freedom available to charging authorities and community charges registration officers to decide what resources to deploy to implement part I of the Local Government Finance Act 1989 in their areas.

  The Government have no plans to introduce a poll tax.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment why the decision not to allow the sale of the extract of the community charge register was taken; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  I am sending the hon. Member an extract from a speech giving the reasons by my noble Friend the Earl of Caithness in another place on 29 June 1988. during the passage of the Local Government Finance Bill,Official Report, columns 1689–90.

  Mr. Aspinwall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give details of the responses to the 1989 consultation document on the transition of non-domestic rating; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  The Department is evaluating the results of the consultation. Responses to our proposals are still being received. We shall announce our conclusions as soon as possible.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of Stale for the Environment what steps he is taking to ensure that following the introduction of the community charge, private landlords reduce the rents charged to tenants in respect of that element of their rents presently charged on account of the rates.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Department intends to publish a factsheet on community charge and rents inclusive of rates. This factsheet will be made widely available to landlords and tenants from a variety of sources.

  Electoral Registration
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider legislation on other steps to encourage local authorities to request poll tax registration officers to help to improve the level of electoral registration throughout Britain as they contact members of the public; and if he will make a statement.
  351
  Mr. Gummer
  The Government have no plans to introduce a poll tax.

  Section 29 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 empowers electoral registration officers to inspect community charges registers. This provision will ensure that the activities of community charges registration officers are of assistance to electoral registration officers in compiling electoral registers.

  Quality of Life
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out in the Official Report details of those policies introduced by him since 1983 with the intention of improving the quality of life for the rural community.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Rural communities are benefiting along with urban communities from a wide range of policies introduced by the Department.

  The farming and rural enterprise package launched in 1987 set out the Government's aims of protecting and enhancing the countryside while also enabling the development of a viable rural economy. These aims are achieved to a large extent through the activities of statutory bodies sponsored by the Department: the Countryside Commission, Nature Conservancy Council and Rural Development Commission.

  In the planning field, the Department has given new guidance to encourage diversification of the rural economy, including advice on development involving agricultural land and the need for better standards of layout and landscaping for new housing in rural areas. The General Development Order that came into effect on 5 December 1988 extended specific planning control to proposed new livestock units and related structures such as slurry tanks within 400m of residential and other property.

  A number of initiatives have also been taken to help increase the supply of low cost housing in rural areas for all sections of the community. These include:
  —enabling the Housing Corporation to establish a special rural programme with a target of 1,100 units a year by 1991–92;
  —increased funding for the National Agricultural Centre Rural Trust's work in providing start-up support for rural housing associations in smaller villages;
  —changes to the planning rules to enable local authorities exceptionally to release small pockets of land, not previously designated for housing, for low cost schemes to meet the needs of local people;
  —changes to the rules governing publicly-funded shared ownership which give housing associations a pre-emption right to repurchase the property at market price once the shared owner has moved on.

  Certification Officers (Educational Establishments)
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on progress made on the designation of certification officers in educational establishments in England and Wales.

  Mr. Gummer
  Regulations 4(1) of the Personal Community Charge (Students) Regulations 1989 (SI No. 443) provides that the certification officer as regards an educational establishment shall be the individual having responsibility for registering the enrolment of students to courses of education provided by that establishment. There is no provision and no need for certification officers to be designated.

  Housing (Rural Areas)
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures he proposes to ensure that local planning authorities encourage an adequate supply of low-cost housing in rural areas.

  Mr. Chope
  My right hon. Friend's reply of 3 February to the hon. Member for Daventry (Mr. Boswell) explained the circumstances in which planning authorities may exceptionally wish to release sites not allocated for development in order to secure the provision of low cost housing in rural areas. That statement made clear that the case for releasing additional land for this purpose will be essentially a matter for local judgment. We have also announced a four-fold expansion in the Housing Corporation's funding programme for rural housing association schemes; and tax changes announced in the Budget have removed uncertainties about the position of landowners who wish to make land available for such schemes. Taken together, these changes will, I believe, provide a real stimulus to the supply of low cost housing in rural areas.

  Rate Precepts
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish a league table of the 10 counties in England with the highest rate precepts from 1989–90.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The information requested is available on page 9 of the report on rates and expenditure of local authorities in England 1989–90, which was placed in the Library of the House earlier this month.

  Dogs (Registration)
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he has received in the current year on the matter of dog registration schemes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  In the current year a number of letters have been received from hon. Members and others. The RSPCA also arranged for postcards to be sent to us.

  Greater Manchester Residuary Body
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the Minister for Local Government will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Stretford dated 19 January concerning his response to inquiries concerning the Greater Manchester residuary body.

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

  Crown Suppliers
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) which accommodation occupied by the Crown Suppliers will be available for sale, distinguishing between freehold and leasehold when invitations to purchase the Crown Suppliers are issued; what is the latest assessment of their market value; and which accommodation he intends to insist must be bought as a condition of sale;

  (2) what furniture and furnishing designs owned by the Crown Suppliers will be available for sale when invitations

  353
  to purchase the Crown Suppliers are issued; and what the total sales of goods manufactured to these designs amounted to in each of the last two years.

  Mr. Chope
  The detailed contents of the invitation to purchase are being considered.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether Wellington house, the headquarters of the Crown Suppliers, is suffering from sick building syndrome.

  Mr. Chope
  Wellington house is one of a number of buildings which have been the subject of a study by the occupational chest unit of Wythenshawe hospital, Manchester, into the incidence of sickness among staff working in office buildings of different types. The final report and conclusions are awaited.

  Battersea Power Station
  Mr. Grylls
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when listed-building consent was given to the development of Battersea power station; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Listed building consent for the main scheme was given by Wandsworth borough council in June 1986. Listed building consents for minor works have been given subsequently.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Plants and Seeds
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what conclusions the Government have reached about the recommendations in the report on the plant variety testing and seed certification systems in the United Kingdom issued in April 1988.

  By grade and grade equivalent

  Total staff

  Total respondents

  Ethnic minority respondents

  Ethnic minority respondents as percentage of total respondents

  1

  1

  1

  —

  —

  2

  5

  5

  —

  —

  3

  24

  20

  —

  —

  4

  16

  14

  —

  —

  5

  111

  96

  1

  1·04

  6

  103

  88

  1

  1·13

  7

  942

  776

  7

  0·90

  All staff

  10,331

  7,786

  295

  3·78

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when his Ministry last conducted a survey of the ethnic origin of its employees; when it next plans to do so; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ryder
  My Department carried out ethnic origin surveys of all permanent staff-in-post during 1983–87 and all new entrants to my Department are asked to complete ethnic origin questionnaires when they apply for vacancies. We are also doing a follow-up survey of staff who have not provided information on their ethnic origin. For the latest available figures from the surveys I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him today in reply to another question.
  354
  Mr. MacGregor
  My right hon. Friends and I have examined the recommendations in the light of the views expressed by individuals and organisations. We have decided that work on implementing the majority of the recommendations should now proceed and that a few should be deferred.1 am placing a document in the Library of the House giving details of what the Government have decided on each recommendation.

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many and what percentage of officers in grades 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, respectively, and overall in his Ministry are(a) women and (b) members of ethnic minorities.

  Mr. Ryder
  The information on women follows. Ethnic minority figures are based on replies from staff who have completed an ethnic origin questionnaire.

  By Grade and Grade Equivalent

  Number of Women

  Women as percentage of total staff

  1

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  3

  1

  4

  4

  —

  —

  5

  9

  8

  6

  8

  8

  7

  104

  11

  All staff

  4,445

  43

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he has taken to recruit members of ethnic minorities in top grades of employment at his Ministry.

  Mr. Ryder
  Recruitment of executive officers, equivalent grades, and above in my Department is normally done by the Civil Service Commission. My Department has assisted in the past with the Commission's campaigns to attract black and Asian applicants at the higher levels, and will continue to do so.

  Pig Herds
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the average size of pig herd and the total number of herds for the years(a) 1960, (h) 1970, (c) 1980, (d) 1985, (e) 1986, (f) 1987 and (g)
  355
  Mr. Ryder
  The information requested is given in the table. The data covers England and Wales and is taken from the annual agricultural census.

  Number of holdings with pigs

  Number of pigs

  Average num-ber per hold-ing

  1960

  110,664

  4,336,669

  39

  1970

  59,853

  6,408,391

  107

  1980

  22,973

  6,607,619

  288

  1985

  17,961

  6,792,121

  378

  1986

  17,446

  6,868,512

  394

  1987

  16,865

  6,871,733

  407

  1988

  15,960

  6,857,451

  430

  Note:

  The comparison between the 1970 and 1980 figures has been slightly affected by changes in the size threshold which excluded very small holdings from the annual census from 1980 onwards.

  Dairy Herds
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the average size of dairy herd and the total number of herds for the years(a) 1960, (b) 1970, (c) 1980, (d) 1985, (e) 1986, (f) 1987 and (g)

  Mr. Ryder
  The information requested is given in the table. The data cover England and Wales and are taken from the annual agricultural census.

  Number of holdings with dairy cows

  Number of dairy cows

  Average number per holding

  1960

  140,109

  2,594,809

  19

  1970

  84,891

  2,714,463

  32

  1980

  49,118

  2,672,019

  54

  356

  Number of holdings with dairy cows

  Number of dairy cows

  Average number per holding

  1985

  42,351

  2,580,098

  61

  1986

  41,055

  2,573,222

  63

  1987

  39,188

  2,486,404

  63

  1988

  37,524

  2,378,862

  63

  Note:

  The comparison between the 1970 and 1980 figures has been slightly affected by changes in the size threshold which excluded very small holdings from the annual census from 1980 onwards.

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give details of the total land area designated as environmentally sensitive areas.

  Mr. Ryder
  The total area of land designated as environmentally sensitive areas in the United Kingdom is approximately 790,000 hectares of which 333,000 hectares are in England.

  Horses
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to introduce the Farm Animal Welfare Council's recommended code of practice for horse markets and sales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 12 January at column 724.

  BROADCASTING WHITE PAPER: RESPONSES
  BROADCASTING WHITE PAPER: RESPONSES
  CRIMINAL OFFENCES IN THE SOUTH EAST
  CRIMINAL OFFENCES IN THE SOUTH EAST
  PLANT VARIETY TESTING AND SEED CERTIFICATION SYSTEMS
  PLANT VARIETY TESTING AND SEED CERTIFICATION SYSTEMS