Written Answers of 3 February 1989

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  International Organisations
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list those international organisations on which his Department is represented and the total cost of those commitments.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The activities of the European Community, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Council of Europe each have an education component and this Department provides the United Kingdom representations. In addition, the Department participates appropriately in the scientific activities of these organisations. The Government's contribution to the budgets is provided through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. In addition, this Department makes specific contributions to the centre for educational research and innovation of the OECD (£97,143 in 1987–88) to the International Baccalaureate organisation (£16,100 in 1987–88) and to the European university institute (£1,232 million in 1987–88).

  Boarding Schools (London)
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received about the establishment of a London special boarding schools trust to take over responsibility for these schools after the abolition of the Inner London education authority; and what response he has given.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Representations have been received from representatives of the London special boarding schools trust to establish a trust which would take responsibility for all ILEA's residential special schools. Representations in support have also been received from the heads of the residential special schools and in correspondence to the Department. The trust is one of the options being considered by the working party that my right hon. Friend set up to consider the future of the schools.

  Departmental Offices
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals he has for alternative locations for his Department's offices, following the sale of the property currently occupied in York road, London SE1 .

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Department is currently planning to relocate its headquarters staff in Sanctuary Buildings towards the end of 1990. The new headquarters will not provide for all London-based staff and some supplementary accommodation is being sought. Studies are being undertaken to examine the feasibility of relocating some London based staff outside the London area. The lease of 410
  the present headquarters is held by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of state for the Environment. He is considering its future.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  European Court of Justice (Advocacy)
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Attorney-General whether under the proposals in the Green Paper "The Work and Organisation of the Legal Profession", it is envisaged that advocacy before the European Court of Justice will require a full or limited advocacy certificate.

  The Attorney-General
  Under article 17 of the protocol on the statute of the Court of Justice of the European Economic Community, parties other than the states and institutions of the Community must be represented by a lawyer entitled to practise before a court of a member state. Under the proposals in the Green Paper on the work and organisation of the legal profession, advocates with both limited and full advocacy certificates would have rights of audience before the courts, although the extent of these rights would depend on whether their certificates are full or limited. If the proposals in the Green Paper are implemented, lawyers with either full or limited advocacy certificates should be entitled to practise before the European Court of Justice.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  ODA (Outstanding Debt)
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list by country the amounts of debt outstanding to the Overseas Development Administration as at 31 March 1988.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Amounts due to be repaid to the Overseas Development Administration as at 31 March 1988 are shown in the table. Repayments of past aid loans are added to the annual public expenditure survey provision for overseas aid and are thus available for new aid spending.

  £

  Antigua

  145,033·72

  Barbados

  561,770·30

  Belize

  10,630,803·02

  Bolivia

  270,856·48

  Brazil

  3,416,096·55

  British Virgin Islands

  2,480,774·86

  Cambodia

  118,498·47

  Cameroon

  83,967·58

  Cayman Islands

  989,582·42

  Colombia

  2,847,924·56

  Costa Rica

  3,214,041·25

  Cyprus

  371,322·97

  Dominica

  5,601,561·30

  Ecuador

  7,557,273·24

  Egypt

  6,599,586·12

  Falkland Islands

  211,771·03

  Fiji

  2,123,799·52

  Ghana

  388,706·65

  Gibraltar

  1,011,047·10

  Grenada

  2,499,586·02

  Guyana

  25,041,467·13

  Honduras

  3,352,298·07

  India

  1224,423,946·91

  Ivory Coast

  1,814,770·77

  411

  £

  Jamaica

  49,180,720·59

  Jordan

  39,335,226·08

  Laos

  30,653·00

  Liberia

  77,749·50

  Malta

  8,307,651·86

  Malaysia

  15,124,721·87

  Malawi

  400,775·67

  Mauritius

  9,394,024·71

  Nicaragua

  584,705·62

  Nigeria

  5,175,084·04

  Paraguay

  4,220,000·00

  Peoples' Democratic Republic of Yemen

  4,162,899·66

  Peru

  4,194,608·68

  Philllipines

  5,481,634·67

  St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla

  853,094·63

  St. Lucia

  56,843·78

  Senegal

  916,329·67

  Seychelles

  10,763,427·49

  Singapore

  8,333,320·00

  Solomon Islands

  4,655,107·25

  Swaziland

  11,115,470 54

  Thailand

  1,120,392·08

  Tonga

  1,826,041·29

  Trinidad and Tobago

  120,000·00

  Tunisia

  381,782·01

  Turkey

  77,475,430·46

  Vanuatu

  128,880·00

  Vietnam

  196,798·37

  Zambia

  45,207,629·42

  Zimbabwe

  28,165,170·40

  Total

  642,742,659·38

  1 India has benefited from Her Majesty's Government's policy of retrospective terms adjustment through the provision of aid to meet the local costs of projects as an equivalent measure.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Fixed Capital Formation
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give total gross domestic fixed capital formation for the United Kingdom at market prices as a percentage of GDP(E) at market prices for each year since 1959 to the most recent available date, together with the average for(a) 1974 to 1979 and (b) 1979 to 1987 inclusive.

  Mr. Major
  This information may be obtained from the Central Statistical Office databank, a collection of macroeconomic time series in computer readable form to which the House of Commons Library has direct access.

  Profit-related Pay
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest figures for take-up of profit-related pay; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Brooke
  Profit-related pay has just completed its first full year of operation, under the innovatory scheme for tax relief which my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer introduced. At the end of 1988, a total of 830 schemes were registered, covering well over 120,000 people.

  The progress of PRP is encouraging, but experience has suggested that one of the rules has discouraged some employers from setting up schemes and complicated things unnecessarily for others. This is the rule that PRP should
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  be at least 5 per cent. of total pay if profits are unchanged from the base year. The Government have therefore decided to abolish it.

  I am authorising the Inland Revenue to operate an extra-statutory concession to this effect from today. This means that employers whose accounting years begin on 1 April will be able, if they wish, to register schemes before then without having to meet the 5 per cent. test. We shall put forward the necessary legislation in the Finance Bill.

  This change should simplify considerably the operation of profit-related pay. I hope that it will help those who have already opted for PRP, and encourage others to follow in their footsteps. Full details of the changes are available in a press release published by the Inland Revenue today.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Milk Quota
  Sir Geoffrey Johnson Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he intends to set a date limit for the notification of milk quota transfers in England and Wales.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Following discussion with the industry, I have decided to make use of the powers provided by the Dairy Produce Quotas (Amendment) Regulations 1989. Quota transfers notified after 21 April, even if they are notified as having occurred in the previous quota year, will not affect the calculation of supplementary levy liability until the start of the new quota year on 1 April.

  I hope that this will encourage producers to notify transfers of quota in good time, which should in turn facilitate the smooth running of the quota system.

  Milk and Dairies Regulations
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about charges for work in connection with the enforcement of the milk and dairies regulations.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Following consultations with interested parties about the recommendations on the efficiency scrutiny report published last year, my right hon. Friend the Minister and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales propose to make certain adjustments which will enable us to reduce the charge for work in connection to the enforcement arrangements with a scheduled dairy farm inspection visit. We are proposing that this should be set at £78 with effect from 1 April 1989. The existing charge is £90 but it would otherwise have had to be increased to £105 to take account of increased costs since April 1987. We also propose to increase the concession for producers with fewer than 20 cows from £10 to £18, giving a proposed charge of £60 compared with the current charge of £80.

  The scrutiny report did not identify any savings in the system for sampling and testing untreated milk and private water supplies. In order to recoup costs associated with the work it will be necessary to increase these charges from £22 to £26 to take account of increased costs since 1987. The charge will also need to be increased by a further £5 if the efficiency scrutiny's recommendation for changes to the tests on untreated milk is implemented. These changes are still to be considered.
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  The overall effect of the proposed changes will be to give a worthwhile reduction for virtually all milk producers.

  Proposals for revised regulations reflecting these changes will be circulated shortly to interested organisations.

  Untreated Milk
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will ban the sale of untreated milk.

  Mr. MacGregor
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I have recently been reviewing our arrangements for the sale of untreated milk, which represents 2 to 3 per cent. of milk sales in England and Wales. Effective heat treatment is the only way to minimise the risks of transmitting milk-borne diseases to the consumer. My right hon. Friend and I propose therefore to consult the interested parties with a view to prohibiting the sale of untreated milk from the earliest possible date. We shall consult also on what arrangements should be applied to sales of untreated milk in the interim period.

  A consultation document will be issued shortly inviting comments on this proposal and on the detailed arrangements for its implementation.

SCOTLAND

  Education Expenditure
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much public expenditure there has been on education in Scotland in the current year; and what are the figures for each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Rifkind
  Estimated outturn for total public expenditure (by central and local government) on education in 1988–89 is £2,126 million. The equivalent figures for the past 10 years are set out in the table:

  £ million

  1978–79

  901

  1979–80

  1,051

  1980–81

  1,273

  1981–82

  1,432

  1982–83

  1,505

  1983–84

  1,574

  1984–85

  1,616

  1985–86

  1,676

  1986–87

  1,802

  1987–88

  1,948

  Enterprise allowance scheme
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people in Scotland are presently on the enterprise allowance scheme; and what are the figures for each year since its inception.

  Mr. Rifkind
  On 24 January 1989, the latest date for which information is available, there were 7,979 people participating in the enterprise allowance scheme in Scotland. The number of people entering the scheme in Scotland in each year since its inception in August 1983 is set out in the table.
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  Enterprise allowance scheme

  Year

  Entrants in Scotland

  11983–84

  2,249

  1984–85

  3,794

  1985–86

  5,311

  1986–87

  8,260

  1987–88

  9,894

  2 1988–89

  7,151

  1 August to March.

  2 Up to 24 January 1989.

  Part-time Work
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people in Scotland are in part-time work; what is the average number of part-time workers for each of the past 10 years; and what proportion these figures represent of the total work force in employment at the latest date for which figures are available.

  Mr. Rifkind
  Information on part-time workers in Scotland for each of the past 10 years is available only for female part-time employees in employment. These estimates, given in the table, exclude part-time male employees, the self-employed and participants on work-related Government training programmes. For the years 1978, 1981 and 1984 the censuses of employment record some 0·06 million male part-time employees in employment. In September 1988 female part-time employees comprised 20·6 per cent. of all employees in employment in Scotland and 18·2 per cent. of the civilian work force in employment.

  Female part-time employees in employment in Scotland1

  Year

  Annual averages millions

  1978

  0·31

  1979

  0·33

  1980

  0·33

  1981

  0·34

  1982

  0·34

  1983

  0·34

  1984

  0·35

  1985

  0·36

  1986

  0·37

  1987

  0·38

  September

  19882

  0·39

  1 These estimates may be revised when the results of the 1987 Census of Employment becomes available.

  2 Not adjusted for seasonal variation.

  Lockerbie Air Disaster (Statements)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on behalf of the Lord Advocate on the police investigation of David Johnstone of Radio Forth for statements relating to the Lockerbie air disaster.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Lord Advocate has no intention of requiring Mr. David Johnston, head of news, Radio Forth, to be brought before a sheriff to be precognosced on oath. If Mr. Johnston has new information of value to the investigating authorities, it is to be expected that, out of a proper sense of public responsibility, he will disclose it to them.

  Forestry
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the name, location and size of each of those forest estates sold by the Forestry Commission from 21 June 1984 to date; and if he will list the price obtained for the sale of such public assets in each case.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 17 January 1989]In view of its length, I have arranged for copies of the list to be placed in the Library of the House. This covers the period from 22 October 1984 to 21 December 1988, the latest date for which information is available. Lists of forest areas sold between 22 June 1984 and 21 October 1984, or which were in the process of being sold at the latter date, were provided on 5 December 1984 in answer to a question from the hon. Member for Falkirk, West (Mr. Canavan) at columns 139–50.

THE ARTS

  National Theatre for Dance
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Minister for the Arts whether he has met the chairman of the London residuary body to discuss plans to build a national theatre for dance.

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 2 February 1989]No.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what representations he has received on plans to build a national theatre for dance on the south bank.

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 2 February 1989]None. The plans were put forward by the private sector.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what information he has on the reasons for the withdrawal of plans to build a national theatre for dance on the south bank.

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 2 February 1989]I am informed that a bid was made for the county hall site, which included the building of a dance theatre; but another bid worth £20 million more from the County Hall Development Group was accepted by the London residuary body, under its statutory obligation to obtain the maximum benefit for the ratepayers, in June 1988.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Overseas Investment
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will supply figures on levels of overseas investment in the United Kingdom by region for each of the past five years.

  Mr. Newton
  Figures for net inward direct investment in the United Kingdom are not available by region. For the United Kingdom as a whole they are as follows:

  £ million

  1983

  3,301

  1984

  -246

  1985

  4,123

  1986

  4,078

  1987

  15,664

  416
  1Provisional.

  Wireless Telegraphy (Licensing)
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what additional measures are being taken to reduce the burden of licensing requirements under the Wireless Telegraphy Acts.

  Mr. Atkins
  My Department is today laying a statutory instrument under section 1 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 further to reduce licensing requirements, in line with intentions expressed in the White Paper "Releasing Enterprise" (Cm. 512), published in November 1988.

  Following the outcome of the review announced on 20 December 1988 in reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Wireless Telegraphy Apparatus (Receivers) (Exemption) Regulations 1989 will exempt from licensing requirements the use of radio equipment used for receiving—as distinct from transmitting—with one important exception. The television licence fee will continue to be charged as the arrangements for licensing users of television to receive authorised broadcasts are not affected by these proposals.

  Licences for receivers are not required for radio spectrum management purposes. Reception of authorised sound radio broadcasting and of radio amateur transmissions was exempted some time ago. In particular, people will no longer need a separate licence to use television receive-only (TVRO) equipment such as satellite dishes for television broadcasts direct to the home from fixed-service satellites. Removal of licensing will, moreover, avoid the costs to users and to Government caused by changing requirements as new services develop.

  The statutory instrument will come into force on 27 February 1989.

  Water
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what discussions he has had with the European Commission to establish whether the proposal of his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment on merger policy with regard to the water industry of 11 January,Official Report, column 841, is likely to contravene European Economic Community competition policy and what response he has received.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 2 February 1989]: Formal clearance by the EC Commission of the proposals for mergers in the water industry is not necessary. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment will, however, be keeping the Commission informed about the details of his proposals.

  Chemical Weapons
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether any guarantees and conditions on the use and production of chemical weapons have been attached to the Britain-Iraq £340 million trade credit.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  [holding answer 31 January 1989]The UK-Iraq £340 million financial protocol makes no specific reference to imports which might conceivably relate to the production of chemical weapons. However, it can be used only to finance goods which meet United Kingdom export licence requirements, and these specifically prevent the
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  supply of a number of key precursors. The protocol makes an important contribution to Government policy of developing economic and commercial relations with Iraq and is based on a commercial assessment of the risks involved. We have made clear to the Iraqi Government our condemnation of the use of chemical weapons and we expect the Government of Iraq to honour their pledge not to use these weapons in the future.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Immigration Rules
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce immigration rules to consolidate the rules contained in HC 169 and all subsequent amendments of those rules.

  Mr. Renton
  Yes. We propose to do so on the next occasion on which changes are made to the immigation rules.

  Police Surgeons
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Don Valley, 20 January,Official Report, column 352–53 about the numbers of female victims of sexual offences treated by (a) male and (b) female police surgeons, if he will list by police authority comparable figures for the other police authorities in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  River Pollution
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions prosecutions have been brought under the Control of Pollution Act 1974 in relation to river pollution; if he will list such occasions in date order and by court; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  The information held centrally for 1987, which may be incomplete, is given in the table. Provision of corresponding information for other years would involve disproportionate costs.

  Persons proceeded against at magistrates' courts in 1987 under Sections 31 and 32 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974

  England and Wales

  Number1

  Avon and Somerset

  12

  Cambridgeshire

  2

  Cheshire

  8

  Cumbria

  7

  Derbyshire

  3

  Dorset

  1

  Durham

  1

  Gloucestershire

  7

  Greater Manchester

  1

  Hampshire

  3

  Humberside

  7

  Leicestershire

  10

  Lincolnshire

  3

  Merseyside

  1

  Norfolk

  10

  North Yorkshire

  12

  Northamptonshire

  3

  Shropshire

  4

  418

  England and Wales

  Number1

  Staffordshire

  3

  Suffolk

  15

  Surrey

  2

  Sussex

  2

  Warwickshire

  2

  West Midlands

  1

  West Yorkshire

  6

  Wiltshire

  3

  Dyfed-Powys

  27

  Gwent

  3

  North Wales

  3

  South Wales

  5

  England and Wales

  167

  1 The figures held centrally are approximate and may be incomplete; detailed checking of individual cases would involve disproportionate cost.

  Prisoners (Ethnic Origins)
  Ms. Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make public the ethnic origin of prisoners held in Her Majesty's prison, Wormwood Scrubs at the most recent convenient date.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The information is given in the table.

  Population1 of Wormwood Scrubs prison: by ethnic origin 30 September 1988

  Number

  White

  657

  West Indian, Guyanese, African

  276

  Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi

  39

  Chinese, Arab, Mixed origin

  19

  Other, not recorded, refused

  19

  All persons

  1,010

  1 The figures are those recorded centrally and are approximate.

  Ms. Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement as to what standard classifications are used when recording the ethnic origin of prisoners.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The standard classification used to record the ethnic origin of prisoners, is that currently used in the EC labour force survey. Details are to be found in "The ethnic origins of prisoners: the prison population on 30 June 1985" and persons received July 1984 to March 1985 (Home Office statistical bulletin 17/86).

  Prisoners (Training Courses and Jobs)
  Ms. Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how prison governors ensure that all inmates have equal access to training courses and to jobs.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  In general, inmates are informed of the opportunities for education, training, and employment, and are invited to express their preferences at the beginning of their sentence. An assessment is then made of their suitability for the activities of their choice in terms of medical fitness, educational standard, and motivation.

  While the wishes of inmates are taken into account, access to a particular course or specific type of employment is dependent on the suitability or otherwise of the individual and on the constraints of local circumstances. Opportunities for choice may be more limited in local prisons and remand centres and for prisoners with special needs.

  Prisoners (Racial Discrimination)
  Ms. Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken to ensure that all prisoners are aware of their right to write to the Commission for Racial Equality at the same time as raising internally any complaint of racial discrimination.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Guidance was issued to establishments in 1977 about the right of prisoners to write to the Commission for Racial Equality. Specific reference to this will be included in the next revision of the information booklet for prisoners.

  Metropolitan Police (Sex Discrimination)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis about the extent of employment discrimination against women within the Metropolitan police and the action he is taking to counteract it.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Like the chief officers, the Commissioner is aware that, subject to the specific exceptions provided by section 17(2) of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, any sex discrimination in the treatment of police officers is unlawful.

  Over the last four years, the Metropolitan police has worked with the Equal Opportunities Commission on the implementation of its equal opportunities policy, as the commission recognised in its 12th annual report. The force has a dedicated equal opportunities unit, and a formal grievance procedure which can be used by officers who consider that they have suffered from sexist behaviour or language.

  Equal opportunities training is included in central and local training programmes. Detailed guidelines on equal opportunities legislation and practice are issued to all officers of inspector rank and above, and are available to other ranks.

  Police Officers
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intends removing the requirement for police officers(a) to serve warrants for non-payment of fines and (b) to act as coroners' officers.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Arrangements for service of warrants for non-payment of fines are settled locally between police forces and the courts. As much as possible should be dealt with by civilian staff rathern than police officers in order to release the latter for operational duties.

  As regards coroners' officers, it has been suggested to police authorities, chief officers of police and the coroners' service that civilians rather than police officers should be appointed to such posts. This is in line with the conclusion of the Broderick committee on coroners.

  Mrs. Maureen Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many extra police have been allocated to the West Midlands police force for each year between 1974 and 1988.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The information is as follows:

  Year

  Posts approved

  1974 and 1975

  —

  1976

  38

  1977 to 1980

  —

  420

  Year

  Posts approved

  1981

  175

  1982 to 1987

  —

  1988

  70

  Prisons
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has plans for changing the way in which the regions and headquarters of the prison service are organised.

  Mr. Hurd
  Fresh start has brought fundamental changes over the past two years to the way in which individual establishments in the prison service operate. I have decided that the time is now ripe for carrying this process a stage further and undertaking a comprehensive study of the organisation and location of the service's headquarters and regions. The terms of reference for the review are:

  To study the organisation of the prison service in England and Wales above the level of individual establishments and the locations at which work is done and to make recommendations for changes to improve effectiveness and value for money.

  The work is being done by a small team of consultants and civil servants and is due to be completed by the end of July.

  Prisoners (Cruelty to Children)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were sent to prison in each of the last three years for cruelty to children.

  Mr. John Patten
  The information is not all available in the form requested. The number of persons given immediate custody for offences of cruelty to or neglect of children under section 1 of the Children and Young Persons Act is published annually in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales", supplementary tables 1.1(a) and 2.1(a). The number of offences of homicide where the victims were children is published in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales", Cm. 498, tables 4.6, 4.12 and 4.13. Copies of these publications are in the Library of the House. The number of persons sentenced for other offences of violence against children is not available separately.

  Wandsworth Prison
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what prison association is allowed for inmates at Wandsworth prison.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The position before the recent intensification of industrial action was that, apart from the hospital ward complex, there was no general association other than that which occurred during exercise periods and other group activities.

  Remand Prisons
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the average time a person on remand in custody has spent in prison during the last 12 months.
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  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The latest readily available information was published in table 2.1 of "Prison statistics England and Wales 1987" (Cmnd. 547), a copy of which is held in the Library.

  Firearms and Shotguns
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will extend the validation period of shotgun certificates from three years to six years; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will introduce legislation to extend the validation period of firearms certificates to six years; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) what representations he has received (a) supporting and (b) opposing the extension of the validation period of shotgun certificates from three years to six years; what the percentage the latter is of the former; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have received occasional representations on this matter but details are not available in the form requested. Proposals for extending from three to six years the validity of shotgun and firearm certificates were made during the passage of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988. These were not acceptable to the Government. I remain of the view that review of the conditions attached to a certificate and the circumstances of the holder at three-yearly intervals is right, and that to extend the period to six years would represent an unacceptable relaxation of the controls. We have, however, made provision in the 1988 Act for the co-termination of firearm and shotgun certificates, which will represent a substantial saving in costs for those holding both types of certificate.

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to make the sale of live shotgun cartridges dependent upon the production of a valid shotgun certificate; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Section 5 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988 makes it an offence to sell shotgun ammunition to a person (other than a dealer in such ammunition) unless that person produces his shotgun certificate, or produces a certificate belonging to some other person together with a written authority from the holder to purchase the ammunition on his behalf, or shows that he is entitled to possess a shotgun without holding a certificate. This is an important strengthening of the law which it is intended to bring into force, with other relevant new provisions, by way of a second commencement order early in the summer.

  Missing Persons
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will call for a report from the chief constable as to how many(a) men, (b) women, (c) boys under 18 years of age and (d) girls under 18 years of age were reported as missing in the Thames valley during each of the last five years for which records are available; and how many and what percentage in each category were subsequently traced;

  (2) if he will call for a report from the chief constable as to how many (a) men, (b) women, (c) boys under 18 years of age and (d) girls under 18 years of age were
  422
  reported as missing in Warwickshire during each of the last five years for which records are available; and how many and what percentage in each category were subsequently traced.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Information in the form requested is not available.

  Immigration
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of persons aged 18 years or below who were refused leave to enter the United Kingdom by virtue of relationship with a person resident in the United Kingdom, and whose application was refused on the ground that they could not establish such relationship, in each year since 1975.

  Mr. Renton
  The information requested is not available centrally. Information on the total number of children under 18 years of age in the Indian subcontinent initially refused entry clearance to the United Kingdom in 1977–87 is given in table 7 of "Control of Immigration: Statistics, United Kingdom, 1987" (Cm. 415), and 770 children were refused in the first three quarters of 1988. The estimated corresponding numbers of children initially refused a certificate of entitlement to, or confirmation of, the right: of abode in the United Kingdom were negligible prior to 1986, 560 in 1986, 350 in 1987, and 200 in the first three quarters of 1988. Some applications refused initially are subsequently granted on appeal.

  Illegal Parking
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen) of 31 January, if he will call for a report from the Comissioner of Police of the Metropolis summarising the specific criteria applied by traffic wardens and police officers in deciding(a) to tow away an illegally parked vehicle, (b) to clamp an illegally parked vehicle and (c) to issue a fixed penalty notice for an illegally parked vehicle and as to what account is taken of the gravity of the infringement and the likelihood of the vehicle causing an obstruction; and if he will publish this summary in the Official Report.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  No. The enforcement of road traffic law is a matter for individual chief officers of police. I am generally content that the enforcement of parking restrictions is conducted with common sense, tact and discretion and that there are adequate safeguards for those motorists who feel they have been treated unreasonably.

  Lincolnshire Constabulary
  Dame Elaine Kellett-Bowman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many serious offences were committed in the area covered by the Lincolnshire constabulary in each of the last five years for which records are available.

  Mr. John Patten
  [holding answer 1 February 1989]The information is published annually in table S3.1 of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales", supplementary tables, volume 3, a copy of which is in the Library.

  DNA Test
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make it his policy under a DNA
  423
  testing scheme to permit the test to be taken by individuals over 18 years who applied for entry as dependants under the age of 18 years and were turned down;

  (2) if he will list the countries of origin of dependants who may apply to join relatives already settled in the United Kingdom to whom the DNA testing scheme, if approved, will apply.

  Mr. Renton
  [holding answer 31 January 1989]My right hon. Friend announced on 26 July 1988 that we were considering whether DNA testing should continue to be left to private initiative or organised on a centrally run scheme. We will announce our conclusions on these matters as soon as possible.

PRIME MINISTER

  Crown Immunity
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Prime Minister whether, in the light of her answer to the right hon. Member for Stoke on Trent, South Official Report, 29 November 1988, column 178, she will take steps to ensure that the Department of Health will not seek crown immunity from prosecution for health authorities when the anticipated controls on pollution emissions come into effect.

  The Prime Minister
  I confirm that we do not intend there to be any crown immunity for health authorities in respect of the proposed new controls on emissions to the atmosphere.

  Cabinet Office (Cash Limit)
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister if there are any proposals to change the 1988–89 cash limit and running costs limit for the Cabinet Office.

  The Prime Minister
  Both the overall cash limit and the running costs limit for the Cabinet Office: Other Services (class XX, vote 2) have been reduced by £3,000, from £16,137,000 to £16,134,000 and from £19,616,000 to £19,613,000 respectively. These decreases will be offset by corresponding increases in the cash limit and running costs limit for the Cabinet Office: Office of the Minister for the Civil Service (class XX, vote 1) and reflect the transfer of costs for recruitment under the direct entry grade 7 competition, 1988.

  There is no overall increase in either cash limits or gross running costs limits for Government as a whole as a result of these , changes, which will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

ENERGY

  Electricty Generation (Land Use)
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the land use impact of electricity produced by nuclear power compared to that used by coal.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The CEGB advises me that the construction process of an 1,800 MW coal-fired power station equipped with FGD plant requires some 100 hectares of land of which about half would be retained for operational use. The construction process of a 1,200 MW PWR nuclear power station requires some 75 hectares of which about a third would be retained for operational use.
  424
  In general a coal-fired power station requires more land for operational use than a nuclear power station.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list by type and location the total land holdings of the Central Electricty Generating Board in the three counties of Yorkshire.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  This is an operational matter for the Central Electricity Generating Board. I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

  Wind Turbine Generators
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on information available to his Department on the merits of three-bladed steel wind turbine generators as a source of energy.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The Department's research and development programme is intended to examine the merits of wind energy, in particular its economic and environmental acceptability. On the basis of information available from our studies to-date we believe that wind energy has the potential to make a substantial contribution to United Kingdom energy supplies and that the three-blade, horizontal axis configuration is one of the more promising options.

  Steel is used extensively in the manufacture of wind turbines, for both the rotating components and the support structure. It can be used for making the rotor blades, but lighter composite materials are preferred by most manufacturers.

  Nuclear Reactors
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) whether the Central Electricity Generating Board or his Department has calculated the fissile plutonium content of the approximately 18 tonnes of fuel discharged from Berkeley reactor 1 between 4 April and 17 July;

  (2) on what dates in 1987, 1988 and 1989 Bradwell nuclear power station was refuelled; if he will give the figures for fuel discharged and loaded; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) whether the Central Electricity Generating Board or his Department has calculated the amount of fissile plutonium in irradiated fuel discharged from Bradwell nuclear power station between January 1987 and January 1989; and if he will make a statement;

  (4) what is the typical period or length of time that the fuel remains in the core of a typical Magnox nuclear power reactor; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  These are operational matters for the Central Electricity Generating Board. I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

  North Sea Safety
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he plans to issue any further safety notices in respect of practices in the North sea.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  Yes. I have today issued the following safety notice:The Department is concerned that the provision of alcohol offshore, even on a strictly controlled basis, may provide opportunities for abuse.

  425
  Operators are asked to ensure that all their staff are aware that if such abuse occurs they may render themselves liable to prosecution under S.7 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Operators may also render themselves liable under S.2.
  However, the Department consider that operators should not allow any such opportunities to arise. This can be done only by barring the possession or use of alcohol offshore. The Department expects operators to ensure that they implement such a policy.

WALES

  Drinking Water
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list all those water supplies in Wales which fail to meet the standards set out in the European Economic Community directives on the safety of drinking water and whether or not these are are the subject of derogations; how and when it is proposed for each of these water supplies to meet the standards laid down; and what the latest estimated cost of complying with the standards is in each case.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The following sources of supply in Wales, many of which serve populations of less than 1,000, are the subject of derogations under article 9 of the drinking water directive (80/778/EEC):

  Source

  Alwen

  Caerau

  Carno

  Crai Reservoir

  Elan Aquaduct

  Garret Lwyd

  Garw Levels

  Georgetown

  Lovesgrove Borehole

  Nantybwch

  Nantymoel

  Portis

  Strata Florida

  Ystradfellte

  Small Sources (serving population of less than 1,000)

  Afon Cwm-y-Llan

  Bettws-y-Coed

  Croesor

  Cwm Cegr Springs

  Cwmsymlog

  Gryn Goch

  Llanbedr Springs

  Llanfynydd

  Llan Penmachno

  Nantmor

  Penygoyallt

  Rhyd

  Rhyd-Ddu

  Rhydyronnen

  Tir-Garwen

  Upper Wenallt Springs

  Wern Ddu

  The temporary relaxation of the directive's standards does not pose any threat to public health and the Welsh water authority has an ongoing programme of remedial works which should ensure that supplies regularly comply by 1992. The full cost of the programme is still being evaluated.

  Hill Farmers
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many full-time hill farmers there are in Wales; what was the corresponding figure 10 years ago; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  In June 1977, there were 9,960 whole-time farmers, partners and working directors on holdings in the original less-favoured area, (now known as the severely disadvantaged area). In June 1987, there were 16,637 whole-time farmers, partners and working directors in the extended LFA, of which 9,902 are estimated to be on land directly comparable to the original LFA.

  Trunk Roads
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the planned expenditure by his Department on trunk roads in Ceredigion district for the years 1989 and 1990; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  Planned expenditure on new construction and improvement (excluding renewal) is £2·4 million for 1989–90 and £3·5 million for 1990–91. This does not include local authority expenditure. Information about major scheme starts will he given in the Welsh commentary on the public expenditure White Paper and in the forthcoming edition of "Roads in Wales".

  Montgomery Canal
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with British Waterways about the future of the Montgomery canal.

  Mr. Grist
  The Secretary of State discussed the proposal to restore the Montgomery canal with the chairman of the British Waterways Board last November.

  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions his officials have had With Powys county and Montgomeryshire district council, the Welsh tourist board and the Mid Wales Development Board about funding restoration work on the Montgomery canal; what estimate has been given for this work; and whether any European Economic Community funding was available.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  Welsh Office officials have had many discussions with members of the steering group seeking to restore the Montgomery canal. Restoration proposals have been variously estimated to cost £14 million to £18 million. No decision was taken on whether EC funding would have been available.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  AVCs (Teachers)
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether in the light of the voluntary contributions requirements of article 14 of the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Order 1986, he proposes to introduce additional facilities for AVCs within the teachers' superannuation scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  Prudential Pension Fund Services has been appointed to provide a new additional voluntary
  427
  contribution (AVC) scheme for teachers who are members of the teachers' superannuation scheme for Northern Ireland.

  It is intended to make regulations as soon as possible to give effect to the new scheme, and to secure approval for it under section 592 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 so that teachers' contributions are allowable as a deducation from income before assessment to tax. Subject to these requirements, the scheme is intended to come into operation on 1 April 1989, enabling members to secure tax relief on single premium payments in the 1988–89 tax year.

  The AVC scheme will offer a flexible, money purchase alternative to the existing provision for buying in added years. Members will be able to choose to invest their contributions in a with-profit or a unit-linked fund, or on cash deposit at building society rates of interest, or to apply them to the purchase of additional life insurance cover, or in any combination of these investment vehicles. Members will also be free to vary their contributions, and their allocation between investments, at any time.

ENVIRONMENT

  Chlorofluorocarbons
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the information available to him about the relative environmental record of HCFC 22 and chlorofluorocarbons 11 and 12.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  HCFC22 is estimated to have a very low ozone depletion potential—one twentieth of that of CFC 11 and CFC 12. The Government's view on the use of HCFC22 is set out in its reply to the first report from the Environment Committee (Session 1987—88HC 270–1) on air pollution. (Cm. 522).

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects HFA 134a to be in use as a substitute for chlorofluorocarbon refrigerants; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure that it is available for use as a refrigerant as soon as possible.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Government are encouraging the manufacturers of chlorofluorocarbons and halons to develop suitable and safe substitutes as quickly as possible. HFC134a is expected to be available in commercial quantities in the early 1990s, subject to the satisfactory outcome of toxicological testing.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he will take steps to bring the disposal of chlorofluorocarbon refrigerants in industrial premises under safety at work legislation; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what measures his Department is taking to ensure the safe disposal of chlorofluorocarbons from air conditioning systems in trains, airplanes, motor coaches and cars;

  (3) if he will take steps to make it illegal to discharge chlorofluorocarbons used in refrigeration into the atmosphere;

  (4) if he will make a statement on the facilities available in the United Kingdom for (a) the safe disposal and (b) the recycling of chlorofluorocarbon refrigerants;
  428
  (5) what steps he is taking to ensure that adequate facilities exist for the disposal and recycling of chlorofluorocarbon refrigerants.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This question, together with others by the hon. Member, reflects the recommendations of a report prepared by the Heating and Ventilating Contractors' Association called "Safe Disposal of CFC Refrigerants". My right hon. Friend and I have recently been sent copies of the report. Officials are discussing it with the association and with other industry representatives.

  Tourism
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much financial assistance has been given by his Department towards tourism for each year since 1983; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Expenditure on a number of the Department's programmes assists tourism particularly those concerned with the heritage, including parks and palaces, the countryside, rural development, inner city initiatives and activities by local authorities. Overall figures are not available.

  Gipsies
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the present number of caravan sites for gipsies in Greater London under the Caravan Sites Act 1986.

  Mr. Trippier
  Currently, there are 28 sites, two of them temporary.

  Local Authority Finance
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the allocations for 1989–90 for inner area programme authorities and the corresponding figures for 1988–89.

  Mr. Trippier
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Hallam (Mr. Patnick) on 1 February, at columns 215–17, when I announced the initial urban programme allocations for 1989–90. The initial allocations for 1988–89 are in the table.

  Region and authority

  Initial allocation 1988–89

  £ million

  Northern

  Newcastle and Gateshead

  16·84

  Hartlepool

  1·75

  Langbaurgh

  1·75

  Middlesbrough

  5·5

  North Tyneside

  3·42

  South Tyneside

  4·4

  Stockton

  1·37

  Sunderland

  4·4

  North West

  Manchester and Salford

  22·2

  Blackburn

  4·0

  Bolton

  3·75

  Burnley

  1·8

  Oldham

  3·7

  Preston

  2·0

  Rochdale

  3·6

  Wigan

  2·2

  429

  Region and authority

  Initial allocation 1988–89

  £ million

  Merseyside

  Liverpool

  20·5

  Halton

  1·43

  Knowsley

  3·91

  St. Helens

  1·7

  Sefton

  1·5

  Wirral

  3·42

  West Midlands

  Birmingham

  24·68

  Coventry

  4·79

  Dudley

  1·25

  Sandwell

  4·87

  Walsall

  1·5

  Wolverhampton

  5·39

  The Wrekin

  0·57

  East Midlands

  Derby

  1·41

  Leicester

  5·43

  Nottingham

  5·5

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  Barnsley

  1·5

  Bradford

  4·5

  Doncaster

  1·75

  Hull

  4·89

  Kirklees

  0·82

  Leeds

  4·4

  Rotherham

  1·75

  Sheffield

  5·5

  London

  Hackney

  9·66

  Islington

  9·65

  Lambeth

  11·75

  Brent

  3·91

  Greenwich

  1·9

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  4·31

  Haringey

  2·25

  Kensington and Chelsea

  1·85

  Lewisham

  1·95

  Newham

  2·25

  Southwark

  2·25

  Tower Hamlets

  4·5

  Wandsworth

  4·5

  South West

  Bristol

  1·5

  Plymouth

  1·0

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those local authorities which have received allocations in 1988–89 and are to receive proposed allocations in 1989–90 under the private sector renewal initiative; and if he will indicate the respective figures.

  Mr. Trippier
  We gave additional allocations under the private sector area renewal initiative as follows:

  £

  1988–89

  Allerdale

  245,000

  Birmingham

  400,000

  Blackburn

  401,000

  Bolton

  200,000

  Derby

  50,000

  Hyndburn

  203,000

  Middlesbrough

  50,000

  Pendle

  101,000

  Rochdale

  200,000

  Sheffield

  400,000

  430

  £

  Stoke-on-Trent

  250,000

  Wirral

  500,000

  1989–90

  Allerdale

  700,000

  Birmingham

  3,500,000

  Blackburn

  800,000

  Bolton

  500,000

  Burnley

  200,000

  Derby

  500,000

  Doncaster

  250,000

  Hyndburn

  500,000

  Kirklees

  350,000

  Lancaster

  150,000

  Langbaurgh

  180,000

  Leeds

  600,000

  Leicester

  400,000

  Lincoln

  200,000

  Liverpool

  600,000

  Middlesbrough

  370,000

  Newham

  200,000

  Pendle

  500,000

  Preston

  200,000

  Rochdale

  700,000

  Rossendale

  400,000

  Sheffield

  2,000,000

  Stoke-on-Trent

  800,000

  Stockport

  300,000

  Walsall

  600,000

  Waltham Forest

  300,000

  Wansbeck

  600,000

  Wirral

  3,300,000

  Wolverhampton

  300,000

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will exemplify the figures applicable for the London borough of Hillingdon under a system of capital value rates plus local income tax.

  Mr. Gummer
  I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to figures equivalent to those quoted by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 25 January at column 1012 concerning a ward sister. A ward sister earning £15,000 living in a flat in Hillingdon worth £60,000 and with a rateable value of £275 would pay rates bill of £558, a community charge of £242, disregarding the transitional safety net, and £640 under a system of capital value rates plus local income tax.

  St. Edmundsbury Council
  Sir Eldon Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment by how many full-time equivalent employees the staff of St. Edmundsbury council has increased over the 12-month period to the latest count by his joint manpower watch; by what percentage this figure varies upwards or downwards from the national averages far shire county districts; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  The number of staff, full-time and part-time, employed by St. Edmundsbury district council increased by 34 ( + 4·5 per cent.) in the 12 months to September 1988. In this same period, the overall increase for non-met district councils was 83 employees (less than +0·05 per cent.). Full-time equivalent figures are not available at individual authority level.

  SSSIs (Registration)
  Mr. Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he is taking to ensure that all land in England and Wales notified as a site of special scientific interest under section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act has been registered as such by the appropriate local land charge office.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I am advised by the Nature Conservancy Council that details of SSSI notifications are forwarded to local land charge offices, who are requested to register them as a local land charge as required by section 28 (11) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, as amended.

  Anglian Water Authority (SSSIs)
  Mr. John Garrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the sites of special scientific interest in the ownership of the Anglian water authority.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The information is currently being assembled by the Nature Conservancy Council. I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as it is available.

  Endangered Species
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will produce an annual report on his Department's progress in the implementation of the Control of Trade in Endangered Species (Enforcement) Regulations 1985.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We propose to include details of the Department's activities in the appropriate yearly supplementary reports on the implementation in the United Kingdom of the convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora. Copies of these reports are placed in the Library.

  Pollution (Chichester Harbour)
  Mr. Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what direction Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution has given to the Southern water authority in respect of pollution in Chichester harbour; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution is aware of the problem of Chichester harbour, which appears to emanate from the authority's Bosham sewage treatment works during periods of heavy rainfall. The authority has plans to remedy the situation, which the inspectorate is discussing with it.

  Water
  Mr. Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the Southern water authority's announced need for an increase in charges.

  Mr. Howard
  I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Dorset, North (Mr. Baker) on 1 February at columns 213–14. Southern Water will be announcing its own charges for 1989–90 in due course.

  Toxic Waste
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what European Economic Community directives on the disposal of hazardous and toxic waste have yet to be implemented by the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  All directives in respect of waste disposal have been implemented except for directive 87/101 on waste oils, for which the implementation date is 1 January 1990, and directive 84/631 on transfrontier shipment of hazardous waste in respect of Northern Ireland. Regulations to implement the latter are expected to come into force next month.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to the sites and the local authority areas in the west midlands used for the disposal of hazardous and toxic waste; and if he will indicate whether they are council operated or operated by a private firm.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution has a record of some 151 waste disposal facilities in the west midlands area. These are listed by local authority area and by ownership:

  Council

  Private

  Birmingham

  5

  31

  Coventry

  2

  7

  Dudley

  6

  13

  Sandwell

  9

  28

  Solihull

  2

  12

  Walsall

  1

  22

  Wolverhampton

  3

  10

  Details of the sites, including information on the types of waste for which they are licensed, can be obtained from the appropriate waste disposal authorities, who are required to maintain a public register.

  Residuary Bodies
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to answer parliamentary questions relating to those activities of residuary bodies which have a direct effect on(a) individuals in contact with those bodies or their tenants or (b) their staff.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Residuary bodies are non-departmental public bodies whose main line of accountability is to Parliament through the Secretary of State. My right hon. Friend will, of course, answer questions on all matters relevant to his ministerial responsibilities in relation to them. In accordance with normal practice relating to non-departmental public bodies, questions on their day-to-day affairs should be referred to the residuary bodies themselves.

  Asbestos (New St. Andrew's House)
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what tests have been carried out to establish the presence of blue asbestos at New St. Andrew's house, Edinburgh; what levels of asbestos were found; when he expects to make known the results of such tests; and if he will make a statement.
  433
  Mr. Chope
  Repeated air samples have been taken from New St. Andrew's house and no blue asbestos has been found. Brown and white asbestos has been found in sprayed ceiling insulation and to a lesser extent in ceiling tiles, but the repeated air tests have shown any asbestos to be below accepted minimum safety standards.

  The Scottish Office has been kept aware of the results of tests. A joint inspection by the Health and Safety Executive, the PSA Scotland safety officer and a trade union representative was carried out in August 1988. The conclusion was that the asbestos was in a safe condition and that there was no immediate risk to staff. Inspection of the building will continue and any required air tests will be taken.

  Low-cost Housing (Rural Areas)
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice he plans to give to planning authorities in rural areas as to whether they can properly take account of local needs for low-cost housing in drawing, up local plans and deciding planning applications; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ridley
  In preparing their local plans authorities must ensure that adequate provision is made, consistent with the structure plan, for housing demand of all kinds. As was made clear in circular 1/85, planning controls are concerned with the use of land rather than with the identity of the user. The question of who is to occupy premises for which permission is to be granted will normally be irrelevant.

  I recognise, however, that in some rural areas there are genuine difficulties in securing an adequate supply of low-cost housing for local needs. In such areas, the need for low-cost housing and the existence of arrangements made by the developer, or between the developer and the landowner or the local authority, to ensure that new low-cost housing is made available for local needs could be material considerations which the authority would take into account in deciding whether to grant planning permission. Such considerations might be particularly relevant to the release of small sites within or adjoining existing villages which would not otherwise be allocated for housing.

  Since planning conditions cannot normally be used to impose restrictions on tenure or occupancy, the planning authority would need to satisfy itself before granting planning permission that other secure arrangements to the effect would be made. Examples of such arrangements might be the involvement of a village trust or housing association with a suitable lettings policy; or covenants designed to give priority to first-time buyers from the locality; or an agreement between the planning authority and the developer under section 52 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971. It would be important for schemes to ensure that the benefits of low-cost provision pass not only to the initial occupants but to subsequent occupants as well.

  Local plan policies should make it clear that the release of such sites to secure provision of low-cost housing for local needs will be additional to the provision made in the plan for general housing demand, recognising that particular local needs may justify the release of land that would not normally be allocated to meet general housing demand. It should be made clear that land allocated in the plan to meet general housing demand will not be confined
  434
  to local needs only, and planning permission for such land should not be refused on the ground that the developers or landowners are not prepared to enter into arrangements. to secure provision for local needs.

  The case for releasing additional land that would not normally receive planning permission for housing, in order to secure provision of low-cost housing for local needs, will be essentially a matter for local judgment. Where a planning authority refuses permission for such development, and the matter goes to appeal, I and my inspectors will bear in mind the essentially local nature of the decision, though each case will be considered on its merits.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Soviet Refuseniks
  Mr. Bendall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to raise the case of long-term refuseniks, including Boris Chernobilsky of Moscow.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We press the Soviet Authorities at every possible opportunity about long-term refusenik cases such as Boris Chernobilsky. The most recent occasion was at the United States-USSR bilateral talks on human rights on 26 January.

  Cyprus
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Cambridgeshire, North-East (Mr. Moss) of 25 January,Official Report. column 575, community grant aid will be monitored within the different geographical areas of Cyprus; and if he will make it his policy to seek to ensure that the area known as the Turkish republic of north Cyprus derives appropriate benefit.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The European Community has made it clear that assistance under the EC-Cyprus financial protocol should benefit the whole population of the island. The commission is responsible for the administration of grants to Cyprus; but all projects are subject to member states' approval by qualified majority.

  International Organisations
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those international organisations on which his Department is represented and the total cost of those commitments.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The following sets out the international organisations to which the Foreign and Commonwealth Office paid subscriptions in the 1987–88 financial year. Total contributions paid by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to these organisations was £578,273,000.

  Organisation

  1987-88 outturn

  Subscriptions paid from class II, vote 2, other external relations

  UN Regular Budget and Peacekeeping Operations

  Commonwealth Secretariat

  Council of Europe: General Expenses

  Council of Europe: Buildings

  Council of Europe: European Youth Foundation

  Western European Union

  435

  Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development

  North Atlantic Treaty Organisation: Civil Budget

  NATO: International Staff Secretariat

  South Pacific Commission

  Commonwealth Foundation

  Co-ordinating Committee, Paris

  International Institute for the Unification of Private Law

  International Exhibitions Bureau

  Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

  Permanent Court of Arbitration

  Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living

  Resources

  Universal Postal Union

  Subscriptions paid from class II, vote 5, overseas aid

  International Development Association

  International Finance Corporation

  Asian Development Bank:

  African Development Bank:

  Inter-American Development Bank:

  Caribbean Development Bank:

  International Fund for Agricultural Development

  Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency

  International Bank for Reconstruction and Development

  Capital Subscription

  UN Development Programme (UNDP)

  UN Children's Fund

  Food and Agricultural Organisation

  UN Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO)

  UN Education and Training Programme for South Africa

  UN Development Fund for Women

  International Atomic Energy Agency

  UN Centre for Human Settlements

  Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation

  Commonwealth Youth Programme

  Commonwealth Media Development Fund

  Commonwealth Secretariat—Nassau Fellowship

  Commonwealth Science Council

  UN Fund for Population Activities

  International Foundation for Science

  International Planned Parenthood Federation

  World Health Organisation (WHO): Special Programme

  International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research

  Development Centre of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

  International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property, Rome

  UN High Commissioner for Refugees

  UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East

  Colombo Plan Bureau

  European Development Fund

  European Community

  World Food Programme

  Food Aid Committee

  MBFR Talks
  Mr. Knapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the mutual and balanced force reduction talks.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  On 2 February 1989 the negotiations on the mutual reduction of forces and armaments and associated measures in central Europe (commonly known as MBFR), which began in Vienna in 1973, formally came to an end by mutual agreement of all participants. A copy of the joint communiqué marking the closure of talks, has been placed in the Library of the House. The negotiations failed to produce any agreement, something which the Government regret. They nonetheless represented a first exploration of the vital area of conventional arms control; and they have increased mutual understanding of the complexity and importance of the issues involved. The experience gained by the participants about the process of negotiating about conventional armaments has been 436
  valuable; and some convergence of views was reached on certain principles which should apply to conventional arms reductions. The talks have thus laid a foundation for further consideration of these issues in the forthcoming negotiations on conventional armed forces in Europe: these are scheduled to begin in Vienna in March.

  Romania
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the Romanian ambassador; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I summoned the ambassador of Romania on 30 January to protest about the infringement of the rights both of Her Majesty's ambassador in Romania and of the Romanian citizen, Mrs. Doina Cornea. We will continue to protest strongly about Romanian policies, which run counter to their obligations under the Vienna CSCE agreement, at every suitable opportunity.

  United States Secretary of State
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he is next going to meet the United States Secretary of State.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My right hon. and learned Friend expects to meet Mr. Baker in the very near future.

  Palestine
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the Palestine state declared by the Palestine National Council in November 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We do not recognise the state of Palestine declared by the PNC in Algiers. Our contacts with Palestinians do not and cannot amount to Government-to-Government dealings. We regard the persons with whom such contacts take place not as governmental representatives but as Palestinian leaders. Accordingly, such contacts do not and cannot affect our position of not having recognised the state of Palestine.

HEALTH

  NHS Grading (Barnsley)
  Mr. Allen McKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nursng, midwifery and health visiting staff from each of the old grades have been assimilated to each of the new grades in the recent clinical grading structure in Barnsley district health authority.

  Mr. Mellor
  The information requested is available in the Library.

  Mr. Allen McKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many appeals by category are awaiting a hearing following the regrading of nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff in the Barnsley health authority area.

  Mr. Mellor
  We do not hold this information centrally.

  Bioplan Ltd.
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the numbers and names of district
  437
  health authorities that have entered into contracts for the provision of hospital services with Bioplan Ltd., with the dates on which the contracts were signed and the length of the individual contracts in each case.

  Mr. Mellor
  I understand that Coventry, Crewe and Oxfordshire district health authorities have negotiated contracts with Bioplan Holdings Ltd., but we do not collect information about the details of the individual contracts.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the cost of treating a patient for renal dialysis in the Crewe district health authority; how many such patients are at present registered; and how many he estimates in future will be treated in the private hospital owned by Bioplan Ltd.

  Mr. Mellor
  We do not hold this information centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman of Crewe health authority for this information.

  Private Hospitals
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will institute an immediate study of the number of National Health Service patients treated in the private sector in 1987–88, who have been readmitted to National Health Service hospitals in the six months following their treatment in the private sector.

  Mr. Mellor
  No.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will institute an immediate system of medical audit for patients treated in private hospitals monitored by independent medical authorities outside the private sector.

  Mr. Mellor
  No.

  NHS Review
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the implications for the promotion of good health and for preventive medicine of the proposals in his White Paper "Working for Patients", Cm. 555.

  Mr. Mellor
  The White Paper concentrates on the organisation and management of services to patients. Health authorities and general practitioners will continue to have a central role in health promotion and the prevention of ill health, in particular encouraging people to help themselves by adopting a healthier lifestyle. The Government's recent circular announcing its acceptance of the chief medical officer's report "Public Health in England" makes clear its policy on public health.

  Bradford DHA
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many meetings between representatives of Bradford district health authority and Bradford council have taken place, from September 1988 to date, concerned with the joint funding arrangement; who has attended meetings; on what dates meetings have taken place; what decisions have been reached; and what expenditure has been approved for the year 1988–89.

  Mr. Mellor
  This is a local matter and the hon. Member may wish to contact the district general manager at 438
  Bradford health authority for full details. I understand that following a number of meetings between the bodies concerned joint funding expenditure of £1·109 million has now been agreed for the year 1989–90.

TRANSPORT

  RULE Ratings
  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out a table showing for each month of 1988, what percentage of new car registrations were categorised under the following RULE ratings(a) R—refer to dealer, (b) U—unleaded only, (c) L—leaded only and (c) E—either.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Four in five—80 per cent.—of new cars could be using unleaded petrol. Percentage figures have been estimated for Great Britain for 1988 as follows:

  Percent.

  R— refer to dealer

  47

  U— unleaded

  0

  L— leaded

  16

  E— either

  33

  Diesel accounted for 4 per cent. of new car registrations.

  Figures are not readily available on a monthly basis for new car registrations categorised under the RULE ratings.

  Public Utilities Street Works
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about the need for new legislation to replace the Public Utilities Street Works Act 1950; what has been his response; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  In the last two months we have received over 50 representations from hon. Friends and hon. Members, local authorities and the utility companies. We have accepted the need for new legislation and will introduce a Bill as soon as a suitable opportunity can be found. There are major potential gains for road users on foot and wheel, to highway authorities and to statutory undertakers.

  Yachts (Light Dues)
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish the results of the feasibility study into extending light dues to yachts and pleasure craft; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  This study is being undertaken by the British Ports Federation at my right hon. Friend's request. The federation expects to complete it later this year.

  Trading Fleet
  Mr. Woodcock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give the present numbers and deadweight tonnages of the United Kingdom-owned trading fleet; what were the figures one year ago; and whether he has measures in mind to prevent any further decline.

  Mr. Portillo
  The information requested is as follows:
  439

  Trading vessels directly owned in the United Kingdom

  31 December 1987 Number million dwt

  31 December 1988 Number million dwt

  100 grt and over of which

  857

  17·6

  857

  16·6

  500 grt and over

  648

  17·5

  621

  16·5

  A number of measures were introduced last year, including assistance towards officer training and crew relief costs. The effect of these measures is being closely monitored.

  Violence (Stations)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will(a) place in the Library and (b) publish the report of the survey conducted by British transport police on violence at London Underground and British Rail stations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  I understand that British Rail and the BTP consider that further research is needed and that it would be inappropriate to publish the survey conducted at Liverpool Street and Fenchurch Street stations last autumn. These are matters for BR and the BTP.

  BT Police
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on current staffing levels in British transport police and how this differs from what Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary has recommended in its most recent report on this matter.

  Mr. Portillo
  I understand from the British transport police that the force has 1,500 officers in post in respect of British Rail and 328 officers in its London Underground L division. The complement of L division was recently increased from 350 to 400 following a recommendation by Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary in a report on L division. Some 80 additional officers from the Metropolitan and the City of London police are now assisting the BTP while L division is brought up to strength. Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary has recently carried out an inspection of the rest of the BTP and a report is being prepared.

  Severn Bridge
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for each of the last five years the number of vehicle accidents reported within four miles of either side of the Severn bridge.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  In the past five years there have been 34 vehicular accidents involving personal injury on the M4 within four miles of the Severn bridge in England, excluding the bridge itself.

  These are:

  Fatal

  Serious

  Slight

  Total

  1984

  0

  2

  2

  4

  1985

  0

  2

  7

  9

  1986

  0

  3

  4

  7

  1987

  0

  1

  5

  6

  1988

  0

  2

  6

  8

  Information in respect of accidents on the Welsh approach to the crossing may be obtained from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.
  440
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for each of the last five years the number of vehicle accidents reported on the Severn bridge.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  In the past five years there have been 87 vehicular accidents involving personal injury on the Severn crossing between junctions 21 and 22 on the M4.

  These are:

  Fatal

  Serious

  Slight

  total

  1984

  0

  7

  12

  19

  1985

  0

  5

  10

  15

  1986

  1

  4

  19

  24

  1987

  0

  0

  16

  16

  1988

  0

  3

  10

  13

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish in the Official Report the criteria he will apply in deciding whether to approve or reject British Rail's application for a fixed high speed rail link between the Kent coast and London termini.

  Mr. Portillo
  I refer to my answer to my right hon. Friend the Member for Tonbridge and Mailing (Sir J. Stanley) on 30 January at column 53.

  Fishing Vessels
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, in view of incorrect information supplied to owners of fishing vessels on the application forms for transfer to the new registry of fishing vessels, he plans to adhere to the closing date for the transitional period of 31 March; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  Known ownership details have been sent to owners of all United Kingdom registered fishing vessels. They have been asked to verify or correct the information and return the form together with a signed declaration of British character to the registry of shipping and seamen. To date, only some 5,000 out of 13,000 sent out have been returned and it is to be hoped that owners will respond quickly. The transitional period ends on 31 March 1989, the date prescribed in regulations.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Family Income Supplement
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the number of families in receipt of family income supplement in each standard region on 31 March 1987 and 31 March 1988.

  Mr. Peter Llyod
  Information for 31 March 1987 is as follows:

  Number of recipients (thousands)

  North

  14

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  23

  North West

  38

  East Midlands

  16

  West Midlands

  22

  441

  Number of recipients (thousands)

  South West

  21

  East Anglia

  7

  South East

  37

  Wales

  14

  Scotland

  27

  Total

  218

  Information for 31 March 1988 is not available.

  Hostel Charges
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many representations for and against the proposals in "Help with Hostel Charges" he has received from voluntary organisations working with the homeless.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The majority of responses from voluntary organisations dealing primarily with homeless people favoured retaining the present arrangements for paying income support to people in hostels. An important factor in their reaction was concern about the financial implications of the proposals for reform. Because of that concern, we have deferred change until after April 1989 while we consider the matter further.

  Community Grant
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimated outturn for community grant expenditure in 1988–89.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Expenditure on community care grants has risen steadily to 77 per cent. of anticipated monthly expenditure. Expenditure for the period from April to the end of December is provisionally calculated at £22·8 million. Outturn expenditure will depend upon the success of our efforts further to increase take-up, and we are confident that the rising trend will continue.

  Unemployment-related Benefits
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total number of claims of unemployment-related benefits disallowed by adjudication officers in each standard region of the United Kingdom for each year since 1980, broken down by each category of disallowance in a manner consistent with the annual report of the chief adjudication officer.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The information requested for 1980 and 1981 is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Information for years 1982 to 1988 is available, but will take a little time to collate in the form requested. I shall place complete tables in the Library as quickly as possible.

  Mr. RFD (Eviction)
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the steps taken by his Department to ensure that Mr. RFD, about whom the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Social Security wrote to the hon. Member for Stretford on 9 January (reference POS(4)2558/50), was not threatened with eviction whilst payment of his benefit was suspended.
  442
  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  An undertaking was received that while inquiries were being made, tenants, including Mr. RFD, would not be evicted.

  War Widows
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what information he has concerning the number and ages of war widows from the second world war who are still alive;

  (2) what information he has concerning the number of war widows from the first world war who are still alive.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Pensions are payable to the widows of service men who served in the armed forces between 1914 and 1921 and since 1939 whose death was due to service during those periods or subsequently; and to the widows of merchant seamen whose death was due to war injury during the first world war and since 1939. At the end of last year 57,550 pensions were in payment, of which 53,100 were to the widows of those who served since 1939. Information about the ages of these widows is not readily available and could be obtained only at a cost considerably in excess of the normal cost of answering a parliamentary question.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give a breakdown by military campaign of the numbers and average age of war widows from campaigns since the end of the second world war.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I regret that this information could be obtained only at a cost considerably in excess of the normal cost of answering a parliamentary question.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total average income of(a) a pre-1973 war widow and (b) a post-1973 war widow.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  This information is not available. As war widows' pensions are not income related, no information is held about the recipients' total income. The standard war widow's pension is£53·50. In addition, age allowances of£5·75 at age 65,£11·50 at age 70 and£14·45 at age 80 are paid. About 75 per cent. of war widows over pension age receive a retirement pension, and some will be in receipt of occupational pensions or other income. Post-1973 war widows also receive a pension from the Ministry of Defence.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he last met representatives of British War Widows and Associates.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  We have not yet met representatives of British War Widows and Associates. My right hon. Friend and my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State hope to do so at a reception sponsored by my hon. Friend to be held in the House on 2 March.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of Stale for Social Security, what estimate he has of the numbers of first and second world war widows who die each year.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  About 1,000 widows from the first world war and 2,000 widows whose husbands served in the armed forces from 1939 onwards die each year.

  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many current war widows were
  443
  widowed before April 1973; how many of those receive income support; what would be the net cost of giving them similar pension treatment to those widowed after April 1973; and how many current war widows were widowed during the 1939–45 war.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I regret that precise information about the numbers and circumstances of current war widows who were widowed before April 1973 or during the second world war could be obtained only at a cost considerably in excess of the normal cost of answering a parliamentary question. At the end of last year, there were 57,550 war widows, of whom it is estimated between 1 and 2 per cent. were in receipt of income support. It is also estimated that if the 1973 improvements to the armed forces pension scheme were to be extended to pay pensions to pre-1973 war widows on the same basis and rates as for current awards, the gross additional cost would be in the region of£200 million a year.

DEFENCE

  Efficiency and Savings
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what success he has had in persuading the services to implement efficency and savings.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  A specific efficiency programme was introduced on 1 April 1988, to last for three years. The target is to enhance efficiency, either by producing the same output from reduced input or by increasing output from the same input, by 2½ per cent. per annum. This target encompasses the whole of the defence budget except for service pensions and capital equipment procurement, the latter being the subject of separate value for money initiatives. This is an important initiative aimed to ensure that we make the most cost-effective use of the resources available to us. It has the full and enthusiastic support of the top management of the department, including the service chiefs of staff.

  NATO (40th Anniversary)
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what further plans his Department has for celebrating the 40th anniversary of NATO.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Fylde (Mr. Jack) on 22 December 1988 at columns 377–78.

  Manpower
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures his Department is taking to deal with the expected shortfall in manpower in the 1990s.

  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any proposals to increase the numbers of young people enlisting in the armed forces.

  Mr. Neubert
  In 1994 the number of young men in the United Kingdom aged between 16 and 19 will have fallen by around 23 per cent. compared with current levels and by 30 per cent. compared with the peak in 1983. The armed forces are tackling this problem in a variety of ways and 444
  are carrying out a number of studies. For example, expenditure on recruitment advertising is being increased and measures aimed at improving the retention of trained personnel are being taken. We are also increasing the career opportunities for women and examining how to attract more recruits from the ethnic minorities. We will ensure that pay, allowances and conditions of service are such that a career in the armed services remains attractive to young people.

  With regard to civilian staff, we are continuing to identify ways of making the most efficient use of manpower, while at the same time making considerable efforts to attract and retain the staff we need to fill those posts which it is essential should remain within the Civil Service. I am hopeful that new flexible pay agreements, improved recruitment publicity and, for example, the greater scope for encouraging people from older age groups and part-time staff will enable us to achieve this.

  Conventional Stability Talks
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will outline the Government's policy for the conventional stability talks.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The United Kingdom and its NATO allies are currently finalising the proposals for tabling at the negotiation on conventional armed forces in Europe, previously known as the conventional stability talks, which is due to begin in Vienna in March. The objective will be to eliminate capabilities for surprise attack and large-scale offensive action by measures which include the elimination, by reductions, of the current imbalances in key equipments such as tanks and artillery. A total ceiling on tanks of about 40,000, shared equally between the countries of NATO and the Warsaw Pact, is envisaged. Such measures will require heavily asymmetrical reductions by the Warsaw Pact to reflect its higher force levels, which will remain even if the reductions in its forces announced recently are implemented.

  RAF Molesworth
  Mr. Haynes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future use of Royal Air Force Molesworth.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No firm decisions have yet been taken on the future use of RAF Molesworth, but it is envisaged that it will continue to be made available to the United States authorities for military use. There is no prospect of converting the base to an operational flying role; although RAF Molesworth was a wartime bomber base, no runways now remain there. The site remains open to Soviet inspection under the terms of the INF treaty until June 2001.

  Soviet Union (Visits)
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy on briefing hon. and right hon. Members undertaking visits to the Soviet Union.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State would be happy to consider any request for briefing from hon. or right hon. Members undertaking visits to the Soviet Union.

  Sir John Cuckney
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last met Sir John Cuckney; and what subjects were discussed.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Secretary of State's last meeting with Sir John Cuckney at the Ministry of Defence was on 19 May 1988. Their discussions at this meeting are treated as confidential, as are all private discussions between the Secretary of State for Defence and senior representatives of our contractors.

  NATO
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will outline the British contribution to NATO.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The United Kingdom contributes to all three legs of NATO's triad of forces (strategic nuclear, theatre nuclear, and conventional) and commits forces to all three major NATO commanders. The nature of this contribution is described in more detail in the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1988".

  Submarines (Radioactivity Discharge)
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what level of radioactivity Royal Navy submarines are allowed to discharge into the sea.

  Mr. Younger
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer which my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces gave to the hon. Member for Dumbarton (Mr. McFall) on 24 January 1989 at column 555.

  MESAR Radar Project
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the ability of the MESAR radar project will be in the detection of stealth aircraft.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Whilst not primarily designed for this purpose, MESAR technology has the potential to counter the threat from stealth aircraft.

  Exercise Salty Hammer
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are for further exercises in the Salty Hammer series.

  Mr. Neubert
  Consideration is being given to an exercise in this regular series later this year.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many low-level sorties were flown during exercise Salty Hammer on 10 May 1988.

  Mr. Neubert
  Central records of the number of sorties flown during specific exercises are not held. However, according to available records, 89 low-level sorties were flown during Exercise Salty Hammer on 10 May 1988.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many aircraft participated in exercise Salty Hammer on 10 May 1988; and how many of these were from United States Air Force units based in the Federal Republic of Germany.
  446
  Mr. Neubert
  A total of some 227 aircraft participated in the exercise, of which some 70 were stationed at United States Air Force bases in the Federal Republic of Germany.

  Exercise OSEX 16
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what area will be used for Exercise OSEX 16.

  Mr. Neubert
  OSEX 16 (Offensive Support Exercise) is to be centred on the Elan valley, Powys, with related low flying in other parts of Wales and Cheshire. As usual for significant exercises, hon. Members in local constituencies, the local media, farmers' unions and landowners' organisations will be given advance notice of exercise activity likely to affect their areas.

  Military Airfields (Compensation Arrangements)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the paper entitled "The Review of the Ministry of Defence's Compensation Arrangements near Military Airfields", by A. M. Boardman of the Ministry of Defence, published in the proceedings of the Institute of Acoustics, volume 8, part 4, 1986, pages 121 to 126, represents his Department's policy on this subject; and if the measures outlined in the paper are current policy.

  Mr. Neubert
  In relation to the Ministry of Defence's compensation arrangements for the effect of noise near military airfields the paper by A. M. Boardman reflected departmental policy. The compensation arrangements described remain current. Additionally, the Ministry of Defence will consider claims for damage or loss where there is evidence that this results from military aircraft activity.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list in the Official Report the number of low-level flights in low flying area 20(T) for each year since 1979;

  (2) if he will list in the Official Report the number of low-level flights in low flying area 16 for each year since 1979;

  (3) if he will list in the Official Report the number of low-level flights in low flying area 13 for each year since 1979;

  (4) if he will list in the Official Report the number of low-level flights in low flying area 12 for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Neubert
  It is not our practice to publish detailed information relating to specific low-flying training areas.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if low flying at less than 250 ft is permitted during any phase of the Mallet Blow series of exercises; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neubert
  Apart from flying within the range areas being used for the Mallet Blow exercises when aircraft are permitted to descend below 250 ft during the final approaches to a target, no low flying at less than 250 ft s currently carried out during the Mallet Blow series of exercises.
  447
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the aircraft types permitted to fly at less than 250 ft over the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Neubert
  Fixed-wing flying below 250 ft is not formally limited to particular aircraft types, but in practice approval for such flying is normally granted only for aircraft whose operational role requires such low level flights. Helicopters may operate below 250 ft anywhere in the United Kingdom subject to the constraints of the United Kingdom low flying system's regulations.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many low-flying sorties were flown on Saturdays in each year since 1979; and how many of these were flown by fast jet aircraft.

  Mr. Neubert
  The information requested could not be provided without disproportionate effort and cost.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent consideration he has given to the relocation of some low-flying exercises.

  Mr. Neubert
  The most appropriate location for exercises involving low-flying training are kept under continuing review in the light of the desirability of maximising training value and spreading potential disturbance as equitably as possible.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the speed, height and purpose of the low-level flight over the built-up area of Tranent at 2.51 pm on Tuesday 31 January.

  Mr. Neubert
  Without additional information concerning the incident, such as type—for example, jet, propeller driven, helicopter—and number of aircraft, I regret I am unable to provide the information requested. If the hon. Member would care to write to me with this information, I would be happy to have the alleged incident investigated.

  Aircraft Noise
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measurements have been made of noise levels on the ground caused by military jet aircraft overflying at 100 ft and speeds of up to 550 knots.

  Mr. Neubert
  No recent measurements of these noise levels have been made, but I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 26 January 1989 to the hon. Member for Meirionnyd Nant Conwy (Dr. Thomas) at column 753.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his policy towards compensation where dwellings are subjected to noise levels from military aircraft of 125 dB (A) or more.

  Mr. Neubert
  Should any dwelling in the vicinity of a military airfield be found to be subject to maximum noise levels from military aircraft of 125 dB (A) or more, departmental policy would be to seek to purchase the property. No such dwellings have been identified in any of the noise surveys carried out so far and it is considered unlikely that the situation will arise in the future.

  Practice Air Attacks
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many practice air attacks were made on the Otterburn range in each year since 1979;
  448
  (2) how many practice air attacks were made on the Spadeadam range in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Neubert
  Records of range activity do not encompass this information.

  Submarine Discharges
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether Royal Navy nuclear-powered submarines discharge contaminated reactor coolant water in the Clyde estuary; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It is not our practice to comment on matters which would give information on the operation of the nuclear submarine fleet. So far as the release of radioactivity from RN submarines is concerned, I refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Dumbarton (Mr. McFall) on 24 January 1989 at column 554.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether Royal Navy nuclear submarines discharge contaminated reactor coolant water into the waters of ports visited which are not operational submarine bases.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It is not the practice of the Royal Navy to discharge reactor coolant water directly to sea in any port.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether Royal Navy nuclear-powered submarines are equipped with retention tanks to store excess reactor coolant water derived for operating the submarine inside United Kingdom territorial waters so that it can be subsequently dumped outside United Kingdom territorial waters; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  During the normal operation of the nuclear reactors in Royal Navy submarines, coolant water is retained within the system. Royal Navy submarines are equipped with tanks which can be used to store excess coolant water created when a reactor is shut down and then restarted, and are suitable for use when the submarine is on the surface. However, it is rarely necessary to use such tanks. It is likely that future RN nuclear-powered submarines will carry retention tanks which may be used when submerged. So far as the release of radioactivity is concerned, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Dumbarton (Mr. McFall) on 24 January 1989 at column 554.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether United States nuclear submarines or their tender ships operating in the Holy Loch discharge reactor coolants into United Kingdom territorial waters; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Dumbarton (Mr. McFall) on 24 January 1989 at column 555.

  Space Tracking Station (RAF Feltwell)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has as to in which United States fiscal years funding for the proposed deep space tracking station at RAF Feltwell was given
  449
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I am informed by the United States authorities that funding has been approved for the deep space tracking system on a worldwide basis and it is not possible to isolate specific provision for the project at RAF Feltwell in particular years.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give(a) the date of commencement of works on the deep space tracking station to be built at RAF Feltwell, (b) the expected date of completion of these works and (c) the expected date of start of operations of the deep space tracking station at Feltwell.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Construction of the deep space tracking station at RAF Feltwell began on 12 September 1988. It is anticipated that the work will be completed late in 1989 with the station becoming operational in 1991.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if information gathered by the United States Air Force or any other United States service or agency at the proposed deep space tracking station at RAF Feltwell will, as a matter of routine, be shared with the United Kingdom and other NATO allies.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I have nothing to add to the answer my hon. Friend the Member for Kettering (Mr. Freeman) gave the hon. Gentleman on 18 May 1988 at column 512.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the construction of the deep space tracking station at RAF Feltwell is being undertaken in pursuit of a NATO force goal, or other NATO decision.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The deep space tracking station is not part of a NATO programme.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what personnel, other than from the United States Air Force, will be employed at the proposed deep space tracking station at RAF Feltwell.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The construction of the deep space tracking station at RAF Feltwell will involve the employment of British contractors. Once complete, the station will be manned by United States Air Force personnel.

  Bloodhound
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the first Bloodhound surface-to-air missile entered service.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The current Bloodhound mark 2 system entered RAF service in March 1964. Since then, there have been a number of modifications to the system to enhance its capability.

  Buccaneer
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the first Buccaneer aircraft entered service.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Buccaneer mark 1 first entered service with the Royal Navy in 1960; the Buccaneer S2 first entered service with the RAF in 1969.

  Helicopters
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the helicopters of 22 Squadron first entered service.
  450
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The in-service dates of the Wessex aircraft currently assigned to No. 22 Squadron search and rescue are as follows:

  Aircraft

  1963

  3

  1964

  3

  1965

  2

  1966

  4

  1967

  1

  1968

  5

  NATO Requirements
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to meet all North Atlantic Treaty Organisation requirements for Royal Air Force warstocks.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Cunninghame, North (Mr. Wilson) on 22 December 1988 at column 371.

  Rapier
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what was the average number of towed Rapier surface-to-air missile systems stationed on the mainland of Europe in 1987;

  (2) what was the average number of tracked Rapier surface-to-air missile systems stationed on the mainland of Europe in 1987.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It is not our practice to disclose details of the numbers of such equipment. Both towed and tracked Rapier numbers are included in the total of 350 United Kingdom air defence systems given on page 16 of the NATO publication "Conventional Forces in Europe: The Facts", a copy of which is in the Library of the House. I refer the hon. Member to annexes B and C of volume one of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1988" (Cm. 344-I) for more information on the location of our air defence forces.

  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what items have been included in the current development costs for Rapier field standard C that were not included in the original estimate of the development cost.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The items concerned reflect a wide variety of changes made to the Rapier field standard C development programme, in the period prior to incentiveness of the contract. A major change was the incorporation of a project contingency in the cost of estimates, other changes arose from the process of defining the requirement more closely.

  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of the increase in development costs for the Rapier field standard C is due to(a) unforeseen technical problems and (b) the restricted funding of development.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  As noted in the 47th report from the Public Accounts Committee on major defence projects, unforeseen technical problems and restricted funding of development together accounted for a 10 per cent. increase in development costs of Rapier field standard C between 1982 and 1986. Individually they accounted for 6 and 4 per cent. respectively.

  Foxhunter Radar
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether all the Foxhunter radars currently in service perform to the specification that was agreed with GEC Marconi when they were first ordered.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  As we have stated on a number of occasions, the Foxhunter radar does not yet meet in full all the requirements of the Royal Air Force. Radars to an agreed interim standard are now in service in the Tornado air defence variant, which is already providing an operational capability superior to that of the aircraft it is replacing. The programme of work placed under firm price contractual arrangements with Marconi Defence Systems last year is expected to bring the Foxhunter radar up to the standard required.

  Army Medals
  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many applications for the dispatch of Army medals awarded in connection with the 1939–45 war are waiting to be processed; and what is the average waiting time.

  Mr. Neubert
  There were 6,839 outstanding claims for medals at 31 December 1988. Of these 2,661 were awaiting more information from the applicants or other governmental Departments, 2,608 were awaiting documents from archives and 1,570 were awaiting assessment at the Army medal office. All applicants are told that they may expect to wait about eight months for their claims to be processed.

  War Widows
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will now revise his estimated cost of £200 million per annum for improving the pensions of pre-1973 war widows to take into account the numbers of deaths of such widows since the figure was first calculated.

  Mr. Neubert
  The figure of £200 million remains a broad estimate of the annual additional cost of paying attributable widows pensions, on the same basis and rates as for current awards, to all those war widows who do not qualify for the revised provisions which were introduced into the armed forces pension scheme in 1973. The net reduction in the number of widows who would be affected, since that estimate was first made, is offset by the increase which would have occurred under index-linking arrangements in the rates of pension which would have been payable.

EMPLOYMENT

  Back Pain
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what action his Department is taking to reduce the number of working days lost due to back pain; what resources Her Majesty's Government provide for training employees to lift heavy weights; what guidelines he gives to employers to ensure that weights to be lifted are not too heavy; what guidelines are given in respect of office workers to ensure that office furniture and equipment do not contribute to back pain; and if he will make a statement.
  452
  Mr. Nicholls
  On 31 October 1988 the Health and Safety Commission published a consultative document "Handling loads at work" containing proposals for regulations and guidance. The regulations would apply to all persons who handle loads at work, including office workers, and repeal existing fragmentary and outdated legislation. The proposals would give employers a clear strategy for reducing injuries. The guidance stresses the importance of establishing a safe system of work, taking into account the nature of the task and the load to be handled. The commission considers that excessive reliance on weight limits is inappropriate and cannot be justified on medical grounds. Training in handling techniques is likely to be effective only as a complement to a safe system of work, not as a substitute for one.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the percent age fall in unemployment in the last 12 months in the south-east.

  Mr. Lee
  In December 1988, the level of unemployment seasonally adjusted in the south-east was 421,700 compared with 582,000 in December 1987—a fall of 160,300 or 27·5 per cent.

  Bonnybridge Employment Office
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) whether he will list the percentage rate of unemployed people in the Bonnybridge area for each month since the Bonnybridge part-time employment office was opened;

  (2) whether he will list the number of unemployed people in the Bonnybridge area for each month since the Bonnybridge part-time employment office was opened.

  Mr. Lee
  The table shows the number of unemployed claimants in the wards which cover the Bonnybridge area for each month from June 1983. Figures for wards are not available prior to June 1983. The figures are affected by the change in the compilation of the unemployment count in March 1986 to reduce over-recording and by the change in benefit regulations affecting under 18-year-olds in September 1988. Unemployment rates are not calculated for areas smaller than travel-to-work areas.

  Unemployment in the Bonnybridge area1

  Number of Unemployed Claimants

  1983

  June

  668

  July

  679

  August

  673

  September

  703

  October

  658

  November

  653

  December

  638

  1984

  January

  695

  February

  745

  March

  705

  April

  672

  May

  685

  June

  690

  July

  694

  August

  682

  September

  705

  453

  Number of Unemployed Claimants

  October

  716

  November

  705

  December

  696

  1985

  January

  746

  February

  759

  March

  752

  April

  763

  May

  790

  June

  774

  July

  755

  August

  766

  September

  755

  October

  722

  November

  782

  December

  813

  1986

  January

  840

  February

  826

  March

  799

  April

  802

  May

  758

  June

  769

  July

  764

  August

  752

  September

  780

  October

  779

  November

  779

  December

  770

  1987

  January

  805

  February

  767

  March

  708

  April

  705

  May

  669

  June

  649

  July

  637

  August

  618

  September

  596

  October

  608

  November

  602

  December

  602

  1988

  January

  609

  February

  579

  March

  563

  April

  540

  May

  507

  June

  512

  July

  488

  August

  483

  September

  477

  October

  434

  November

  441

  December

  439

  1 Denny and Dunipace wards.

  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will consult local authorities and local community organisations about his proposal to close the Bonnybridge part-time employment office.

  Mr. Lee
  There are no plans to consult local authorities and local community organisations about the closure.

  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what estimate he has of the success rate of the part-time employment office at Bonnybridge in finding jobs for unemployed people.
  454
  Mr. Lee
  This information is not available. Bonnybridge is a part-time unemployment benefit office outhouse and is not specifically involved in finding jobs for unemployed people. This function is currently performed by the jobcentre in Denny.

  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make an official visit to the part-time employment office at Bonnybridge in order to discuss with local people, particularly unemployed people, his proposal to close the office.

  Mr. Lee
  There are no plans for the Secretary of State to visit Bonnybridge part-time unemployment benefit office outhouse.

  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will list the disadvantages and the advantages of the proposed closure of the part-time employment office at Bonnybridge.

  Mr. Lee
  The employment service is committed to helping the unemployed find pathways back to work and to offering an efficient enquiry and counselling service about both benefits and job-training opportunities. It is impossible to provide all these facilities in a small part-time benefit office such as Bonnybridge which is open for only two hours a week and is housed in inadequate premises. Following the closure of Bonnybridge part-time unemployment benefit office, members of the public will be asked to attend the full-time unemployment benefit office in Denny. New claims are already taken at this office and it is equipped with a computer system to speed up the handling of inquiries. More senior and experienced staff are available to assist and offer advice about both benefits and job-training opportunities and a full-time jobcentre is situated in the same building.

  Although members of the public will have to travel a little further to `sign-on', therefore, they will benefit from the comprehensive range of services available in Denny, and particularly from having regular access to information about job vacancies and training courses.

  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will arrange for the issue of a questionnaire to all people using the part-time employment office at Bonnybridge to ascertain(a) what use they make of the office and (b) whether they agree with his proposal to close the office.

  Mr. Lee
  There are no plans to issue a questionnaire to the people who use the part-time unemployment benefit office outhouse at Bonnybridge as there are alternative and more comprehensive facilities available nearby.

  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the estimated cost of additional travel expenses which will be incurred by clients at present using the Bonnybridge part-time employment office if the office is closed.

  Mr. Lee
  In most cases, clients who currently attend the part-time unemployment benefit office outhouse at Bonnybridge will be expected to travel to the nearest local office in Denny, which is three miles away. There is half-hourly bus service between Bonnybridge and Denny and the fare is £1 return. Clients who live six miles or more from the nearest local office and people with disabilities or those with significant travel difficulties will no longer be required to attend for their fortnightly claims but will be able to make these by post.
  455
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are required to staff the part-time employment office at Bonnybridge; and for how many hours per week.

  Mr. Lee
  Currently two members of staff are required to attend the part-time unemployment benefit office outhouse at Bonnybridge each Wednesday, when they spend two hours at this office.

  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the estimated financial saving, to his Department if the proposed closure of the Bonnybridge part-time employment office goes ahead.

  Mr. Lee
  The estimated financial saving from the closure of Bonnybridge part-time unemployment benefit office outhouse is £950 per annum.

  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will list for each month since its opening, the number of people using the Bonnybridge part-time employment office for use of the freephone employment inquiry service; and what is the cost of this service.

  Mr. Lee
  This information is not available, as this service is not provided at the part-time unemployment benefit office outhouse in Bonnybridge.

  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list, for each month since its opening, the number of people using the Bonnybridge part-time employment office for signing-on purposes.

  Mr. Lee
  The part-time unemployment benefit office outhouse at Bonnybridge opened in 1973. Information on the number of people using the office is no longer available for the months prior to January 1985. The number of people signing as unemployed in each month since January 1985 is given in the table.

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  January

  424

  416

  461

  315

  February

  421

  405

  453

  311

  March

  455

  411

  439

  242

  April

  451

  430

  439

  292

  456

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  May

  433

  413

  380

  295

  June

  433

  411

  383

  295

  July

  413

  423

  368

  278

  August

  405

  443

  345

  270

  September

  420

  444

  346

  242

  October

  412

  420

  339

  244

  November

  425

  448

  341

  231

  December

  402

  444

  351

  246

  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will list, for each month since its opening, the number of people using the Bonnybridge part-time employment office for the job vacancy notice-board service; how many job vacancies have been notified on the notice-board; and how many have been filled as a result.

  Mr. Lee
  This information is not available. Bonnybridge is a part-time unemployment benefit office outhouse. Although it has a general noticeboard, it does not display job vacancies. Local job vacancies are notified to the jobcentre in Denny, which is responsible for advertising jobs and submitting people to vacancies.

  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the annual cost to his Department of leasing part of Bonnybridge community centre for the part-time employment office at Bonnybridge.

  Mr. Lee
  The annual cost of leasing part of Bonnybridge community centre for the part-time unemployment benefit office outhouse at Bonnybridge is £260 plus £120 for utilities.

  Youth Training
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish, for each area of the Manpower Services Commission—Training Commission the accident statistics for the years 1987 and 1988 for YTS in the form given to the hon. Member for Huddersfield (Mr. Sheerman),Official Report, 8 April 1987, columns 299–306.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 1 February 1989]Because of the exceptional length of the reply, I shall write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.