Written Answers of 7 February 1989

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Child Abuse
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the discussions with the Department of Health on the future research programme into child sexual abuse to be concluded; and if he will make an announcement.

  Mr. John Patten
  Discussions are in progress with the Department of Health on that part of the Home Office research and planning unit's programme of research for the financial year 1989–90, which concerns child sexual abuse. The details of the research projects on this topic which the Home Office will undertake will be published in the summer in the Home Office research and planning unit's programme of research. Copies of this publication will be placed in the Library.

  Football
  Mr. John L. Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how often police have used the power given under the Public Order Act 1986 to impose a limit on the number of people attending a football match.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We are not aware that the Public Order Act has been used for this purpose.

  Mr. John L. Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many exclusion orders have been imposed on football supporters under the Public Order Act 1986.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Since 1 August 1987, 1,417 orders have been recorded by the Football Association.

  Haringey Police (Complaints)
  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 level of complaints against the Haringey police from the Asian community; what steps are being taken to investigate these and improve police-community relations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the statistics of complaints are extracted from individual files when action on the complaint is complete. He further tells me that in 1987 action was completed on three complaints against the Haringey police involving Asian complainants. Action on six such complaints was completed in 1988.

  All complaints against officers of the Metropolitan police are investigated in accordance with the procedures laid down in part IX of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 and the associated regulations.
  580
  The commissioner places the highest importance on good relations between his force and all sections of the community. His force is committed to a range of policies designed to this end.

  Rapes (Suffolk)
  Sir Eldon Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report the number of rapes reported to the police in the administrative county of Suffolk during each of the years1979 to 1988 and the number of convictions obtained after prosecutions.

  Mr. John Patten
  The number of offences of rape recorded by the police in each police force area 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 of the House. The number of offences of rape recorded by the Suffolk constabulary in January to September 1988 was 37. Information held centrally, which may be incomplete, shows five persons convicted of rape in 1979, three in 1983 and three in 1987; provision of corresponding figures for other years would involve disproportionate cost.

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

  Mr. Hurd
  My Department is represented at meetings arranged under the auspices of the following organisations:

  Anglo-French Policing and Frontier Controls Working Group

  Council of Europe

  Commonwealth

  Comité Technique Internationale de Prevention et d'Extinction du Feu

  Conference Permanente Européenne de la Probation

  European Committee on Standards

  European Community

  European Group on DNA Integration

  European Civil Aviation Conference

  IATA Working Group on Inadmissible Passengers

  Intergovernmental Commission on Channel Tunnel

  International Civil Aviation Organisation Facilitation Committee

  International Maritime Organisation Facilitation Committee

  International Standards Organisation

  International Penal and Penitentiary Foundation

  International Prison Chaplains' Association

  Internationale de Métrologie Légale

  Interpol

  NATO

  United Nations

  Western European Union

  In the financial year 1987–88 my Department's subscription to Interpol was £440,000, to the Major Donors' group of the United Nations fund for drug abuse control £162,000 and to the Council of Europe's co-operation group to combat drug abuse and illicit trafficking in drugs (the Pompidou group) £34,000. The cost of other commitments could be estimated only at disproportionate cost.

  Data Protection
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to extend the Data Protection Act to cover paper and card indexes held by the Economic League and similar bodies.

  Mr. Renton
  No.

  Voting Rights
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the disqualification of the residents of Caldey Island, Pembrokeshire, from parliamentary and European elections; and what action he proposes to ensure that the residents are refranchised in time to vote in the European elections in June.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Caldey Island is not within the district of south Pembrokeshire. Since 1983 parliamentary constituencies, and hence European parliamentary constituencies, in Wales have been defined by districts and district wards. The jurisdiction of electoral registration officers is also determined by district. It has recently come to light that this removes the right of the residents of the island to be included on the electoral register We are discussing with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales, who is responsible for local government areas in Wales, how best to restore the franchise to the residents of Caldey Island.

  Herald of Free Enterprise
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Kent as to what stage has been reached in police investigations in relation to the Herald of Free Enterprise incident: and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand from the chief constable of Kent that the police investigation is nearly complete and that a final report will then be submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

  Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to lay a code of practice under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 before Parliament.

  Mr Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend has today laid before the House, under section 21 of the Act, a code of practice for the housing and care of animals used in scientific procedures which will be published tomorrow.

  This code is based upon guidelines published in 1987 jointly by the Royal Society and the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare. It is a tribute to the excellent and thorough work done by these bodies that little amendment has been needed to convert their guidelines into a code of practice which should command widespread support.

  Political Bodies (Funding)
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to provide that bodies acting solely as channels for contributions to political bodies shall be disbarred from charitable status.
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  Mr. John Patten
  [holding answer 6 February 1989]: No organisation that acted solely as a channel for contributions to political bodies could lawfully be a charity.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  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, access to European Investment Bank loans for Cyprus will be permissible for applications deriving directly from the area known as the Turkish republic of north Cyprus.

  Mrs. Chalker
  EIB loans require Government guarantees. Direct access to European Investment bank loans from the Turkish area of Cyprus would therefore not be possible.

  John McCarthy
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent developments have taken place in efforts to secure the release of John McCarthy.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Despite recent rumours of the imminent release of one or more British hostages, and the efforts made, particularly by Her Majesty's ambassador in Beirut, to follow up these reports, I regret that there have been no substantive developments. We continue to follow up all available information.

  Chemical Weapons
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the final treaty on chemical weapons disarmament and verification, currently being negotiated in Geneva, will require that all old burial and destruction sites of chemical warfare agents will need to be indentified for the purposes of verification; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The question of old chemical weapon burial and destruction sites has been raised in the Geneva negotiations and their coverage under a comprehensive chemical weapons convention is still under discussion. There is general agreement in the negotiations that upon entry into force of such a convention, states would be required to declare their existing chemical weapon stockpiles, accept on-site inspection of such stockpiles and destroy them within 10 years. Production of chemical weapons would cease immediately and production facilities would be dismantled over the 10-year period. Chemical weapon destruction facilities would be declared and progress in the destruction of stocks monitored.

  Public Appeals
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will specify each donation which his Department has made in response to public appeals for financial aid during each financial year since 1979–80.
  583
  Mr. Eggar
  We can find no trace in our records of any donation made by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (diplomatic wing) since 1979 in response to public appeals.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the sources of information on which he bases his assessment that the Soviet Union has continued without any break in its nuclear weapons modernisation programme.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  It is not our policy to comment on sources of information obtained on subjects of this nature.

  "Death on the Rock"
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out the inaccuracies identified by his Department in the Thames Television programme "Death on the Rock."

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Our concerns over the broadcast of the programme "Death on the Rock", and the serious and damaging inaccuracies it contains, are set out in a Government press statement of 26 January, and the attached correspondence from officials to Lord Windlesham, which my hon. Friend the Minister for the Armed Forces has laid in the Library of the House.

  Nuclear Power (China)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on new plans under study by the People's Republic of China to build more nuclear power plants in Guandong, near Hong Kong, in addition to the Daya Bay Plant under construction.

  Mr. Eggar
  I am aware of no such plans.

  COMECON (Travel)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions since 1979 permission for emigration to, or travel within, the Soviet Union or other COMECON eastern bloc countries has been denied to applicants formerly employed at the Government communication headquarters at Cheltenham.

  Mr. Eggar
  We have nothing to add to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 26 January at column 704.

  Permanent Representative (EC)
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the total number of people employed in the offices of the United Kingdom permanent representative to the European Communities; and what is the total annual cost, including salaries, rent, rates, equipment, depreciation, allowances, training, and expenses, for 1988.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The total number of people employed in the offices of the United Kingdom permanent representative to the European Communities is 84, including locally engaged staff.
  584
  The total cost for the financial year 1987–88 was £5.5 million. This is the latest figure available.

  Falkland Islands
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the cost to public funds of the Falkland Islands Government for the latest year for which figures are available, per capita for the permanent population of the islands.

  Mr. Eggar
  For the financial year 1987–88, our public expenditure in the Falkland Islands was as follows:

  Development aid:

  £6,780,000

  Garrison costs:

  £118,000,000

  Total:

  £124,780,000

  For the financial year ending 30 June 1988, public expenditure by the Falkland Islands Government was £15,541,731.

  Human Rights (Turkey)
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what representations he has made to the Turkish authorities regarding continuing reports of systematic and widespread use of torture in places of detention;

  (2) if he will make representations to the Turkish Government urging them (a) to repeal those laws which criminalise the non-violent expression of opinion, (b) to abolish the use of military courts when trying civilians, (c) to conform to international standards of justice in the proceedings of civil courts and (d) to abolish the use of the death penalty; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  My right hon. and learned Friend raised the continuing allegations of breaches of human rights when the Turkish ambassador paid an introductory call on him on 1 February. I also did so during his call on me on 2 February. He assured us that his Government were aware that there were areas where further improvement was necessary and were acting to eliminate shortcomings. We welcome that assurance.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Turkish authorities regarding the case of Ibraham Acan.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We are aware of the circumstances of Mr. Acan's case. We urge the Turkish Government to ensure that they respect and abide by the terms and conditions of the human rights agreements to which they are signatories.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Turkish authorities on breaches of the European convention for the prevention of torture and request them to make known the steps being taken to end the use of practices condemned therein.

  Mrs. Chalker
  My right hon. and learned Friend and I have both recently made the Turkish ambassador aware of our concern about allegations of breaches of human rights in Turkey. Through him we have reminded the Turkish Government of the need to abide by the international conventions to which they are signatories.

  Rates Arrears
  Mr. Ron Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the countries which have been asked to pay rates arrears for diplomatic properties in London; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  We are seeking payment of rates arrears for diplomatic properties in London from the following states:

  Burkina

  Libya

  Costa Rica

  Morocco

  France

  Nigeria

  Grenada

  Paraguay

  Iran

  Somalia

  Iraq

  Sudan

  Laos

  Uganda

  We regularly approach missions which are in arrears to urge them to make payment.

  Mr. Ian Richter
  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he is taking to secure the release of Mr. Ian Richter from imprisonment in Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The continuing imprisonment of Mr. Richter remains a source of grave concern to the Government. The sentence passed on him is severe, and we have made numerous appeals for clemency to the Iraqi authorities. We note that Mr. Richter is now the only remaining long-term western prisoner in Iraq. His early release would remove a major obstacle to the improvement of Anglo-Iraqi relations.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Crown Prosecution Service
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Attorney-General if he is satisfied that the Crown Prosecution service is able to undertake prosecutions involving extensive technical detail, such as serious fraud cases and health and safety at work prosecutions; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  The Crown Prosecution service is able to undertake prosecutions involving extensive technical detail. In general the most serious fraud cases are conducted by the serious fraud office and health and safety at work prosecutions are conducted by inspectors appointed under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

THE ARTS

  Public Appeals
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will specify each donation made by his Department in response to public appeals for financial aid during each financial year since 1979–80.

  Mr. Luce
  Since 1983 when the Office of Arts and Libraries was established, grants have been made to the bodies it sponsors and to many other institutions and projects. Examples of donations to specific appeals include £500,000 to the Royal Academy trust appeal fund launched in 1982, £25,000 to the Dulwich picture gallery 586
  appeal in 1985, and £150,000 in response to an appeal by the Carnegie (United Kingdom) trust for the improvement of arts venues for the benefit of disabled people in 1988.

  Arts Administration Inquiry
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Minister for the Arts when he will publish a table of(a) the places which and (b) the dates when Mr. Richard Wilding will be visiting to take evidence for his inquiry into the structure of arts administration.

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 6 February 1989]: Full details of Mr. Wilding's visits have not yet been finalised, but he will be visiting all the English regional arts associations during the course of the review; the dates of those visits are as follows:

  Date

  Place

  2–3 February

  South West Arts

  16 February

  Merseyside Arts

  20 February

  Yorkshire Arts

  21–22 February

  Northern Arts

  27 February

  Southern Arts

  1–2 March

  East Midland Arts

  2–3 March

  Lincolnshire and Humberside Arts

  7–8 March

  North West Arts

  9–10 March

  West Midland Arts

  14 March

  Merseyside Arts (second visit)

  20 March

  South East Arts

  21 March

  Eastern Arts

PRIME MINISTER

  Bradford, South
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Prime Minister when next she expects to pay an official visit to Bradford, South.

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

  Stretton on Dansmoore
  Mr. James Pawsey
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has any plans to visit Stretton on Dansmoore, near Rugby.

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

  Government Departments (Value for Money)
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Prime Minister what progress is being made in achieving greater value for money within Government Departments; and whether she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  The Government attach very high priority to getting better value for money from public expenditure and good progress is being made. Efficiency scrutinies have saved over £1·4 billion on a cumulative basis; and in the current year Departments aim to achieve value-for-money improvements in purchasing and supply totalling some £340 million, while market testing and contracting out is now saving some £40 million a year. The recent Public Expenditure White Paper provides many more examples of value-for-money improvements. Beyond this, we are creating agencies to improve efficiency in Executive activities on which my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Privy Council Office announced
  587
  progress on 1 February, at column 237–239. Finally, we are continuing to improve output and performance measurement so that all Departments and managers can be set targets and be judged on the results that they achieve.

  Mr. Ron Brown
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will pay an official visit to Libya.

  The Prime Minister
  No.

  Freedom of Information Rally
  Mr Allen
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will make it her policy to accept any invitation issued to address the freedom of information and official secrets rally at the Albert hall, Nottingham on 8 February.

  The Prime Minister
  No

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 7 February.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 7 February.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 7 February.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 7 February.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 7 February.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 7 February.

  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 7 February.

  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 7 February.

  The Prime Minister
  This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others including the Spanish Foreign Minister. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today including one with the Soviet Deputy Prime Minister. This evening I hope to have an audience of Her Majesty the Queen.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  International Organisations
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those international organisations on which his Department is represented and the total cost of these commitments.

  Mr. Brooke
  Subscriptions were made during 1987–88 to the following international organisations at a total cost of £18,700:

  Plan Econ

  Institute of International Finance

  Data Resources Incorporated

  Wharton

  International Council for Automatic Data Processing in Government Administration

  London Docklands
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out the total allowance in cash terms which the 588
  developers of the Canary wharf scheme in London's docklands will be eligible to claim under the scheme for 100 per cent. allowances on the capital amount, assuming the scheme is built to completion as set out in the master building agreement.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Bow and Popular (Ms. Gordon) on 20 January at column 348.

  EC (Contributions)
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration he has given to the report of the court of auditors in relation to the use of accountancy and other devices by the European Economic Community to deal with their overspending in relation to budgetary controls agreed by the European Council; and what steps he will take to prevent such devices being used in the future in the light of the further increase in Community resources agreed in February 1988.

  Mr. Brooke
  I share the concern of the court of auditors about the use of accountancy devices which camouflage the underlying trend of Community expenditure. The new budget discipline arrangements put in place following the February 1988 Brussels European Council, and especially the legally binding controls on agricultural expenditure, address the fundamental problems which prompted the use of such devices in the past.

  Incomes, Profits and Rents
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the level of(a) personal incomes, (b) company profits, (c) dividends and interest payments and (d) rents for each year since 1975; and what has been the percentage increase in each during each of these years.

  Mr. Major
  [holding answer 2 February 1989]: This information appears in the 1988 edition of the Central Statistical Office publication "United Kingdom National Accounts" which may be found in the House of Commons Library. The information may also be obtained from the CSO databank which is a collection of macroeconomic time series in computer readable form to which the House of Commons Library has direct access. This databank. includes the latest versions of all series on it.

WALES

  Hospital Waiting Lists
  Mr. John Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the current in-patient waiting lists for(a) West Glamorgan and (b) Neath and Port Talbot for (i) urgent and (ii) non-urgent cases.

  Mr. Grist
  Waiting list information is collected on the basis of the number of people waiting for admission to a particular hospital. Information on waiting lists as at 31 March 1988, the latest available, is given in the following table:

  In-patient Waiting List

  Urgent

  Non-Urgent

  West Glamorgan

  172

  5,151

  Neath and Port Talbot Hospitals

  43

  1,344

  589
  Mr. John Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the current waiting lists for first time out-patient appointments, specialty by specialty, in(a) West Glamorgan, and (b) Neath and Port Talbot; and what are the average waiting periods for each specialty.

  Mr. Grist
  Waiting list information is collected on the basis of the number of people waiting for a first time

  West Glamorgan

  Neath and Port Talbot Hospitals

  Waiting list

  Notional waiting time1 (days)

  Waiting list

  Notional waiting time1 (days)

  General Medicine

  266

  20

  100

  27

  Paediatrics

  156

  30

  73

  44

  Chest Diseases

  29

  25

  10

  46

  Dermatology

  1,578

  133

  445

  126

  Neurology

  476

  115

  82

  146

  Physical Medicine/Rehabilitation

  29

  26

  —

  —

  Rheumatology

  392

  145

  101

  171

  General Surgery

  1,679

  73

  399

  37

  Ear, Nose and Throat

  2,969

  187

  1,430

  287

  Traumatic and Orthopaedic Surgery

  1,871

  58

  709

  59

  Ophthalmology

  1,766

  125

  462

  171

  Radiotherapy

  4

  1

  —

  —

  Urology

  1,153

  481

  —

  —

  Dental Surgery

  52

  6

  49

  40

  Orthodontics

  114

  36

  —

  —

  Neurosurgery

  37

  35

  —

  —

  Gynaecology

  653

  43

  62

  14

  Psychiatric Children

  23

  23

  —

  —

  Mental Illness

  45

  13

  —

  —

  Haematology

  16

  4

  —

  —

  1 The notional time to clear a waiting list (given in days) is obtained by dividing the total waiting list at 31 March by the average daily number of new out-patients seen during the previous twelve months.

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list in the Official Report (a) the total extent, in hectares, of each environmentally sensitive area, (b) the extent of agricultural land within each environmentally sensitive area, (c) the number of farmers eligible to enter

  Cambrian mountains (designated 1 March 1987)

  Cambrian mountains extension (designated 1 January 1988)

  Lleyn peninsula (designated 1 January 1988)

  (a) 72,800 hectares

  80,200 hectares

  39,750 hectares

  (b)1 53,900 hectares

  58,050 hectares

  39,280 hectares

  (c)2 200

  350

  960

  (d)3 108

  51

  97

  (e)3 13,179·40 hectares

  1,777·20 hectares

  4,439·31 hectares

  Notes:

  1 Figures cover semi-natural rough grazings and improved agricultural land but exclude woodlands.

  2 Estimated

  3 As at 3 February 1989

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what opportunities he foresees for(a) Wales and (b) west Wales as a result of the construction of the Channel tunnel; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  [holding answer 6 February 1989]: The Government have revitalised the economy of Wales: industry is now more diverse and competitive and overall economic performance and activity have improved. Wales is thus well placed to take full advantage of the trading opportunities which the tunnel will afford in terms of better access to Europe.
  590
  appointment at a particular hospital or clinic. Information on waiting lists as at 31 March 1988 is given in the following table.

  Information on the average waiting period for appointments is not available centrally. However the notional waiting time to clear out-patient waiting lists is presented in the following table for comparison:

  into management agreements in each environmentally sensitive area, (d) the number of agreements concluded with farmers in each environmentally sensitive area and, (e) the total area of land covered by agreements in each environmentally sensitive area.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The information requested is as follows:

  West Wales will share in these benefits and, in particular, the improved facilities at Milford Haven and Pembroke dock put the area in a strong position to take advantage of all the opportunities for increased levels of trade with Europe.

  Welsh industry is already involved with the construction phase of the tunnel. To date several Welsh firms have been successful in attracting work worth over £7 million. I am sure that Welsh concerns will continue to play a valuable role during construction.

ENVIRONMENT

  Drinking Water (Quality)
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all those water supplies in England which currently fail to meet the standards set out in the European Economic Community directives on the quality of drinking water and whether or not these are subject to 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. Moynihan
  Drinking water supplies to the following areas in England regularly exceed one or more of the standards set in the EC drinking water directive. Under the terms of the directive the Department has granted derogations (exemptions) for non-toxic parameters provided that the situation is due to the nature and structure of the ground and there is no public health risk. We have also applied to the Commission under article 20 for a longer period in which to meet the directive in certain cases and have submitted programmes of improvement. Implementation of the remedial programmes would mean that most supplies should comply with the directive by 1990. Most of the derogated supplies should comply by 1995.

  Anglian Water Authority Area

  Bucklesham

  Braintree

  Braintree—Northern Rural

  Braintree—Kelvedon and Tiptree

  Colchester—Lexden

  Colchester—Greenstead

  Colchester—South

  Colchester—West Bergholt

  Colchester—North

  Bures

  Baylham—Kirby Rise

  Baylham—Winston

  Belstead

  Heigham—Kirby Cane

  Mattishall

  Mundesley

  Raydon, Belstead, Alton, Great Wenham

  Rushall—Bunwell

  Harwich Peninsula (S)

  Harwich Peninsula (U)

  Alford—Driby

  Elkesley

  Elkesley—Grove—Newton—Ordsall Road

  592

  Everton (Lincoln Division)

  Gainborough

  Grove—Ordsall Road

  Ordsall Road

  Scarle

  Winterton Holmes

  Winterton Holmes—Barrow

  Mumby—Fordington

  Driby—Fordington

  Parts of Huntingdon and South Cambridgeshire districts (Kingston pumping station)

  Parts of Huntingdon and South Cambridgeshire districts (Lords Bridge pumping station)

  Parts of Cambridgeshire district—Croydon pumping station

  Sandhouse—Battlesdon

  Heacham and Hunstanton

  Docking

  Grafham—Huntingdon

  Birchmoor (Cambridge division)

  Pulloxhill (Cambridge division)

  Meppershall (Cambridge division)

  Dunton—Newspring (Cambridge division)

  Foxcote—Grafham (Cambridge division)

  Pitsford East (Oundle division)

  Pitsford West

  Ravensthorpe

  Part of Havering—Dagenham Well

  Part of Redbridge—Seven Kings Well

  Part of Redbridge—Roding Well

  Colchester—Lexden (Colchester division)

  Maltby le Marsh

  Welton le Marsh—Candlesby—Fordington

  Waddingham—Glentham—Ulceby

  North West Authority Area

  Chester CBC: Ashton and Moldsworth

  Chester CBC: Malpas

  Congleton DC: Congleton Town Area

  Southport

  Formby

  High Peak District Glossop

  Stockport MB: excluding Reddish, Heaton Mersey, Heaton

  593

  Moor

  Bolton MB: excluding West Loughton, Lostock Areas

  Tameside MB: Ashton, Stalybridge, Dukinfield, Mossley

  Oldham BN: excluding Royton and Chadderton

  Rochdale MB: excluding Middleton

  Rossendale Borough, Bury MB, Ramsbottom, Walmersley, Tottington

  Burnley Borough

  Hyndburn Borough; South and East Accrington

  Carlisle District, excluding city area and the parishes of Burgh by Sands Orton, Dalston, Beaumont, Cummersdale

  Eden District:parishes of Matterdale, Hutton, Dacre, Greystoke, Threlkeld, Mungrisedale

  South Lakeland District: Parish of Dent

  South Lakeland; Township of Ulverston parishes of Pennington, Osmotherly, Mansriggs, Egton with Newland, Urswick

  Barrow in Furness district

  Lancaster Borough, Lancaster City Area and parishes of Slyne with Hest and Boston le Sands

  Lancaster Borough, Village of Lowgill in parish of Tatham

  Ribble Valley District; parishes of Longridge, Hothersall, Ribchester, Dutton

  Fylde DC, Blackpool BC; Preston BC; South Ribble DC; Wyre DC; Fleetwood; Thornton Cleveleys; Preston le Fylde

  Northumbrian Water Authority Area

  Tyne and Wear—Districts of Sunderland and South Tyneside

  Durham—Districts of Chester le Street and Easington

  Tunstall

  Duddo—Berwick on Tweed

  Tyne and Wear—Durham

  Borough of Hartlepool

  Tyne and Wear—Districts of Sunderland and South Tyneside, Durham, district of Chester le Street

  Holy Island—Berwick upon Tweed

  Stanhope—Crawleyside

  Severn Trent Water Authority Area

  Parts of Warwick DC area—(Leek Wootton source)

  Parts of North West Leicestershire DC area— (Acresford source)

  Parts of Melton DC area— (Bottesford source)

  Parts of Staffordshire Moorlands, Stoke on Trent and Newcastle under Lyme DC/BC areas— (Ladderedge Service reservoir)

  Parts of South Staffordshire and Bridgnorth DC—(Neachley source)

  Parts of North Warwickshire DC, Coventry and Nuneaton (Whitacre and Frankley waterworks)

  594

  Parts of North Shropshire DC— (Kinsall source)

  Parts of Wrekin DC area—(Rudway source)

  Parts of West Derbyshire DC—(Yeldersley source)

  Rural distribution system East of Leek in Staffordshire Moorlands DC area

  Hanley Distribution system, Stoke-on-Trent

  Cauldon Distribution system

  Part of Charnwood and Hinkley and Bosworth DC areas

  Part of Stroud DC

  Parts of Radnor, Leominster, South Shropshire, Bridgnorth and Wyre Forest DC areas

  Parts of Birmingham, Solihull and surrounding areas

  Heath Street, Smethwick; Sandwell Metro BC industrial

  Parts of Burton on Trent in East Staffordshire and South Derbyshire DC areas

  Parts of Burton on Trent, Cannock area and parts of Walsall and Sutton Coldfield

  Parts of South Derbyshire, parts of Lichfield DC

  Parts of Walsall and Sandwell Met areas

  Parts of Dudley Met Borough

  Parts of Great Wyrley and Cheslyn Hay in South Staffordshire DC area

  Those areas supplied directly from the treatment works Bamford

  Parts of Bridgnorth DC area

  Bulk supply from the Slade Heath source of the South Staffordshire Waterworks Company to the Essington an of South Staffordshire DC

  Bulk supply from the Hampton Loade works of the Sou1 Staffordshire Waterworks Company to large parts Wolverhampton BC and parts of Walsall BC

  Part of Montgomery DC area

  Parts of North Warwickshire DC, Lichfield DC, South Derbyshire DC and East Staffordshire DC

  Southern Water Authority Area

  River Medway Scheme Supply area (part of Tonbridge and Malling BC area)

  Bewl Bridge supply zone (parts of Ashford and Rother DC and Tunbridge Wells BC areas)

  Part of Crowborough Town, Village of Eridge, Groombridge, Withyham from Groombridge Treatment works

  Village at Ditchling, East Sussex, from Ditchling source Weirwood Reservoir Weirwood

  South West Water Authority Area

  Parishes of Seaton and Beer Littleham

  Parishes from Tottiford water treatment works

  Parishes from Prewley water treatment works

  Parish of Parkham

  Bideford

  595

  College supply zone—Falmouth and Penryn

  Watercombe supply zone part of Nybridge—Devon and Noss Mayo Devon

  Boscathnoe supply zone—higher parts of Penzance Cornwall

  Bastreet supply zone—Launceston and Callington areas of Cornwall

  De Zank supply zone—Bodmin and Wadebridge areas of Cornwall

  Princetown WTW supply zone—Princetown Devon

  Belstone supply area including Chagford, Crediton Hamlets, South Veal, Sticklepath, South Tawton

  Dunkeswell Broadhembury Kentisbeare Luppit Sheldon

  Bryher Island

  Tamar WTW supply zone parishes in Devon/North Cornwall

  St. Mary's Island

  Thames Water Authority Area

  Part of Croydon and Tonbridge—supplies from Kenley works

  Parts of Mole Valley, Elmbridge Guildford and Reigate and Banstead—supplies from Elmer works

  Yorkshire Water Authority Area

  Ewden treatment works supply system

  West Barnsley and rural area to west of town (Ingbirchworth works)

  Loxley Treatment works supply system South

  Western area of Sheffield

  West Barnsley and rural area to west of town (Royd Moor works)

  Part of Leeds, West Yorkshire (Eccup Supply)

  Parts of Pontefract and Knottingley

  Part of Leeds, West Yorkshire

  Wakefield, West Yorkshire

  Rural area to East of Thirsk, North Yorkshire

  Stalling, Busk Village, Yorkshire Dales

  Villages of Mickley and North Stanley North West of Ripon

  Harlow Hill—Irongate Bridge treatment works supply area, Harrogate, North Yorkshire

  Countersett Village, Yorkshire Dales

  Filey, North Yorkshire

  Rural area to north of Richmond, North Yorkshire

  Rural area in Upper Wensleydale, North Yorkshire

  Marsett Village, Yorkshire Dales

  Hawes Village

  Elingstring Village

  Addingham, West Yorkshire

  596

  High Bentham Village

  Dewsbury, Mirfield and Huddersfield, West Yorkshire

  Burnsall Village, Wharfedale, North Yorkshire

  Baildon area, North Bradford, West Yorkshire

  Parts of Huddersfield, Dewsbury and Wakefield, West Yorkshire

  Rural area in Ribblesdale

  Huddersfield/Holmbridge, Holmstyes area

  Holmfirth area

  Parts of Huddersfield

  Rural area of Keighley

  Rombalds area

  Otley, West Yorkshire

  West Bradford

  Rural area to West and South of Halifax (Haugh Top)

  Rural area to West and South of Halifax (Withens Clough)

  Northern area of Halifax

  Low Bentham Village

  Ingleton Village

  Measton Area

  West Huddersfield

  South East, Huddersfield

  Part of the parish of Escrick in the district of Selby

  Remedial programmes have been prepared to achieve compliance with the nitrate standard in the directive in the following areas:

  "Water Authority Area and Area of Supply

  Anglian"

  Barrow

  Dersingham and Snettisham

  Docking

  Heacham and Hunstanton

  Moulton and Kennet

  Wisbech

  Harbrough—part of Lincolnshire

  Aswarby—Saltersford—part of Lincolnshire

  Binbrook—part of Lincolnshire

  Bully Hill—Barnoldby—part of Lincolnshire

  Bully Hill—Otby—part of Lincolnshire

  Clay Hill—Drove Lane, Sleaford

  Sleaford—Drove Lane

  Potterhanworth—part of Lincolnshire

  Saltersford

  Waneham Bridge—Saltersford

  Ely and Littleport

  Harbrough—Coveham, part of Cleethorpes

  Bowthorpe, part of Norwich

  Heigham—Thorpe part of Norwich

  Otby

  Otby—Waddingham

  Little London

  Winterton Holmes—Barrow

  Branston Booths

  Waddingham—Glentham—Ulceby

  Severn Trent

  Parts of Leamington, Kenilworth, Warwick and Stratford DC

  597

  Parts of South Derbyshire DC

  Part of Stourbridge, Dudley MBC (Coalbournbrook
  Source)

  Malvern Hills and Wyre Forest DC

  Parts of Wrekin DC (Lillehall source)

  Part of South Shropshire DC

  Part of Wrekin DC (Puleston Bridge source)

  Parts of Newark DC (Farnsfield source)

  Parts of Nottingham CC area (primarily Hucknall)

  South Staffs Waterworks Co.

  Parts of Lichfield DC Sutton Coldfield Area

  North Warwickshire CC and Walsale Met area

  South West

  St. Mary's Island

  Thames

  Lee Valley Water Co.
  Part of Luton

  In addition, a number of other supplies occasionally fail to meet one or more of the standards set in the directive. We have asked water authorities to identify these supplies and where we cannot grant derogations under article 9 of the EC directive, programmes of improvement are being prepared.

  Water undertakers are preparing estimates of the cost of improving drinking water quality. It would be difficult to distinguish precisely that part required to meet the standards set in the directive from investment to meet other requirements of quality and reliability.

  Waste Disposal
  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will list the waste disposal authorities and sites for which copies of site licences under the Control of Pollution Act 1974 have been requested by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution and not supplied

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution has not asked waste disposal authorities to provide copies of all their waste disposal licences. The information, from the registers of waste disposal licences maintained by the waste disposal authorities, and to form it into a computer data base. This is periodically up-dated.

  Waste disposal authorities have occasionally been requested by HMIP to provide copies of specific licences or samples of licences. In general such requests have been met. There have been a few occasions when such a request has not been acted on Without a search of all correspondence files it is not possible to give a list of such occasions

  Yorkshire Water Authority
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Don Valley and for Wakefield (Mr. Hinchliffe) on 12 December 1988,Official Report, columns 402–3, in which locations the 1987 sediment monitoring results by Yorkshire water authority show an increase of mercury concentration and the 1986 sediment monitoring results by Yorkshire water authority show an increase of cadmium over the previous year.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The two locations are the river Humber at Stone creek in respect of mercury, and the river Rother at Canklow in respect of cadmium.

  Water
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Copeland (Dr. Cunningham),Official Report, 12 January, column 742, if he will make a statement on the performance targets set for the chairman of Yorkshire water authority in 1987–88, and if he will specify the annual bonus received by the chairman of the Yorkshire water authority in each of the last four years.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Information about Government controls on the Yorkshire water authority, including performance aims and achievement against them, is set out in the authority's annual report and accounts for 1987–88 on pages 59–62. A copy is available in the Library.

  Water authority chairmen and executive board members were first eligible for performance bonuses in respect of 1986–87. The chairman of the Yorkshire water authority received a bonus of 11–5 per cent. of his annual salary for that year and 13 per cent. for 1987–88.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidelines he proposes to issue in respect of the poll tax to women who have no independent source of income; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  The Government have no plans to introduce a poll tax. Nor does it plan to issue guidelines to individuals on this aspect of the community charge. Anyone with no independent source of income may have a spouse or partner who is jointly liable for the community charge. Where this is not the case, and the person has no income or capital, he or she is likely to be eligible for both income support and community charge benefit.

  Defective Houses
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many local authorities have Spooner style houses; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what representations his Department has received
  regarding Spooner houses; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  Eighteen local authorities in England have reported ownership of Spooner houses built between
  1945 and 1951; and six have reported ownership of the
  later, and different, Spooner-Caspon house. My Department has received some inquiries about both house types, and has explained that on the evidence available, designation under the housing defects legislation is unlikely to be appropriate.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those types of properties covered by the Housing Defects Act.

  Mr. Trippier
  The following property types are designated nationally in England, under the housing
  defects legislation:

  Airey

  Boot

  Boswell

  Cornish Unit

  Dorran

  Dyke

  Gergory

  Myton

  599

  Newland

  Orlit

  Parkinson

  Reema Hollow Panel

  Schindler and Hawksley SGS

  Smith

  Stent

  Stonecrete

  Tarran

  Underdown

  Unity and Butterley

  Waller

  Wates

  Wessex

  Winget

  Woolaway

  Local designations are in force for Smith-type houses with additional foundation defects at Birmingham, Dudley, Sandwell and Nuneaton and Bedworth; and also for certain other properties in Dudley with a foundation defect.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the
  Environment if he will list those types of properties for which proposals for designation under the Housing Defects Act have been submitted but which have not been so designated.

  Mr. Trippier
  My Department receives various inquiries concerning designation under the housing defects legislation. Since 1984, formal requests for designation in
  England have been considered, but not accepted, in respect of the following types:

  National designation:

  Duo-Slab

  Truscon RD27

  Certain properties in West Bletchley (with "Finlock Gutters" etc.)

  Local designation:

  Bison (Hounslow and Reading)

  "Cornes" properties (Congleton)

  "Czechoslovakian" Timber properties (South Derbyshire)

  Duo-Slab (Mark I and II) (Leeds)

  Hawksley Aluminium Bungalows (Taunton)

  Certain properties in Gillingham (plaster problems) Certain
  properties in Wolverhampton (foundation problems)

  Top Hill Low Reservoir, Yorkshire
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the facilities for studying wildlife which have been provided at Top Hill Low reservoir in north Yorkshire will be maintained should privatisation take place; why a permit charge has recently been levied; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  I understand that Yorkshire water authority has no plans to reduce the facilities at Tophill reservoir now or after privatisation. Facilities at the reservoir are controlled by the Tophill wildlife group which, since 1 January 1988, has paid a nominal annual permit fee of £25 to the authority for the facilities. I understand that the group levies a charge on members to cover the permit fee and to give them a working income.

  Warrington and Runcorn Development Corporation
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the membership and remuneration of the board of the Warrington and Runcorn new town development corporation.
  600
  Mr. Trippier
  The membership and remuneration of the board of Warrington and Runcorn development corporation is as follows:

  Annual salary with effect from 1 October 1988£

  Professor A. Mercer (Chairman) MA PhD

  16,354

  Mr. A. Dean Smith (Deputy Chairman) FRICS JP Members:

  7,432

  Councillor J. H. Collins OBE BSc JP DL

  3,355

  Councillor S. H. Cussons FCA

  Mr. J. E. H. Davies

  Councillor J. S. Gartside BSc B.Phil JP

  Mrs. P. M. Gillet BA AIMS

  W Mrs. R. Gorton

  Mr. R. N. Hodge B.Eng

  Mr. M. Macaskill MA ACIS FCBSI

  Mr. N. J. Macleod FCIB

  Councillor D. A. Nunn C.Eng MI Mech E

  Repossessions
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the total number of repossessions by building societies in each year from 1979 to 1988.

  Mr. Trippier
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Leeds, West (Mr. Battle) on 2 February at column 353.

  Radioactive Waste
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what quantities of radioactive barium sulphate residues remain at Amersham International sites; what is their total curie content; and what present plans exist for the final disposal of these radioactive wastes.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  A total of 1·5 gigabequerels (approximately 40 millicuries) of radioactive barium sulphate residues remain at the Amersham International site at Amersham. No such residues are stored on any other Amersham International site.

  The residues are sludges contaminated with radium-226 resulting from the treatment of radioactive effluent prior to discharge from the site. Residues are stored safely in the site effluent treatment plant. When the plant is de-commissioned, the waste sludges will be disposed of safely under the terms of an authorisation issued by HMIP.

  Some radioactive barium sulphate residues arising from work on radium-226 in the 1940s and 1950s were at that time buried on the Amersham site. These burials were excavated in the late 1960s and the radioactive waste was disposed of by burial at the British Nuclear Fuels disposal site at Drigg in Cumbria.

  Council Houses
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any proposals to offer council houses free to tenants who have lived in them for many years.

  Mr. Trippier
  No.

  Planning Appeals
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he will publish tables showing(a) the planning applications for out of town retail developments which have been referred to him on appeal in each of the past five years, (b) their date of referral, (c) their size in square feet, (d) the outcome of each appeal, and (e) the local planning authority concerned;

  (2) whether he will publish tables showing (a) the planning applications for city centre retail developments which have been referred to him on appeal in each of the past five years, (b) their date of referral, (c) their size in square feet, (d) the outcome of each appeal and (e) the local planning authority concerned.

  Mr. Chope
  Information on appeals involving retail development is not readily available in the form requested. It could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish tables showing(a) the planning applications for leisure development which have been referred to him on appeal in each of the last five years, (b) the date of referral, (c) the local planning authority concerned, (d) their size in square feet and (e) the outcome of each appeal.

  Mr. Chope
  Since 1985–86, 1,473 appeals of this type have been determined of which 742 were allowed. The size and nature of the proposals varies widely. I regret that the other details requested could he obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Chlorofluorocarbons
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps have been taken to ensure that as far as is reasonably possible the caterers chosen to supply food for the conference sponsored by Her Majesty's Government to be held in March on the depletion of the ozone layer and chlorofluorocarbons will be using(a) refrigerant units not needing chlorouorocarbons and (b) food packaging not including chlorofluorocarbons; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said on 25 January at col 567–68, Government Departments have been asked to review their policies, specifications and practices with a view to reducing the use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and halons to the maximum possible extent. In addition, the Queen Elizabeth II conference centre and the Government hospitality fund, which will be catering for the conference, have been specifically asked to ensure that use of products and equipment containing CFCs is avoided as far as possible.

  Industrial Estates
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his policy on the sale of local authority freeholds to industrial leasehold tenants on local authority industrial estates.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  It is for each local authority to adopt its own policy on this question. In general we consider that, where industrial estates are sold, the tenants should have a fair chance to purchase the freehold.

  Structure Plans
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) when he proposes to complete his review of the process by which the structure plans are prepared;

  (2) what role he is planning to give county councils in preparing future structure plans.

  Mr. Chope
  A White Paper on the future of development plans (CM 569) was published on Monday 30 January. The White Paper proposes the abolition of structure plans, but envisages that county councils should continue to have a key role in the planning process, both in relation to the preparation of regional planning guidance, and in the formulation of planning policies on issues which need to be considered on a county-wide basis. Each county will be required to prepare a statement of county planning policies on a defined range of subjects. They will also be required to prepare a separate minerals development plan. In England, development control responsibility for minerals and waste disposal will remain with the county councils.

  Rubbish Tips
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any plans to place a statutory ban on building closer than 250 m to dangerous tips in respect of the methane gas hazard associated with rubbish tips; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  No, but it is proposed to issue to local authorities shortly a circular about the use of their planning powers in relation to landfill sites which may generate methane gas, and this will refer to the circumstances of development near such sites. A draft of the circular was issued for comment on 12 December.

  Dumps
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has for the financing of safety measures at former dumps; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Such measures are the responsibility of those, including local authorities, with relevant rights to the land.

  Local authorities will assess the requirements in the light of surveys currently being conducted and will determine their priorities accordingly. Capital allocations for 1989–90 allow for such work, with a sum of £5 million held in reserve for urgent work on landfill gas remedial measures for which no other resources are available.

  Derelict Land
  Mr. Kirkhope
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what resources are being made available under the derelict land programme in 1989–90; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  The resources available for derelict land reclamation under the derelict land programme will be £67·182 million in 1989–90, we expect that about 900 hectares of land will be reclaimed by the programme in 1989–90 thus maintaining the momentum of the programme which, since 1979, has funded the reclamation
  603
  of more than 11,000 hectares of derelict land. In addition, urban development corporations are now tackling some of the most extensive areas of dereliction and city grant is also helping redevelop derelict sites in inner city areas.

  As in previous years more than 90 per cent. of derelict land grant will be spent in the northern and midlands regions. We have given particular priority to Yorkshire and Humberside and the west midlands. We are providing £12 million to the Yorkshire and Humberside region to increase the attack on persistent dereliction. £13 million is allocated to the west midlands and of this £6 million is intended to continue the investigative and remedial work on old limestone workings in the black country. Overall the allocations include more than £12 million for coal mining and related dereliction, a further increase on last year's record expenditure.

  We are approving a new rolling programme for the joint local authority initiative in the Dearne valley in south Yorkshire. Existing rolling programme status for the lower Don valley (Sheffield) and Preston docks is to cease. We are also introducing triennial reviews for all rolling programmes and major projects and under these arrangements the present programmes in Wigan, north-east Lancashire, Wirral, Normanby park, Corby and the black country will be examined with the local authorities in the course of 1989 and targets set for completion of their work. Total expenditure on the 13 local authority rolling programmes approved for 1989–90 will be nearly £19 million.

  The allocations will permit completion of work on the major reclamation of the Consett steelworks and the 1990 Gateshead garden festival site. Progress will be maintained in Corby, Wigan and the black country and on the exciting private sector Meadowhall development in Sheffield. A start should be made on the BICC site in Knowsley.

  In general, priorities for derelict land reclamation remain as set out in the department's circular 28/85, "Reclamation and Reuse of Derelict Land". This stressed the importance of schemes designed to reclaim urban, especially inner city, land for housing and industrial and commercial uses. These priorities will be reflected in the schemes that will be supported in 1989–90.

  However, as I announced on 20 July 1988, I have undertaken to review priorities for derelict land reclamation in the light of the findings of the 1988 derelict land survey. In doing so we shall also have regard to the recent report of the National Audit Office on derelict land grant and to the forthcoming report of the Public Accounts Committee. Officials are already engaged on the review with terms of reference
  "to review the causes and incidence of derelict land and the measures needed to deal with it and to prevent dereliction in future having regard to value for money."

  If changes are proposed to policies or procedures for the reclamation of derelict land then a consultation paper will be published before firm decisions are taken.

  Endangered Species
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to publish the results of his monitoring of progress in the implementation of the Control of Trade in Endangered Species (Enforcement) Regulations 1985.
  604
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 6 February 1989]I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave him on 3 February at column 43.

  Pesticides
  Mr. John Garrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report the number and location of breaches of the maximum admissible concentration of single and mixed pesticides in water reported by the Anglian water authority.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Last year sample analyses indicated that there had been some breaches of the precautionary standard for pesticides in drinking water in some supplies provided by the Anglian water authority. However, all were within levels considered acceptable by medical advisers.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to reply to the letter of 22 December 1988 from the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury relating to clause 7(5) of the Water Bill.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I have sent the hon. Member a reply today.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Agricultural and Food Research Council
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, following the recommendations of the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology, he will amend the method of funding of the Agricultural and Food Research Council so as to distinguish between the funding of food research in the public interest and work of direct benefit to industry; and if he will direct the Agricultural and Food Research Council to ensure that its Bristol laboratory remains open and intact.

  Mr. Ryder
  The Government have made their position clear on the removal of public support for near market research and that is already reflected in the commissions which my Department places with the Agriculture and Food Research Council. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science is responsible in this House for matters directly affecting the research councils.

  Public Appeals
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture. Fisheries and Food if he will specify each donation made by his Department in response to public appeals for financial aid during each financial year since 1979–80.

  Mr. MacGregor
  It is not usual for my Ministry to make donations to public appeals for financial aid but the Ministry has on occasion been prepared to sponsor projects within the purview of such appeals. The most recent example has been a £50K sponsorship of a project within the ambit of the British Food and Farming 1989 appeal. Identification of examples for the period back to 1979–80 could be undertaken only at disproportionate cost.

  Nutritional Labelling
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what response he has made to proposals by the European Commission for revised nutritional labelling; and if he will make it his policy to resist any extension of the four principal nutrients now recommended for use in the United Kingdom and specified in Codex Alimentarious.

  Mr. Ryder
  The European Commission's proposals on nutrition labelling are currently under discussion at Council working group level. I am aware of the food industry's view that nutrition labelling should be restricted to energy, protein, carbohydrate and fat with optional declarations of other nutrients, as recommended by the Codex Alimentarius.

  Potato Marketing
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to complete his review of potato marketing policy; and if he will ensure that in relation to any proposals he makes for change in the existing arrangements, producers, users and consumers will be brought together to develop a strategy which ensures that the market need is met.

  Mr. Ryder
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is now considering and evaluating the responses to the consultation document in September 1988, including comments on the suggestion that non-producer interests should be represented in market management decisions. We are not yet in a position to say when this process will be completed, but a decision will not be unduly delayed.

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give, for each year since its introduction(a) the total amount of conservation grants paid under the environmentally sensitive areas scheme and (b) the total amount of funding received from the European Economic Community for conservation grants under the environmentally sensitive areas scheme.

  Mr. Ryder
  In the financial year 1987–88 the payments made under the ESA schemes in England amounted to £2·944 million. Our estimate of expenditure in the current financial year is £8·3 million. Information on funding received from the European Economic Community towards the ESA expenditure in 1987 is not yet available.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list in the Official Report (a) the total extent in hectares, of each environmentally sensitive area, (b) the extent of agricultural land within each environmentally sensitive area, (c) the number of farmers eligible to enter into management agreements on each environmentally sensitive areas, (d) of the number of agreements concluded with farmers in each environmentally sensitive area and (e) the total area of land covered by agreements in each environmentally sensitive area.

  Mr. Ryder
  The total area in hectares of each environmentally sensitive area in England is as follows:

  Hectares

  Broads

  29,870

  Somerset Levels and Moors

  26,970

  South Downs

  53,340

  606

  Hectares

  Pennine Dales

  15,900

  West Penwith

  7,210

  Breckland

  94,030

  North Peak

  50,250

  Suffolk River Valleys

  32,150

  Shropshire Borders

  21,000

  Test Valley

  2,690

  The figures are provisional and subject to minor amendment when final measurement and checking has been completed. The extent of agricultural land in each environmentally sensitive area is still being measured. Information on the number of farmers eligible to enter the environmentally sensitive area scheme in each area is not available.

  The number of agreements concluded in 1987 and total area of land covered in each environmentally sensitive area together with applications and agreements for 1988 are as follows:

  Agreements 1987

  Applications and agreements 1988

  Area

  Number

  Area hectares

  Number

  Area hectares

  Broads

  389

  6,735

  239

  5,627

  Somerset Levels

  523

  7,709

  148

  1,437

  South Downs

  58

  3,104

  65

  2,743

  Pennine Dales

  218

  8,130

  39

  1,175

  West Penwith

  139

  5,552

  10

  314

  Breckland

  —

  —

  86

  3,933

  North Peak

  —

  —

  77

  35,911

  Shropshire Borders

  —

  —

  184

  13,747

  Suffolk River Valleys

  —

  —

  287

  7,191

  Test Valley

  —

  —

  15

  373

  The last five environmentally sensitive areas (and the South Downs Western extension) were not open for applications until 1988.

  The last five environmentally sensitive areas (and the South Downs Western extension) were not open for applications until 1988.

  Soil Erosion (Norfolk)
  Mr. John Garrett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the estimated annual rate of soil loss by erosion in Norfolk.

  Mr. Ryder
  While information is available in respect of areas known to be particularly susceptible, this is not representative of the whole country. Figures are not available for individual counties. The basic principles of soil erosion and measures to minimise its risk are well understood and have been incorporated in ADAS advice to farmers for many years. ADAS has published advisory leaflets on water erosion and on wind erosion and will advise farmers on techniques to minimise erosion risks.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Charitable Donations (VAT)
  Mr. Michael Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information his Department has about the role, in France, of the Fondation de la France in routing corporate charitable donations to schools and higher education institutions, thereby exempting such donations from value added tax under the 6th directive on value added tax and whether he has plans to encourage donations in the United Kingdom by such a method.

  Mr. Butcher
  The Department has no information on the Fondation de la France or its methods of routing
  607
  charitable donations. We welcome charitable donations to schools and higher education institutions but their United Kingdom tax treatment is and must remain in line with the 6th directive.

  Mr. Michael Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information his Department has about the effect on the LINK programme of charging value added tax on the value of donations of computer equipment, software and services made by companies to schools and higher education institutions.

  Mr. Butcher
  None. LINK provides a framework for collaborative research involving industry and the science base; donations play no part in the funding arrangements.

  Mr. Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether his Department has had consultations on seeking a method of removing from companies wishing to make donations in kind to schools and higher education institutions the disincentive of having value added tax levied on the value of such donations.

  Mr. Butcher
  The arrangements for value added tax are a matter for HM Customs and Excise. I understand that there are no plans to change the present arrangements which are in line with the EC 6th directive on VAT.

  Student and Pupil Records
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he intends to issue the consultative document on the keeping and disclosure of further education student records and to make the regulations on the keeping and disclosure of pupil records.

  Mr. Jackson
  My right hon. Friend hopes to do so within the next few months.

  Public Appeals
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will specify each donation made by his Department in response to public appeals for financial aid during each financial year since 1979–80.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  This information is not readily available.

  Business and Commercial Subjects
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the current position with regard to the extent to which business and commercial subjects are taught in schools, the extent to which such subjects were taught in schools five and 10 years previously and the extent to which he envisages such subjects being taught in schools over the next 10 years.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Estimates from the 1977 and 1984 secondary school staffing surveys show the following:

  Tuition in business studies (I) as a percentage of all tuition received in maintained secondary schools

  1977 (England and Wales)

  1984 (England)

  Year groups 1–3

  *

  *

  4–5

  3·7

  3·3

  6th form

  4·6

  4·7

  All year groups

  1·7

  1·6

  608
  *less than 0·1 per cent.

  (1)Business studies includes commerce, accounts, bookkeeping, typing and shorthand.

  Further information will be provided by the 1988 secondary school staffing survey, the results of which are expected to be available in the spring.

  Zidovudine
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, pursuant to the reply to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe, on 25 January,Official Report, column 596, he will publish in the Official Report the protocol of the medical research trial on the benefits of zidovudine for healthy people who are HIV positive; how many people are involved; and when the results of the trial will be available.

  Mr. Jackson
  Planned numbers to be involved in the trial are 1,000 in the United Kingdom and 1,000 in France, as set out in the relevant M RC press notice earlier placed in the Library. Results are expected to be available by the end of 1992, and will be published as soon as is practicable after that. The protocol is extremely lengthy and a copy has been placed in the Library.

  Teachers' Pay
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to receive the report of the interim advisory committee on teachers' pay; when it will be published; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  I have asked the interim advisory committee to submit its report by mid-February at the latest. I will be arranging for its early publication.

  Natural Environment Research Council
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of the total Natural Environment Research Council budget was allocated by that council to(a) the Institute of Terrestial Ecology research station at Bangor and (b) the research vessel support service at Barry in each of the years 1979 to 1988; and what figure is projected for 1989 in each case.

  Mr. Jackson
  The information is as follows:

  (a) Year from 1 April

  (b) Bangor per cent.

  Barry per cent.

  1979

  0·69

  7·44

  1980

  0·59

  7·10

  1981

  0·55

  7·78

  1982

  0·59

  8·20

  1983

  0·59

  6·32

  1984

  0·64

  7·02

  1985

  0·66

  6·57

  1986

  0·62

  8·05

  1987

  0·69

  8·24

  1988

  0·54

  5·88

  1989–90

  1

  5·31

  1 Not vet available.

  Figures are gross proportion of NERC gross total expenditure.

  Environmental Research Vessels
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the projected costs of
  609
  creating facilities at Southampton in the event of moving the environmental research vessel support base from Barry.

  Mr. Jackson
  I understand that the Natural Environment Research Council estimates the capital cost of creating the relevant new facilities in Southampton for the research vessel services from Barry and the Deacon laboratory from Wormley at about £21 million over four years at 1988–89 prices. Offsetting savings from land sale receipts and expenditure on work otherwise needing to be committed will total some £11 million.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what budget his Department has allocated in(a) cash terms and (b) adjusted to 1989 prices to the research vessels support service base at Barry for each of the years 1979 to 1988; and what figure is projected for 1989.

  Mr. Jackson
  I shall write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many jobs he estimates will be shed at Natural Environment Research Council establishments and vessels during 1989; where these job losses will be located; where any new posts are to be located; and how many of the deleted posts he estimates will be vacated by(a) redundancy and (b) relocation.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Natural Environment Research Council identified 160 posts, the majority of which were in marine sciences, to be shed during the financial year to 31 March 1989. In consequence, 38 staff will be made compulsorily redundant, the remainder of the posts having been shed through voluntary redundancy. I understand that in 1989–90 further posts will have to be lost; it is hoped to limit these to 60, through voluntary redundancy. The locations of the posts concerned are not yet known.

  Science Budget
  Mr. Franks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the distribution of the science budget for 1989–90.
  610
  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  I have considered the recommendations of the advisory board for the research councils and have decided that the science budget for 1989–90 should, subject to approval by parliament of the Estimates in due course, be allocated as follows:

  £ million

  Agricultural and Food Research Council

  74·57

  Economic and Social Research Council

  32·02

  Medical Research Council

  176·34

  Natural Environment Research Council

  123·46

  Science and Engineering Research Council

  404·96

  The Royal Society

  11·64

  The Fellowship of Engineering

  0·97

  Science Policy Studies (ABRC)

  0·22

  Centre for Exploitation of Science and Technology

  0·08

  I am publishing the board's advice today. Copies are being placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

ENERGY

  Margam Pit
  Mr. John Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whose consent is required for the commencement of work on Margam pit; and whether British Coal has sufficient capital available for the work in 1989–90.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Decisions on particular investments are a matter for British Coal. However, there are long-standing arrangements under which major projects are the subject of prior consultation with the Secretary of State. British Coal's capital allocation for each of the years 1989–90 to 1991–92 has been reduced by £25 million from the figures originally set out in Cm 606. Within these capital allocations, it is for British Coal to determine the priority to be given to specific projects.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Aid Statistics
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will express the difference as a plus or minus figure for the latest available year against 1979 in the level of net flows from the United Kingdom to developing countries, at 1979 prices.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  The difference between the level of net flows from the United Kingdom to developing countries in 1979 and 1987, at 1979 prices, is minus £5,584 million. The 1979 figures is dominated by an exceptionally high level of bank lending fuelled by the recycling of petro-dollars.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will express the difference as a plus or minus figure for the latest available year against 1979 in the level of(a) public expenditure on aid, (b) the aid programme and (c) official development assistance, at 1979 prices.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  The latest year for which information is available is 1987. The information is:

  Gross public expenditure on aid : minus £208 million.

  Net aid programme : minus £228 million.

  Net official development assistance : minus £388 million.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the value at 1980 prices of net private flows from the United Kingdom to developing countries, for the latest available year, expressed in percentage terms of its value in 1979.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  The value at 1980 prices of net private flows from the United Kingdom to developing countries in 1987 expressed in percentage terms of its value in 1979 was 1·5 per cent.

  Christian Aid (Report)
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response he plans to make to the report from Christian Aid "British Overseas Aid 1975–87", a copy of which was sent to him; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  This report was sent to me for information. I do not intend to make a statement on it.

  Ethiopia
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the aid to Ethiopia, expressed per capita of the population of that country, for the latest year for which the figures are available.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Gross British bilateral aid to Ethiopia in 1987 was the equivalent of 19p per head of the population of that country.

TRANSPORT

  Channel Tunnel
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he is satisfied with the security of the Channel tunnel; and if he will make a statement.
  612
  Mr. Portillo
  The recent incident in which a journalist gained entry to the construction site will doubtless require those responsible to review and improve their procedures. It would not be appropriate for me to make a statement on the details of the security arrangements.

  Mr. Gerald Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what consultation has taken place between his Department, British Rail, the appropriate authorities and other interested parties about the route for a high speed rail link between the Channel tunnel and Manchester; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what consultation has taken place between his Department, British Rail, the appropriate authorities, and other interested parties, about the route for a high speed rail link between the Channel tunnel and Edinburgh; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) what consultation has taken place between his Department, British Rail, the appropriate authorities, and other interested parties, about the route for a high speed rail link between the Channel tunnel and Glasgow; and; if he will make a statement;

  (4) what consultation has taken place between his Department, British Rail, the appropriate authorities, and other interested parties, about the route for a high speed rail link between the Channel tunnel and Liverpool; and if he will make a statement;

  (5) what consultation has taken place between his Department, British Rail, the appropriate authorities, and other interested parties, about the route for a high speed rail link between the Channel tunnel and Newcastle; and if he will make a statement;

  (6)what consultation has taken place between his Department, British Rail, the appropriate authorities, and other interested parties, about the route for a high speed rail link between the Channel tunnel and Leeds; and if he will make a statement;

  (7) what consultation has taken place between his Department, British Rail, the appropriate authorities, and other interested parties, about the route for a high speed rail link between the Channel tunnel and Plymouth; and if he will make a statement;

  (8) what consultation has taken place between his Department, British Rail, the appropriate authorities, and other interested parties, about the route for a high speed rail link between the Channel tunnel and Birmingham; and if he will make a statement;

  (9) what consultation has taken place between his Department, British Rail, the appropriate authorities, and other interested parties, about the route for a high speed rail link between the Channel tunnel and Southampton; and if he will make a statement;

  (10) what consultation has taken place between his Department, British Rail, the appropriate authorities, and other interested parties, about the route for a high speed rail link between the Channel tunnel and Bristol; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  No consultations involving my Department have taken place about trains beyond London. British Rail is carrying out widespread regional consultations in preparation for the plan which it is required to publish by the end of 1989, in accordance with section 40 of the Channel Tunnel Act 1987, setting out its proposals for Channel tunnel rail services serving various parts of the United Kingdom.

  Radioactive Materials
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will update to include 1988 his reply to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Dr. Thomas),Official Report, 27 July 1988, columns 247–48, about the number of incidents involving the loss of radioactive materials in transit.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State to the hon. Member for Southport (Mr. Fearn) on 15 December at column 660.

  On 26 September 1988 the Antigua-registered vessel Ardlough sank off the North Wales coast. A small quantity (50MBq) of Californium 252 was lost. There were no significant radiological consequences.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, pursuant to his reply,Official Report, 24 January, column 466, to the hon. Member for Lewisham, Deptford, he will set out the form in which consignors of radioactive materials by air must satisfy in advance his Department that the arrangements comply with international regulations; and if he will list any instances when permission has been declined.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Consignors whose package designs require approval must submit detailed safety reports to the Department of Transport for assessment against the provisions of the International Atomic Energy Agency regulations. They are notified of any shortcomings and given the opportunity to remedy them before resubmitting their case for reassessment. A copy of the Department's "Guide to Applications for Competent Authority Approval of Package Designs, Shipments and Special Form Material" has been sent to the hon. Member for information.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Lewisham, Deptford,Official Report, 24 January, column 466, the International Atomic Energy Agency special review of international nuclear materials transport was begun; what evidence, and in what form, has been submitted by the United Kingdom; and when he expects the special review to be completed.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The review began in March 1988. The United Kingdom is represented on the review committee and the recently published report by the Advisory Committee on the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material on the transport of plutonium by air was submitted to a technical meeting in December 1988. The recommendations and the need for further work will be considered by the standing advisory group of the International Atomic Energy Agency in April 1989.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what transport licence arrangements exist to cover the transport of(a) nuclear materials from atomic weapons establishment Aldermaston to atomic energy research establishment Harwell for processing and (b) nuclear materials from atomic energy research establishment Harwell to atomic weapons establishment Aldermaston for processing; and what liaison arrangements exist between his Department and the international safeguards authorities at the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna and EURATOM in Luxembourg over such transport.
  614
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The safety procedures observed by the Ministry of Defence in the transport of nuclear materials are no less stringent than those required of civil operators.

  They comply with the internationally agreed standards set by the IAEA. Liaison arrangements concerning international safeguards are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy.

  Newly Qualified Drivers
  Mr. Burt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will consider introducing a scheme requiring the display of probationer plates for newly qualified drivers.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  A number of schemes were introduced in other countries during the 1960s, so they have been in operation for some time. So far, none has been successfully evaluated. There is no evidence that they help to reduce casualty rates. In New Zealand, for instance they have been withdrawn upon introduction of enforcement systems more similar to our own.

  A comparable P plate system is in use in Northern Ireland, where the legal system for enforcement of road traffic law is different. Using the only comparative data available, the relevant figures are:

  Comparison of casualty rates for Great Britain and Northern Ireland: 1961–1987

  Casualty rate per 1,000 vehicles

  Year

  Great Britain

  Northern Ireland

  1961

  35·0

  23·5

  1966

  29·5

  21·3

  1971

  22·7

  20·8

  1976

  19·1

  18·9

  1981

  16·7

  17·8

  1983

  15·3

  16·0

  1984

  15·7

  17·3

  1985

  15·0

  18·4

  1986

  14·8

  20·0

  1987

  14·0

  20·5

  British Rail (Rolling Stock)
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will approve British Rail's proposal to order new rolling stock for the lines from Marylebone; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  My right hon. Friend today gave approval for the first of a new generation of inner suburban diesel vehicles for Network SouthEast services out of Marylebone. A total of 77 new class 165 Networker Turbo vehicles will be ordered at a cost of £39 million. Services on the lines currently employ late 1950's vintage stock, all of which will be replaced. Delivery of the first new stock is expected in October 1990.

  These new vehicles will bring great benefits to the increasing number of passengers who travel into Marylebone. The new vehicles will be faster, more comfortable, and offer greater reliability than those that they replace.

  Dial-A-Ride
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether a decision has been made on funding of dial-a-ride for next year.

  Mr. Portillo
  I am pleased to announce that the grant to London dial-a-ride services for 1989–90 will be £7·27 million. That is an increase of £1 million on 1988–89 and will facilitate a substantial expansion of the service. After four successive annual increases dial-a-ride funding in 1989–90 will be over 70 per cent. higher than it was when London Regional Transport took over responsibility for funding from the GLC.

EMPLOYMENT

  Energy Grants
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many energy grants have been paid in each month since April.

  Mr. Nicholls
  [pursuant to his reply 11 January 1989]: I regret that there was an error in the reply I gave on Wednesday 11 January at column 711 concerning the number of energy grants that had been paid in each month since April 1988.

  The correct information is provided in the following table:

  Number

  1988

  April

  16,828

  May

  16,463

  June

  7,049

  July

  9,389

  August

  9,475

  September

  24,562

  October

  17,202

  November

  8,867

  TOTAL

  109,835

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

  Mr. Nicholls
  My Department participates, where appropriate, in the work of all the international organisations of which the United Kingdom is a member, when employment and related issues are under consideration. The cost of commitments to these organisations is not generally met by the Department of Employment except in the case of the International Labour Organisation (ILO). The United Kingdom contribution to the ILO in 1987–88 was £3,813,000.

  Product Clearance
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what advice the Health and Safety Executive is giving to new applicants for the clearance of products.

  Mr. Nicholls
  People who contact the Health and Safety Executive's pesticide registration section for information 616
  about obtaining approvals are sent an information package which includes application forms and an explanatory booklet. The section issues a regular newsletter which includes an up-to-date estimate of how long approvals are likely to take.

  HSE (Scientific Staff)
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what instructions have been given to scientific staff at the Health and Safety Executive as to the times of day at which to answer telephone inquiries.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Telephone inquiries to the Health and Safety Executive can be made at any time of the day. To reduce delays in processing applications for approvals scientists in the pesticide registration section organise their work so that normally mornings are dedicated to dealing with applications and time is set aside in the afternoon to phone back those applicants who wish to have direct scientific advice. Pesticide approval holders and relevant trades associations have been told of these arrangements in the January issue of the section's newsletter.

  Restart
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will examine the working of restart in connection with those who are on the redundant mineworkers pension scheme; and if he will make a statement on the regulations as they are currently being applied by his Department.

  Mr. Lee
  People who receive payments under the redundant mineworkers payment scheme (RMPS) are required to sign on at unemployment benefit offices and to satisfy the conditions for receipt of benefit. This will bring them within the restart programme and they are offered interviews in the same way as every other member of the restart client group. The RMPS is the responsibility of the Department of Energy. Officials from my Department and the Department of Energy are examining the RMPS regulations and benefit procedures which bring those en the RMPS within the coverage of the restart programme.

  Construction (Fatalities)
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list(a) the total number of fatalities in the construction industry reported by the Health and Safety Executive for each year between 1960 and 1987 and (b) the total number of fatalities in the construction industry reported by the Health and Safety executive as a percentage of the combined employed and self-employed work force for each year between 1960 and 1987.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The table shows the available information. Fatalities to the self-employed and members of the public were not reportable until 1 January 1981. The few voluntary reports collected between 1978 and 1980 are included with employees. Fatal injuries to the sell-employed working on their own have never been reportable.

  The relative incidence of injuries between employees and the self-employed will be affected by differences in the range of activities in which they are engaged and by differences in the propensity to report injuries.
  617

  Reported1 fatalities in the construction industry2

  Employees

  Self-employed

  Employees and self-employed

  Year

  Fatalities

  Number3 (thousands)

  Incidence rate per 100,000

  Fatalities

  Number3(thousands)

  Incidence rate per 100,000

  Fatalities

  Number3(thousands)

  Incidence rate per 100,000

  1960

  278

  1,393

  20·0

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  1961

  272

  1,446

  18·8

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  1962

  281

  1,480

  19·0

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  1963

  247

  1,506

  16·4

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  1964

  271

  1,543

  17·6

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  1965

  230

  1,580

  14·6

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  1966

  292

  1,604

  18·2

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  1967

  204

  1,515

  13·5

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  1968

  240

  1,476

  16·3

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  1969

  268

  1,415

  18·9

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  1970

  204

  1,294

  15·8

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  1971

  201

  1,159

  17·3

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  1972

  190

  1,193

  15·9

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  1973

  231

  1,269

  18·2

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  1974

  166

  1,223

  13·6

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  1975

  182

  1,207

  15·1

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  1976

  156

  1,203

  13·0

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  1977

  130

  1,167

  11·1

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  1978

  153

  1,161

  13·2

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  1979

  149

  1,201

  12·4

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  1980

  165

  1,206

  13·7

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  1981

  105

  1,102

  9·5

  11

  388

  2·8

  116

  1,490

  7·8

  1982

  100

  1,038

  9·6

  18

  398

  4·5

  118

  1,436

  8·2

  1983

  118

  1,015

  11·6

  21

  409

  5·1

  139

  1,424

  9·8

  1984

  100

  1,010

  9·9

  17

  464

  3·7

  117

  1,474

  7·9

  1985

  104

  996

  10·4

  22

  470

  4·7

  126

  1,466

  8·6

  1986 Q14

  24

  n.a.

  n.a.

  2

  n.a.

  n.a.

  26

  n.a.

  n.a.

  1986–875

  99

  967

  10·2

  26

  487

  5·3

  125

  1,454

  8·6

  1987–885 6

  100

  984

  10·2

  41

  542

  7·6

  141

  1,526

  9·2

  n.a. not available.

  1 Reported to Her Majesty's factory and agricultural inspectorate and all other relevant enforcing authorities under the Notification of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1980 (NADOR) for 1981 to March 1986, and the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985 (RIDDOR) for 1986–87 onwards. Fatalities between 1960 and 1980 are limited to those reported to Her Majesty's factory inspectorate.

  2 The construction injury data industry is defined as in the standard industrial classification (SIC) 1968 (order XX) for employment data up to 1970 and injury data up to 1980. From 1971 for employment data and 1981 for injury data, it is as defined in SIC 1980 (division 5)

  3 As at June each year.

  4 First quarter (January to March).

  5 Year commencing 1 April.

  6 Provisional.

  Curriculum and TVEI
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are employed in the Training Commission dealing with the curriculum in schools and the extension of the technical and vocational education initiative.

  Mr. Cope
  At 1 February 1989, 163 permanent officials and 14 casual staff were employed to administer the technical and vocational education initiative, of whom five were part-time. In addition, 40 educational advisers were employed on short-term contracts.

  Catrine Unemployment Office
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the figures for use of the Catrine unemployment office for(a) advice, (b) signing on and (c) other services for each month since June 1979.

  Mr. Lee
  Full information is not available. Details of the number of people using Catrine part-time unemployment benefit office to sign as unemployed since 1985 can be supplied and are given in the table.
  618

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  January

  481

  502

  503

  487

  February

  497

  503

  506

  449

  March

  480

  479

  493

  439

  April

  474

  468

  502

  426

  May

  454

  428

  483

  405

  June

  N/K

  431

  477

  355

  July

  522

  431

  512

  430

  August

  509

  457

  502

  414

  September

  519

  451

  512

  N/K

  October

  498

  N/K

  490

  362

  November

  501

  N/K

  486

  363

  December

  474

  446

  464

  350

  Genetic Engineering
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what progress has been made on proposals for legislation to control the release of genetically engineered organisms into the environment to replace the current system of voluntary guidelines; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  There is already legislation which controls in various ways the planned release of genetically manipulated organisms into the environment. This includes the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and a number of other Acts, the administration of which falls to
  619
  several Government Departments but prior notification is often voluntary. I am informed by the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that further to publication of a consultative document in 1987, he expects to submit to my right hon. Friend legislative proposals to make it compulsory in all cases by the middle of this year.

  The United Kingdom is also participating in negotiations on a European Community directive on this subject.

  Employment Training Scheme
  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people in Derbyshire are currently participating in the Government's employment training scheme.

  Mr. Nicholls
  [holding answer 6 February 1989]At 27 January 1989 there were 2,044 trainees on employment training in Derbyshire.

  Coalmining (Women)
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many representations he has received in respect of proposals to permit women to be employed underground in the coalmining industry; how many were generally in favour and how many were unfavourable; if he will publish his response to any such representations.

  Mr. Nicholls
  [holding answer 6 February 1989]: Fourteen representations were received in respect of proposals to permit women to be employed underground in mines in response to the consultative document "Restrictions on Employment of Young People and the Removal of Sex Discrimination in Legislation". Of these 10 were generally in favour and four were against.

  Economic League
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received on the implications for his employment policies of the activities of the Economic League.

  Mr. Nicholls
  [holding answer 6 February 1989]: Over the last 12 months my Department has received 30 letters about the activities of the Economic League.

  Industrial Death Grants
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what measures he proposes to introduce to replace industrial death grants following their abolition on 11 April 1988; when the standard rate of £52 for single parent and £78 for two parents, as applied to YTS fatalities was first introduced; how the level of those awards was varied throughout their lifetime; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 6 February 1989]: All payments made under the analogous industrial injuries scheme run by the Training Agency and its predecessors are exactly the same as those available to employed earners from the Department of Social Security's statutory industrial injuries' scheme. Under the statutory scheme industrial death grant payments were abolished on 11 April 1988. The rates of industrial death grant remained the same from the introduction of the statutory scheme in
  620
  1948, until they were abolished. The question of any replacement of the death grant is for my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Social Security.

  East Midlands Tourist Board
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the level of expenditure provided by his Department to the East Midlands tourist board in 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988.

  Mr. Lee
  [holding answer 6 February 1989]: My Department provides general grant-in-aid funding towards the costs of all English tourist board (ETB) activities. The ETB has made the following total payments to the East Midlands tourist board:

  Financial Year

  Total Payments £

  1984–85

  112,000

  1985–86

  124,000

  1986–87

  191,000

  1987–88

  216,000

  1988–89

  218,000

  Training (East Anglia)
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide the latest available figures for(a) the number of places and (b) the number of trainees in place in employment training for each training agency area in East Anglia.

  Mr. Nicholls
  [holding answer 6 February 1989]: It is planned to have about 5,000 places available in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire by April 1989. At 27 January 1989, there were already over 2,900 trainees on the programme.

  Coal Mines (Sanitation)
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to introduce specific statutory requirements for the provision of sanitation in deep coal mines.

  Mr. Nicholls
  [holding answer 6 February 1989]: Specific statutory requirements for the provision of sanitation in all coal mines already exist. They are section 94 of the Mines and Quarries Act 1954 and the Coal and Other Mines (Sanitary Conveniences) Regulations 1956.

  These provisions are being reviewed and will be updated as part of the Health and Safety Commission's programme for the renewal of mining safety legislation.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  EC Internal Market Council
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list in the Official Report the nature and purpose of amendments he proposes to make to Acts of Parliament so as to comply with the common position adopted by the Internal Market Council of the European Economic Communities at their meeting on 21 December 1988 in respect of draft directives and amendments relating to the harmonisation of national legislation concerning safety of machinery.
  621
  Mr. Maude
  The draft directive is still under negotiation. A common position was agreed at the internal market council on 21 December. Under the co-operation procedure, the European Parliament now has an opportunity to consider the common position, before the directive can be finally adopted by the council. It is therefore too soon to give a definitive assessment of the impact on United Kingdom legislation.

  However, several United Kingdom laws may need to be amended. The most relevant are the Health and Safety at Work, etc, Act 1974 and the Consumer Protection Act 1987. More specific requirements dealing with hazards arising out of the use of machinery in particular industries are contained in various other statutory provisions; the most important of these are the Factories Act 1961 and numerous sets of regulations made under it.

  Broadcasting and Film
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects to publish the report of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission into trade unionism within the broadcasting and film industries.

  Mr. Maude
  Questions as to possible restrictive labour practices in television broadcasting and film protection were jointly referred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on 28 March 1988 by my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Employment, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and the Secretary of State for the Home Department. The Commission has not yet submitted its report to Ministers. Once it has done so, it will be published as soon as is practicable.

  1992 Hotline
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many calls have been received to date by his Department's 1992 hotline.

  Mr. Maude
  DTI's 1992 hotline has received over 113,000 calls since it opened on 18 March 1988.

  Balance of Payments
  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what is now his estimate for the deficit on the balance of payments for 1988.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The deficit on the current account of the balance of payments for 1988 is provisionally estimated to be £14·3 billion.

  Cars
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, how much of the increase in 1988 in the demand for cars was met by production in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Atkins
  In 1988 of the 2,215,574 new cars registered in the United Kingdom, 965,883 were manufactured in the United Kingdom. The comparable figures for 1987 were 2,013,693 and 972,968.

  Further Education
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, if he will list the separate schemes under the 622
  support for further education programme of his Department; and what are the total sums expended on them since 1983.

  Mr. Forth
  My Department has supported further education with a number of schemes at various times since 1983. £3 ·2 million has been expended on the further education scheme for IT skills updating, £5 ·1 million was expended on the CNC machine tools scheme and £2·5 million on the scheme for computer aided design.

  The further education sector also benefited from a number of schemes which also applied to higher education, schools and management education. Separate figures for further education are not available.

  Capital Projects
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what information he has on the average rate of return currently being obtained by the private sector in the United Kingdom for new capital projects.

  Mr. Atkins
  No information is available on rates of return obtained on new capital projects. Real rates of return on capital employed for industrial and commercial companies are calculated from national accounts statistics and published in British Business, most recently on 30 September 1988. The net real rate of return on capital employed for industrial and commercial companies excluding North sea activities in 1987 was estimated at 10 per cent. the highest since 1969.

  Balance of Payments Deficit
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is his latest estimate for the balance of payments deficit for 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The deficit on the current account of the balance of payments for 1988 is provisionally estimated to have been in deficit by £14·3 billion.

  Manufactured Goods
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the latest statement of the balance of trade in manufactured goods.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The balance of trade in manufactured goods in 1988 is provisionally estimated to have been in deficit by £14·3 billion.

  Industrial Investment
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development member countries have shown a greater increase in industrial investment since 1979 than the United Kingdom

  Mr. Atkins
  Comparable statistics for industrial investment are available only up to 1986 and do not cover all Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries. Of the countries for which comparisons are available, the following have shown a greater increase between 1979 and 1986 than the United Kingdom:

  United States of America

  Denmark

  623

  Finland

  Iceland

  Netherlands

  Norway

  Sweden

  However, United Kingdom industrial investment in 1986 may have been adversely affected by the phasing out of some capital allowances. Since 1986 industrial investment has increased substantially and the latest Department of Trade and Industry's investment intentions survey indicated that this strong growth will continue in 1989 and 1990.

  Amateur Radio
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he is to take any further powers to control interference to television and telephone communications arising from equipment used by amateur radio operators.

  Mr. Atkins
  Yes. The European Community directive on electro-magnetic compatibility will require all electrical apparatus, including radio transmitters placed on the market, not to cause interference to other apparatus, and for such apparatus, including television and telephones to be adequately immune from interference.

  I anticipate the directive entering into force on 1 January 1992. Irrespective of legal requirements, the responsible use of amateur radio apparatus depends upon licensees co-operating with their neighbours on interference problems: I am glad to say that the vast majority of radio amateurs exercise that responsibility.

  Cinema Industry
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what information he has for each year since 1975, on the annual contribution of public funds to the cinema industry in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 6 February 1989]: I have no annual information on the contribution of public funds to the cinema exhibition industries in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Sweden for each year since 1975. In the United Kingdom there has been no public funding of the cinema exhibition industry over the same period.

  Manchester (EC Aid)
  Mr. Churchill
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will provide details of grants made from the European Economic Community regional and social fund to(a) the city of Manchester and (b) the Trafford district of greater Manchester in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 6 February 1989]: Commitments made from the European regional development fund to (a) the City of Manchester and (b) the Trafford district of Greater Manchester were:

  (a) £

  (b) £

  Infrastructure projects

  1984

  1,014,750

  nil

  1985

  49,500

  237,500

  1986

  145,000

  nil

  1987

  3,228,000

  nil

  624

  (a) £

  (b) £

  1988

  470,000

  nil

  Industry projects

  1984

  nil

  nil

  1985

  nil

  nil

  1986

  445,000

  nil

  1987

  112,000

  nil

  1988

  237,000

  49,000

  Toyota Motor Company
  Mr. Madel
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether, should the Toyota motor company decide to build an assembly plant in the United Kingdom, any possibility of Government financial aid towards start-up costs would be subject to EEC Commission restriction or rejection; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 6 February 1989]: If the Toyota motor corporation were to apply for financial assistance for establishment of a motor vehicle assembly plant in the United Kingdom, and if the Government were to decide to make an offer of aid, then the European Community procedures described in my other answer today to my hon. Friend would apply. The company is aware of the position.

  Motor Industry (Aid)
  Mr. Madel
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether any proposal by the Government to give financial aid to the motor vehicle sector must be notified to the EEC Commission in advance of any actual financial aid given; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 6 February 1989]: Using its powers under the state aids provisions of the EEC Treaty, the Commission has recently introduced a Community framework for state aids to the vehicle sector. From 1 January 1989 any proposal by Governments or other public authorities to give financial assistance to a manufacturer of motor vehicles or motor vehicle engines must be prenotified for clearance by the Commission if the cost of the project exceeds 12 million ecu (about £8 million).

  English Folk Dance and Song Society (Elections)
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) whether he has received the report of the Electoral Reform Society on the conduct of the recent elections to the national executive committee of the English Folk Dance and Song Society; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) whether he will set up an inquiry into allegations of malpractice in the recent elections to the national executive committee of the English Folk Dance and Song Society;

  (3) what representations he has received about allegations of irregularity in the recent elections to the national executive committee of the English Folk Dance and Song Society.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 6 February 1989]: I have not received a report by the Electoral Reform Society into the conduct of the recent elections of the national executive committee of the English Folk Dance and Song

  625
  Society, but my Department has considered a request from another quarter for an investigation into alleged malpractices in relation to those elections. Companies Act powers are not appropriate for the investigation of these matters.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Water Standards
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list all those water supplies in Northern Ireland which fail to meet the standards set out in the European Economic Community directives on the quality of drinking water and whether or not these 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. Needham
  There are 114 water supply areas in Northern Ireland of which 13 are subject to derogations made under the EC drinking water directive. Requests for seven delays under the directive were made in 1985; subsequent remedial works enabled three to be withdrawn. A programme of works to enable the remaining four delays to be also withdrawn should be completed by 1992.

  Where derogations or delays apply, a small number of directive parameter values for non-toxic substances may be exceeded on a regular basis. In the supply areas for which there are no derogations or delays there are occasions when a value for a non-toxic substance is exceeded for a short time. The directive values for toxic substances are not exceeded. A programme of works over 10 to 12 years has been identified to ensure compliance with the directive. The estimated cost is £200 million.

  Rate Demands
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will take steps to ensure that the notice of rate demands in Northern Ireland shows a more detailed breakdown of the application of expenditure on a similar basis as prevails in Great Britain.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The information provided with the rates demand note in Northern Ireland is in accordance with that prescribed by the Rates (Northern Ireland) Order 1977. The order, unlike the relevant legislation in Great Britain, does not require the provision of the information referred to on or with the rates demand note. This recognises the essential differences between the local government and rating systems in Northern Ireland and Great Britain, in particular the existence in Northern Ireland of a local district rate and an overall regional rate, both of which are collected together by the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland. I have no plans to change this legislation.

  A free leaflet explaining how the regional rate is struck is available each year from local rating, social security or Housing Executive offices.

  Census Questionnaire
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if Northern Ireland hon. Members will be given an opportunity to comment on the draft census questionnaire 626
  being formulated before it is published; and if he will ensure that irrelevant questions are not included in the census document when published.

  Mr. Needham
  The Government will prepare a draft census order and lay it before Parliament in accordance with the Census Act (Northern Ireland) 1969. The order will provide for the taking of a census of population in Northern Ireland in 1991, and among other things, will set out the particulars to be stated in the census returns. At a later stage, census regulations will make detailed provision for the conduct of the census and contain specimens of the forms to be used. All the questions asked will be relevant.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the draft census questionnaire includes a question about the respondent's knowledge of Irish; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  The Government propose to include in the 1991 census of Northern Ireland a question of knowledge of Irish language in parallel with the language questions to be included in the censuses for Wales and Scotland.

  Schools
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information is available to increase the category A expenditure admitted for each of the voluntary grammar schools in Northern Ireland for the current school year and the last two school years.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Grant on category A expenditure by each voluntary grammar school in any school year is directly related to the number of approved teaching posts in the school.

  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information is available to the Department of Education to indicate the level of funding to any given secondary school in Northern Ireland or the pattern of funding among those schools.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  As voluntary grammar schools are funded direct, the Department has detailed information about the level of funding to individual schools. In the case of other secondary schools non-teaching costs are funded by education and library boards and teaching costs by the Department of Education, but total funding levels to individual schools are at present not available centrally.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Pensioners (Income)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it his policy to collect statistically reliable estimates of pensioners' income.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  We believe that the statistics that we collect are reliable. I refer the hon. Member to an article published in the May 1987 issue of the Employment Gazette, a copy of which is in the Library, which sets out the statistical basis of the pensioners' income figures used by the Department. We will be publishing an updated version of that article in the near future.

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

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The Department is an affiliated member of the International Social Security Association. The 1989 membership subscriptions will be approximately £112,000. In addition the Department participates in the work of all international organisations of which the United Kingdom is a member, whenever social security issues arise. It is impossible to apportion the overall United Kingdom contribution to each organisation between social security and other activities.

  Deductions from Benefit
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he has given any advice to levying authorities about the legislative basis upon which they can make deductions from benefits if an individual fails to pay his or her poll tax;

  (2) what guidance has been sought by, and what advice he has given to, Strathclyde regional council on deduction of unpaid poll tax from those on welfare benefits.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  When community charges are introduced in Scotland, the Government's intention is to provide that, where a person on income support has failed to pay his community charge, and where the local authority has obtained a court order in respect of an amount of personal community charge that he is owing, the local authority may ask this Department to recover the amount specified in the order by deductions from his income support payments. The regulations that will provide for this are being prepared and will be laid before Parliament shortly. Advice will then be issued to local authorities, including Strathclyde regional council, on both the interpretation of the legislation and the operational aspects of the regulations.

  Supplementary Benefit
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the numbers of 16 to 17-year-olds claiming supplementary benefit who had no parents or were estranged or living away from their parents, at each annual claimant count from 1980.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I regret that the information requested is not available.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how the needs of clothing and footwear for men and boys, and for women and girls, are estimated for purposes of the social fund.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Social fund officers consider each application on its merits when determining the extent of such awards.

  One-parent Families
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many single parents received community 628
  care grants to assist them with rehousing after their marital relationship broke down in each of the years for which there are figures in (a) Scotland and (b) the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I regret that the information is not available in the form requested.

  Maternity Payments
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the average single payment for maternity needs in(a) Scotland and (b) the United Kingdom in the last year in which such payments were available.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Single payments for maternity needs were abolished in April 1987. The May 1987 annual statistical inquiry gives information relating to single payments made in Great Britain in the 12 months preceding the date of the inquiry. This shows that the average single payment for maternity needs in that year was £104·10. Information for Scotland could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Information for Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many single parents with dependent children were in receipt of(a) supplementary benefit in the last year in which it was available and (b) income support in each year it has been available for (i) Scotland and (ii) the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The information requested is as follows:

  Great Britain

  Scotland

  Supplementary benefit—lone parents

  659,000

  76,000

  Income support—lone parents

  684,010

  78,938

  Note:

  The figures supplied are for Great Britain. Information relating to Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Source:

  The annual statistical inquiry May 1987.

  Income support quarterly statistical inquiry 31 May 1988.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much community charge rebate a working single parent with two young children and a net income of £124·60 a week would qualify for.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Assuming that both children are under the age of 11 and that no members of the family are disabled, and also assuming an annual personal community charge of £280 a year (the average charge in Scotland, weighted by population), no rebate would be payable.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much community charge rebate a single mother with two young children and in receipt of £64·75 income support a week would qualify for.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Anyone getting income support, however large or small the amount, will qualify for the maximum rebate of 80 per cent. of his or her personal community charge. An amount reflecting the estimated
  629
  average 20 per cent. community charge liability which income support claimants will have to pay has been included in the levels of income support from 1 April 1989.

  Benefits (Cost)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list for each social security benefit how much extra would be spent if all those entitled to claim that benefit, according to his Department's own estimates, did so.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: No precise estimates of total unclaimed benefits can be provided and those figures which the Department does publish give no more than the broadest orders of magnitude. I refer the hon. Member to paragraphs 21 to 25 and table 15.17 on pages 272 to 273 of Cm. 288 (the 1988 public expenditure White Paper) for details of the latest

  Trends in actual current expenditure on hospital and community health services

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–881

  Northern

  Net spending

  (£ million)

  518·3

  550·7

  583·0

  617·4

  661·8

  723·5

  Charges

  (£ million)

  2·6

  3·3

  3·9

  2·7

  2·8

  2·9

  Total spending

  (£ million)

  520·8

  554·0

  586·9

  620·1

  664·6

  726·4

  Increase

  (per cent.)

  —

  6·4

  5·9

  5·7

  7·2

  9·3

  Inflation in service

  (per cent.)

  —

  5·1

  5·8

  5·2

  6·9

  8·5

  Change in purchasing power

  (per cent.)

  —

  1·2

  0·1

  0·4

  0·3

  0·7

  (£ million)

  —

  6·7

  0·7

  2·7

  1·7

  5·3

  Change in real terms

  (per cent.)

  —

  1·7

  0·8

  0·2

  3·7

  3·8

  Cash releasing cost improvements

  New

  (£ million)

  —

  —

  4·0

  5·2

  8·9

  9·1

  Recurrent

  (£ million)

  —

  —

  4·0

  9·1

  17·4

  27·1

  Increase—new cost improvements

  (per cent.)

  —

  —

  0·7

  0·9

  1·4

  1·3

  Margin available for service development in year

  (per cent.)

  —

  1·2

  0·8

  1·3

  1·7

  2·0

  (£ million)

  —

  6·7

  4·8

  8·3

  11·1

  14·9

  Yorkshire

  Net spending

  (£ million)

  578·5

  613·6

  651·1

  694·3

  742·9

  811·8

  Charges

  (£ million)

  4·9

  6·0

  6·5

  5·3

  5·2

  5·6

  Total spending

  (£ million)

  583·4

  619·6

  657·6

  699·5

  748·1

  817·4

  Increase

  (per cent.)

  —

  6·2

  6·1

  6·4

  6·9

  9·3

  Inflation in service

  (per cent.)

  —

  5·1

  5·8

  5·2

  6·9

  8·5

  Change in purchasing power

  (per cent.)

  —

  1·0

  0·3

  1·1

  0·0

  0·7

  (£ million)

  —

  6·5

  2·1

  7·8

  0·3

  5·7

  Change in real terms

  (per cent.)

  —

  1·6

  1·0

  0·9

  3·5

  3·8

  Cash releasing cost improvements

  New

  (£ million)

  —

  —

  7·1

  10·0

  11·8

  10·5

  Recurrent

  (£ million)

  —

  —

  7·1

  15·3

  28·1

  40·6

  Increase—new cost improvements

  (per cent.)

  —

  —

  1·1

  1·5

  1·6

  1·3

  Margin available for service development in year

  (per cent.)

  —

  1·0

  1·4

  2·6

  1·6

  2·0

  (£ million)

  —

  6·5

  9·3

  18·5

  12·3

  16·4

  Trent

  Net spending

  (£ million)

  691·7

  737·2

  789·8

  839·2

  910·1

  1,004·7

  Charges

  (£ million)

  5·0

  5·2

  5·5

  4·0

  4·4

  4·7

  Total spending

  (£ million)

  696·7

  742·4

  795·3

  843·2

  914·5

  1,009·4

  Increase

  (per cent.)

  —

  6·6

  7·1

  6·0

  8·5

  10·4

  Inflation in service

  (per cent.)

  —

  5·1

  5·8

  5·2

  6·9

  8·5

  Change in purchasing power

  (per cent.)

  —

  1·4

  1·2

  0·8

  1·5

  1·7

  (£ million)

  —

  10·3

  9·9

  6·6

  13·3

  17·5

  Change in real terms

  (per cent.)

  —

  1·9

  2·0

  0·6

  5·0

  4·8

  Cash releasing cost improvements

  New

  (£ million)

  —

  —

  8·0

  13·2

  12·1

  9·2

  Recurrent

  (£ million)

  —

  —

  8·0

  20·9

  33·5

  44·9

  Increase—new cost improvements

  (per cent.)

  —

  —

  1·0

  1·6

  1·3

  1·0

  Margin available for service development in year

  (per cent.)

  —

  1·4

  2·3

  2·4

  2·8

  2·7

  (£ million)

  —

  10·3

  18·0

  20·2

  25·4

  27·7

  630
  available take-up estimates for the main income-related benefits. Take-up estimates for 1985 should be available shortly.

HEALTH

  Resources
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will state for each English regional health authority the value of resources available for service development in each year including the current year since 1983, expressed in cash terms, and as a percentage of total resources both including and excluding the effects of the cost improvement programme.

  Mr. Mellor
  The information requested is given in the table. Figures for 1988–89 are not yet available.
  631

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–881

  East Anglian

  Net spending

  (£ million)

  285·4

  308·4

  331·1

  354·9

  385·9

  427·1

  Charges

  (£ million)

  3·6

  4·1

  4·2

  3·3

  3·5

  4·2

  Total spending

  (£ million)

  289·0

  312·5

  335·3

  358·2

  389·4

  431·3

  Increase

  (per cent.)

  —

  8·1

  7·3

  6·8

  8·7

  10·8

  Inflation in service

  (per cent.)

  —

  5·1

  5·8

  5·2

  6·9

  8·5

  Change in purchasing power

  (per cent.)

  —

  2·9

  1·4

  1·6

  1·7

  2·1

  (£ million)

  —

  9·1

  4·8

  5·6

  6·6

  9·0

  Change in real terms

  (per cent.)

  —

  3·4

  2·1

  1·4

  5·2

  5·2

  Cash releasing cost improvements

  New

  (£ million)

  —

  —

  3·3

  2·9

  4·5

  4·0

  Recurrent

  (£ million)

  —

  —

  3·3

  6·4

  11·2

  16·1

  Increase—new cost improvements

  (per cent.)

  —

  —

  1·0

  0·8

  1·2

  0·9

  Margin available for service development in year

  (per cent.)

  —

  2·9

  2·4

  2·4

  2·9

  3·0

  (£ million)

  —

  9·1

  8·2

  8·5

  11·3

  12·9

  North West Thames

  Net spending

  (£ million)

  624·6

  656·3

  691·6

  719·6

  769·2

  821·5

  Charges

  (£ million)

  8·6

  9·1

  9·6

  9·2

  8·6

  11·3

  Total spending

  (£ million)

  633·2

  665·4

  701·2

  728·8

  777·8

  832·8

  Increase

  (per cent.)

  —

  5·1

  5·4

  3·9

  6·7

  7·1

  Inflation in service

  (per cent.)

  —

  5·1

  5·8

  5·2

  6·9

  8·5

  Change in purchasing power

  (per cent.)

  —

  0·0

  -0·4

  -1·2

  -0·2

  -1·3

  (£ million)

  —

  -0·1

  -2·8

  -8·7

  -1·4

  -10·9

  Change in real terms

  (per cent.)

  —

  0·5

  0·3

  -1·4

  3·3

  1·7

  Cash releasing cost improvements

  New

  (£ million)

  —

  —

  10·6

  14·4

  15·8

  13·8

  Recurrent

  (£ million)

  —

  —

  10·6

  24·2

  39·8

  56·2

  Increase—new cost improvements

  (per cent.)

  —

  —

  1·5

  1·9

  2·1

  1·8

  Margin available for service development in year

  (per cent.)

  —

  0·0

  1·1

  0·7

  1·9

  0·5

  (£ million)

  —

  -0·1

  7·6

  5·0

  14·9

  3·8

  North East Thames

  Net spending

  (£ million)

  788·9

  829·2

  869·2

  902·6

  965·1

  1,037·9

  Charges

  (£ million)

  11·7

  12·0

  12·2

  11·6

  11·0

  11·1

  Total spending

  (£ million)

  800·7

  841·1

  881·3

  914·2

  976·1

  1,049·0

  Increase

  (per cent.)

  —

  5·1

  4·8

  3·7

  6·8

  7·5

  Inflation in service

  (per cent.)

  —

  5·1

  5·8

  5·2

  6·9

  8·5

  Change in purchasing power

  (per cent.)

  —

  0·0

  -1·0

  -1·4

  -0·1

  -1·0

  (£ million)

  —

  -0·4

  -8·5

  -12·8

  -1·2

  -10·0

  Change in real terms

  (per cent.)

  —

  0·5

  -0·3

  -1·6

  3·3

  2·1

  Cash releasing cost improvements

  New

  (£ million)

  —

  —

  11·7

  17·2

  16·4

  19·7

  Recurrent

  (£ million)

  —

  —

  11·7

  27·6

  45·3

  66·2

  Increase—new cost improvements

  (per cent.)

  —

  —

  1·4

  1·8

  1·7

  1·8

  Margin available for service development in year

  (per cent.)

  —

  0·0

  0·4

  0·4

  1·6

  0·8

  (£ million)

  —

  -0·4

  3·7

  3·4

  15·4

  8·7

  South East Thames

  Net spending

  (£ million)

  691·3

  729·7

  762·1

  797·9

  847·6

  919·1

  Charges

  (£ million)

  9·2

  9·7

  10·0

  9·6

  9·5

  9·8

  Total spending

  (£ million)

  700·4

  739·4

  772·1

  807·5

  857·1

  928·9

  Increase

  (per cent.)

  —

  5·6

  4·4

  4·6

  6·1

  8·4

  Inflation in service

  (per cent.)

  —

  5·1

  5·8

  5·2

  6·9

  8·5

  Change in purchasing power

  (per cent.)

  —

  0·4

  -1·3

  -0·6

  -0·7

  -0·1

  (£ million)

  —

  3·3

  -10·1

  -4·7

  -6·1

  -1·0

  Change in real terms

  (per cent.)

  —

  1·0

  -0·6

  -0·8

  2·7

  2·9

  Cash releasing cost improvements

  New

  (£ million)

  —

  —

  14·0

  14·3

  12·7

  12·1

  Recurrent

  (£ million)

  —

  —

  14·0

  29·0

  43·1

  58·1

  Increase—new cost improvements

  (per cent.)

  —

  —

  1·9

  1·8

  1·5

  1·5

  Margin available for service development in year

  (per cent.)

  —

  0·4

  0·6

  1·2

  0·8

  1·4

  (£ million)

  —

  3·3

  4·4

  9·7

  6·7

  12·9

  South West Thames

  Net spending

  (£ million)

  525·7

  554·0

  580·9

  603·8

  645·5

  703·8

  Charges

  (£ million)

  4·7

  5·1

  5·4

  4·5

  4·6

  4·9

  Total spending

  (£ million)

  530·4

  559·1

  586·3

  608·3

  650·1

  708·7

  Increase

  (per cent.)

  —

  5·4

  4·9

  3·8

  6·9

  9·0

  Inflation in service

  (per cent.)

  —

  5·1

  5·8

  5·2

  6·9

  8·5

  Change in purchasing power

  (per cent.)

  —

  0·3

  -0·9

  -1·4

  0·0

  0·5

  632 633

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–881

  (£ million)

  —

  1·7

  -5·2

  -8·4

  -0·2

  3·4

  Change in real terms

  (per cent.)

  —

  0·8

  -0·2

  -1·6

  3·4

  3·6

  Cash releasing cost improvements

  New

  (£ million)

  —

  —

  6·9

  8·5

  10·9

  6·5

  Recurrent

  (£ million)

  —

  —

  6·9

  15·0

  25·3

  33·5

  Increase—new cost improvements

  (per cent.)

  —

  —

  1·2

  1·3

  1·7

  0·9

  Margin available for service development in year

  (per cent.)

  —

  0·3

  0·3

  -0·1

  1·7

  1·4

  (£ million)

  —

  1·7

  1·7

  -0·6

  10·9

  9·8

  Wessex

  Net spending

  (£ million)

  414·2

  444·4

  477·9

  503·2

  545·4

  595·9

  Charges

  (£ million)

  4·2

  4·8

  4·8

  3·7

  3·8

  3·9

  Total spending

  (£ million)

  418·4

  449·1

  482·6

  506·9

  549·2

  599·8

  Increase

  (per cent.)

  —

  7·3

  7·5

  5·0

  8·3

  9·2

  Inflation in service

  (per cent.)

  —

  5·1

  5·8

  5·2

  6·9

  8·5

  Change in purchasing power

  (per cent.)

  —

  2·1

  1·6

  -0·2

  1·3

  0·7

  (£ million)

  —

  9·6

  7·6

  -0·8

  7·3

  4·0

  Change in real terms

  (per cent.)

  —

  2·7

  2·3

  -0·3

  4·8

  3·7

  Cash releasing cost improvements

  New

  (£ million)

  —

  —

  4·2

  4·7

  8·5

  10·5

  Recurrent

  (£ million)

  —

  —

  4·2

  8·6

  17·4

  27·5

  Increase—new cost improvements

  (per cent.)

  —

  —

  0·9

  0·9

  1·6

  1·8

  Margin available for service development in year

  (per cent.)

  —

  2·1

  2·5

  0·7

  3·0

  2·5

  (£ million)

  —

  9·6

  12·0

  3·8

  16·2

  14·9

  Oxford

  Net spending

  (£ million)

  330·0

  348·0

  376·4

  397·3

  427·9

  472·3

  Charges

  (£ million)

  4·6

  4·8

  5·6

  5·1

  5·9

  6·6

  Total spending

  (£ million)

  334·7

  352·8

  381·9

  402·4

  433·8

  478·9

  Increase

  (per cent.)

  —

  5·4

  8·3

  5·3

  7·8

  10·4

  Inflation in service

  (per cent.)

  —

  5·1

  5·8

  5·2

  6·9

  8·5

  Change in purchasing power

  (per cent.)

  —

  0·3

  2·3

  0·1

  0·9

  1·7

  (£ million)

  —

  1·1

  8·8

  0·6

  3·7

  8·4

  Change in real terms

  (per cent.)

  —

  0·8

  3·0

  0·0

  4·3

  4·9

  Cash releasing cost improvements

  New

  (£ million)

  —

  —

  3·7

  4·8

  4·6

  5·3

  Recurrent

  (£ million)

  —

  —

  3·7

  8·6

  13·6

  19·5

  Increase—new cost improvements

  (per cent.)

  —

  —

  1·0

  1·2

  1·1

  1·3

  Margin available for service including cost improvements

  (per cent.)

  —

  0·3

  3·3

  1·3

  2·0

  3·1

  (£ million)

  —

  1·1

  12·8

  5·4

  8·5

  14·7

  South Western

  Net spending

  (£ million)

  503·7

  535·8

  566·3

  599·4

  645·9

  705·1

  Charges

  (£ million)

  3·6

  4·6

  4·7

  3·9

  4·1

  4·9

  Total spending

  (£ million)

  507·3

  540·4

  571·0

  603·3

  650·0

  710·0

  Increase

  (per cent.)

  —

  6·5

  5·7

  5·6

  7·8

  9·2

  Inflation in service

  (per cent.)

  —

  5·1

  5·8

  5·2

  6·9

  8·5

  Change in purchasing power

  (per cent.)

  —

  1·4

  -0·1

  0·4

  0·8

  0·7

  (£ million)

  —

  7·4

  -0·8

  2·6

  5·2

  4·8

  Change in real terms

  (per cent.)

  —

  1·9

  0·6

  0·2

  4·3

  3·7

  Cash releasing cost improvements

  New

  (£ million)

  —

  —

  4·7

  6·2

  6·6

  11·4

  Recurrent

  (£ million)

  —

  —

  4·7

  11·2

  18·1

  30·2

  Increase—new cost improvements

  (per cent.)

  —

  —

  0·9

  1·0

  1·0

  1·6

  Margin available for service development in year

  (per cent.)

  —

  1·4

  0·8

  1·4

  1·8

  2·3

  (£ million)

  —

  7·4

  4·4

  8·6

  11·7

  16·2

  West Midlands

  Net spending

  (£ million)

  804·0

  854·3

  911·8

  967·7

  1,043·5

  1,143·0

  Charges

  (£ million)

  5·7

  6·9

  7·4

  6·2

  6·3

  6·3

  Total spending

  (£ million)

  809·7

  861·3

  919·3

  973·9

  1,049·7

  1,149·3

  Increase

  (per cent.)

  —

  6·4

  6·7

  5·9

  7·8

  9·5

  Inflation in service

  (per cent.)

  —

  5·1

  5·8

  5·2

  6·9

  8·5

  Change in purchasing power

  (per cent.)

  —

  1·2

  0·9

  0·7

  0·8

  0·9

  (£ million)

  —

  10·4

  8·1

  6·9

  8·7

  10·4

  Change in real terms

  (per cent.)

  —

  1·7

  1·6

  0·5

  4·3

  4·0

  Cash releasing cost improvements

  New

  (£ million)

  —

  —

  13·5

  12·0

  13·7

  15·4

  Recurrent

  (£ million)

  —

  —

  13·5

  26·2

  38·3

  54·6

  634 635

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–881

  Increase—new cost improvements

  (per cent.)

  —

  —

  1·5

  1·2

  1·3

  1·3

  Margin available for service development in year

  (per cent.)

  —

  1·2

  2·4

  1·9

  2·1

  2·2

  (£ million)

  —

  10·4

  22·0

  18·7

  22·4

  25·5

  Mersey

  Net spending

  (£ million)

  433·3

  453·2

  479·7

  504·3

  539·0

  585·6

  Charges

  (£ million)

  3·0

  3·4

  3·6

  3·6

  3·8

  3·6

  Total spending

  (£ million)

  436·2

  456·6

  483·3

  507·9

  542·8

  589·2

  Increase

  (per cent.)

  —

  4·7

  5·9

  5·1

  6·9

  8·5

  Inflation in service

  (per cent.)

  —

  5·1

  5·8

  5·2

  6·9

  8·5

  Change in purchasing power

  (per cent.)

  —

  -0·4

  0·1

  -0·1

  0·0

  0·0

  (£ million)

  —

  -1·9

  0·2

  -0·5

  -0·2

  0·3

  Change in real terms

  (per cent.)

  —

  0·1

  0·8

  -0·3

  3·4

  3·1

  Cash releasing cost improvements

  New

  (£ million)

  —

  —

  6·0

  8·4

  10·7

  9·0

  Recurrent

  (£ million)

  —

  —

  6·0

  14·2

  25·6

  36·4

  Increase—new cost improvements

  (per cent.)

  —

  —

  1·3

  1·7

  2·0

  1·6

  Margin available for service development in year

  (per cent.)

  —

  -0·4

  1·4

  1·6

  2·0

  1·6

  (£ million)

  —

  -1·9

  6·5

  8·1

  10·7

  9·7

  North Western

  Net spending

  (£ million)

  724·8

  763·4

  808·2

  854·7

  916·5

  996·4

  Charges

  (£ million)

  4·8

  5·8

  6·3

  5·6

  5·8

  6·2

  Total spending

  (£ million)

  729·6

  769·2

  814·5

  860·3

  922·4

  1,002·6

  Increase

  (per cent.)

  —

  5·4

  5·9

  5·6

  7·2

  8·7

  Inflation in service

  (per cent.)

  —

  5·1

  5·8

  5·2

  6·9

  8·5

  Change in purchasing power

  (per cent.)

  —

  0·3

  0·1

  0·4

  0·3

  0·2

  (£ million)

  —

  2·4

  0·7

  3·5

  2·7

  1·9

  Change in real terms

  (per cent.)

  —

  0·8

  0·8

  0·2

  3·7

  3·2

  Cash releasing cost improvements

  New

  (£ million)

  —

  —

  7·5

  13·6

  14·1

  13·7

  Recurrent

  (£ million)

  —

  —

  7·5

  18·5

  32·9

  48·5

  Increase—new cost improvements

  (per cent.)

  —

  —

  0·9

  1·6

  1·6

  1·4

  Margin available for service development in year

  (per cent.)

  —

  0·3

  1·0

  2·0

  1·9

  1·6

  (£ million)

  —

  2·4

  8·0

  17·3

  17·5

  15·9

  Change in GDP deflator

  —

  —

  4·6

  5·1

  5·4

  3·3

  5·3

  1 Provisional

  Notes:

  Income and expenditure figures are based on health authorities' summarised accounts.

  Health authorities have been required to make cost improvements since 1984–85. Data on efficiency savings made by authorities before that date were not collected centrally.

  Real terms growth has been calculated using the gross domestic product deflator.

  Responsibility for the cost of the London Ambulance Service, previously shared between all four Thames regions, was transferred to South West Thames in 1987–88.

  The consequent increase in expenditure in that region has been excluded from the spending figures in the table.

  Hospitals
  Mr. Higgins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what way and at what level plans and decisions on building or expanding National Health Service hospitals will be taken within the new framework for the National Health Service set out in "Working for Patients".

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Regions will continue to be responsible for the strategic oversight of health authorities' capital planning and capital programmes, but there is to be increased delegation of decisions on individual schemes both from Department to region and from region to district. There may also be additional delegation to local level of responsibility for the management of individual schemes. NHS hospital trusts will be responsible for their own capital investment decisions and for managing their own schemes, providing their borrowing is contained within the overall national annual financing limit.

  London Ambulance Service
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what would be the savings made or estimated to be made by withdrawing exclusive telephone lines from the central control room of the London ambulance service to ambulance stations; and what assessment has been made of the advantage gained or disadvantages experienced in operational efficiency.

  Mr. Freeman
  No estimates have been made of the costs of withdrawing the private wire circuits between the central control room of the London ambulance service and ambulance stations. They have been upgraded to accept data transmissions as part of the introduction of the computer-aided dispatch system. The primary function of these circuits is the mobilisation of ambulance crews by providing direct contact between the control room and ambulance stations. It would not therefore be practical to discontinue their use. As the new system has been installed
  637
  for less than four weeks, it is not yet possible to assess effectively the advantages gained or any disadvantages which might be experienced.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent changes have been made in the control room equipment or organisation of the London ambulance service; if he has assessed the efficiency and effectiveness of any new equipment; and if he will place in the Library a copy of any evaluation study or efficiency report relating to recent capital expenditure.

  Mr. Freeman
  To facilitate the installation of a new computer-aided dispatch system, the London ambulance service central control room has transferred to temporary accommodation while changes and refurbishment to accommodate computer terminal equipment are carried out. The automatic call distribution telephone system has been extended and a new selective calling radio system introduced: in addition, to alleviate difficulties caused by the temporary reorganisation, the number of control staff answering calls has been increased. As the computer-aided dispatch system will not be fully functional until August 1989, it would be premature to carry out any evaluation at this stage.

  Capital budget

  SWTRHA 17·53 per cent.

  NETRHA 32·38 per cent.

  NWTRHA 28·91 per cent.

  SETRHA 21·18 per cent.

  Total

  1984–85

  653,878

  1,208,078

  1,078,406

  790,115

  3,730,477

  1985–86

  727,091

  1,343,343

  1,199,153

  878,582

  4,148,169

  1986–87

  1,361,972

  2,516,323

  2,246,228

  1,645,742

  7,770,265

  1987–88

  3,949,498

  —

  —

  —

  3,949,498

  1988–89

  7,169,000

  —

  —

  —

  7,169,000

  Revenue budget

  SWTRHA 17·53 per cent.

  SWTRHA 32·38 per cent.

  NWTRHA 28·91 per cent.

  NWTRHA 21·18 per cent.

  Total

  1984–85

  6,503,000

  12,015,000

  10,725,000

  7,858,000

  37,101,000

  1985–86

  6,687,000

  12,355,000

  11,029,000

  8,860,000

  38,151,000

  1986–87

  7,332,000

  13,546,000

  12,092,000

  8,860,000

  41,830,000

  1987–88

  43,099,000

  —

  —

  —

  43,099,000

  1988–89

  46,060,840

  —

  —

  —

  46,060,840

  Since 1987 the Department of Health has made the total allocation direct to the managing authority, South West Thames RHA. The South West Thames RHA would normally expect the London ambulance service to remain within its budget.

  Health Authorities (Land)
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give for each health authority(a) the square footage of unused properties and (b) the square footage or acreage of unused land and the estimated value of each category as a percentage total land and property and value as a percentage of the total land and property value of each authority; and if he will make a statement as to his Department's policy on the sale of unused land and property.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information requested is not collected routinely centrally and could be obtained only at
  638
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made on the installation of a computerised system of call distribution at the London ambulance service; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The installation of the automatic call distribution system by the London ambulance service is being carried out in two parts. The first phase was completed in the existing control room in March 1988 and harnessed 999 calls and calls from the other emergency services to the new system. The second phase, which began on 8 January 1989, involves the temporary relocation of the control room to enable the remaining telephone lines (from hospitals, doctors, ambulance crews, and the divisional control rooms) to be linked to the computer-aided dispatch system. The computer-aided dispatch system will not be operational till August 1989.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the capital and revenue budget for the London ambulance service for each of the last five years; what proportion the South West Thames regional health authority, the South East Thames regional health authority, the North East Thames regional health authority and the North West Thames regional health authority contributed, respectively; and if the budget of the London ambulance service is cash-limited.

  Mr. Freeman
  The figures are in the table.

  disproportionate cost. Information on the total surplus property (both land and buildings no longer currently used for Health Service purposes and with no future use envisaged) of each regional health authority is held centrally and this information as at 31 March 1988 is as follows:

  RHA

  Total estate (acres)

  Surplus (acres)

  Per cent. of surplus

  Northern

  3,495

  308·20

  8·82

  Yorkshire

  3,927

  14000

  3·57

  Trent

  4,324

  808·55

  18·70

  East Anglian

  1,648

  23·13

  1·40

  N W Thames

  2,483

  37·60

  1·51

  N E Thames

  2,714

  267·27

  9·85

  S E Thames

  3,677

  582·49

  15·84

  S W Thames

  3,810

  128·33

  3·37

  Wessex

  2,511

  179·24

  7·14

  Oxford

  2,183

  183·07

  8·39

  South Western

  3,787

  712·39

  18·81

  West Midlands

  5,147

  629·50

  12·23

  639

  RHA

  Total estate (acres)

  Surplus (acres)

  Per cent. Of surplus

  Mersey

  2,427

  782·57

  32·24

  North Western

  3,160

  267·85

  8·48

  SHAS (BGs)

  496

  7·0

  1·41

  England

  45,789

  5,057·19

  11·04

  Values of surplus properties are not collected separately centrally but information is held on the estimated income from property disposals for each regional health authority for the current financial year and the three following years. This information was given in my reply to the hon. Member for Southport (Mr. Fearn) on 24 January at column 546. Our policy on the sale of unused property is that it should be disposed of in a publicly acceptable manner for the best price possible.

  Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead (ENT)
  Mr. McWilliam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the total waiting list, the longest time any patient had to wait and the numbers waiting by number of months wait for the ear, nose and throat department at the Queen Elizabeth hospital, Gateshead, over the last five years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Mellor
  We do not collect waiting information centrally for individual hospitals. For details about the Queen Elizabeth hospital, the hon. Member may wish to contact the district general manager of Gateshead district health authority.

  Weil's Disease
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many deaths from Weil's disease have been recorded for each of the last 10 years;

  (2) if he will list the places where deaths from Weil's disease over the last 10 years have been recorded.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information is shown in the table; 1987 is the latest full year available. Death registrations with Leptospirosis (Weil's Disease)1 as underlying cause of death: numbers and county district of usual residence, England and Wales 1978–88.

  Year

  Number

  Area of usual residence

  1978

  2

  Easington; Ryedale

  1979

  1

  Test Valley

  1980

  1

  East Hertfordshire

  1981

  1

  Kennet

  1982

  1

  Basingstoke and Deane

  1983

  1

  Merthyr Tydfil

  1984

  —

  —

  1985

  —

  —

  1986

  —

  —

  1987

  —

  —

  19882

  2

  n/a

  1 International classification of disease code 100·0.

  2 Provisional, January-September only.

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has plans to provide additional funds to reduce hospital waiting lists in the Merseyside region.

  Mr. Mellor
  Last December, we announced a further £1·445 million for Mersey region from the waiting list fund 640
  for 1989–90. This brings the total additional funds we have allocated to Mersey region through this initiative to £4·488 million over three years. In addition, Crewe district health authority will have an opportunity to bid against the £6 million reserved from the waiting list fund next year for districts with special waiting problems.

  Radioactive Iodine
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how quickly iodine tablets have to be administered following exposure to iodine 131 to be(a) 100 per cent. effective and (b) 50 per cent. effective in counteracting the effects of radioactive iodine.

  Mr. Freeman
  I am advised that experiments have shown that a dose of up to 100mg of stable iodine is almost 100 per cent, effective if taken immediately before or at the time of exposure to radioactive iodine. It is still 50 per cent. effective if taken about five hours after exposure.

  Core Services
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list all those services which are not regarded as core services as defined in the White Paper, "Working for Patients" paragraph 4.15;

  (2) whether gynaecology is a core service as described in the White Paper, "Working for Patients".

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The White Paper stipulates that DHAs will be responsible for ensuring that the health needs of the population they serve are met; that there are effective services for the prevention and control of diseases and the promotion of health and that their population has access to a comprehensive range of high quality, value for money services. The broad categories of "core" services set out in the White Paper are examples of those to which patients need guaranteed local access. It will be up to each district health authority to consider in the light of their own particular circumstances what services constitute "core" services for them and what other servies can be obtained in a more flexible way. The duty of the district will be to obtain the best services for their populations from whatever source including their own hospitals, from other authorities' hospitals, from the new self-governing hospitals or the private sector.

  Breast Feeding
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has about the percentage of women breastfeeding their baby at six weeks in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Freeman
  Annual statistics on the incidence of breastfeeding are not collected centrally. However, national surveys of infant feeding practices in 1975 (England and Wales), 1980 and 1985 (Great Britain), show that the percentages of women breastfeeding at six weeks were as follows:

  Per cent.

  1975

  England and Wales only

  46

  1980

  England and Wales

  42

  Great Britain

  41

  641

  Per cent.

  1985

  England and Wales

  40

  Great Britain

  38

  Vaccination
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the vaccination programme.

  Mr. Freeman
  Uptake figures for the year 1987–88 (April to March) show an increase in the national vaccination rate for polio, diphtheria and tetanus to 87 per cent., measles 76 per cent. and whooping cough 73 per cent. Ninety-six out of 190 district health authorities in England have now reached or surpassed the 1990 target of 90 per cent. for polio, while measles and whooping cough are showing welcome signs of moving towards that target.

  These figures do not include the results of a very successful campaign against measles last summer (when three times the average monthly usage of the vaccine was recorded), or the introduction from October 1988 of the combined vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), which has already been an outstanding success. Already more than 1·2 million doses of that vaccine have been distributed, against a requirement for the recommended groups of 400,0000.

  We intend to maintain this momentum and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Health announced in December that £7·8 million has been allocated towards purchase of the MMR vaccine in 1989–90.

  From 1989–90 we shall also be committing at least £1 million per annum towards the promotion of immunisation jointly with the HEA. This remains a very important part of our programme in which both health authorities and general practitioners are expected to play a full part.

  Fertility Services
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will specify in which districts(a) there are and (b) there are not fertility services.

  Mr. Freeman
  I regret that this information is not held centrally. The provision of infertility services is a matter for individual health authorities to decide in the light of local needs and priorities.

  Well Woman Clinics
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how may well woman clinics there are;

  (2) if he will list those districts which (a) do and (b) do not have well woman clinics.

  Mr. Freeman
  I regret that this information is not held centrally.

  Grading
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses, midwives and health visitors from each of the old grades have been assimilated to each of the new grades in the recent clinical grading structure in the North East Thames regional health authority and for the North West Thames regional health authority.
  642
  Mr. Mellor
  The information requested is available in the Library.

  Single Parents
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his assessment of the number of single parents with dependent children in(a) Scotland and (b) the United Kingdom for each of the past five years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Freeman
  Comparable information for the whole of the United Kingdom and for constituent countries is not available. However, the estimated number of one-parent families with dependent children in Great Britain was 940,000 in 1984, 970,000 in 1985 and 1,010,000 in 1986. Estimates for earlier years are not strictly comparable. An article which discusses these estimates and gives the definitions used is included in "Population Trends No. 55 (Spring 1989)" to be published shortly. A copy will be placed in the Library.

  Biocides
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to publish the report of the expert advisory committee on biocides; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  I have arranged today for a copy of this report which was produced in response to a recommendation in the Badenoch report and which is being published by HMSO to be placed in the Library. I am grateful to Dr. Wright, director of Newcastle public health laboratory and his committee for producing a thorough analysis of the use of biocides in minimising the risk of multiplication of legionellae pneumophilia in hospital cooling tower water systems and other water systems in hospitals.

  The report is being sent to all health authorities in England so that those responsible for maintenance of hospital cooling tower systems may take its recommendations fully into account. The Department will be pursuing those recommendations which call for national action. Although this report deals only with water systems in health care premises, I hope that it will receive a wider readership as much of the report will be of more general application.

  I am sure that it will be very useful to those concerned with the operation and maintenance of health buildings and will help in reducing the risk of the spread of legionnaire's disease in hospitals. I also trust that, as the report has wider general application, it will serve as a further reminder to employers of their responsibility, under the Health and Safety and Work etc. Act, to maintain a safe working environment for their employees.

  National Health Service Review
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has of the final cost to public funds of(a) the recently completed National Health Service review and (b) its launch, publicity and communication to National Health Service staff and others.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  [holding answer 3 February 1989]: Work on the review was undertaken as an integral part of the Department's contribution to Government business, and the manpower costs involved are not separately

  643
  identifiable. The estimated cost of the launch including the exercise of communicating with NHS staff and discussing the review's conclusions with them is £1,250,000.

  Elderly Persons (Residential Places)
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of continuing care residential places are provided for the elderly(a) by local authorities, (b) by voluntary organisations and (c) by the private sector in each region for (i) the year 1987 and (ii) the year 1988.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 2 February 1989]: Provisional information on the number of places in homes for elderly people as at 31 March 1987 by social services inspectorate regions is given in the table. Information for the year ending 31 March 1988 is not yet available.

  Number of places in residential care homes for the elderly, by social services inspectorate region, as at 31 March 19871

  Percentage of total places in:

  Region

  Total number of places

  Local authority homes

  Voluntary homes

  Private homes

  Northern

  14,533

  63·0

  5·9

  31·1

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  25,348

  56·2

  5·0

  38·8

  North Western

  35,698

  47·8

  9·3

  42·9

  West Midlands

  22,851

  50·4

  8·6

  40·9

  East Midlands

  17,076

  52·9

  8·2

  38·9

  Thames/Anglia

  30,083

  47·4

  13·7

  39·0

  Inner London

  9,610

  69·1

  21·8

  9·1

  Outer London

  17,880

  50·5

  23·4

  26·0

  Southern

  46,440

  29·0

  13·7

  57·3

  South Western

  26,629

  29·8

  9·2

  61·0

  England

  246,148

  45·6

  11·4

  43·0

  1 Provisional.

  Continuing Care
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what safeguards his Department is considering to ensure that not all continuing care facilities will be provided by the private sector.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 2 February 1989]: Our view is that a mixture of statutory, voluntary and private facilities is the best way of meeting the wide range of care needs of dependent people of all ages. We are considering the future organisation of care provision in the light of Sir Roy Griffiths' report.

  Listeria Monocytogenes
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if, in view of the fact that the infectious dose of listeria monocytogenes for vulnerable people is not known, he will prohibit the consumption of food that contains listeria by those people known to be particularly at risk.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  [holding answer 2 February 1989]: Listeria monocytogenes is known to be widely distributed in the environment, and the World Health Organisation working group on foodborne listeriosis has said that its total elimination from all food is impracticable and may be impossible. It is important to reduce the risks as much as possible, and both the Government and the food industry are working together to consider optimal production methods which will achieve this.

SCOT LAND

  Projects (EC Grants)
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the total value of European Community grants to Scottish projects in the period 1978 to 1988.

  Mr. Lang
  We estimate some £1·3 billion in European Community grants has gone to Scottish projects in this period, not including European social fund grants to national schemes.

  Regional Aid
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the total value of United Kingdom Government regional aid in the period 1978 to 1988.

  Mr. Lang
  Gross expenditure on regional preferential assistance in Scotland in the period 1 April 1978 to 31 March 1988 was just over £2·1 billion.

  Lennox Castle Hospital
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many visits were made to Lennox Castle hospital over the past two years by the general manager of Greater Glasgow health board and individual members of the board.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Greater Glasgow health board has a programme of visits which takes members round all its hospitals. Although the programme was disrupted in 1988 by the consequences of industrial action, there has been one visit to Lennox Castle hospital in the last two years. No records are kept of informal visits by individual board members. The board general manager has visited Lennox Castle hospital on seven occasions in the last two years. I have visited the hospital on three occasions with the health board chairman and general manager, most recently on 23 January.

  Legal Services
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will make a statement on the publication and preparation of the Green Paper on Scottish legal services;

  (2) on what date the Green Paper on Scottish legal services was originally due to be published.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  As my right hon. and learned Friend informed the hon. Member for Dumfries (Sir H. Monro) on 26 October 1988, he intends to seek views early this year on his further proposals on the future work and organisation of the legal profession in Scotland.

  Nurses
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give(a) the total money allocated to the Greater Glasgow health board for nurses' wages for the year 1988–89 and (b) the projected expenditure for 1988–89 for nurses' wages based on the actual regrading.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Greater Glasgow health board has been given an additional £24·177 million, over and above its initial allocation for 1988–89 to meet the cost of
  645
  the pay awards to nurses and other staff covered by the review bodies. Information on the actual cost of nurses wages in 1988–89 for individual boards will not be available centrally until boards submit their annual accounts in June.

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many agency nurses, in whole-time equivalents, have been used in the Greater Glasgow health board from 1 October 1988 to 31 December 1988.

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

  Greater Glasgow Health Board

  Agency Nurses W.T.E.

  1988

  October

  96·73

  November

  105·39

  December

  114·73

  Average for period

  105·62

  Benzodiazepines
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many prescriptions for benzodiazepines were dispensed by community pharmacists in Scotland in 1987.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  It is estimated that some 3 million NHS prescriptions for benzodiazepines were dispensed by community pharmacists in Scotland in 1987.

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has on the number of people in Scotland dependent on benzodiazepines.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This information is not available. It is very difficult to define clinical dependency objectively in a way which would enable such information to be collected.

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many working days were lost for the last year for which figures are available, resulting from people withdrawing from benzodiazepines.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This information is not available.

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what facilities are available in Scotland for those wishing to withdraw from benzodiazepines; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what funds are currently available to assist those wishing to withdraw from benzodiazepines; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The provision and funding of services for those dependent on benzodiazepines is primarily the responsibility of health boards and local authorities. NHS services are provided by the usual range of primary care and hospital-based services. In addition, many of the local statutory and voluntary sector projects concerned with the treatment and rehabilitation of drug misusers include a service for benzodiazepine dependants. Last month I announced that an additional £1 million per annum will be made available to health boards for 1989–90 for the development of services for drug misusers.

  Cervical Cytology
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the reason for Argyll and Clyde health board employing private contractors for cervical cytology; what information he has on the qualifications and training of the staff of the private company; and whether the health board will be liable for any errors of the private company.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Argyll and Clyde health board engaged the services of a private firm to screen a number of cervical cytology smears during the period January to March 1988 in order to deal with a temporary backlog in cervical smears reporting which had developed in one of the board's laboratories. The board rightly wished to avoid any lengthy delay in informing women of the results of their smears—delay which could cause unnecessary anxiety in those women concerned.

  Officers of the board satisfied themselves that the firm concerned employed suitably qualified staff and operated a proper quality control system. The board accepts liability for any errors resulting from the arrangement on the same basis as it accepts liability for smears reported by its own laboratories.

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give for each year since 1986 the amount of money spent by each health board on training laboratory staff for cervical cytology screening; what assistance his Department has given; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The training of laboratory staff is a matter for individual health boards to determine and this information is not held centrally.

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to provide additional funding to health boards for cervical cytology.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Government are providing additional funds—about £5 million in the current year—to assist all health boards to improve their computer facilities. This will enable boards to establish a fully computerised call and recall system for cervical cancer screening. Computer software is also being provided to boards free of charge.

  Greater Glasgow Health Board
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if Greater Glasgow health board operates a system of performance review of persons occupying senior management, medical and senior nursing posts.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Yes.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice his Department will give to community charge officers if they discover a person is copying the extract of the community charge register available for public inspection for purposes wholly unconnected with the community charge.

  Mr. Lang
  The rules which apply to the inspection of the community charges register are clearly set out in
  647
  section 20 of the Abolition of Domestic Rates Etc (Scotland) Act 1987, as amended, and in the Community Charges (Registration) (Scotland) (No. 2) Regulations 1988. I do not consider that specific advice on the application of these rules is required.

  Pre-school
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number of three and four-year-old children, expressed numerically and as a percentage of the age group(a) in nursery classes, (b) in primary classes and (c) attending pre-school playgroups in each of the local education authority areas in 1977, 1982 and 1987.

  Number

  Rate

  Nursery

  1977

  1982

  1987

  1977

  1982

  1987

  Borders

  240

  390

  390

  9·8

  17·5

  16·6

  Central

  1,220

  1,960

  2,490

  16·4

  29·3

  37·8

  Dumfries and Galloway

  230

  270

  430

  6·2

  8·1

  12·7

  Fife

  2,980

  3,440

  4,190

  32·0

  40·8

  48·5

  Grampian

  2,290

  2,240

  2,680

  18·2

  18·3

  21·2

  Highland

  180

  570

  620

  3·3

  10·7

  11·6

  Lothian

  6,190

  7,050

  7,970

  30·9

  43·3

  47·8

  Strathclyde

  14,030

  16,070

  17,550

  20·2

  27·8

  29·6

  Tayside

  1,720

  2,100

  2,340

  16·3

  23·5

  25·1

  Orkney

  0

  90

  80

  0·0

  16·5

  18·3

  Shetland

  0

  90

  110

  0·0

  12·1

  17·7

  Western Isles

  140

  170

  0

  16·8

  19·7

  0·0

  Scotland total

  29,220

  34,410

  38,850

  20·5

  27·9

  30·8

  Number

  Rate

  Primary

  1987

  1982

  1987

  1977

  1982

  1987

  Borders

  230

  160

  210

  9·2

  7·3

  9·0

  Central

  680

  550

  530

  9·2

  8·1

  8·0

  Dumfries and Galloway

  310

  240

  290

  8·4

  7·0

  8·7

  Fife

  10

  610

  760

  0·1

  7·2

  8·8

  Grampian

  960

  890

  930

  7·6

  7·3

  7·3

  Highland

  410

  440

  430

  7·7

  8·2

  8·1

  Lothian

  1,520

  1,200

  1,150

  7·6

  7·4

  6·9

  Strathclyde

  5,730

  4,530

  4,760

  8·3

  7·8

  8·0

  Tayside

  270

  560

  590

  2·6

  6·2

  6·3

  Orkney

  0

  30

  30

  0·0

  5·3

  6·4

  Shetland

  70

  70

  40

  10·3

  9·4

  6·8

  Western Isles

  70

  80

  70

  9·0

  9·3

  9·3

  Scotland total

  10,260

  9,330

  9,790

  7·2

  7·6

  7·8

  Number

  Rate

  Playgroups

  1977

  1982

  1987

  1977

  1982

  1987

  Borders

  1,350

  990

  1,590

  54·3

  44·6

  67·8

  Central

  2,310

  2,120

  2,150

  31·2

  31·6

  32·6

  Dumfries and Galloway

  1,530

  1,360

  1,780

  41·2

  40·7

  52·9

  Fife

  3,510

  2,290

  2,320

  37·7

  27·1

  26·8

  Grampian

  4,850

  5,160

  4,910

  38·5

  42·3

  38·9

  Highland

  2,250

  2,770

  2,960

  41·8

  52·1

  55·8

  Lothian

  7,100

  5,110

  5,220

  35·5

  31·4

  31·4

  Strathclyde

  23,270

  17,090

  16,820

  33·5

  29·6

  28·3

  Tayside

  2,810

  2,760

  2,920

  26·6

  30·9

  31·3

  Orkney

  340

  410

  580

  75·5

  79·0

  128·4

  Shetland

  500

  570

  530

  76·3

  80·7

  84·7

  Western Isles

  240

  310

  1,640

  29·9

  36·1

  221·7

  Scotland total

  50,050

  40,920

  43,430

  35·1

  33·2

  34·5

  Football Matches (Arrests)
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many arrests took place at Celtic v Rangers and Rangers v Celtic football matches in 1988.
  648
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The numbers of three arid four-year-old children in education authority nursery schools or departments and education authority primary schools or departments in 1977, 1982 and 1987 are shown in the table. The numbers of children attending education authority and registered pre-school playgroups in 1977 and the numbers of places available in 1982 and 1987 are also shown. These numbers have been expressed as rates per hundred of the three and four year old child population. Information about the ages of children attending pre-school playgroups in 1977 and the numbers attending in 1982 and 1987 are not available.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  A total of 269 arrests were made at these matches.

  Ecology
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place a consultancy research contract with the countryside interpretation unit, presently based at the Open university, Milton Keynes, as part of his Departmental programme to increase public environmental awareness of Scotland's natural ecology.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Scottish Office has no immediate intentions of placing a consultancy contract with the countryside interpretation unit. Research contracts are commissioned in keeping with the Department's research priorties and on the basis of competitive tenders, unless there are special reasons for inviting a single contractor. The Department will consider proposals for research relevant to its responsibilities in line with its established contractual procedures.

  Further Education
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many fifth-form pupils have moved into full-time further education in each of the last three academic years giving the figures in numerical and percentage terms and for each standard planning region;

  (2) how many 18-year-old students have progressed into higher education in each of the last three academic years, giving figures in numerical and percentage terms and for each standard planning region.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Information at the level of detail requested is not readily available. The most recent information from the biennial Scottish young people's survey relating to the destination of school leavers was published in December 1988 in Scottish Education department statistical bulletin "School Leavers' Destinations (No. 12/E1/1988)" which is available in the Library.

  Single European Market
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the grants available to small businesses preparing for the single European market of 1992.

  Mr. Lang
  An extensive range of assistance is available to firms in Scotland to help them meet the challenge of the single market. The enterprise initiative assists companies to improve their competitiveness by developing skills in six key areas of managment practice. Substantial help is available to assist firms break into export markets or to develop their existing overseas business, and regional enterprise grants for innovation and investment have been designed specifically for small firms with fewer than 25 employees. In addition, a range of assistance is available to small businesses from the Scottish development agency.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he has taken in the past 12 months to prepare Scottish businesses for the single European market of 1992.

  Mr. Lang
  In addition to the Government's "Europe Open for Business" campaign which covers the whole of the United Kingdom, my Department is working closely with the Scottish development agency, enterprise trusts,650
  chambers of commerce, and other organisations in Scotland, and both Ministers and officials have taken part in an extensive series of seminars and business meetings held throughout Scotland. My right hon. and learned Friend has also established the single market committee of the Scottish Economic Council to examine the impact of the single market on the economy of Scotland and to submit proposals to encourage those concerned to prepare for it. Our aim is to ensure that every sector of industry and commerce in Scotland is fully prepared for the challenges and opportunities which the single market will present.

  Conservation
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give for each year since its introduction(a) the total amount of conservation grants paid in Scotland under the enviromentally sensitive areas scheme and (b) the total amount of funding received from the European Economic Community for conservation grants in Scotland under the environmentally sensitive areas scheme.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. and learned Friend has made the following payments under the environmentally sensitive areas scheme:

  £

  1987

  16,300

  1988

  186,800

  Information on the amount of European Community reimbursement is not yet available.

  Radio Forth
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what instructions the Lord Advocate gave to officers of Strathclyde police to interview Mr. David Johnston a reporter working for Radio Forth.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  None. Mr. Johnston was interviewed by police officers on the proper instruction of the Lockerbie disaster senior investigating officer.

  School Buildings
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give an expenditure estimate of the outstanding backlog of building work in primary and secondary schools in(a) repairs and maintenance, (b) modernisation, (c) other capital works and (d) new build.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Local authorities are themselves responsible for estimating the detailed expenditure needs of their education buildings. They have substantial resources, both current and capital at their disposal for necessary building works.

  Her Majesty's Inspectors
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the total number of Her Majesty's inspectors' school reports published in each of the years 1979–80 to 1987–88 inclusive for Scotland and each local education authority.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The publication of Her Majesty's Inspectors' reports on schools was instituted from the
  651
  beginning of the 1983–84 session. The number of reportsproduced for each of the school sessions since then are setout in the table below:

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  Borders

  3

  5

  5

  5

  4

  Central

  8

  7

  9

  10

  9

  Dumfries & Galloway

  5

  6

  5

  7

  6

  Fife

  9

  10

  11

  11

  12

  Grampian

  17

  15

  17

  17

  15

  Highland

  13

  10

  17

  14

  10

  Lothian

  19

  14

  20

  21

  19

  Strathclyde

  52

  62

  51

  51

  54

  Tayside

  13

  11

  16

  13

  12

  Orkney Islands

  2

  2

  1

  2

  1

  Shetland Islands

  1

  4

  1

  3

  1

  Western Isles

  1

  6

  5

  4

  3

  Scotland

  143

  152

  158

  158

  146

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the total number of Her Majesty's inspectors in each of the years 1979–80 to 1987–88, inclusive.

  Mr. Rifkind
  The total number of Her Majesty's inspectors of schools in post at 1 September in each of the years 1979 to 1988 inclusive is as follows:

  Number

  1 September 1979

  119

  1 September 1980

  109

  1 September 1981

  99

  1 September 1982

  93

  1 September 1983

  105

  1 September 1984

  109

  1 September 1985

  114

  1 September 1986

  116

  1 September 1987

  113

  1 September 1988

  1105

  1 At this date there were seven Her Majesty's Inspector vacancies, for which open recruitment competitions had been advertised.

  Curriculum Development
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has received any representations from independent/non-maintained schools about curriculum development.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  No.

  Sites of Special Scientific Interest
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total amount of public money spent on compensation to owners of sites of special scientific interest in Scotland for each year since 1982; and where each one of those sites is located.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 6 February 1989]: The Nature Conservancy Council is empowered to enter into management agreements with owners or occupiers of land designated as a site of special scientific interest, or within a national nature reserve. Details of individual payments are confidential, but data on the numbers and costs of such payments are published in the Nature Conservancy Council's annual reports, copies of which are in the Library.

  Forestry
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the total new plantings of private forestry in Scotland during the current planting season; and what estimate he has as to how this has been affected by the changes in the tax regime.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 6 February 1989]: The main planting season extends to the end of May and it is therefore not possible at this stage to provide a meaningful estimate of the amount of new planting that is likely to take place.

  Training
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of the numbers of training places taken up in Scotland since the new training scheme was introduced and of the numbers who have refused or left the training scheme.

  Mr. Ian Lang
  [holding answer 1 February 1989]: By 20 January 1989, almost 16,000 people had entered Employment Training. At 30 December 1988, the latest date for which information on leavers is available, 5,016 people had left employment training, mainly due to completing the balance of their training under previous programmes. No figures are kept of those who decide not to participate in employment training.

DEFENCE

  Gulf (Visit)
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when next he intends to visit the Gulf.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for defence hopes to visit the Gulf again later this year. I was there in Dubai and Qatar last week.

  Defence Industry (Ownership)
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is Her Majesty's Government's policy toward the possible increase of foreign ownership or part-ownership of vital British defence industries.
  653
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the possible increase of foreign ownership or part-ownership of vital British defence industries.

  Mr. Lofthouse
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is Her Majesty's Government's policy toward the possible increase of foreign ownership or part-ownership of vital British defence industries.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  My Department monitors proposals for increased foreign ownership, or part ownership of United Kingdom defence industries and assesses on a case by case basis the implications for national security and our ability to secure value for money in procurement.

  Value for Money
  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will outline his future policy towards achieving value for money.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We have introduced a range of initiatives including the planned introduction of the new management strategy; the pursuit of a more commercial approach in the area of defence procurement, and the extension of competiton in defence support services. We shall continue to pursue these efficiency measures energetically.

  Conventional Stability Talks
  Mr. David Davis
  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 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, even if the reductions in its forces announced recently are implemented.

  US Bases
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultation took place between the United States Administration and Her Majesty's Government prior to the submission of the addendum to the United States defence budget submitted to Congress proposing to double United states spending on British bases.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultation took place between the United States Administration and Her Majesty's Government prior to the submission of the addendum to the United States defence budget submitted to Congress proposing to double United States spending on British bases.

  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultation took place between the United 654
  States Administration and Her Majesty's Government prior to the submission of the addendum to the United States defence budget submitted to Congress proposing to double United States spending on British bases.

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultation took place between the United States Administration and Her Majesty's Government prior to the submission of the addendum to the United States defence budget submitted to Congress proposing to double United States spending on British bases.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Details of the United States' budget plans are a matter for the United States Government, but my Department maintains close liaison with the United States authorities on their proposals for the bases made available to them in the United Kingdom. All military construction projects at these bases require the approval of her Majesty's Government before they can proceed.

  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he had at NATO's (i) planning group and (ii) high level group about United States proposals to enhance its military bases in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he had at NATO's (i) nuclear planning group and (ii) high level group about United States proposals to enhance their military bases in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he had at the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's(a) nuclear planning group and (b) high level group about United States proposals to enhance their military bases in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The details of nuclear planning group and high level group discussions are confidential.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the implications for burden-sharing arrangements of the proposed increase in the financial commitment of the United States to its bases in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the implications for burden-sharing arrangements of the proposed increase in the financial commitment of the United States to its bases in the United Kingdom.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the implications for burden-sharing arrangements of the proposed increase in the financial commitment of the United States to their bases in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Heffer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the implications for burden-sharing arrangements of the proposed increase in the financial commitment of the United States to their bases in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The United States presence in the United Kingdom is an important contribution to the sharing of risks, roles and responsibilities within the Alliance. Details of United States spending plans are, of course, a matter for the United States Government.
  655
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the United States Defence Department about its plans to build new storage vaults for nuclear bombs at a number of its military bases in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the United States Defence Department about its plans to build new storage vaults for nuclear bombs at a number of its military bases in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with the United States Defence Department about its plans to build new storage vaults for nuclear bombs at a number of its military bases in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the United States Defence Department about its plans to build new storage vaults for nuclear bombs at a number of its military bases in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My Department is involved in continuing discussions with the United States Government on this matter.

  Nuclear-Powered Vessels
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a study of possible radioactive contamination at Holy Loch, Faslane and Rosyth caused by nuclear-powered defence vessels.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a study of possible radioactive contamination at Holy Loch, Faslane, Rosyth and the Firth of Clyde caused by nuclear-powered defence vessels.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a study of possible radioactive contamination at Holy Loch, Faslane and Rosyth caused by nuclear-powered defence vessels.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a study of possible radioactive contamination at Holy Loch, Faslane, Rosyth and the Firth of Clyde caused by nuclear-powered defence vessels.

  Mr. Younger
  No. Thorough monitoring of radioactivity in environmental materials and gamma dose rates in air at Holy Loch, Faslane and Rosyth is carried out by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The results show that public radiation exposure in these areas is consistently less than 0·1 per cent. of the limit recommended by the international commission on radiological protection. This is equivalent to the radiation which would be received during a return flight in the Glasgow shuttle. The Ministry of Defence carries out its own monitoring of these sites, and the results are consistent with those produced by MAFF.

  Single Market
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the defence procurement implications of the implementation of the single European market.
  656
  Mr. Buckley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the defence procurement implications of the implementation of the single European market.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The implementation of the single European market does not directly affect the managment of defence procurement. The implementation will, however, have an important impact on many of our suppliers, as they operate in both the civil and defence sectors of the economy.

  Women (Front-line Units)
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he intends deploying women in front-line units of the three services.

  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he intends deploying women in front-line units of the three services.

  Mr. Neubert
  All three services are examining ways of increasing the range of employment opportunities for women. It remains our policy that women should not be employed in direct combat roles, though they may bear arms for self-defence and the defence of certain establishments.

  Defence Establishments (Explosions and Fires)
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on recent explosions and fires at defence establishments.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on recent explosions and fires at defence establishments.

  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on recent explosions and fires at defence establishments.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The 1988 figures for the defence establishments, as distinct from service establishments, are 80 fires requiring fire-fighting action and two explosions. These incidents resulted in four minor casualties, and the aggregate damages are assessed to be less than £40,000.

  Trident
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Winchester (Mr. Browne) of 17 January,Official Report, column 133, he will indicate the major areas of cost reduction in the Trident programme.

  Mr. Franks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Winchester (Mr. Browne) of 17 January,Official Report, column 133, he will indicate the major areas of cost reduction in the Trident programme.

  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Winchester (Mr. Browne) of 17 January,Official Report, column 133, he will detail the sources of the cost savings in the Trident programme.

  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for
  657
  Winchester (Mr. Browne) of 17 January, Official Report, column 133, he will detail those areas in which there has been a real reduction in costs in the Trident programme.

  Mr. Younger
  The £104 million real reduction in the Trident estimate since my announcement in January 1988 has arisen largely in the missile area, where there has been a reduction of about £100 million. In addition, there have been other smaller reductions of £8 million in the submarine area, and some £24 million in the equipment area. These reductions have been offset by the net effect of smaller changes in other areas of the programme.

  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has assessed the value for money received through the purchase of Trident; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement on the progress of the Trident programme.

  Mr. Younger
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Winchester (Mr. Browne) on 17 January at column 133 and to the detailed report on Trident which I placed in the Library of the House at the same time. These show that Trident remains outstanding value for money in providing effective deterrence.

  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the extent to which Trident will provide the United Kingdom with a credible strategic nuclear deterrent into the 21st century.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Government's decision to replace Polaris with Trident was based on a full assessment of what was needed to maintain the effectiveness and credibility of Britain's independent strategic nuclear deterrent into the next century.

  Mr. Ron Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has received recent representations from the Amalgamated Engineering Union about the cost of Trident; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No. Trident remains outstanding value for money in providing effective deterrence for this country.

  European Fighter Aircraft (Radar)
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the latest procurement plans for the EFA radar system.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the latest procurement plans for the EFA radar system.

  Mr. Ray Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the latest procurement plans for the EFA radar system.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  A report by the prime contractor is currently under consideration by NEFMA, the international management agency for the EFA programme, and by the collaborating nations. I would hope a decision on the winning consortium could be made early this year.

  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has had discussions with any of his 658
  counterparts in the Governments funding the European fighter aircraft on the criteria which should be taken into account in reaching a decision on which consortium should be awarded the nose radar contract; and if he will make a statement on the prospects for an early decision.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  My right hon. Friend often discusses with his counterparts the current position on a wide range of projects, including EFA. In respect of the second part of his question I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Mansfield (Mr. Meale).

  Chemical Weapons
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the readiness of British forces to repel attack by chemical weapons.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The United Kingdom abandoned its offensive chemical warfare capability in the late 1950s but maintains an appropriate mix of adequate and effective nuclear and conventional forces to deter or repel any form of attack. We also carry out extensive research at the chemical defence establishment, Porton Down, into defensive measures to protect our armed forces against an attack using chemical weapons. This includes the detection of chemical agents, the protection of personnel, and medical counter-measures. Our armed forces are trained and equipped accordingly.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Government intend responding to the Soviet announcement of a unilateral cut in chemical weapons.

  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether Her Majesty's Government intends responding to the Soviet announcement of a unilateral cut in chemical weapons.

  Mr. Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Government intend responding to the Soviet announcement of a unilateral cut in chemical weapons.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We welcome the announcement by Mr. Shevardnadze that the Soviet Union intends to begin destroying some of its chemical weapons stocks, but no details have been given of the rate of destruction or the quantity and type of weapons to be destroyed. There is a long way to go before Soviet stocks, which are the largest in the world, are brought down to the level of the West's. The United Kingdom abandoned its offensive chemical warfare capability in the late 1950s and the United States observed a unilateral moratorium on the production of chemical weapons from 1969 to 1987, although the Soviet Union continued production. The United States has already begun a destruction programme of their unitary chemical weapon stocks.

  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent bilateral discussions he has had with his United States counterpart about chemical weapons production.

  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent bilateral discussions he has had with his United States counterpart about chemical weapons production.
  659
  Mr. Terry Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent bilateral discussions he has had with his United States counterpart about chemical weapons production.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent bilateral discussions he has had with his United States counterpart about chemical weapons production.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend has regular discussions with his United States counterpart on a wide range of defence issues.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether stocks of United States forces nerve gas or other chemical or biological weapons are advanced-based in Britain or in any other NATO country.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There are no such stocks in Britain. However, United States forces in Germany hold stocks of chemical weapons.

  NATO Nuclear Planning Group
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when next he intends attending NATO's nuclear planning group.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The next meeting of the NATO nuclear planning group is due to take place in the spring in Brussels.

  Redundant Land and Buildings
  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's policy on the sale of redundant land and buildings to assist in the financing of the equipment budget.

  Mr. Neubert
  It is the Department's policy to keep the size of its estate under constant review and to dispose of surpluses as quickly as possible so that holdings are the minimum required for defence purposes. The resources released as a consequence are available for other high priority defence requirements.

  TGWU (General Secretary)
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has received a request from the general secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union for a briefing on defence matters prior to his visit to the Soviet Union.

  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has received a request from the general secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union for a briefing on defence matters prior to his visit to the Soviet Union.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No.

  Disarmament
  Dr. Reid
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about Her Majesty's Government's response to the detailed conventional forces reductions announced by the Soviet Union and other eastern European Governments.
  660
  Mr. McTaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about Her Majesty's Government's response to the detailed conventional force reductions announced by the Soviet Union and other eastern European Governments.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his North Atlantic Treaty Organisation counterparts about a NATO response to the detailed conventional force reductions announced by the Soviet Union and other Eastern European Governments.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions are taking place to determine NATO's response to Soviet troop withdrawals from Eastern Europe; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his North Atlantic Treaty Organisation counterparts about a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation response to the detailed conventional forces reduction announced by the Soviet Union and other Eastern European Governments.

  Mr George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his NATO counterparts about a NATO response to the detailed conventional forces reductions announced by the Soviet Union and other Eastern European Governments.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about Her Majesty's Government's response to the detailed conventional forces reductions announced by the Soviet Union and other Eastern European Governments.

  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about Her Majesty's Government's response to the detailed conventional forces reductions announced by the Soviet Union and other Eastern European Governments.

  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his NATO counterparts about a NATO response to the detailed conventional forces reductions announced by the Soviet Union and other Eastern European Governments.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what response to the Soviet bloc troop reduction initiative he will be advocating to Britain's NATO partners.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation have welcomed the reductions announced by the Soviet Union and other Warsaw pact countries as a significant step towards the elimination of the Warsaw pact's superiorities in conventional forces in Europe. But even if the announced reductions are implemented, the Warsaw pact will continue to enjoy significant numerical superiorities in key equipments such as tanks and artillery. NATO will therefore continue with its existing policy of deterrence whilst seeking balance in conventional forces in Europe at the new conventional arms control negotiations which are scheduled to begin in Vienna in March this year.

  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a further statement on the
  661
  extent to which, following the withdrawals from eastern Europe of Soviet tanks and manpower as announced by Mr. Gorbachev, the Warsaw pact will have achieved a balance with NATO.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  If implemented, the reductions announced by Mr. Gorbachev in December 1988, and elaborated in January 1989, would leave the Warsaw pact with an advantage over NATO in tanks and artillery of some 2·5:1. NATO countries are still analysing the recent announcements of reductions in the forces of other Warsaw pact countries. It is clear, however, that significant imbalances would remain even if these reductions were also implemented.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received from (i) German citizens and (ii) the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany seeking a reduction of low flying in Germany.

  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received from(a) German citizens and (b) the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany seeking a reduction of low flying in Germany.

  Mr. Neubert
  My right hon. Friend has not received any such representations from citizens of the Federal Republic of Germany, but last week he had discussions with his German colleague, Dr. Scholz, about a wide range of issues of mutual interest, including ways in which it might be possible to ease the impact of low flying training on German citizens.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make arrangements for independent monitoring of low-level military flying exercises to enforce regulations concerning maximum speeds and minimum heights.

  Mr. Neubert
  No.

  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the expected number of low-flying exercises over Northumberland in the next 12 months.

  Mr. Neubert
  Whilst detailed planning has not yet been finalised, low-flying exercises activity over Northumberland this year is expected to be no greater than in recent years. I shall of course continue to give hon. Members advance notification of any significant low-flying activity which may affect their constituents.

  Mr. Irvine
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the extent of low-flying training available to the RAF in West Germany is sufficient; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neubert
  The present level of low-flying training available to the Royal Air Force in the Federal Republic of Germany, together with that undertaken by Royal Air Force (Germany) aircrew in the United Kingdom and elsewhere is assessed to be sufficient to enable them to carry out their essential operational training and other tasks.
  662
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to reduce the amount of low-flying in Scotland.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to reduce the amount of low flying in Scotland.

  Mr. Neubert
  No.

  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many low-flying military aircraft passed within one mile of East Shilton and Hinckley, Leicestershire, each month between 1 January 1988 and 31 January 1989.

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

  Manpower Shortfall
  Mr. Gregory
  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. John Greenway
  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. Neubert
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Salisbury (Mr. Key) on 3 February 1989 at column 443.

  Soviet Defence Minister
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he next intends to meet the Soviet Defence Minister to discuss disarmament proposals.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no current plans to meet the Soviet Defence Minister.

  Warrior (Trials)
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is satisfied with the outcome of trials of Warrior.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Yes. The extensive trialing of prototype equipment during development, which is continuing with in-service production vehicles, demonstrates that Warrior is fully meeting its performance, reliability and maintainability requirements.

  NATO (Contribution)
  Mr. Dickens
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will outline the British contributions to NATO.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Derby, North (Mr. Knight) on 3 February 1989 at column 445.

  United States Secretary of State for Defence
  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to meet his new American counterpart.
  663
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence met Mr. Tower at the recent Wehrkunde conference in Munich.

  Central Ordnance Depot, Donnington
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has any plans to visit Central Ordnance Depot, Donnington to discuss with the work force his plans for contractorisation.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has no plans at present to visit Donnington.

  Royal Ordnance Factories (Sale)
  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if, in the light of the report of the Public Accounts Committee on the disposal of Royal Ordnance factories, he will make it his policy to apply for outline planning permission prior to similar sales in the future.

  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if, in the light of the report of the Public Accounts Committee on the disposal of Royal Ordnance factories, he will make it his policy to apply for outline planning permission prior to similar sales in the future.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer the hon. Member to paragraph 67 of the Treasury Minute on the 43rd to 48th Reports from the Committee of Public Accounts, which was published on 18 January as Cm. 563.

  NATO (Nuclear Strategy)
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement about NATO's current nuclear strategy in the light of the last NATO nuclear planning group meeting at Scheveningen.

  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement about NATO's current nuclear strategy in the light of the last NATO nuclear planning group meeting at Scheveningen.

  Mr. Flannery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement about North Atlantic Treaty Organisation current nuclear strategy in the light of the last North Atantic Treaty Organisation nuclear planning group meeting at Scheveningen.

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement about the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's current nuclear strategy in the light of the last NATO nuclear planning group meeting at Scheveningen.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I have nothing to add to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 29 November 1988 at column 573 to the hon. Member for Deptford (Ms. Ruddock).

  On-site Inspections
  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions Warsaw pact on-site inspections have taken place in the United Kingdom under the terms of the conference on security and co-operation in Europe.
  664
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There has been one such occasion: the Soviet Union conducted an inspection in the south of England under the terms of the document of the 1986 Stockholm conference from 5–7 October 1988.

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

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

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer my hon. Friends to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Cambridgeshire, North-West (Mr. Moss) earlier today.

  Greenham Common
  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future use of Greenham common air base by United States military forces.

  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future use of Greenham common air base by United States military forces.

  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future use of Greenham common air base by United States military forces.

  Ms. Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future use of Greenham common air base by United States military forces.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  RAF Greenham common has been designated as a NATO standby operating base for many years and we envisage that this role will continue after the cruise missiles are withdrawn in about two years time. No decisions have yet been taken on any additional roles for the base thereafter.

  NATO Secretary General
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he next expects to meet the Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation; and what matters he intends to discuss.

  Mr. Younger
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Colne Valley (Mr. Riddick) earlier today.

  Northern Ireland (Army Personnel)
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state the number of Army personnel serving in Northern Ireland and the comparable figure for 1979.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The numbers of Army personnel (including UDR) serving in the security forces in Northern Ireland were as follows:
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  Number

  1 January 1989

  16,007

  1 January 1979

  20,488

  Comparable figures for the total number of service personnel serving in the security forces in the Province were 17,287 and 21,465 respectively.

  HMS Shropshire
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to name one of Her Majesty's ships Shropshire.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  My Department has no plans at present to revive the name Shropshire for one of Her Majesty's ships. The name would be considered should a suitable opportunity arise.

  Belize
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when next he intends to visit Belize.

  Mr. Younger
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Leicestershire, North-West (Mr. Ashby).

  Defence Spares and Maintenance
  Mr. Wood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how he intends to make savings in defence spares and maintenance.

  Mr. Neubert
  We are pursuing a number of initiatives to achieve savings in defence spares and maintenance costs, through improvements in spares purchasing and repair and overhaul contracts, better resource management supported by investment in information technology, and improved reliability and maintainability of equipment.

  Wehrkunde Conference
  Mr. Kirkhope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he next intends attending the Wehrkunde conference.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend attended this year's Wehrkunde conference in Munich on 28 and 29 January.

  Stock Levels
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total level of stocks held by the Ministry of Defence at the latest convenient date.

  Mr. Neubert
  In addition to any stocks which may be held to meet specific war reserve or contingency requirements the Ministry of Defence holds working stocks, the levels of which vary according to factors such as shelf life, the rate of consumption, economic order quantity and lead times for replacement. Typically stock levels range from two months for items readily available from commercial sources to eight years for those which are not for example, for support of refurbishment programmes for major specialised equipments.

  Naval Procurement
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the naval procurement programme.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Since 1979, the Government have ordered a total of 64 vessels at a cost in excess of £6 billion. The acceptance of HMS Trenchant, a Trafalgar class submarine, will bring the number of these vessels subsequently accepted into service to 40. The vessels currently under construction comprise two Trident submarines, two further Trafalgar class submarines and four conventional Upholder class submarines, as well as two type 22 and seven type 23 frigates, five of a new class of single role minehunters and two of a new class of auxiliary oiler replenishment vessels. The Government expect to invite tenders for a further batch of type 23 frigates and to order a third Trident submarine later this year. In addition, although orders are not envisaged for this year, tenders have already been invited for an aviation support ship, and we are in the process of evaluating the results of feasibility studies into the replacement of the capability currently provided by the assault ships Fearless and Intrepid.

  Women Pilots
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement concerning the recruitment and training of women pilots following the comments made by the new Chief of the Air Staff.

  Mr. Neubert
  Whilst there are no current plans to change our policy preventing women from undertaking directly combatant duties, the Royal Air Force is currently studying the possibility of employing women in some pilot roles.

  RAF Officer and Aircrew Selection Centre, Biggin Hill
  Mr. John Hunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any plans to visit the Royal Air Force officer and aircrew selection centre at Biggin Hill before the proposed transfer of the centre to RAF Cranwell.

  Mr. Neubert
  I have no plans to do so

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

  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what success he has had in persuading the services to implement efficiency and savings.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer my hon. Friends to the answer that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Gloucester (Mr. French) on 3 February at column 443.

  Procurement
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on procurement from(a) the United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) United States-owned defence industries.
  667
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on procurement from(a) the United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) United States-owned defence industries.

  Mr. Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on procurement from(a) the United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) United States-owned defence industries.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer the hon. Members to the answer that I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks).

  Mr. Nelson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures he will take as chairman of the Independent European Programme Group to promote the objective of European collaboration in the supply of defence equipment as set out in the Luxembourg communiqué of 9 November 1988.

  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his Department's efforts to date to secure Europe wide procurement harmonisation and reciprocity; if he will discuss these matters with his NATO counterparts; and when he next expects to discuss these matters with the secretary-general of NATO.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Luxembourg communiqué contained a wide range of measures designed to increase the effectiveness of European armaments co-operation, most particularly by creating a European market for defence equipment. Our aim during the chairmanship is to make concrete progress towards this by focusing on a number of specific objectives, with milestones for achievement. We shall be seeking our IEPG partners' agreement to these objectives which will include proposals for the opening up of the market to the benefit of all IEPG countries (through, for instance, the publication of bidding opportunities); measures to enhance research co-operation through a European technology programme; and intensified efforts to harmonise requirements and identify viable projects for co-operation. We believe that progress in these areas will strengthen the European contribution to NATO, and therefore benefit the Alliance as a whole.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on recent developments to ensure value for money in procurement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Southport (Mr. Fearn) on 20 June 1988 column 221

  Dog Training (Review)
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the latest position regarding the review of dog training at the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, Melton Mowbray; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neubert
  The Peat Marwick McLintock report on training arrangements has been received by the Ministry and its contents are being considered. In arriving at a decision, account will be taken on the points previously made by my hon. Friend.

  Nuclear-powered Submarines
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement on the decommissioning of Royal Navy nuclear-powered submarines.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Wallace) on 9 May 1988 at column 2.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans exist to distribute iodine tablets to residents of a town near a nuclear submarine base in the event of a major containment failure of a pressurised water reactor on a nuclear submarine.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Arrangements are in place at ports where nuclear submarines are permitted to berth to ensure the prompt distribution of stable iodine to those at risk in the very unlikely event of a containment failure leading to the release of radioactive iodine. Formal contact is maintained with the relevant public authorities who, together with their naval counterparts, review these arrangements on a regular basis and thereby keep them fully up-to-date.

  Drugs
  Mr. Cyril D. Townsend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his campaign to reduce drug taking among service men.

  Mr. Neubert
  Drug abuse is not a major problem in the armed forces. Nevertheless the services pursue a vigorous programme of education and prevention. Several new drug abuse prevention films have been made recently and the three services' specialist drug detection teams were strengthened following a rise in convictions in the early 1980s. A drop in convictions each year since 1984 gives reasonable grounds to believe that these measures are proving successful. The services are aware of the need for constant vigilance.

  European Defence Procurement
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will outline the main recent achievements of his Department in furthering European defence procurement.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will outline the main recent achievements of his Department in furthering European defence procurement.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will outline the main recent achievements of his Department in furthering European defence procurement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  There have been a number of recent achievements to add to our successful history of equipment collaboration with our European partners. For example, in the last six months memoranda of understanding (MoUs) have been signed for the development phase of the European fighter aircraft (EFA) and the third generation of anti-tank weapon (TRIGAT).

  A further valuable recent achievement has been the Anglo-French reciprocal purchasing initiative, launched in

  669
  1987 with the aim of encouraging cross-channel competitive bidding so as to create a more open market in defence equipment between Britain and France. These various measures, and plans to implement greater coherence and co-ordination of research spending, should result in greater value for money in procurement and a stronger European contribution to NATO defence. As holders of the IEPG chair for the next two years, the United Kingdom will be concerned to press ahead with the action plan already agreed in pursuit of these objectives.

  Foulness
  Dr. Michael Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has any plans to visit the defence establishments at Foulness.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Defence, has no plans at present to visit AWE Foulness.

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

  Mr. Allen McKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future use of RAF Molesworth.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Members to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Ashfield (Mr. Haynes) on 3 February at column 444.

  Western European Union
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will outline the recent British contribution to the Western European Union.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The United Kingdom has held the Presidency of the WEU Council of Ministers since 1 July 1988. Four main priorities were established for our Presidency: these were set out in my reply to my hon. Friends the Members for Stroud (Mr. Knapman) and for Harrow, West (Mr. Hughes) on 29 November 1988 at column 227.

  Competitive Tendering
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what savings have been achieved through competition in RAF equipment.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Department has achieved significant cost savings on equipment for each of the three services through the adoption of a commercial approach to defence procurement, which includes, of course, a greater emphasis on competition. Eleven examples, where savings totalling some £105 million had been made, were included in the 1988 statement on the Defence Estimates. Four of the examples were of RAF equipment. However, it is not possible to calculate the cumulative total savings, nor the savings achieved for an individual service, since the adoption of the commercial approach in the early 1980s.

  Attack Helicopter
  Mr. Knapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he intends to purchase a new attack helicopter.
  670
  Mr. Sainsbury
  Studies are in progress to investigate possible options for replacing the Army's anti-armour helicopters.

  NATO
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what further plans his Department has for celebrating the 40th anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

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

  RAF Widows
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representatons he has received concerning compensaton payments to the widows of Royal Air Force personnel killed in the Chinook helicopter accident in the Falkland Islands on 27 February 1987; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neubert
  A number of representations have been received from hon. Members and from others. Formal claims on behalf of the dependants of five of the Royal Air Force personnel who lost their lives on 27 February 1987 were commenced by solicitors in August 1987. Since then, correspondence has continued between the solicitors and the Department, whose claims branch is awaiting the completion of all necessary inquiries into the incident, including the results of an inquest by Her Majesty's coroner. Once these inquiries have been completed, it is hoped to be able to come to a decision very quickly on any ex-gratia compensation which might be payable.

  Nuclear Waste (Storage)
  Mr. Robert Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current position regarding his proposals to locate a nuclear waste storage facility in the Plymouth area; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  My Department is still considering the next step following Plymouth city council's objection to the notice of proposed development for this project.

  Submarines (Irish Sea)
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received regarding incidents involving fishing boats and submarines in the Irish sea; what action he has taken as a result; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Fife, North-East (Mr. Campbell) on 14 November 1988 at column 413.

  Horseshoe Barracks, Shoeburyness
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has yet made a decision on the future of the Horseshoe barracks in Shoeburyness, Essex; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neubert
  Horseshoe barracks is surplus to Ministry of Defence requirements and we expect to dispose of it on
  671
  the open market once existing facilities have been reprovided elsewhere. We are currently reviewing the boundary of the area to be released following the recent visit to Shoeburyness by the historic military buildings committee and will be consulting closely with Southend borough council when drawing up our plans for the disposal of the site.

  Weapons
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the respective levels of(a) conventional, (b) nuclear and (c) chemical weapons between the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the Warsaw pact countries; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  In respect of information on conventional and nuclear force levels, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave him on 29 November 1988 at columns 226–27. The broad assessment that I gave then has not changed. No equivalent information is available on chemical weapons, but it is clear that the Soviet Union is the world's largest holder of stock of such weapons, even from the levels of stocks which the Soviet Union has acknowledged possessing, which are, however, significantly below western estimates of the total Soviet stockpile.

  INF Treaty (Inspections)
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the on-site inspections provided by the intermediate range nuclear forces treaty are working satisfactorily; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  To date, the system of on-site inspections provided for under the terms of the treaty on the elimination of United States and Soviet intermediate range missiles has operated satisfactorily in so far as it affects the United Kingdom. Both the United States and Soviet Governments have also expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the on-site inspections. Soviet inspectors have visited the United Kingdom three times since the treaty took effect on 1 June 1988: on 19–22 July 1988 baseline inspections were conducted at RAF Greenham common and RAF Molesworth; on 31 October to 2 November 1988 a short-notice inspection from their annual quota was conducted at RAF Molesworth; and on 18–20 January 1989 a close-out inspection was conducted at RAF Molesworth, together with a short-notice inspection from their annual quota at RAF Greenham common.

  Disaster Relief
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will outline the role of the services in disaster relief over the past year.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There have been a number of instances in the past year, both at home and abroad, where the armed forces provided emergency assistance to the civil authorities in disaster relief.

  In the United Kingdom, very extensive assistance was provided in the aftermath of the tragic air crash at Lockerbie in December 1988, and help was also provided following the air crash at Kegworth in January 1989.
  672
  In addition, RAF fixed and rotary-wing aircraft arid Royal Navy ships and rotary-wing aircraft assisted in many rescue and recovery operations, including the Piper Alpha and Ocean Odyssey oil rig disasters.

  Abroad, the Royal Navy were first on the scene to provide effective relief in the wake of hurricane Gilbert in Jamaica in September. The RAF flew in much needed supplies, and the Army spent three weeks on the island carrying out repairs to buildings and services.

  After the severe earthquake in Nepal in August, the British military hospital at Dharan treated over 700 Nepalese casualties, carrying out over 300 operations; additional medical personnel and medical supplies were also flown in.

  Following the damage which Cyclone Uma caused to roads and bridges in Vanuatu in 1987, a team of Royal Engineers has been carrying out a reconstruction programme.

  Most recently, after the earthquake in Armenia in December, the Ministry of Defence supplied over 70,000 ration packs as part of Her Majesty's Government's £5 million relief package. Medical supplies were provided to the Red Cross, and the Army provided specialised microphones to detect people under the wreckage.

  Sports
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the allocation of resources for sports activities as between officers and men.

  Mr. Neubert
  Resources for sports activities are allocated for the use of all service personnel regardless of rank.

  Defence Products (Sales)
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what special steps he plans to take to promote sales of British defence products.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The British defence industry has an excellent record of export achievement. We shall do everything possible within the necessary constraints of our national policies to ensure that this success continues.

  YTS
  Mr. Colin Shepherd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel currently serving in the Royal Air Force joined through the YTS.

  Mr. Neubert
  As at 1 January 1989, 1,564 serving personnel (960 airmen and 604 airwomen) had been accepted for regular service with the Royal Air Force following training under the armed services youth training scheme.

  Anti-ballistic Missiles
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the outcome of his Department's study of anti-ballistic missile defence systems.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I have nothing to add to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Dr. Thomas) on 26 January 1989 at column 754.

  Glengarry Forest (Transmitter)
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when it is expected that the trial extremely low frequency transmitter station at Glengarry forest will be commissioned.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  It is anticipated that, subject to local planning permission, the construction of the Glengarry experimental extremely low frequency transmitter should take place in 1991 and 1992, but test transmissions are unlikely to start until the following year.

  Atomic Weapons Testing (Compensation)
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made with the compensation claims of the nuclear test veterans; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The judgment by the House of Lords last year in the case of Mr. Melvyn Pearce made it possible for those who, like him, participated in the United Kingdom's nuclear weapons test programme in the Pacific, to pursue claims in the courts for damages. The Government cannot accept that the Crown is legally liable for the ill-health suffered by Mr. Pearce and others like him allegedly arising from their participation in the test programme, and proposes to contest the claims. Solicitors acting for both sides in the case of Mr. Pearce are currently discussing the disclosure of relevant documents for the purposes of litigation.
  674
  Dr. Moonie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had about compensating those affected by British atomic weapons testing in Australia.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Springburn (Mr. Martin).

  Helicopters
  Mr. Duffy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on long-term helicopter procurement policy.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Procurement policy for helicopters, as for other equipment, is aimed at meeting defence requirements in the most cost-effective way. The strategy adopted in individual cases will be determined against the criteria set out in Open Government, document 83/01, "Value for Money in Defence Procurement", a copy of which is in the Library.

  RAF Molesworth
  Mr. Allen
  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
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Ashfield (Mr. Haynes) on 3 February 1989 at column 444.

  FARM AND CONSERVATION GRANT SCHEME
  FARM AND CONSERVATION GRANT SCHEME
  SALMONELLA CONTROL: RESEARCH
  SALMONELLA CONTROL: RESEARCH
  CURRENT WORK ON SALMONELLA SPP TITLE
  CURRENT WORK ON SALMONELLA SPP TITLE
  POLICY DECISIONS: ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS
  POLICY DECISIONS: ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS
  EYESIGHT STANDARDS AND ROAD ACCIDENTS
  EYESIGHT STANDARDS AND ROAD ACCIDENTS
  NEWLY-QUALIFIED DRIVERS: PROPOSAL
  NEWLY-QUALIFIED DRIVERS: PROPOSAL
  FOURTH DIVISION FOOTBALL: ARRESTS
  FOURTH DIVISION FOOTBALL: ARRESTS
  LOW COST HOUSING IN RURAL AREAS
  LOW COST HOUSING IN RURAL AREAS