Written Answers of 14 February 1989

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  AIDS
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made an assessment of the stability of the sub-Saharan countries under the long-term impact of AIDS.

  Mr. Eggar
  Research into the long-term demographic, social and economic consequences of AIDS are being financed under the overseas aid programme. We are also providing support through the World Health Organisation to those countries affected by the disease.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what initiatives under article VI of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty 1986 are planned by Her Majesty's Government with regard to United Kingdom nuclear weapons, in advance of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty 1990 review conference.

  Mr. Eggar
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Minister of State on 8 December 1988, at column 316.

  Council of Europe
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government plans to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Council of Europe during 1989.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We will be represented at the 40th anniversary celebration of the Council of Europe on 5 May 1989. A postmark bearing the Council of Europe's slogan will be in use in Mount Pleasant sorting office for four weeks from 1 May 1989. We are considering what else might be done to mark this anniversary.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Trees
  Mr. Onslow
  To ask the Attorney-General if the Lord Chancellor will draw the Magistrates' Association's attention to the requirement for the courts to have regard to any financial benefit which may accrue, or appear likely to accrue, to offenders convicted of unauthorised felling of a protected tree; and if he wil make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  The possibility of benefit is a matter which magistrates should take into account in such cases. The Lord Chancellor, in his capacity as president of the Magistrates' Association, will take the opportunity of referring to this matter, and expressing his personal views on it, on a suitable occasion when addressing members of the association.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what is the total annual cost of written parliamentary questions each year since 1979; how such a figure is calculated; and what is the average cost per hon. Member in the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Wakeham
  Records of the total cost of answering parliamentary questions are not kept and details of the average cost per hon. Member are not, therefore, available. However, an assessment is made of the average cost of answering a written question. This average figure is updated regularly and currently stands at £51. The calculation is based on a sample of staff time using average rates of pay and associated costs (such as national insurance and superannuation) for the Civil Service grades concerned and substantive non-staff costs such as computer usage.

  Paper Products
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will make it his policy to buy chlorine-free recycled paper products for the House.

  Mr. Wakeham
  Responsibility for monitoring the safety and health aspects of paper products supplied to the House lies with Her Majesty's Stationery Office. There is no reason to believe that its present policy in this respect is in need of change.

TRANSPORT

  Trunk Roads
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many single carriage equivalent miles of trunk roads his Department will have renewed in the year 1988–89.

  Mr. Bottomley
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Burnley (Mr. Pike) on 8 December 1988, at column 243.

  Cherished Number Plates
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department auctions cherished number plates on newly issued registered numbers 1 to 40.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Not at present. Proposals for selling attractive registration marks are being prepared. Auctions, and sales of new year-letter numbers in the series 1–20 which are currently not issued, are both under consideration.

  Vehicle Excise Duty
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the estimated costs of administration, per vehicle registered, of road fund licences issued in the most recent year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Registration, licensing and taxation of vehicles forms part of the same administrative
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  process. The total cost of that process in 1987–88 was £108·3 million. Thirty-three million vehicle licences were issued in that year; there were also 20 million other vehicle transactions, such as new registration documents issued.

  Driving Licences
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish the estimated costs of administration, per licence issued, of driving licences in Great Britain in 1987–88.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The overall cost of administration of the driver licensing system in 1987–88 results in an average cost of £3·24 per driving licence issued.

  Merchant Fleet Tonnage
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will be revising his assessment of the merchant fleet tonnage emergency requirements, in the light of the further loss of North sea output from the Fulmar Auk and Clyde oilfields in December 1988.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  I have been asked to reply.

  No. The temporary loss of North sea output in peacetime would not affect the merchant tonnage needed to service the North sea in wartime.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Lancashire Constabulary
  Mr. Ken Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police posts have been civilianised by Lancashire constabulary since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand from the chief constable of Lancashire that 235 police posts have been civilianised in this period.

  Naturalisation
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many naturalisation applications are at present outstanding; and how many of these applications were made one or more years ago.

  Mr. Renton
  Precise figures are not available. Estimates suggest that around 80,000 applications for naturalisation are now outstanding, of which about three quarters were made over a year ago.

  Crime Statistics
  Dame Elaine Kellett-Bowman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what have been the crime clear-up rates for the area covered by Lincolnshire constabularly for each of the last five years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The recorded clear-up rate in the Lincolnshire constabulary was 49 per cent. in 1983, 35 per cent. in 1984 and 42 per cent. in 1985. From 1986 the information is published annually in table 2.18 of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales".

  Civil Defence
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to issue guidance on 110
  planning for the National Health Service in war for inclusion in current emergency planning guidance to local authorities.

  Mr. John Patten
  Revised guidance on civil defence planning was issued by the Department of Health and Social Security to the National Health Service in July 1988. The guidance was also circulated to all local authorities in England and Wales. The substance of the guidance will be incorporated shortly in the emergency planning guidance to local authorities.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Don Valley of 7 December 1988,Official Report, column 205, if he will give details of the amounts of capital expenditure by the United Kingdom warning and monitoring organisation since 10 July 1987; and if he will give details of the purposes to which such expenditure was put; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  Capital expenditure by the United Kingdom warning and monitoring organisation since 10 July 1987, when my right hon. Friend announced a review of warning and monitoring arrangements, has been limited to items essential to the maintenance of the organisation's effectiveness and readiness for operation. The carrier warning system was completed with expenditure of £2·1 million, automatic telephone exchanges were installed in operational controls at a cost of £1·75 million, and building projects amounted to £0·43 million.

  Missing Persons
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will consult the appropriate police authorities concerning increased police liaison with Interpol in respect of persons missing in the United Kingdom and wanted in connection with criminal inquiries.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  No. I refer the hon. Member to the reply to his question on 19 December 1988, at column 144.

  Voting Rights
  Mr. Thorne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he hopes, with the aid of modern technology, to be able to give service personnel the right to vote by post.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Service personnel may vote in person or by post or by proxy if they are living in the United Kingdom. Service personnel overseas must vote by proxy, because the Representation of the People Act 1983 does not permit ballot papers to be sent outside the United Kingdom. To be useful, alernatives or new aids provided by modern technology to the letter post would need to be consistent with the arrangements for the secrecy of the ballot.

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) blacks, (b) Asians, (c) men and (d) women are currently serving in (i) the Metropolitan police, (ii) other police forces, (iii) the prison service and (iv) the probation service.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The available information is as follows:
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  Police

  Officers1

  Men

  Women

  Metropolitan Police (as at 5 February 1989)

  414

  24,788

  3,220

  Other police forces (as at 30 November 1988)

  769

  87,000

  9,929

  1 From ethnic minorities.

  Person Services

  Of some 11,500 members of the service (including staff in headquarters and regional offices) who responded to a survey in 1986, 111 stated that they were of ethnic minority origin. The results of a more recent survey of those who did not respond are currently being analysed. Information on the number of women and men in the service is not immediately available.

  Probabtion Service

  Information on the ethnic composition of the probation service derives from a survey as at 31 December 1987. Of all employees 330 were recorded as Afro-Caribbean or Other Black and 86 as Asian. Because of the extent of non-recording these figures are minima.

  As at 30 September there were 3,811 men and 2,972 women (whole-time and part-time) in the probation officer grades.

  Broadcasting (Training)
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what information he has on the level of expenditure on training made by(a) the BBC and (b) ITV companies in each of the last five years;

  (2) what provision he intends to make for training by (a) the BBC and (b) ITV companies after 1992;

  (3) if he has any plans to bring forward proposals for training in broadcasting.

  Mr. Renton
  No information is available centrally on expenditure incurred on training by the BBC and ITV companies. It is for the broadcasting industry to provide its training, and there are no plans for Government intervention.

  Television Licences
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the estimated costs of administration, per licence issued, of television licences in Great Britain in 1987–88.

  Mr. Renton
  The figure for the United Kingdom is £3·15, exclusive of VAT. A separate figure for Great Britain is not available.

  Metropolitan Police
  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what will be the total cost to public funds of the Metropolitan police in 1989–90; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hurd
  As police authority for the metropolis I have approved estimates which provide for net revenue expenditure by the Metropolitan police of £1,082·391 million in 1989–90, an increase of 7·7 per cent. on the expenditure I approved for 1988–89. This will be a cash limit.

  The increase in expenditure is largely to meet increased manpower costs including the extra 300 police officers and 250 civilian staff which I announced on 30 January.

  I have also authorised the issue of a precept requiring rating authorities to levy rates at 18·88p in the pound for Metropolitan police purposes. This is an increase of 14·4 per cent. on the 1988–89 precept of 16·5p.
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  The precept has been affected by block grant payments to the Metropolitan police due in 1989–90. The Metropolitan police are subject to the same block grant arrangements as local authorities and like them benefits from block grant in some years more than others. Although the Metropolitan police will receive over £9 million less in block grant in 1989–90, overall, London will receive £175 million more.

  Viraj Mendis
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the costs of the operation by police and immigration service officers to seize Mr. Viraj Mendis; and by whom these costs will be borne.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 25 January 1989]: Additional costs of the operation were in the region of £5,000, of which about £1,100 were police costs and about £3,900 immigration service and prison department costs. For this purpose the operation includes the removal of Mr. Mendis from the church; escorting him to London; his detention for two nights at Her Majesty's prison Pentonville; and his deportation under escort to Sri Lanka. Normal police funding arrangements apply to the additional police costs. Immigration service and prison department costs are borne by the Home Office.

THE ARTS

  Disabled People
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Minister for the Arts(a) how many civil servants and (b) what percentage of the total number of civil servants in the Office of Arts and Libraries were registered disabled in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Luce
  There are at present no registered disabled persons in the Office of Arts and Libraries. The Departments for which I am responsible continue to pursue opportunities to employ people with disabilities.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  IMF
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions since becoming Chancellor he has met representatives of the International Monetary Fund in London; and if he will list the individuals who were present, the date and the topic discussed on each occasion.

  Mr. Lilley
  Since becoming Chancellor, my right hon. Friend has met representatives of the International Monetary Fund on six occasions:

  Representatives

  Date

  Mr. P. de Fontenay, Mr. H. Vittas

  9 December 1983

  Mr. H. Schmitt, Mr. H. Vittas

  10 December 1934

  Mr. P. de Fontenay

  13 December 1985

  Mr. P. de Fontenay, Mr. H. Vittas

  28 November 1986

  Mr. M. Russo, Mr. H. Vittas

  27 November 1987

  Mr. M. Russo, Mr. B. Smith

  2 December 1988

  The discussions have covered United Kingdom economic developments and policies in the context of the fund's annual article IV review of the United Kingdom's economic policies.
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  In addition, my right hon. Friend has met the managing director of the International Monetary Fund in London on four occasions. He met the then MD, Mr. J. de Larosiere on 28 June 1983, 17 April 1984 and 3 February 1986 to discuss a wide range of international economic issues and met the current MD, Mr. M. Camdessus on 11 May 1988 on the occasion of the United Kingdom's formal agreement to a contribution to the IMF's enhanced structural adjustment facility (ESAF).

  GNP
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the gross national product has been received by the Exchequer in each year since 1979; from which sources it came; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Major
  The information on receipts by the Government can be found in "Financial Statistics" tables 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3. Figures for GDP are shown in Economic Trends, table 2.

  East Midlands Business Survey
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has received a copy of the half yearly east midlands business survey commissioned by Price Waterhouse and the business school of Trent polytechnic; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Major
  The recently published east midlands business survey confirms that the region shares in the strong economic performance of the country as a whole. In particular, the survey highlights the high percentage of businesses expecting to increase capital investment and to take on more employees in the next six months.

  Public Sector Debt
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the effect on the monetary aggregates of public sector debt repayment in 1988.

  Mr. Lilley
  The Government's policy is to fund fully the net total of maturing debt, the PSBR and any underlying change in foreign exchange reserves by sales of debt outside the banking and building society sectors. This policy neutralises the impact of the public sector on the monetary system. The progression from public sector borrowing to the net repayment of public sector debt does not affect this. Should the net total be negative "unfunding" is required, that is, the Government make purchases of debt.

PRIME MINISTER

  Clifton-on-Dunsmore
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has any plans to visit Clifton-on-Dunsmore, near Rugby.

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

  Senior Private Secretary
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will make it her policy to introduce Civil Service regulations whereby no civil servant shall occupy a post of a senior private secretary in No. 10 Downing street for a period of more than three years.
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  The Prime Minister
  No.

  Retirement
  Sir David Price
  To ask the Prime Minister what steps she proposes to take to implement the concept of the decade of retirement, outlined in the Government's Green Paper, Cmnd. 9517, of June 1985.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Social Security to my hon. Friend the Member for St. Ives (Mr. Harris) on 18 January 1988, at column 246.

  Central Statistical Office
  Mr. Fishburn
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list the budget for and the number of people employed by the Central Statistical Office over the past five years.

  The Prime Minister
  The net expenditure of the Central Statistical Office for each of the financial years 1984–85 to 1988–89 and the number of staff employed at 1 April in each year are given in the table:

  Financial year

  Number of staff

  Net expenditure £ million

  1984–85

  191

  3·8

  1985–86

  187

  3·3

  1986–87

  1200

  3·5

  1987–88

  173

  3·0

  1988–89

  160

  3·2

  1 Twenty-five computer staff were transferred to Treasury between 1 April 1986 and 1 April 1987.

  Mr. Fishburn
  To ask the Prime Minister what funds have been spent by the Central Statistical Office buying in statistical services or market research from the private sector.

  The Prime Minister
  In the past, CSO has spent very little on buying in statistical or market research services. In 1988ߝ89 it expects to spend around £1,000. However, in 1989–90, a programme of external studies and research into problem areas of the national accounts undertaken by individuals and organisations in the private sector amounting to over £100,000 has been planned.

  Mr. Fishburn
  To ask the Prime Minister what income was generated last year by the Central Statistical Office from the commercial sale of its services to the private sector.

  The Prime Minister
  Information is not available in the precise form requested. In 1987–88 total income to the CSO from the sale of publications was £314,000. In the same year sales to the private sector from the CSO commercial databank service generated £34,000.

  Pensioners
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will appoint a Minister for pensioners' affairs.

  The Prime Minister
  Pensioners' affairs already fall within the responsibilities of the Secretary of State for Social Security.

  Mr. Rupert Murdoch
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list the occasions since 1979 when she has met Mr. Rupert Murdoch at No. 10 Downing street.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan (Mr. Wray) on 13 February 1989, at column 1.

  Engagements
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 14 February.

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 14 February.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 14 February.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 14 February.

  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 14 February.

  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 14 February.

  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 14 February.

  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 14 February.

  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 14 February.

  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 14 February.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 14 February.

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

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Capital Allocations (Nottinghamshire)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received from Nottinghamshire county council regarding(a) the adequacy of the 1989 capital allocations and (b) a meeting to discuss the above.

  Mr. Butcher
  My right hon. Friend has received a letter from the chairman of the education committee of 116
  Nottinghamshire county council setting out the committee's views on the capital allocation for 1989–90 and seeking to bring a deputation to discuss this allocation covering both county and aided schools. I will be writing shortly to arrange a meeting with interested parties from Nottinghamshire.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is capital allocation to Nottinghamshire county education authority for(a) county schools, (b) aided schools and (c) any other categories; and what is the total allocation for each of the years since 1979 indexed using 1979 prices as a base of 100.

  Mr. Butcher
  Nottinghamshire's total prescribed capital allocation for education for the financial year 1989–90 is £3,215,000. Of this, £3,128,000 was notionally allocated for county and controlled schools. In addition, £237,000 was allocated for governors' expenditure at aided and special agreement schools within Nottinghamshire.

  The information requested for the total allocations from 1981–82 to 1989–90 is set out on the table. Before 1981–82 local education authorities did not receive block allocations but were notified annually, in the context of a rolling programme, of a limit on the value of building starts in the following year.

  TABLE: Capital allocations1 to Nottinghamshire for 1981–82 to 1989–90

  (all figures in £ thousands)

  Year

  Allocations for Governors' expenditure at aided and special agreement schools

  Prescribed expenditure allocations (schools and further and higher education)

  Cash prices

  Constant prices2

  Cash prices

  Constant prices2

  1981–823

  —

  —

  6,756

  6,756

  1982–83

  259

  242

  4,903

  4,576

  1983–84

  619

  553

  2,493

  2,225

  1984–85

  190

  161

  2,666

  2,265

  1985–86

  22

  18

  3,421

  2,758

  1986–87

  66

  51

  3,043

  2,374

  1987–88

  322

  239

  2,379

  1,763

  1988–89

  203

  142

  2,461

  1,716

  1989–90

  237

  157

  3,215

  2,136

  Notes:

  1 The allocations shown are those announced before the start of the financial year in question and do not include subsequent revisions.

  2 Calculated at 1981–82 prices using the GDP deflator.

  3 Allocations for aided schools in 1981–82 were made on a different basis from those for later years and have therefore been omitted.

  School Meals
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish figures showing the estimated cost of providing free school meals to(a) pupils and (b) teachers in (i) 1970–71, (ii) 1979–80 and (iii) 1984–85.

  Mr. Butcher
  The available information is given in the table.
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  Estimated cost1 of free school meals—England

  £ million

  1970–71

  1979–80

  1984–85

  cash terms

  1984–85 real terms

  cash terms

  1984–85 real terms

  cash terms

  Net cost of all meals

  82

  396

  409

  626

  432

  Cost of free meals to

  pupils

  n/a

  n/a

  106

  163

  198

  teachers

  n/a

  n/a

  25

  38

  30

  1 The gross expenditure by local education authorities on all meals has been apportioned to the two categories in the ratio of the number of meals taken by each group to the total number of meals taken by paying and free pupils and adults.

  Note: The figures for the earlier years have been converted to 1984–85 real terms using the gross domestic product (market prices) deflator.

  It is not possible to give a full set of figures for 1970–71 because the number of meals served to adults, including teachers, is not available.

  Leigh and Bransford School
  Mr. Temple-Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to be able to announce his conclusions regarding the public inquiry concerning access and other matters relating to Leigh and Bransford primary school, Worcester, held on 12 September 1988.

  Mr. Butcher
  My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Education and Science and for Transport are in the final stages of consideration of the public inquiry concerning compulsory purchase orders relating to the new site for and access to the combined Bransford primary school and Leigh Sinton Church of England (voluntary controlled) school and they expect to announce a decision very shortly.

  Council of Europe Anniversary
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science in what ways his Department is intending to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Council of Europe in schools during 1989; and if the Council of Europe's special teaching kit is to be used.

  Mr. Jackson
  My Department intends to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Council of Europe in schools by issuing a letter to chief education officers, drawing their attention to the programme of events which has been arranged and sending them sufficient copies of the materials now being prepared by the council for distribution to secondary schools and further education colleges in England and Wales.

  Student Awards
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will publish tables to show the number of discretionary awards to students attending(a) drama schools, (b) dance schools, and (c) art colleges, made by each local education authority in England and Wales in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Jackson
  This information is not available centrally.

  Theatre in Education
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has on the local education authorities in England and Wales which give financial support to theatre in education companies.
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  Mrs. Rumbold
  The information for England is not collected centrally. Provision in Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Education Reform
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what guidance he has given to local education authorities as to who is responsible for meeting legal costs of school governors involved in litigation relating to opting-out procedures or other litigation arising out of the Education Reform Act 1988.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Department wrote to the chief education officers of all local education authorities in England on 13 February on the question, inter alia, of costs relating to legal action against governors in connection with applications for grant-maintained status under the Education Reform Act 1988. The relevant paragraph stated:"This is a matter which could only be determined finally by the Courts. But the Secretary of State's view is that, where the governing body has acted in good faith in pursuance of its duties, any legal costs it may incur in such circumstances would qualify as part of the expenses of running the school to be defrayed by the local education authority in accordance with section 114(2) of the Education Act 1944. The costs would therefore fall to be met by the local education authority: there would be no personal liability on individual governors".

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the names, the areas and type of those schools in respect of which he has received a notification concerning a governors' resolution or parent petition for a ballot for a grant-maintained school.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  There is no duty on governors to notify the Department when ballots on grant-maintained status are pending. Ballots have been completed at 29 schools. In addition, the Department is aware that governors have passed the necessary two resolutions, or have received a written request from parents, in respect of the following schools:

  School and LEA

  Character (county school unless otherwise indicated)

  Beechen Cliff School, Bath, Avon

  Comprehensive Boys—11–18

  Claremont High School, Harrow, Brent

  Secondary Mixed—11–18

  Chesterfield School, Derbyshire

  Comprehensive Boys—13–18

  St. Helena School, Chesterfield, Derbyshire

  Comprehensive Girls—13–18

  Foster's Grammar School for Boys, Sherborne, Dorset

  Grammar Boys—11–18

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  School and LEA

  Character (county school unless otherwise indicated)

  Lord Digby's Grammar School for Girls, Sherborne, Dorset

  Grammar Girls—11–18

  Ribston Hall High School, Gloucester

  Grammar Girls—11–18

  Marling Grammar School, Stroud, Gloucester

  Grammar Boys—11–18 voluntary-controlled

  Stroud Grammar School, Stroud, Gloucester

  Grammar Girls—11–18 voluntary-controlled

  Gaynes Comprehensive School, Upminster, Havering

  Comprehensive Mixed—11–18

  Hadham Hall School, Herts.

  Secondary Mixed—11–18

  Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School, Hammersmith and Fulham (ILEA)

  Secondary RC Boys—11–18 voluntary-controlled

  Weald of Kent Grammar School for Girls, Tonbridge, Kent

  Grammar Girls—11–18

  Castle Hall Middle School, Mirfield, Kirklees

  Middle—9–13

  Ruffwood Comprehensive School, Kirkby, Knowsley

  Comprehensive Mixed—11–19

  Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School, Lancs.

  Grammar Mixed—11–18

  St. Francis Xavier RC Comprehensive School, Liverpool

  Comprehensive Boys—11–18 voluntary-aided

  Chichele School, Rushden, Northants.

  Secondary Girls—11–18

  Siddal Moor High School, Heywood, Rochdale

  Secondary High Mixed—11–18

  The Guildford County School, Surrey

  Secondary Mixed—12–18

  Droylsden County High School, Tameside

  Comprehensive Girls—11–16

  Hindley Park High Community School, Wigan

  Comprehensive Mixed—11–16

  Under-fives
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to his reply of 6 February to the hon. Member for Cambridgeshire, South-East,Official Report, column 462, what has been the total annual amount of grant related expenditure in respect of the additional educational needs of under-fives in each year from 1976–77 to 1988–89, in cash and real terms.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The information is not available in the form requested. The table shows the grant-related expenditure for nursery education in England from the start of the current local government finance system. The additional educational needs element of nursery education forms approximately half of the control total. Expenditure on under-fives in primary classes does not fall within the control total for grant related expenditure for nursery education, but is contained within the overall grant related expenditure for primary education.

  Grant related expenditure assessment for nursery education

  £ million

  Cash

  At 1987–88 prices

  1981–82

  129·3

  174·5

  1982–83

  122·6

  154·4

  1983–84

  134·6

  162·1

  1984–85

  153·4

  175·9

  1985–86

  152·2

  165·6

  1986–87

  160·3

  168·8

  1987–88

  185·0

  185·0

  1988–89

  220·6

  207·6

  1989–90

  262·0

  234·8

  Private Sector (Grant-aid)
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total cost to his Department of grant-aid schemes to the private education sector for the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Butcher
  My Department's Votes cover expenditure in England on the assisted places scheme and the music and ballet scheme. The information requested is as follows:

  Total Department of Education and Science expenditure Financial year 1987–88

  £ million

  Assisted Places Scheme

  46·04

  Music and Ballet Scheme

  3·56

  Total

  49·60

  University Grants Committee
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will announce the recurrent grants allocated to universities for the academic year 1989–90 by the University Grants Committee.

  Mr. Jackson
  The University Grants Committee's initial allocation of recurrent grant to universities in the academic year 1989–90 is shown in the table. Responsibility for making the payments will fall to the UGC's successor body, the Universities Funding Council, whose chairman has accepted the announced distribution. Copies of the general letter of guidance that the chairman of the UGC has sent to all universities have been placed in the Library of the House. The general letter will be followed within the next few weeks by a set of institutional annexes providing further details for individual universities. The annexes will also be placed in the Library.

  The total grant distributed by the UGC as announced in the table does not include items which it is the UGC's practice to allocate separately, such as local authority rates and the overseas research student awards scheme. These items amount to £140 million. Nor does the distribution include provision which is to be allocated separately in the targeted programme of restructuring for which my right hon. Friend has provided £184 million over four years.

  The distribution does not include the £67 million third instalment of additional funding in the financial year 1989–90 towards the cost of the 1987 academic pay restructuring settlement. The release of this funding will be subject to continued satisfactory progress on staff appraisal, probation and promotion arrangements.

  University or college

  Basic distribution 1989–90 £ million

  Recurrent grant 1989–90 £ million

  Aston

  15·457

  15·763

  Bath

  17·198

  17·349

  Birmingham

  40·828

  42·114

  Bradford

  16·063

  16·480

  Bristol

  35·770

  36·649

  Brunel

  14·262

  14·458

  Cambridge

  49·336

  50·662

  City

  12·673

  12·759

  Durham

  17·751

  18·303

  East Anglia

  14·364

  14·586

  Essex

  9·573

  9·702

  121

  University or college

  Basic distribution 1989–90 £ million

  Recurrent grant 1989–90 £ million

  Exeter

  18·321

  18·572

  Hull

  15·384

  15·900

  Keele

  8·426

  8·732

  Kent

  12·827

  13·254

  Lancaster

  15·009

  15·188

  Leeds

  45·884

  46·841

  Leicester

  20·250

  20·711

  Liverpool

  40·376

  41·221

  London Business School

  1·732

  1·739

  London

  274·003

  294·042

  (of which Imperial College)

  (33·810)

  (35·039)

  Loughborough

  22·108

  22·618

  Manchester Business School

  0·866

  0·872

  Manchester

  54·226

  55·754

  UMIST

  18·532

  18·874

  Newcastle

  33·825

  34·776

  Nottingham

  31·094

  32·222

  Oxford

  50·272

  51·784

  Reading

  20·579

  20·811

  Salford

  14·407

  15·314

  Sheffield

  34·136

  35·313

  Southampton

  30·542

  31·716

  Surrey

  14·387

  14·976

  Sussex

  16·774

  17·096

  Warwick

  23·134

  24·426

  York

  14·108

  14·619

  Total England

  1,074·477

  1,116·196

  Aberystwyth

  10·722

  10·916

  Bangor

  10·859

  11·476

  Cardiff

  27·867

  28·247

  St. David's

  2·195

  2·202

  Swansea

  13·877

  14·597

  UWCM

  7·755

  8·094

  Welsh Registry

  2·601

  2·601

  Total Wales

  75·876

  78·133

  As at December

  Average salary

  Annual increase

  Annual percentage increase:

  Actual

  In real terms ( RPI-based)

  In relation to non-manual average earnings

  1976

  5,578

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1977

  6,209

  631

  11·3

  -5·2

  1·8

  1978

  7,220

  1,011

  16·3

  7·7

  3·6

  1979

  8,458

  1,238

  17·1

  6·4

  4·5

  1980

  9,979

  1,521

  18·0

  -3·1

  -5·7

  1981

  11,187

  1,208

  12·1

  0·1

  -3·2

  1982

  11,936

  749

  6·7

  -2·5

  -2·5

  1983

  12,543

  607

  5·1

  1·0

  -3·7

  1984

  13,342

  799

  6·4

  1·1

  -1·7

  1985

  13,964

  622

  4·7

  -2·1

  -2·7

  1986

  14,242

  278

  2·0

  -1·0

  -6·4

  1987

  16,592

  2,350

  16·5

  10·6

  7·3

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average polytechnic lecturer's rise in salary for each of the last 10 years(a) in absolute cash terms, (b) in real terms and (c) in relation to the rise in average earnings.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  [pursuant to her reply, 9 February 1989, c. 749]: The average salary of full-time lecturers in
  122

  Aberdeen

  21·677

  21·889

  Dundee

  14·265

  14·656

  Edinburgh

  47.713

  49477

  Glasgow

  49·040

  50·295

  Heriot-Watt

  12·112

  12·598

  St. Andrews

  12·264

  12·294

  Stirling

  8·306

  8·681

  Strathclyde

  26·704

  28·222

  Total Scotland

  192·081

  198·112

  TOTAL GREAT BRITAIN

  1,342·434

  1,392·441

  Queen's Belfast

  30·630

  30·976

  Ulster

  34·877

  35·007

  Lecturers (Pay)
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average university lecturer's rise in salary for each of the last 10 years(a) in absolute cash terms, (b) in real terms and (c) in relation to the rise in average earnings.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  [pursuant to her reply, 9 February 1989, c. 749]: The average salary of full-time lecturers in universities for each of the last 10 years for which data are available is given in the table. The actual percentage increase is also tabulated for each year, as well as the percentage increase relative to the retail prices index at April each year and average non-manual earnings. The index used covers employees in professional and related, administrative, clerical, managerial, selling, security, literary, artistic and sporting occupations.

  The average is calculated by dividing the aggregate salary by the number of lecturers in universities. The annual increases thus reflect other factors as well as pay settlements, such as any change in the proportions of lecturers in the various grades.

  polytechnics for each of the last 10 years for which data are available is given in the table. The actual percentage increase is also tabulated for each year, as well as the percentage increase relative to the retail prices index at April each year and average non-manual earnings. The

  123
  index used covers employees in professional and related, administrative, clerical, managerial, selling, security, literary, artistic and sporting occupations.

  The average is calculated by dividing the aggregate salary by the number of lecturers in polytechnics. The

  As at March

  Average salary

  Annual increase

  Annual percentage increase:

  actual

  in real terms ( RPI-based)

  in relation to non-manual average earnings

  1976

  5,909

  1977

  6,358

  449

  7·6

  -9·5

  -10·7

  1978

  6,684

  326

  5·1

  -10·5

  -3·8

  1979

  7,462

  778

  11·6

  3·4

  -0·6

  1980

  9,016

  1,554

  20·8

  9·7

  7·8

  1981

  11,399

  2,383

  26·4

  3·8

  1·0

  1982

  12,359

  960

  8·4

  -3·2

  -6·4

  1983

  13,152

  793

  6·4

  -2·7

  -2·7

  1984

  13,842

  690

  52

  1·2

  -3·6

  1985

  14,516

  674

  4·9

  -0·3

  -3·1

  1986

  15,459

  943

  6·5

  -0·4

  -1·0

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average college of further education lecturer's rise in salary for each of the last 10 years(a) in absolute cash terms, (b) in real terms and (c) in relation to the rise in average earnings.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  [pursuant to her reply, 9 February 1989, c. 749]: The average salary of full-time lecturers in colleges of further education excluding polytechnics for each of the last 10 years for which data are available is given in the table. The actual percentage increase is also tabulated for

  As at March

  Average salary

  Annual increase

  Annual percentage increase:

  Actual

  In real terms ( RPI-based)

  In relation to non-manual average earnings

  1976

  5,058

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1977

  5,463

  405

  8·0

  -9·2

  -10·4

  1978

  5,710

  247

  4·5

  -11·0

  -4·4

  1979

  6,321

  611

  10·7

  2·6

  -1·4

  1980

  7,608

  1,287

  20·4

  9·3

  7·4

  1981

  9,559

  1,951

  25·6

  3·2

  0·4

  1982

  10,325

  766

  8·0

  -3·6

  -6·7

  1983

  10,924

  599

  5·8

  -3·3

  -3·3

  1984

  11,486

  562

  5·1

  1·1

  -3·7

  1985

  12,128

  642

  5·6

  0·4

  -2·4

  1986

  12,990

  862

  7·1

  0·2

  -0·5

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average rise in salary for each of the last 10 years, expressed in relation to the rise in average professional earnings, for (i) university lecturers, (ii) polytechnics lecturers and (iii) college of further education lecturers.

  Mr. Jackson
  [holding answer 10 February 1989]: The percentage rise in the average salaries of full-time lecturers in universities, polytechnics and other colleges of further education, relative to the index of non-manual earnings, for the most recent years available are as given in the table. There is no recognised index for average professional earnings. The index used covers employees in professional and related, administrative, clerical, managerial, selling, security, literary, artistic and sporting occupations.

  The average has been calculated by dividing the aggregate salary by the number of lecturers. The annual
  124
  annual increases thus reflect other factors as well as pay settlements, such as any change in the proportions of lecturers in the various grades.

  each year, as well as the percentage increase relative to the retail prices index at April each year and average non-manual earnings. The index used covers employees in professional and related, administrative, clerical, managerial, selling, security, literary, artistic and sporting occupations.

  The average is calculated by dividing the aggregate salary by the number of lecturers in colleges. The annual increases thus reflect other factors as well as pay settlements, such as any change in the proportions of lecturers in the various grades.

  increases thus reflect other factors as well as pay settlements, such as any change in the proportions of lecturers in the various grades.

  Universities

  Polytechnics

  Colleges of further education (excluding polytechnics)

  1976–771

  —2

  -10·7

  -10·4

  1977–78

  1·8

  -3·8

  -4·4

  1978–79

  3·6

  -0·6

  -1·4

  1979–80

  4·5

  7·8

  7·4

  1980–81

  -5·7

  1·0

  0·4

  1981–82

  -3·2

  -6·4

  -6·7

  1982–83

  -2·5

  -2·7

  -3·3

  1983–84

  -3·7

  -3·6

  -3·7

  1984–85

  -1·7

  -3·1

  -2·4

  1985–86

  -2·7

  -1·0

  -0·5

  1986–87

  -6·4

  —

  —

  1987–88

  7·3

  —

  —

  1 Universities data is as at December of the earlier year named and the other data as at March of the later year.

  2 Not available.

ENERGY

  British Coal (Redundancies)
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will consult British Coal on the implications for policy on redundancy of arrangements and promises made to its employees over the age of 50 years who were persuaded to accept redundancy from 1984.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  My right hon. Friend and I consult British Coal regularly on all aspects of the coal industry.

  Nuclear Power Stations
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make it his policy to ask Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectorate to conduct a review of corrosion and cracking problems at the Central Electricity Generating Board nuclear plants at Heysham, Hartlepool and Dungeness B.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  These are issues which the Health and Safety Executive takes fully into account as part of its duties.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will request Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectorate to conduct a study of the tolerability of risk to United Kingdom citizens of the French nuclear power programme, in particular those plants sited on the Channel.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  No. The safety of French nuclear installations is a matter for their regulatory authorities. I have no reason to doubt that French nuclear safety standards are as high as those in the United Kingdom. Nevertheless, in proposing a stringent level for societal risk, HSE was fully aware of the possibility of accidents outside the United Kingdom.

  Aerogenerators
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will initiate a departmental assessment of the study by the Swedish energy consultancy VBB into the feasibility of the offshore siting of aerogenerators at sea.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  As part of its wind energy research programme my Department is investigating the feasibility of siting wind turbines offshore. I hope to be able to obtain a copy of the VBB report so that its findings can be taken into account in our own studies.

  Hinkley Point
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will submit evidence for cross examination on the tolerability of nuclear plant risk to the Hinkley C nuclear inquiry.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  No. The Health and Safety Executive has given evidence on the tolerability of risk from nuclear power stations to the Hinkley Point C inquiry.

  Coal Production (Costs)
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish the marginal costs of coal production of 126
  both opencast and deep mined coal for each year from 1981–82 to 1988–89, or for which the latest figures are available.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  This is a matter for the British Coal Corporation. I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Health Authorities (Land)
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give for each health board(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 of total land and property and as a percentage of the total land and property value of each board; and if he will make a statement as to his Department's policy on the sale of unused land and property.

  Mr. Needham
  The information requested is not collected routinely by either the Department of Health and Social Services or by the four health and social services boards and could be obtained only at disproportionate costs. The total acreage of the health and personal social services estate and the acreage and estimated value of property (that is both land and buildings) which have been declared surplus to the requirements of each health and social services board at 6 February 1989 is as follows:

  Board

  Total estate

  Surplus estate

  Estimated value of surplus estate £ million

  (Acres)

  (Acres)

  Per cent·

  Eastern

  1,428·11

  196·305

  13·74

  2·9

  Northern

  634·82

  194·232

  30·59

  0·8

  Southern

  332·29

  30·154

  9·07

  0·75

  Western

  1,018·28

  12·72

  1·25

  1·4

  Total

  3,413·50

  433·411

  12·70

  5·85

  The policy on the sale of land and property which has been declared surplus to requirements is that it should be disposed of in a publicly acceptable manner, and for the best price which in the opinion of the Valuation and Lands Office can reasonably be obtained.

  Land Registry
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the extent of monthly backlog of cases over each of the last three years in the Land Registry Office in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Needham
  Details of the stocks of work held are as follows:

  1986

  1987

  1988

  January

  11,964

  13,461

  15,181

  February

  11,851

  13,233

  15,410

  March

  12,245

  13,198

  15,020

  April

  12,306

  12,919

  14,306

  May

  12,097

  14,250

  14,343

  June

  12,979

  14,568

  14,015

  July

  13,075

  14,965

  13,951

  August

  13,625

  14,577

  14,006

  127

  1986

  1987

  1988

  September

  14,903

  14,375

  14,613

  October

  14,294

  15,062

  14,636

  November

  14,718

  14,844

  14,764

  December

  14,864

  15,289

  14,686

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases at present await clearance at the Land Registry Office in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Needham
  14,766 at the end of January 1989.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish an indicative list of charges made by the Land Registry in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Needham
  The information requested is contained in the Land Registry (Fees) Order (Northern Ireland) 1988 (SR 1988 No. 410), a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has any proposals to speed up Land Registry transactions in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Needham
  A comprehensive efficiency review of the Land Registry functions in Northern Ireland is to be undertaken. It is anticipated that the review will be under way by mid-1989.

  Housing
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much extra funding has been provided so far to implement the findings of the Policy Studies Institute report on housing in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Tom King
  As I indicated in my reply to the hon. Member of 23 January, at column 396, I am advised that the research to which he refers, commissioned by the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights, is not yet complete.

  Social Security Payments
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the measures the Government are using to monitor the effects of the new social security system on those claimants who were targeted by the new legislation and on the Government's assessment of the position of single parents since the benefit changes of April 1988.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 13 February 1989]: Monitoring of the effects of the new system is based on a range of statistical information and will also have regard in due course to various research findings. It is estimated that the large majority of single parents were better off or no worse off in cash terms as a result of the changes in their weekly benefits. Estimates are not available of the overall impact taking account of the introduction of the social fund.

  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information he has on the number of social fund applications made by single parents, the numbers which are successful, and the amounts given in loans and payments to these applicants.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 13 February 1989]: Information for the period 11 April 1988 to 31 December 1988 (the latest for which it is available) is as follows:
  128

  (a) Applications received

  (b) Number allowed

  (c) Amount awarded

  Loans

  12,682

  11,163

  £2,443,294·62

  Community Care Grants

  2,396

  1,614

  £556,315·99

  Funeral and Maternity payments

  1,558

  1,504

  £199,001·83

  Total

  16,636

  14,281

  £3,198,612·44

  The balance of applications in each category were withdrawn by the applicant, or refused, or are still to be considered.

  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information he has on the numbers of single parents who are having deductions made from their benefits in respect of social fund loans, rent arrears, fuel arrears or overpayments.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 13 February 1989]: The information is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

WALES

  Chlorofluorocarbons
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what support his Department is giving to local authorities which wish to reduce or eliminate their use of CFC's.

  Mr. Grist
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to him earlier today by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, the hon. Member for Surrey, South-West (Mrs. Bottomley).

  Mental Handicap Nurses
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will list, for each health authority, the number of mental handicap nurses from each of the old grades who have been assimilated to each of the new grades.

  Mr. Grist
  This information is not held centrally.

DEFENCE

  Torpedoes
  Sir Peter Hordern
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what United States supplied alternatives to the Spearfish and Stingray torpedoes were considered at the time of the decision to proceed with those programmes; and what were their costs.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The United States MK46 and MK48 torpedoes were evaluated as alternatives to Stingray and Spearfish respectively. The estimated total programme cost for the MK46 was £200 million (at September 1979 prices) and for the MK48 it was £475 million (at September 1980 prices).

  Sir Peter Hordern
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the original estimate of the cost of the Spearfish torpedo; what was the value of the joint fixed price contract with Marconi for the completion of development and initial production of Spearfish and Stingray torpedoes; and what has been the expenditure on Spearfish and Stingray torpedoes to the latest convenient date.
  129
  Mr. Sainsbury
  The original estimated total programme cost of Spearfish was £155 million (at current prices). The fixed price contract for the development and initial production of Spearfish and Stingray was let in 1981 at a value of £496 million.

  Total programme expenditure to 31 January 1989 was £594 million on Spearfish and £1,443 million on Stingray, both figures at current prices.

  Tigerfish
  Sir Peter Hordern
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the original estimate for the cost of the Tigerfish torpedo; what was the estimate when Marconi became principal contractor; and what was the final cost when Tigerfish came into service.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The original estimate of the cost of Tigerfish MOD "O" was calculated in 1959; records of this estimate are not immediately available. The MOD "O" Tigerfish entered service in 1974 when its total programme cost was £450 million (at current prices).

  Marconi became principal contractor for the improved MOD 1 Tigerfish torpedo in 1972; the estimated programme cost at that time was £226 million (at current prices).

  Sir Peter Hordern
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when development of the Tigerfish torpedo was begun; when was it originally expected to come into service; when it received fleet weapon acceptance; and when Marconi became principal contractor for the programme.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Development of Tigerfish began in 1959 with a view to an in-service date of 1967. The MOD "O" torpedo entered service in 1974 and received fleet weapon acceptance in 1979.

  Marconi became principal contractor for Tigerfish MOD 1 in 1972.

  Foxhunter
  Sir Peter Hordern
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the original estimate of the cost of the Foxhunter radar system; when it was due to come into service in full; when it came into service in full; and what was the final cost on delivery.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The original forecast in-service date for the Foxhunter radar was 1982. Radars to an agreed

  Royal Air Force applications to leave and exits before completion of contract

  1978–79

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89 to date

  1.GD (Air) Officers:

  PVR/OEP applications

  314

  220

  161

  149

  148

  145

  188

  245

  281

  299

  222

  PVR/OEP exits

  200

  205

  172

  163

  160

  120

  160

  173

  177

  203

  227

  2.Airmen:

  (a) Airmen Aircrew

  PVR applications

  See note 2(a)

  10

  22

  44

  30

  48

  24

  PVR exits

  Included with ground airmen

  13

  2

  10

  11

  19

  17

  32

  31

  17

  Other exits

  9

  9

  8

  6

  9

  6

  13

  8

  5

  (b) Ground Airmen

  PVR applications

  3,132

  1,782

  1,038

  842

  1,115

  1,669

  1,752

  2,097

  2,005

  2,483

  2,404

  PVR exits

  1,103

  1,468

  1,114

  854

  1,069

  845

  1,405

  1,692

  1,610

  1,682

  1,835

  Other exits

  Not available

  897

  313

  242

  636

  527

  562

  574

  581

  404

  Notes:

  1. Officers:

  (a) PVR—Premature voluntary release on giving certain preiods of notice.

  (b) OEP—Optional exit points related to decisions at specified career points.

  (c) Applications do not necessarily lead to exits in the same financial year (FY).

  (d) Applications and exits related to exceptional circumstances are not available.

  2. Airmen:

  (a) Records of airmen aircrew PVR applications are not available prior to April 1983.

  (b) PVR—Premature voluntary release by purchase, or to pension or by notice general right after nine years.

  130
  interim standard entered service in 1985. Final deliveries under the programme of work placed under firm price contractual arrangements with Marconi Defence Systems last year will take place in the early 1990s.

  It is not normal practice to publish a detailed breakdown of costs for defence equipment. Total estimated costs of the Foxhunter radar programe were given in the 1988 "Statement on Defence Estimates (Volume 2)" as some £800 million; on the same basis, the original estimate for Foxhunter would be some £600 million.

  Contacts
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all his Department's contracts with(a) Zeus and (b) Securipol Ltd. since 1979; and if he will give the purpose of each contract.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We have no record of any headquarters contracts having been placed with Zeus Security Consultants or Securipol Ltd. since 1979.

  Pension Scheme
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he anticipates the Defence Council instruction enabling additional voluntary contributions to the Armed Forces pension scheme will be issued.

  Mr. Neubert
  A DCI was published on 3 February 1989 explaining the opportunities open to members of the armed forces to make additional voluntary contributions to enhance the benefits payable under the armed forces pension scheme.

  Royal Air Force
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list in the Official Report the total number of airmen/aircrew who have applied in each of the past 10 years to leave the Royal Air Force before completion of their period of contract, indicating for each year the number of such applications which were based on exceptional circumstances; and how many of these have been successful.

  Mr. Neubert
  Information about premature exits of Royal Air Force airmen and aircrew over the past 10 financial years is summarised in the following table:
  131
  (c) Applications do not necessarilly lead to exits in the same financial year and more than one application may be submitted.

  (d) Other exits include exits on compassionate grounds, on nine year notice engagements after three years at 18 months notice and other administrative categories under which airmen may apply to leave the service. Numbers of other applications are not available.

  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many Royal Air Force airmen served in each of the following categories:(a) armament engineering, (b) mechanical engineering, (c) electrical engineering and (d) electronic engineering, in each year since 1979;

  (2) how many Royal Air Force airmen became qualified to serve in the following branches (a) armament engineering, (b) mechanical engineering, (c) electrical engineering and (d) electronic engineering, in each year since 1979;

  Table 1

  Number of trained airmen (including airwomen) at 1 January points

  1 January 1980

  1 January 1981

  1 January 1982

  1 January 1983

  1 January 1984

  1 January 1985

  1 January 1986

  1 January 1987

  1 January 1988

  1 January 1989

  Armament engineering

  2,493

  2,753

  3,004

  2,919

  3,067

  3,188

  3,249

  3,255

  3,285

  3,390

  Mechanical engineering

  14,346

  15,416

  16,333

  15,905

  15,370

  16,279

  16,496

  16,098

  15,880

  15,447

  Electrical engineering

  3,727

  3,977

  4,166

  4,147

  4,259

  4,381

  4,386

  4,420

  4,436

  4,372

  Electronic engineering

  9,633

  10,187

  9,498

  10,694

  10,680

  10,946

  11,212

  11,386

  11,554

  11,127

  Table 2

  Number of ground airmen (including airwomen) who became qualified in engineering trades by CY

  CY 80

  CY 81

  CY 82

  CY 83

  CY 84

  CY 85

  CY 86

  CY 87

  CY 88

  Armament engineering

  360

  371

  72

  276

  260

  222

  153

  152

  275

  Mechanical engineering

  1,680

  1,552

  301

  153

  1,569

  1,075

  523

  632

  572

  Electrical engineering

  405

  397

  198

  324335

  252

  292

  224

  246

  Electronic engineering

  987

  833

  802

  571

  817

  942

  876

  739

  381

  Table 3

  Number of trained airmen (including airwomen) who left the RAF in CY and the number who failed to complete their engagement

  CY 80

  CY 81

  CY 82

  CY 83

  CY 84

  CY 85

  CY 86

  CY 87

  CY 88

  Armament engineering

  Total outflow

  100

  120

  157

  128

  139

  161

  147

  122

  170

  Not completing engagement

  41

  52

  76

  54

  64

  92

  85

  63

  107

  Mechanical engineering

  Total outflow

  610

  635

  729

  688

  660

  858

  921

  850

  1,005

  Not completing engagement

  312

  285

  333

  244

  280

  394

  436

  380

  517

  Electrical engineering

  Total outflow

  155

  208

  217

  212

  213

  247

  258

  208

  310

  Not completing engagement

  69

  76

  85

  83

  98

  98

  110

  103

  164

  Electronic engineering

  Total outflow

  433

  522

  606

  585

  551

  676

  702

  571

  808

  Not completing engagement

  174

  203

  199

  181

  222

  303

  333

  246

  436

  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many trained fast-jet pilots took premature voluntary release in each financial year between 1969–70 and 1978–79.

  Mr. Neubert
  Information about exits by trained pilots on premature voluntary release was not maintained prior to 1 April 1975; since that date overall numbers of pilot exits on PVR were recorded and role-related statistics were introduced on 1 April 1979. For the period 1 April 1975 to 1 April 1979 the overall numbers of PVR exits by trained pilots were as follows:

  Number

  1975–76

  77

  1976–77

  86

  1977–78

  92

  1978–79

  84

  132
  (3) how many Royal Air Force airmen left the Royal Air Force in each of the following categories: (a) armament engineering, (b) mechanical engineering, (c) electrical engineering and (d) electronic engineering; and how many of these failed to complete their engagement, in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Neubert
  The numbers of ground airmen (including airwomen) in each category in each of the specified groupings of trades, in each year since 1980, are given in tables 1 to 3. The numbers for 1979 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Pay Scales
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate has been made of savings likely to accrue as a result of the downbanding recommendations made by the joint services job evaluation team in relation to pay-scales for airmen/aircrew and air electronics operators.

  Mr. Neubert
  There will be no immediate savings arising from the downbanding of air electronic operators. This is because the individuals concerned will retain their existing rate of basic pay on a mark-time basis until such a time as pay review awards lift the lower pay band scale above this rate. In the longer term the reduction in the annual paybill resulting from the change is estimated to be £438,000.

  Ethnic Minority Personnel
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) blacks, (b) Asians, (c) men and (d) women are currently serving in (i) the Army, (ii) the Royal Navy and (iii) the Royal Air Force.

  Mr. Neubert
  The number of men and women serving in the United Kingdom regular forces as at 31 December 1988 was as follows:

  Males

  Females

  Royal Navy and Royal Marines

  61,286

  13,365

  Army

  149,651

  6,383

  Royal Air Force

  85,785

  6,274

  1 Royal Navy only.

  It is our policy not to keep records of the ethnic origins of serving members of the armed forces.

  Air Combat Training
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what financial provision he has made for the years 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94 and 1994–95, respectively for the use of the planned British Aerospace air combat manoeuvring installation in the North sea;

  (2) what understandings he has entered into with British Aerospace as regards future use of their air combat manoeuvring installation in the North sea.

  Mr. Neubert
  British Aerospace's proposal to construct an instrumental air combat facility in the North sea remains under consideration by the Government. MOD has no current plans to utilise such a facility, if constructed, and has therefore made no financial provision for its use.

  Air Publications and Forms Store
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what proposals he has to replace the roof of the building now occupied by the air publications and forms store at Woolwich arsenal; and at what estimated cost;

  (2) when the building now occupied by the air publications and forms store at Woolwich arsenal is expected to be vacated; and what new use will be found for it;

  (3) what specialist refitting has been undertaken to the building now occupied by the air publications and forms store to provide for its present use; and at what cost;

  (4) how many existing employees of the air publications and forms store at Woolwich arsenal will be offered the opportunity to transfer to the proposed new location in North Wales; and how many new staff will be recruited locally;

  (5) what arrangements will be made to train new employees recruited for the air publications new location in north Wales;

  (6) what is the estimated cost of transferring the air publications and forms store from Woolwich arsenal to north Wales.

  Mr. Neubert
  Consultations have recently taken place with trades unions on a proposal to transfer all service forms and publications stores from their existing locations to create a centralised organisation at the former Royal 134
  naval store depot at Llangennech, Dyfed. Under that proposal, vacation of the building now occupied by the air publications and forms stores at Woolwich arsenal would be expected in 1991. Any further use of the building would be dependent on a future decision on the location of the directorate general of defence quality assurance.

  As the hon. Member is aware, the original intention was to replace the roof of the air publications and forms store, which was to be a major undertaking estimated to cost in excess of £1·5 million. In the light of the Llangennech proposals, however, the work and expenditure involved could not be justified, although any essential repairs required in the intervening period would be carried out.

  To provide for its present use, in 1968 the building now occupied by the air publications and forms store was installed with a Dexion three-tier racking system, including associated conveyor belts, an internal classified store, fitted with mobile racking, a conveyor system in the distribution area, and a fire detector and sprinkler system. In 1969 fans were incorporated into the existing heating system to ensure that adequate storage conditions could be maintained. Due to the length of time since the various works were undertaken, cost figures are not available.

  Under the Llangennech proposal, careful consideration would be given to any individual request for transfer there from civil servants currently employed in the four existing stores. Nevertheless, it is expected that most of the 250 staff that would be required for the Llangennech operation would be recruited locally. A comprehensive training programme would be designed to meet the needs of all employees of the new organisation. The cost of centralisation at Llangennech is estimated to be about £5·7 million. It is not possible to say how much of this is attributable to the air publications and forms store alone.

  Territorial Army (Ammunition Theft)
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps the Territorial Army proposes to take following the conviction of Warrant Officer Nigel John Hicks for stealing ammunition.

  Mr. Neubert
  It must first be said that Mr. Hicks was not, in fact, convicted of theft of ammunition. Within the Territorial Army, strict regulations apply to the issue, use and storage of weapons and ammunition. The circumstances relating to Mr. Hicks' case are now being reviewed to see if any further action is required.

  Race Relations
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Stoke on Trent, South,Official Report, 6 February, column 513, how many of the complaints cases submitted to the service boards, records of which are kept centrally, involved allegations of racial discrimination or abuse.

  Mr. Neubert
  None.

  War Stocks
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether the current level of Royal Air Force war stocks meets all of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation requirements;

  (2) whether the current level of Royal Navy war stocks meets all of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation requirements;
  135
  (3) whether the current level of Army war stocks meets all of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation requirements.

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

  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 and Rosyth 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 and Rosyth caused by nuclear-powered defence vessels.

  Mr. Younger
  [pursuant to his reply, 7 February 1989, c. 655]: I wish to point out that I should have referred to a level of radiation exposure of "consistently less than 1 per cent." rather than of "consistently less than 0.1 per cent".

EMPLOYMENT

  Tourism
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to meet the chairman of the British tourist board to discuss the promotion of British tourism abroad; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  My right hon. Friend and I regularly meet the chairman of the British Tourist Authority to discuss all aspects of the authority's work in promoting tourism to Britain. My right hon. Friend last met the chairman on 8 February. We have no plans as yet for a future meeting.

  Mr. Robert Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he hopes to announce his proposals following the current review of tourism; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  The tourism review report is currently under consideration and an announcement will be made in due course.

  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals he has for participation in the European Tourism Year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  I recently chaired a meeting of the national tourist board chairmen and representatives from the territorial departments to begin to plan the United Kingdom's participation in European Tourism Year in 136
  1990. At that meeting it was agreed that the British Tourist Authority would take the lead in co-ordinating the United Kingdom's campaign. To promote the interest and active involvement of the United Kingdom tourism industry, I propose to chair a United Kingdom standing conference of senior figures in the industry. This conference will take place on 25 May.

  Mr. Bevan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the effect of the single market in 1992 upon tourism.

  Mr. Lee
  Although tourism within the European Community is a relatively open sector, I believe that the completion of the single market presents a major opportunity for the industry's further development. This should be apparent in increased flexibility of travel, particularly air and coach travel. The Channel tunnel, due for completion in 1993, should complement and augment this development.

  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the number of people employed in the United Kingdom in tourism and tourism-related industries.

  Mr. Lee
  It is estimated that in September 1988 there were 1·4 million employees in employment in tourism-related industries in Great Britain. There are no directly comparable estimates for the number of self-employed, but it is estimated from the labour force survey that there were 0·2 million self-employed workers in the hotel and catering industry in the spring of 1987.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the effect of the Channel tunnel upon tourism in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Lee
  The completion of the Channel tunnel in 1993 will provide a major opportunity for the tourism industry in Great Britain. Estimates suggest that some 15 million people will use the tunnel in its first year of operation.

  It is important that the United Kingdom tourism industry begins to plan now to ensure that the full potential offered by the tunnel is realised.

  Mr. Curry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the progress of the tourism review.

  Mr. Lee
  I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bury, North (Mr. Burt) on 31 January 1989, at column 75.

  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many tourist visits were made to the United Kingdom by citizens of the European Economic Community in 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  It is estimated that 3,530,000 visits were made to the United Kingdom by residents of the European Economic Community in the first six months of 1988 (the latest period for which figures are available). Of these, 2,430,000 were leisure visits (the remainder were business), representing 69 per cent. of all visits from EEC countries and 50 per cent. of all leisure visits in this period.

  Mr. Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to meet the chairman of the English tourist board to discuss the promotion of tourism; and if he will make a statement.
  137
  Mr. Lee
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State frequently meets the chairman of the English tourist board to discuss a range of subjects, including the promotion of tourism in England.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Crowther
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the unadjusted and adjusted number and percentage of male, female and total employees in employment in part-time work in September 1988 in Yorkshire and Humberside.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The only available information on part-time employees is for females. In September 1988 there were 401,000 female part-time employees in employment in Yorkshire and Humberside. This represents 48 per cent. of female employees and 22 per cent. of all employees in the region. Employment estimates for regions are not seasonally adjusted.

  Mr. Day
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are currently employed in the United Kingdom; what are the comparable figures for other European Economic Community countries; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  The current level of the work force in employment in the United Kingdom is, at nearly 26 million, at its highest ever level. Since 1983 it has grown by well over 2 million. Between 1983 and 1987 the increase in employment in the United Kingdom at nearly 1·7 million was greater than that for any other European Community member and was approximately equal to that in the rest of the Community combined.

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

  Mr. Lee
  Between March 1983 and September 1988 the work force in employment in the United Kingdom increased by 2,297,000 to 25,858,000, the highest level on record. This rising trend has now continued for more than five years.

  Mr. Andy Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide the figures for the work force in employment to date; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  In September 1988 the work force in employment in Great Britain was 25,291,000, the highest level on record. This represents an increase of 2,294,000 since March 1983. This rising trend has now continued for more than five years.

  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the levels of employment in the United Kingdom and other countries in the European Economic Community; and if he will make a statement.
  138
  Mr. Lee
  The current level of the work force in employment in the United Kingdom is, at nearly 26 million, at its highest level.

  Since 1983 it has grown by well over 2 million. Between 1983 and 1987 the increase in employment in the United Kingdom at nearly 1·7 million was greater than that for any other European Community member and was approximately equal to that in the rest of the Community combined.

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people aged 18 to 25 years were unemployed in(a) December 1985 and (b) December 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  Unemployment figures by age are compiled on a quarterly basis. In October 1988, the latest available quarter, there were 606,348 unemployed claimants aged 18 to 25 years in the United Kingdom, compared with 1,034,023 in October 1985. A fall of 427,675 or 41·4 per cent. The comparison is slightly affected by the change in the compilation of the count in March 1986 to reduce over-recording.

  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the unadjusted and adjusted number and percentages of male, female and total employees in employment in part-time work in September 1988 in Scotland.

  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the unadjusted and adjusted number and percentage of male, female and total employees in part-time work in September 1988 in the north.

  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the unadjusted and adjusted number and percentage of male, female and total employees in employment in part-time work in September 1988 in the east midlands.

  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the unadjusted and adjusted number and percentage of male, female and total employees in employment in part-time work in September 1988 in Greater London.

  Mr. Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the unadjusted and adjusted number and percentage of male, female and total employees in employment in part-time work in September 1988 in the west midlands.

  Mr. Lee
  My Department does not seasonally adjust employment estimates for regions. Regional estimates of part-time male employees are not available for September 1988. The available information is as follows:
  139

  September 1988

  Part-time female employees in employment

  Part-time female employees in employment as a percentage of all female employees in employment Per cent.

  Part-time female employees in employment as a percentage of all employees in employment Per cent.

  Scotland

  389,000

  44

  21

  North

  241,000

  48

  22

  East Midlands

  314,000

  45

  20

  Greater London

  505,000

  32

  14

  West Midlands

  412,000

  44

  20

  Sir Marcus Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the rate of change in unemployment levels in the last 12 months in Yorkshire and Humberside; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  In December 1988 the level of unemployment, seasonally adjusted, in Yorkshire and Humberside was 203,000 compared with 248,100 in December 1987, a fall of 45,100 or 18·2 per cent.

  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the current levels of employment in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Lee
  Between March 1983 and September 1988 the work force in employment in the United Kingdom increased by 2,297,000 to 25,858,000, the highest level on record. This rising trend has now continued for more than five years. The figures have been adjusted for the effects of seasonal variations. The work force in employment is the sum of employees in employment, the self-employed, Her Majesty's forces and participants in work-related Government training programmes.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest number of employed and self-employed people at the latest available date.

  Mr. Lee
  In September 1988 there were 25,291,000 people in the work force in employment in Great Britain, of which 2,956,000 were self-employed. The work force in employment comprises employees in employment, the self-employed, Her Majesty's forces and participants in work-related Government training programmes.

  Mr. Haynes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the fall in unemployment and the number of jobs created in east midlands region in the 12 months to September 1988.

  Mr. Lee
  In the 12 months to September 1988 the level of unemployment, seasonally adjusted, in the east midlands fell by 32,400 to 137,100 from 169,500 in September 1987. Over the same period the size of the civilian work force in employment in east midlands, unadjusted, rose from 1,761,000 to 1,791,000, a net increase of 30,000. The civilian work force in employment is the sum of employees in employment, the self-employed and participants in work-related Government training programmes.

  Mr. Irvine
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the rate of change in unemployment levels in the last 12 months in East Anglia.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the rate of change in unemployment levels in the last 12 months in East Anglia.
  140
  Mr. Lee
  In December 1988 the level of unemployment, seasonally adjusted, in East Anglia was 41,200 compared with 60,000 in December 1987, a fall of 18,800 or 31·3 per cent.

  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many full-time and part-time jobs were created in the 12 months to September 1988 in Yorkshire and Humberside region.

  Mr. Lee
  There are no figures for job gains and job losses. In the year to September 1988 the civilian work force in employment increased by 31,000 in the Yorkshire and Humberside region. This includes net increases of 12,000 in female full-time employees in employment, 7,000 in female part-time employees in employment and 3,000 in participants in work-related Government training programmes (who are counted as being in part-time employment). Comparable estimates are not available for male employees in employment or the self-employed.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the percentage fall in unemployment in the last 12 months in the south-west.

  Mr. Lee
  In December 1988 the level of unemployment, seasonally adjusted, in the south-west was 113,100 compared with 153,900 in December 1987, a fall of 40,800 or 26·5 per cent.

  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the fall in unemployment amongst the long-term unemployed since June 1983.

  Mr. Lee
  Unemployment figures by duration are compiled on a quarterly basis. In October 1988, the latest available quarter, there were 885,504 claimants in the United Kingdom who had been unemployed for more than a year, 15·7 per cent. lower than the level of 1,050,487 in July 1983. The comparison is slightly affected by the change in the compilation of the count in March 1986 to reduce over-recording and the change in the coverage from September 1988 due to the new benefit regulations for those young people aged under 18.

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

  Mr. Lee
  In December 1988 unemployment, seasonally adjusted, was 2,039,100, the lowest level for nearly eight years. Unemployment has now fallen for 29 consecutive months, by 1,094,000 altogether since July 1986, the largest fall on record.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment by what proportion unemployment has fallen in Warrington since June 1987.
  141
  Mr. Lee
  In December 1988 the level of unemployment in the Warrington local authority area was 5,427 compared with 8,914 in June 1987. These figures represent a fall of 39·1 per cent. The comparison is slightly affected by the change in benefit regulations for under 18-year-olds from September 1988 and also by seasonal influences.

  Benefits (Fraud)
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on his recent crackdown on fraudulent benefit claims.

  Mr. Fowler
  My Department's fraud investigations during 1988 led to savings of around £65 million and to 90,000 people withdrawing their claims to benefit. A serious problem of benefit fraud persists and we are maintaining the drive against this.

  Single Union Agreements
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what recent representations he has received about single union agreements; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  None. The Government believe that single union, no strike agreements can have an increasingly valuable part to play in improving future industrial relations. It is of course for employers individually to decide on what arrangements best suit their own circumstances.

  Mr. Knapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to meet the general secretary of the Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers to discuss the establishment of a single union agreement at the proposed Toyota factory; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I have no such plans. It is for employers to decide which unions, if any, they wish to recognise for collective bargaining purposes.

  YTS
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many summer 1988 school leavers in the Bristol travel-to-work area have not yet been offered a YTS place if they have requested one.

  Mr. Cope
  None. The Training Agency has made more than sufficient YTS places available for all those who apply for one.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any plans to increase the non-work content in YTS; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Leeds, West (Mr. Battle) earlier today.

  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people are currently training on the two-year YTS; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people are currently on YTS training schemes; and if he will make a statement.
  142
  Mr. Cope
  At the end of December 1988 there were 419,900 young people in training on YTS. Of these, 396,800 were on a two-year training programme.

  As the Government made clear in the recent White Paper "Employment for the 1990s", YTS is a highly successful programme. The task now is to increase still further the contribution which YTS can make to meeting the needs of the changing labour market.

  Mr. Franks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current number of YTS places in Barrow-in-Furness; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  At 3 February 1989 there were 1,453 YTS places in the Barrow-in-Furness local authority district. There are sufficient YTS places available to meet both current and anticipated demand.

  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many young persons are on YTS in the Eccles area; and how many of them have their excess fares paid.

  Mr. Cope
  The information is not available in the precise form requested. At 31 December 1988 there were 1,844 young people on YTS in the Salford local authority district. Information on how many were in receipt of excess fares could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Job Creation
  Mr. Ashton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many full-time and part-time jobs were created in the 12 months to September 1988 in the east midlands region.

  Mr. Nicholls
  In the year to September 1988 the civilian work force in employment increased by 30,000 in the east midlands region. The only available information about full and part-time employment in the regions is for female employees in employment. This shows increases of 4,000 in female full-time employees and 16,000 in female part-time employees.

  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many full-time and part-time jobs were created in the 12 months to September 1988 in the south-west region.

  Mr. Nicholls
  In the year to September 1988 the civilian work force in employment increased by 31,000 in the south-west region. The only available information about full and part-time employment in the regions is for female employees in employment. This shows increases of 13,000 in female full-time employees and 9,000 in female part-time employees.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the fall in unemployment and the number of jobs created in the Yorkshire and Humberside region in the 12 months to September 1988.

  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the fall in unemployment and the number of jobs created in Yorkshire and Humberside in the 12 months to September 1988.

  Mr. Lee
  In the 12 months to September 1988 the level of unemployment, seasonally adjusted, in Yorkshire and
  143
  Humberside fell by 43,200 to 218,100 from 261,300 in September 1987. Over the same period the size of the civilian work force in employment in Yorkshire and Humberside, unadjusted, rose from 2,092,000 to 2,123,000, a net increase of 31,000. The civilian work force in employment is the sum of employees in employment, the self-employed and participants in work-related Government training programmes.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the fall in unemployment and the number of jobs created in the Greater London region in the 12 months to September 1988.

  Mr. Lee
  In the 12 months to September 1988 the level of unemployment, seasonally adjusted, in Greater London fell by 70,400 to 269,400 from 339,800 in September 1987. Over the same period the size of the civilian work force in employment in Greater London, unadjusted, rose from 3,925,000 to 3,950,000, a net increase of 25,000. The civilian work force in employment is the sum of employees in employment, the self-employed and participants in work-related Government training programmes.

  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the fall in unemployment, and the number of jobs created, in the north-west region in the 12 months to September 1988.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the fall in unemployment and the number of jobs created in the north-west region in the 12 months to September 1988.

  Mr. Cunliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the fall in unemployment and the number of jobs created in the north-west region in the 12 months to September 1988.

  Mr. Lee
  In the 12 months to September 1988 the level of unemployment, seasonally adjusted, in the north-west fell by 61,200 to 310,900 from 372,000 in September 1987. Over the same period the size of the civilian work force in employment in the north-west, unadjusted, rose from 2,606,000 to 2,611,000, a net increase of 5,000. The civilian work force in employment is the sum of employees in employment, the self-employed and participants in work-related Government training programmes.

  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the expected growth in total employment in the north of England over the next two years; and which sectors are expected to show the greatest increase.

  Mr. Lee
  My Department does not produce forecasts of employment growth, either in total, by region or by sector. However, last year's White Paper "Employment for the 1990s" (Cm. 540) described recent employment trends at national level.

  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many full-time and part-time jobs were created in the 12 months to September 1988 in Great Britain.

  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many full-time and part-time jobs were created in the 12 months to September 1988 in Great Britain.
  144
  Mr. Lee
  There are no figures for job gains and job losses. In the year to September 1988 the work force in employment in Great Britain increased by 399,000, of which 220,000 were in full-time employment and 179,000 were in part-time employment. The work force in employment is the sum of employees in employment, the self employed, Her Majesty's forces and participants in work-related Government training programmes. In classifying the work force in employment between full and part time, all programme participants are counted as in part-time employment.

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many full-time and part-time jobs were created in the 12 months to September 1988 in the east midlands region.

  Mr. Lee
  There are no figures for job gains and job losses. In the year to September 1988 the civilian work force in employment increased by 30,000 in the east midlands region. This includes net increases of 4,000 in female full-time employees in employment and 16,000 in female part-time employees in employment, offset by a net decrease of 1,000 in participants in work-related Government training programmes (who are counted as in part-time employment). Comparable estimates are not available for male employees in employment or the self-employed.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many full-time and part-time jobs were created in the 12 months to September 1988 in Wales.

  Mr. Lee
  There are no figures for job gains and job losses. In the year to September 1988 the civilian work force in employment increased by 10,000 in Wales. This includes a net increase of 6,000 in female part-time employees in employment, offset by a net decrease of 1,000 in female full-time employees in employment, and a net increase of 1,000 in participants in work-related Government training programmes (who are counted as in part-time employment). Comparable estimates are not available for male employees in employment or the self-employed.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the percentage fall in unemployment in the United Kingdom during the past 12 months.

  Mr. Lee
  In December 1988 the level of unemployment, seasonally adjusted, in the United Kingdom was 2,039,100 compared with 2,568,600, in December 1987, a fall of 529,500 or 20·6 per cent.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the fall in unemployment and the number of jobs created in Great Britain in the 12 months to September 1988.

  Mr. Lee
  In the 12 months to September 1988 the level of unemployment, seasonally adjusted, in Great Britain fell by 516,800 to 2,080,100 from 2,596,900 in September 1987. Over the same period the size of the work force in employment in Great Britain rose from 24,892,000 to 25,291,000, a net increase of 399,000. The figures have been adjusted for the effect of seasonal variations. The work force in employment is the sum of employees in employment, the self-employed, Her Majesty's forces and participants in work-related Government training programmes.
  145
  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the fall in unemployment and the number of jobs created in the south-east region in the 12 months to September 1988.

  Mr. Lee
  In the 12 months to September 1988 the level of unemployment, seasonally adjusted, in the south-east fell by 165,500 to 461,900 from 627,400 in September 1987. Over the same period the size of the civilian work force in employment in the south-east, unadjusted, rose from 8,600,000 to 8,768,000, a net increase of 168,000. The civilian work force in employment is the sum of employees in employment, the self-employed and participants in work-related Government training programmes.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take special measures to tackle localised pockets of high unemployment.

  Mr. Lee
  My Department's training, enterprise and employment programmes are already available to help unemployed people in all areas.

  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on employment prospects for Lincolnshire in 1989.

  Mr. Lee
  In the year to December 1988 unemployment in Lincolnshire fell by 6,303; 26 per cent. of the December 1987 figure. I see no reason why the position should not improve further in 1989.

  Job Creation
  Mrs. Maureen Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many jobs have been created in the London docklands; and what is the employment potential for the other 10 urban development corporations.

  Mr. Trippier
  I have been asked to reply as English urban development corporations are the responsibility of my Department. Since the London Docklands development corporation was established in 1981 more than 20,000 jobs have been created or attracted to the area, and the increase in jobs is accelerating. There is considerable potential for all UDCs to stimulate employment. This is, of course, only one of the benefits that they will bring to their areas.

  Closed Shop
  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he intends to bring forward Government proposals to ban pre-entry closed shops.

  Mr. Fowler
  We announced in our White Paper "Employment for the 1990s" that we would examine the operation of the pre-entry closed shop over the coming months and review the steps employers take to use the freedom the law has given them to get rid of closed shop arrangements. This examination and review is currently taking place.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Kirkhope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are currently working in jobs related to the Channel tunnel; what effect this will have on the economy of northern England; and if he will make a statement.
  146
  Mr. Lee
  It is not possible to estimate the total number of people currently working in jobs relating to the Channel tunnel, but I am aware that around 5,000 people are currently employed at the tunnel site in Kent. In addition, contracts worth £500 million have been awarded to date by the tunnel contractors: 90 per cent. of this work has gone to firms in the United Kingdom, 20 per cent. to firms in northern England. The Channel tunnel should have a beneficial effect on the economy of the whole of the United Kingdom.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. Bright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to meet the chairman of the British Venture Capital Association to discuss the financing of small businesses; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Cambridgeshire, North-East (Mr. Moss) on 17 January, at column 177.

  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to meet the general secretary of the Confederation of British Industry to discuss the development of small businesses; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Barrow and Furness (Mr. Franks) on 17 January, at column 177.

  Labour Mobility
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his policy on encouraging the movement of employees in(a) the public sector and (b) the private sector from full-time to part-time working; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  We are in favour of encouraging flexibility in the labour market such as that provided by working part-time. In general, employers and employees should be free to work out the arrangements which best suit their individual circumstances. My Department's jobshare scheme aims to help employers in the public and private sector to adopt more flexible working patterns and open up job opportunities directly or indirectly for the unemployed.

  Training
  Mr. Fishburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide figures on training in 1979 and the estimate for 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  Some 876,000 people entered training in 1987–88 under schemes funded by the Employment Department Training Agency (formerly the Manpower Services Commission) compared with 91,000 in 1979–80. This nearly tenfold increase underlines the importance attached by the Government to developing a skilled and flexible work force capable of meeting the challenges of the 1990s and beyond. The principal responsibility for training must lie with employers themselves, but the Government play an important role through the major training programmes they support, in particular the youth training scheme and employment training.
  147
  The White Paper "Employment for the 1990s", which I issued last December, sets out radical proposals for building on the achievements of the last few years. These include the creation of local employer-led training and enterprise councils over the next three to four years and the establishment of a new programme, "Business Growth Training" to help employers, particularly small employers, improve the effectiveness of their training activity.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the progress of the employment training scheme.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Employment training continues to make excellent progress and at 27 January 1989 there were 131,000 people on the programme. There is considerable interest in employment training among longer-term unemployed people who clearly recognise the value of worthwhile training to help them get a job.

  Mr. Couchman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are currently on Training Commission training schemes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Information is not available for all Training Agency schemes in the form requested. However, in December 1988, 527,900 people were in training on employment training and YTS. This huge investment reflects the central importance which the Government attach to creating a skilled and flexible work force which will contribute to Britain's economic prosperity in the 1990s and beyond.

  YTS has been a great success and the new employment training, the most ambitious training programme for unemployed adults anywhere, has made an excellent start.

  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of people on YTS and employment training, at the latest available date, for the north.

  Mr. Nicholls
  At 31 December 1988 there were 32,300 youngsters on YTS, and at 27 January 1989 there were 14,400 adults on employment training in the Training Agency's northern region.

  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of people on YTS and employment training, at the latest available date, for the north-west.

  Mr. Cope
  At 31 December 1988 there were 65,700 youngsters on YTS, and at 27 January 1989 there were 18,500 adults on employment training in the Training Agency's north-west region.

  Mr. Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are currently engaged in the employment training scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The number of people on employment training at 27 January was 130,900. This is a tremendous achievement after less than five months of the programme's operation and is a reflection of the considerable interest shown by unemployed people in getting high quality training to help them get back into a job.
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  Mr. Conway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide figures for spending on training in 1979 and 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  Records are kept on the basis of the standard financial year for accounting for Government expenditure. This year runs from 1 April to 31 March.

  The figures represent expenditure by the Department of Employment Training Agency (ex MSC, ex Training Commission) on training programmes in the relevant financial years.

  £ millions

  1978–79

  374

  1979–80

  451

  1987–88

  1,613

  These figures include all related administrative costs, net of receipts.

  Employer School Compacts
  Mr. Tracey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many areas have applied for development funding for employer school compacts to date; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  Forty six areas applied for funding to establish a compact. Partnerships of employers and education authorities in 30 of those areas were granted development funding and are currently preparing applications for four years operational funding.

  I have been very pleased by the positive responses from both employers and the education service and I look forward to the establishment of the first compacts later in the spring.

  National Training Task Force
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what progress has been made in establishing the national training task force; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  The membership of the national training task force was announced on 4 January 1989 and it held its first meeting on 31 January. The task force will be assisting in the establishment of a national network of training and enterprise councils and will have a leading role in promoting to employers the importance of investing in the skills of their workers.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what discussions he has had regarding the level of disabled unemployment recorded in the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys survey.

  Mr. Lee
  The recently published information in the report by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, on the financial circumstances of disabled adults living in private households does not provide sufficiently precise information about the unemployment of economically active people who have handicaps which are relevant to employment. My Department has recently commissioned a survey to provide such information. I expect the results to be available in the second half of this year.

  Productivity
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the effect of higher productivity on the current level of pay settlements.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Pay, including its relationship with productivity, is a matter for the judgment of individual employers in the light of their particular circumstances, but moderation in pay settlements is essential for competitiveness and jobs. Our international competitors enjoy lower growth in unit labour costs because they have considerably lower growth in earnings.

  Mr. Stevens
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the increase or decrease in productivity for the last 12 months for which figures are available.

  Mr. Lee
  Productivity in manufacturing, as measured by output per person employed, was 7·7 per cent. greater in the three months ending November 1988 than in coresponding period of 1987.

  Productivity for the economy as a whole was 2·6 per cent. higher in the third quarter of 1988 than in the third quarter of 1987.

  Construction Industry Training Board
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a statement on the future of the Construction Industry Training Board.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The White Paper "Employment for the 1990s" set out the Government's view that independent and voluntary arrangements are more likely to be effective than those imposed by statute. We are now consulting the construction industry training board and organisations representing employers in the construction industry about future arrangements for the industry.

  Luncheon Club Meals
  Mr. Holt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many luncheon club meals will be lost to retirement pensioners in east Cleveland as a result of changes in the training programme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Training Agency officials are currently discussing the east Cleveland luncheon club project with the local training manager. They will do all they can to help the service to continue, so long as the project can provide the training which unemployed people of east Cleveland need to help them get a job. I hope that the luncheon club will be able to continue under employment training and that no meals will be lost to pensioners in east Cleveland.

  Retail Prices Index Advisory Committee
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which of the recommendations of the 1986 retail price index advisory committee he has currently under review.

  Mr. Lee
  As the hon. Member was told in a written answer on 17 January, the advisory committee is shortly to review progress on implementing the longer-term 150
  recommendations made in its 1986 report. The recommendations in question concern the treatment of holiday expenditure, charges for financial services, new car prices and quality changes, improvements to price collection procedures and the family expenditure survey, and the release of a technical manual on the index methodology. The Government will be ready to consider the committee's recommendations on these points in due course.

  Elderly People
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on his proposals to encourage people over the age of 60 years to remain in the labour force.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Government believe that employers should see older workers as a valuable resource. "Agism" is unfair and, because of demographic trends, it is irresponsible to ignore the talents which older workers can contribute to the economy. Although recruitment decisions must be left to employers, in making them they should not discriminate unfairly on age grounds. They should also be considering how best to use workers who want to continue beyond 60. We are putting these messages across to employers through various media, thus creating opportunities for workers over 60 to remain in or return to employment if they so wish.

  Wages Councils
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received on his proposal to abolish the wages councils; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to publish the results of the consultation exercise on the Government's proposals to abolish wages councils; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Hunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will summarise the responses which he has received to the recent consultative document on wages councils.

  Mr. Lee
  My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations on the proposal to abolish the wages councils contained in the recent consultation document. He will publish a summary of the responses when these have been analysed and considered.

  Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will seek to amend section 53 of the Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978 so that in all circumstances a dismissed employee has the right to be provided with a written statement, giving the reasons for his/her dismissal.

  Mr. Nicholls
  No. To do so would add to the burdens on employers. A written statement of reasons for dismissal is intended to enable a worker to assess whether he/she has grounds for complaining of unfair dismissal to an industrial tribunal. Originally the qualifying period for both rights was the same. The current Employment Bill seeks to restore that position by increasing the qualifying period for a written statement to two years.

  Self-employed People
  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have become self-employed during the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  The number of self-employed people in the United Kingdom is estimated to have risen by 124,000 from September 1987 to September 1988, the latest period for which figures are available. It is estimated that over 3 million people are now self-employed and the number is still rising. The numbers of self-employed people have risen by over 60 per cent. since 1979 and they now represent more than one in nine of the employed work force.

  Employment Service
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the progress of the Employment Service.

  Mr. Lee
  In the nine months since April, the Employment Service placed over 1·4 million people into jobs, including over 178,000 who had been long-term unemployed. New procedures such as more effective interviews with those making a new claim for benefit will continue to reinforce this trend. Since the establishment of the Employment Service in October 1987 unemployment has fallen by 626,500 overall, with particularly steep falls in long-term unemployment.

  Industrial Relations
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to meet the general secretary of the Trades Union Congress to discuss the current state of industrial relations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My right hon. Friend meets the general secretary of the Trades Union Congress from time to time to discuss matters of mutual interest.

  Hotels (Investment)
  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his Department's estimate of the amount of investment in hotels and hotel building in 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  The English tourist board's "Tourism Investment Reports" show that the total amount spent on hotel building, extension and refurbishment projects, with a value of £0·5 million or more, that were completed in 1988 was £319 million. Investment in such projects which were still under construction on 31 December 1988 was £730 million.

  Health and Safety
  Mr. Madel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he expects the number of accidents at work to decrease in 1989; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The statistical evidence is difficult to interpret, because of changes over time in industry 152
  structure and in reporting regulations, exacerbated by under-reporting. Forecasts of future rates would not be meaningful.

  I welcome indications in the Health and Safety Commission's annual report for 1987–88 that, subject to these caveats, the rate of reported major injuries to employees in manufacturing may have levelled off. But the rate remains too high, while higher rates for workers in some other sectors, notably construction and quarrying, give particular cause for concern.

  Responsibility for ensuring health and safety at work rests primarily with employers. I welcome the indications in the commission's report of increasing safety-related activity in industry. I believe this trend will continue, as employers become more aware of the economic as well as the human costs of accidents.

  The Government support the work of the Health and Safety Commission and Executive to stimulate and guide industry towards higher standards. Ministers' decisions in the 1988 public expenditure survey will increase real provision for the commission in each of the next three years, enabling the executive to employ more inspectors and carry out more inspections.

  Sir David Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has on the relative current standards of(a) United Kingdom and (b) other European Community countries legislation on safety at work and health at work; and how much amending legislation will be necessary in the United Kingdom between now and 1992.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Direct comparisons are not possible because of differences in legal systems, enforcement arrangements and statistical systems. I am arranging for a copy of evidence given by the Health and Safety Commission to the Employment Committee (January 1987) on these issues to be sent to my hon. Friend.

  The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 was a forward-looking enabling measure designed to maintain or improve existing health and safety standards while providing flexibility to adapt to changing technology. The Act and its associated regulations, codes and guidance provide for a high standard of protection and I believe offers a useful model for the EC in developing harmonised minimum standards.

  We seek in negotiations to make our standards the basis of EC ones wherever practicable, thus limiting amendments needed to our own law. Some amendments will, however, be required, not least in areas—such as noise, or major chemical hazards—where a need for improved provisions is generally perceived and can best develop internationally.

  A major United Kingdom aim, as the scope of EC health and safety law expands, will be to ensure that our high standards of enforcement are matched throughout the EC. We shall pursue this as appropriate in negotiations, and in studies and discussions with the Community institutions and other member states.

  Strikes (Lost Working Days)
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many working days were lost through strikes in(a) December 1978 and (b) December 1988; and if he will make a statement.
  153
  Mr. Lee
  The number of working days lost through stoppages of work due to industrial disputes in December 1978 was 542,000. The most recently available figure relates to November 1988, for which it is provisionally estimated that 173,000 working days were lost; the December 1988 figures will be published on 16 February in the "Labour Market Statistics Press Notice".

  Restart Scheme
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many redundant miners have been interviewed in relation to the restart scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  The information is not available.

  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many long-term unemployed have been offered help under the restart programme to date; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  Since 1 July 1986, just over 5 million interviews have taken place under the restart programme, of which just under 90 per cent. have resulted in an offer of positive help. It is not possible to state the number of people who have been interviewed, as some will have been interviewed more than once.

  Enterprise Allowance Scheme
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the number of individuals participating in the enterprise allowance scheme in Scotland and the United Kingdom in the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Cope
  In 1988, 101,816 people joined the enterprise allowance scheme in Great Britain, of which 9,045 were in Scotland. Since the scheme began in 1982 over 414,000 unemployed people have been helped to start their own businesses, of which 36,832 were in Scotland.

  Jobcentres
  Mr. Burt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement about the range of facilities available at jobcentres.

  Mr. Lee
  Jobcentres offer a wide range of facilities which are mainly designed to support the employment service key responsibilities of helping unemployed people back to work and providing a gateway to the Government's employment, training and enterprise programme.

  Jobcentres have two main avenues of help to get people back to work. They provide facilities which are available to everyone for display of vacancies and submissions to jobs. They also undertake specialist measures designed to help longer-term unemployed and disadvantaged people. These include jobclubs, restart courses, the restart counselling programme, a range of services to help the disabled, and particular assistance to inner city residents. Jobcentres are usually the first point of contact for most inquiries about Government employment provisions. The list of employment, training and business help programmes gives some indication of the range of facilities available.

  The jobcentre "gateway" role extends beyond the schemes and services provided by the Employment
  154
  Department group. A key function of staff is to provide information and to direct inquirer to appropriate "external" organisations and agencies, for example citizens advice bureaux, local enterprise agencies and adult literacy centres.

  Jobcentres also have display facilities for self-help material, for example leaflets, pamphlets and reference books, giving details of the services available.

  M25 (Hotels)
  Mr. Butterfill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has on the extent to which there is a shortage of hotel accommodation in the M25 corridor; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  I have no detailed information. However, I understand that the London tourist board and the hotel industry report a considerable demand for additional accommodation along the M25 corridor.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the progress being made in the establishment of training and enterprise councils.

  Sir Hal Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement about the setting up of training and enterprise councils.

  Mr. Roger King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many representations he has received in response to his proposals to create training and enterprise councils in the White Paper "Employment for the 1990s"; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  Since the White Paper "Employment for the 1990s" was published on 5 December over 600 individuals and organisations have been in contact with me or my Department to inquire about training and enterprise councils. I am very pleased about the positive response. I will publish a prospectus in March and I expect to announce the first training and enterprise councils before the end of the year.

  Discrimination
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of the outcome of his policies for taking discrimination out of employment.

  Mr. Nicholls
  There are encouraging signs that our policies are producing results. More girls and women are gaining the qualifications and experience necessary to fill higher level jobs. Recent trends also suggest that progress is being made against race discrimination. There is obviously still more to do—women and ethnic minorities are still under-represented in more skilled and higher paid jobs. I am, however, confident that the 1990s will provide even greater opportunities for equality in all areas where discrimination may occur. The Government welcome this.

  Skilled Workers
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the anticipated shortfall in the
  155
  availability of skilled workers in England and Wales in 1989–90; and what steps are being taken to increase the supply of skilled workers, especially in the manufacturing industry.

  Mr. Cope
  There is no overall measure of the shortfall in the availability of skilled workers. The steps being taken by the Government to increase the supply of skilled workers in all industries are set out in the training section of the White Paper "Employment for the 1990s" published in December.

  Mr. Ron Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has received recent representations from the Confederation of British Industry about skill shortages; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  I have received no recent representations from the Confederation of British Industry about skill shortages. My Department is working closely with employers to ensure that they are fully equipped to meet their skill needs in the 1990s. The training section of the White Paper "Employment for the 1990s" published in December sets out the steps being taken to counter skill shortages.

  EETPU Training Centre
  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on his visit to the training centre of the EETPU.

  Mr. Cope
  My right hon. Friend visited the EETPU training centre at Cudham hall on 19 April 1988. We welcome the initiative that EETPU has taken to provide training for its members to meet the demands of rapidly changing technology.

  Graduates
  Mr. James Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement about the analysis of graduate employment in the latest labour force survey.

  Mr. Lee
  Relevant results from the spring 1987 labour force survey, the latest available, were analysed in an article, "Graduates and the labour market in the 1980s", published in the January 1989 edition of the Employment Gazette. The Employment Gazette is available in the House of Commons Library.

  Business in the Community
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement about his meeting with Business in the Community representatives.

  Mr. Cope
  I met Business in the Community representatives to discuss the White Paper "Employment for the 1990s" published on 5 December last, and particularly the opportunities arising from it to improve services to small businesses. The local training and enterprise councils announced in the White Paper will become a focal point for local enterprise agencies and others in the network of organisations providing advice and support to small businesses and those wishing to start up on their own.

  Enterprise Agencies
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many local enterprise agencies are currently operating; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  We know of 434 local enterprise agencies operating in the United Kingdom. Of these, 393 are approved under provisions of the 1988 Income and Corporation Taxes Act (previously under provisions of the 1982 Finance Act), which allow business sector sponsors tax relief on their contributions to such bodies.

  The local training and enterprise councils announced in the White Paper "Employment for the 1990s" will provide a means for ensuring that the provision of small firms counselling and training relevant to local needs is extended and co-ordinated. There will be an important opportunity here for local enterprise agencies, as the councils will be able to sub-contract small firms work to agencies which can demonstrate a high quality of service.

  National Vocational Qualifications
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many national vocational qualifications have been awarded since the scheme's start; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  I regret that this information is not available. The National Council for Vocational Qualifications is developing a computerised system which will require awarding bodies whose qualifications have been accredited as national vocational qualifications (NVQs) to provide details of the number of awards made on a quarterly basis.

  The council has accredited 83 qualifications to date.

  Small Firms Service
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many counselling sessions were provided by the small firms service during the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  In 1987–88 the small firms service in England conducted 39,138 counselling sessions.

  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many inquiries were dealt with by the small firms service during the last 12 months.

  Mr. Cope
  In 1987–88 the small firms service in England handled 266,174 inquiries.

  Business Growth Through Training
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received about the business growth through training programme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  I have received no representations about business growth training, which I announced on 24 January in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Northfield (Mr. King) at column 550.

  European Community (Unemployment)
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he will next be meeting other
  157
  European Community Employment Ministers to discuss current levels of unemployment in the Community; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on Tuesday 17 January at column 175.

  Redundant Mineworkers Scheme
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to make an announcement on the redundant mineworkers' payments scheme arising from discussions between officials from his Department and the Department of Energy.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  I have been asked to reply.

  Discussions between officials on the effect of restart on beneficiaries under the redundant mineworkers payments scheme are proceeding urgently. I hope it will be possible to reach conclusions shortly.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Potato Marketing Board
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to make a statement about the future of the Potato Marketing Board.

  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to announce the result of the review of the potato marketing scheme.

  Mr. Ryder
  My right hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk, South (Mr. MacGregor) is now considering and evaluating the responses to the consultation document issued in September 1988. We are not yet in a position to say when this process will be completed, but a decision will not be unduly delayed.

  Salmonella
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many egg production units have been found to contain salmonella enteritidis; and what percentage this is of the national total.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The most recent figures show that there were 35 reports of isolation of salmonella enteritidis in 1988 in table egg laying and breeder laying flocks. There are estimated to be 38,534 holdings with table egg laying flocks and 11,403 with breeder laying flocks in Great Britain, but it is not possible to give as a percentage those flocks in which salmonella enteritidis has been reported as more than one report may relate to the same flock.

  Mr Colvin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many table poultry production units have been found to contain salmonella enteritidis; and what percentage this is of the national total.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The most recent figures show that there were 276 reports of isolations of salmonella enteritidis in broiler flocks in 1988. There were estimated to be 1,704 holdings with broiler flocks in Great Britain. In addition, birds will be sold for the table from laying flocks and breeding flocks, which are kept on an estimated 50,000 holdings. It is not possible to give as a percentage those flocks in which salmonella enteritidis has been reported as more than one report may relate to the same flock.
  158
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether salmonella enteritidis T4 has been isolated inside an egg destined for eating.

  Mr. Ryder
  Salmonella enteritidis PT4 has been isolated from the contents of eggs obtained from flocks supplying eggs for human consumption.

  Market Research
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his definition of near market research in respect of the agriculture industry.

  Mr. Ryder
  Near market research is research which offers the prospect of commercial application or exploitation, whether as a product, process or system, within a short enough timescale to justify investment by industry.

  Dioxins
  Dr. David Clarke
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has made an assessment of the length of time traces of dioxins from pesticides remain in soil after application; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I understand that where traces of dioxins have reached the soil they may remain for some years, depending on a variety of physical, chemical and biological processes favourable to degradation. My Department, in conjunction with the Department of the Environment and the Department of Health, has been working on a statement on dioxins in the environment which will be published shortly and will include a discussion of this aspect.

  For pesticides, where reaction mechanisms and manufacturing process conditions suggest the possible co-production of dioxin contaminants, the approval of the pesticide is dependent on the manufacturer meeting an acceptable specification for his product. If necessary, maximum limits for dioxin contamination can be set. For example, an upper limit of 0·1 mg/kg for the presence of the most toxic dioxin, 2·3, 7·8—Tetra chloro dibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) in the herbicide 2, 4, 5-T was imposed in 1970 and this was reduced to 0·01 mg/kg in technical 2, 4, 5-T in May 1980 as soon as suitably sensitive methods of analysis had been developed and validated. This condition of approval has statutory force under the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Retirement (Harmonisation)
  Dr. Michael Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what measures he is considering to harmonise the retirement age of men and women.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for St. Ives (Mr. Harris) on 18 January at column 246.

  Public Appeals
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will specify each donation which his Department has made in each financial year since 1979–80 in response to public appeals for financial aid.
  159
  Mr. Moore
  My Department has made no donations in response to public appeals for financial aid since its creation in July 1988. However the Government do make donations to a variety of organisations working in the social security field. For example, I announced to the House last October that the Government will be contributing £5 million to a special trust fund set up to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Motability, the scheme set up to help disabled people to obtain cars on favourable terms and up to £5 million has also been made available in the current financial year to the independent living fund.

  Regional Boundaries
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how the boundaries of social security regions prior to 1982 reconcile with those after 1982.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  During the period August 1981 to April 1983, the number of social security regions was reduced from 12 to seven. This resulted from a departmental efficiency scrutiny published in July 1981.

  Of the original 12 regions, only Scotland remained unchanged. The former Wales and south-west regions were combined, and the remainder were merged to form five new regions. Where possible the existing county, local authority, and other accepted boundaries were retained. Full details of the earlier regions and the areas which they served, and a map showing the current regional boundaries have been placed in the Library.

  Availability for Work
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what, by standard Great Britain region, including Greater London, is the average length of time between an unemployed claimant receiving an adjudication officer's adverse decision as to availability for work and a subsequent appeal; and what proportion of appeals result in a decision revised in favour of the claimant.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Bridging Allowance
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what arrangements were made to publicise the availablility of a bridging allowance to young people aged 16 to 18 years who lost entitlement to income support in September 1988; whether any plans were drawn up by his Department to instruct local offices to publicise both bridging allowances and the payment of child benefit to parents; and whether any offices caried out exercises to publicise such allowances.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  From May 1988 a supplement was included in the leaflet FB23 "A young persons' guide to Social Security". The supplement was entitled "New Income Support rules for people under eighteen". It included sections on both bridging allowance and extended child benefit. Any young person leaving school could obtain the leaflet FB23 and the supplement free from careers offices, DSS local offices, and from schools and local authority social service departments.

  Young people aged 16 or 17 years at 12 September 1988 who were receiving income support up to that date were
  160
  sent a letter advising them that their income support was being withdrawn. The letter included details of the availablility of a bridging allowance. No mention was made in the letter of the payment of child benefit for an extended period since most of these young people would have left school at Easter 1988, or before, and their parents would not have qualified for payment.

  Transitional Payments
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have applied for a transitional payment to date; how many applications have been(a) awarded, (b) refused and (c) are still outstanding; and what has been the average payment made.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Of the 423,657 applications for housing benefit transitional payments received at 8 February, 177,948 cases have been successful and 204,883 have been refused. Of the 40,826 applications outstanding, 25,737 are awaiting return of inquiry forms from the local authority. The average weekly payment is £3·89.

  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average length of time taken to process an application for a transitional payment.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The clearance times for applications for transitional payments will vary considerably from case to case and depend on how long the local authorities take to return the inquiry forms and whether further inquiries have to be made from the unit. For straightforward cases, it takes at present two days from receiving an application in the unit to sending the inquiry form to the local authority, 35 days for the local authority to return the inquiry form to the unit, and a further five days from receiving that inquiry form at the unit to deciding whether a payment can be made. The transitional payments unit has contacted a number of local authorities to encourage them to return the inquiry forms promptly.

  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State For Social Security how many full and part-time employees there are in the transitional payments unit in Glasgow.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  There are 360 full-time employees at the transitional payments unit. Of these 158 are permanent DSS staff; the remainder are employed on a limited period contract. There are no part-time employees.

  Income Support
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table showing current numbers of people claiming income support by local authority area.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I regret that this information is not available on a local authority basis.

  Information on the number of people claiming income support by local office is contained in my reply to the hon. Member for Livingston (Mr. Cook) on 1 February 1989 at columns 286–92.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table showing the numbers receiving housing benefit in each local authority in each of the last three years.
  161
  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 1 February 1989]: The information requested, for the years 1986–87 to 1988–89 has been placed in the Library. The table for 1988–89 is incomplete as returns have yet to be made by a small number of local authorities and the validity of others is still being checked.

  Benefits
  Mr. Graham Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants will not receive any overall increase in their benefit income in April 1989(a) for the United Kingdom as a whole and (b) for his Department's local offices in the county of Nottinghamshire, both numerically and as a percentage of benefit claimants.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: I regret that precise information is not available. Of some 20 million social security benefit recipients whose benefit increases in April 1989 around 570,000 income support recipients and an estimated 1,200 in receipt of housing benefit transitional protection payments will not receive any overall increase in their benefit income. Family credit awards are for a fixed period, normally six months, and they are not uprated during this period. The new rates take effect only from the following claim.

  Information for Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Public Donations
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 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. Forth
  My Department keeps no separate record of donations made in response to public appeals. I am not aware of any such payments having been made by my Department since 1979–80.

  Inward Investment Projects (Nottingham)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will give the total number of inward investment projects brought to Nottingham, North by location in each year since 1979, giving the number of jobs involved and the volume of expenditure.

  Mr. Atkins
  My Department is aware of eight inward investment projects having been brought to Nottingham, North since 1979, all at Blenheim industrial estate, Bulwell:

  Year

  Number of projects

  Jobs

  1980

  1

  40

  1984

  2

  95

  1986

  1

  30

  1987

  2

  25

  1989

  2

  245

  No information on the volume of expenditure is available.

  Metrological Control of Equipment
  Mr. Waller
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will seek to implement all the recommendations of the Eden committee on the metrological control of equipment for use for trade which the Government accepted in their response dated July 1986.

  Mr. Forth
  Those recommendations accepted by the Government's response (Cmnd. 9850) to the report of the Eden committee which did not require primary legislation have already been implemented. It remains my Department's intention to introduce legislation to implement the remaining accepted recommendations when parliamentary time is available.

  Air Combat Training
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what discussion his Department has had with British Aerospace regarding its planned British Aerospace air combat manoeuvring installation in the North sea; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  My officials have discussed British Aerospace proposals for air combat manoeuvring installations and in particular the ensuing communications requirements.

  Sanitary Products
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) if he will meet representatives of the sanitary products industry to review urgently its manufacturing procedures;

  (2) if there are any proposals to introduce specific legal standards governing the manufacture of sanitary tampons;

  (3) what consumer safeguards exist to regulate the composition of sanitary protection products;

  (4) what action he will take to publicise the danger to women of toxic shock syndrome when using sanitary tampons and printing such information on sanitary tampon packets.

  Mr. Forth
  Four years ago the Government set up a voluntary prior approval scheme with the sanitary protection industry, under which manufacturers submit to the government any new tampon or tampons to which there have been significant changes in design or materials, and toxicologists from the Department of Health scrutinise them to decide whether they pose a health hazard. I am satisfied that this scheme is adequate to safeguard the public and I commend it as a good example of a responsible industry voluntarily looking after the interests of its customers.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will introduce a code of conduct or guidelines on the sanitary protection industry with regard to problems related to the disposability of their products.

  Mr. Forth
  I have no plans at present to introduce such a code of conduct or guidelines.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) if he will make it his policy to encourage manufacturers of disposable soft tissue products to change to unbleached pulp for manufacture;
  163
  (2) when he last met representatives of the sanitary protection industry to discuss organochlorines and dioxins remaining in the product following wood pulping and bleaching of raw materials and their health implications; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  Chlorine bleaching of pulp is the process which gives the whitest finished product. It produces very small amounts of dioxins in the effluent, and minute quantities—parts per billion or less may be retained in the pulp itself. There is no evidence at present that this is a hazard to consumers, but the expert Committee on Toxicity, at the Department of Health, will shortly be advising the Government on the toxicity of dioxins generally, and we shall back any action needed. Organochlorine pesticides do not occur in wood pulp.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether cotton fibre intended for use in tampon manufacture is guaranteed free of herbicides and pesticides applied in the country of origin.

  Mr. Forth
  I have no reason to think that materials used in the manufacture of tampons are contaminated with herbicides or pesticides, but I am asking the industry to check this aspect of its supplies of imported cotton fibre.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what additives are used to enhance the absorbency of sanitary towels; and what are the health implications thereof.

  Mr. Forth
  I shall ask the Association of Sanitary Protection Manufacturers what chemicals are used to enhance the absorbency of sanitary towels and about their bioavailability. Toxicologists at the Department of Health will then consider whether they pose any hazard to health.

  Paper
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on EEC initiatives for a chlorine-free paper industry.

  Mr. Forth
  I am not aware of any current EEC initiatives with this intent.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) how may paper pulp mills in the United Kingdom use the Kraft process with chlorine bleaching;

  (2) how many pulp mills in the United Kingdom use the sulphite process with chlorine bleaching;

  (3) how many paper mills in the United Kingdom carry out further chlorine bleaching of imported paper pulp.

  Mr. Forth
  None.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what tonnage of paper pulp is imported into the United Kingdom annually;

  (2) what is the percentage of paper pulp imported into the United Kingdom annually that is chlorine bleached.

  Mr. Forth
  Imports of paper pulp in 1988 were 2 million tonnes, of which 1·7 million tonnes (84 per cent.) were bleached or semi-bleached. It is not possible to identify what percentage of paper pulp is chlorine bleached.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what figures are available to his Department on the amount of chlorine gas required to bleach one tonne of paper pulp.
  164
  Mr. Forth
  This process is not undertaken in the United Kingdom.

  Research and Development
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish a table expressing as a percentage of gross domestic product the total(a) Government expenditure on civil research and development (b) other expenditure on civil research and development and (c) (a) plus (b), for each year since 1970.

  Mr. Forth
  The available information relates to gross expenditure on research and development in the fields of science, technology, social science and humanities, performed in the United Kingdom and the Government financing of it, as a percentage of gross domestic product. The data are available only for years in which a survey of research and development performed in industry was carried out and is as follows:

  Gross expenditure on research and development as a percentage of gross domestic product

  Gross expenditure on research and development financed by Government as a percentage of gross domestic product

  1972

  2·1

  1·1

  1975

  2·2

  1·2

  1978

  2·2

  1·1

  1981

  2·4

  1·2

  1983

  2·3

  1·2

  1985

  2·3

  1·0

  1986

  2·4

  1·0

  European Regional Development Fund
  Mr. Churchill
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Davyhulme of 6 February, he will give details of the projects funded from the European regional development fund in(a) the city of Manchester and (b) the Trafford district of Greater Manchester in respect of each of the past five years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Atkins
  Commitments made from the European regional development fund were as follows:

  £

  (a) the City of Manchester:

  Infrastructure projects

  1984

  Manchester Science Park

  63,900

  Mini Industrial Units (Denhill Road and Hulme Hall Lane)

  40,800

  Floats Road Wythenshawe

  29,400

  Castleford Urban Heritage Park

  Phase 1

  122,550

  Phase 2

  376,200

  Advance Factories, Tulketh Street Muston

  78,600

  Pollard Street

  253,200

  Strangeways Highway Network

  50,100

  1985

  Chapman Street/Railway Street Junction

  49,500

  1986

  Park Street Access Road

  145,000

  1987

  Manchester Science Park

  102,000

  165

  £

  Mill Street Reconstruction

  32,500

  A6010 Improvement (Pottery Lane/Gorton Lane)

  20,500

  Manchester/Salford Inner Relief Road

  2,603,000

  Beswick Street Junction

  33,000

  Grey Mare Lane Junction

  35,500

  Bank Street Junction

  45,000

  Middleton Road/Leicester Road/Bury Old Road Junction

  356,500

  1988

  Longsight District Centre, Highway Improvements

  246,500

  Great Ancoats Street Bridge

  66,000

  Ashton New Road Junction

  19,500

  Wood Street Improvement

  27,500

  Old Street Improvement

  78,500

  Industry projects

  1986

  Sellars Electronics Ltd., Instrumentation for Quality Control Testing

  35,000

  Presbar Diecasting Ltd., Aluminium Diecasting Manufacture

  375,000

  1987

  Polybay Ltd., Drainage Channels of Polyester, Resin and Concrete

  90,000

  1988

  Motivation and Display Ltd., Point of Sale Display Equipment

  22,000

  Brentcast Ltd., Furniture

  20,000

  Cyril Bernstein Ltd., Kitchen and Bedroom Furniture

  175,000

  Trafford Rubber Products Ltd., Rubber Products

  20,000

  (b) the Trafford District of Greater Manchester:

  Infrastructure project

  1985

  Trafford Park Village Highway

  237,500

  Industry project

  1988

  Isaac Bentley, Water Oil and Gas Industry Products

  49,000

  European Single Market
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what percentage of the total number of registered businesses in the United Kingdom have made use of the Europe—Open for Business 1992 database; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  Around 190,000 requests for information have been received since the Europe—Open for Business campaign was launched in March last year. Spearhead, the Department's on-line database of single market measures, has a subscriber base of around 100,000. In total there are just over 1 million registered limited companies in the United Kingdom.

  Exports
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement about steps being taken to help British companies compete in world markets.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer
  I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Mr. Knapman) on 17 January, at columns 106–08.

  Disposable Nappies
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will commission a study on the side effects of the manufacture of disposable nappies for infants styled superabsorbent.

  Mr. Forth
  I have asked the two brand leaders for full details of the chemical composition of the active ingredient in superabsorbent disposable nappies. Our toxicologists at the Department of Health will check whether they are liable to pose a hazard to health.

SCOTLAND

  Salmonella
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the cases of salmonella food poisoning connected with eggs which were referred to in Government press advertisements, giving the number of people affected, the area of the outbreak and the most likely source of the eggs in question for each case.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The figures referred to in the press advertisements related only to England and Wales. In Scotland five outbreaks of salmonella were reported during 1988. These involved 99 people. Details are as follows:

  Area of outbreak

  Number of people affected

  Most likely source

  Fife

  5

  Free range group of hens kept for domestic egg supply.

  Argyll and Clyde

  54

  Supermarket—source could not be traced.

  Borders

  24

  Free range poultry farm.

  Lothian

  3

  Anecdotal evidence only that raw egg in a sponge mix was involved.

  Lothian

  13

  Supplier receives eggs from a variety of sources so that precise source of eggs cannot determined.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the incidence of salmonella-infected hens in chicken flocks in Scotland; and if he has instituted a survey of such incidence.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The number of salmonella reported incidents in poultry units in Scotland during the past five years have been as follows:

  Number

  1984

  9

  1985

  27

  1986

  11

  1987

  12

  1988

  21

  As is customary in these cases all incidents were investigated by the state veterinary service.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the number of salmonellae in eggs produced or marketed in Scotland, and on any survey he has instituted in order to compile such information.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Precise information on the extent to which eggs produced or marketed in Scotland are
  167
  currently affected by salmonella is not available. The Government's concern is to eliminate the risk of infection at all stages of production and in the preparation of food in the home and in eating places. The steps which we have announced are directed to that end.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will make a statement on the incidence of transmission of salmonella into eggs by trans-shell and transovarian routes, respectively; and if he has instituted any research into this question;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the frequency with which hens infected with salmonella lay infected eggs; and if he has instituted any survey on that subject.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  As the recent report from the joint MAFF, DH and BEIC working group made clear, further information on both these aspects is required before definitive conclusions can be reached. Consideration is being given to how this might best be pursued.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement concerning the action that would be necessary to achieve a long-term solution to the problems associated with salmonellae in poultry and eggs.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to my hon. Friend the Member for Suffolk, Central (Mr. Lord) on 18 January at columns 214–15. Action on a number of the proposals has already been taken. This includes further controls on protein processing plants; the imposition of restrictions on units where salmonella is suspected; and the compulsory slaughter of laying flocks where salmonella is confirmed. Taken together, these various measures underline our resolve to tackle the problem of salmonella.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the distribution of salmonella infection in chicken flocks in Scotland; and if he has instituted any survey of such infection.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Salmonella was reported on 21 poultry units in Scotland during 1988. In all cases the state veterinary service visited the premises and gave advice on hygiene and control measures.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on what date he received the information on eggborne salmonellosis in Scotland contained in appendix 2 of the joint report of the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Department of Health and BEIC working group; and if he will list the actions he has taken since then to advise the public about any risks and to promote the reduction of salmonella contamination in laying flocks.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Appendix 2 lists seven incidents of salmonella food poisoning involving eggs. These isolated incidents, spread over 1987 and 1988, represented a small proportion of all salmonella incidents reported to the communicable diseases (Scotland) unit, Ruchill. Advice on the consumption of eggs was given to community medicine specialists and directors of environmental health in August and November, 1988. A press release was issued in August 1988 and advertisements were 168
  placed in the national press in mid-December. Regarding laying flocks, proposals designed to reduce salmonella contamination were announced by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on 18 January 1989.

  Chlorofluorocarbons
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what support his Department is giving to local authorities who wish to reduce or eliminate their use of CFC's.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given today by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment (Mrs. Bottomley).

  Student Awards
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will publish tables showing the number of discretionary awards to students attending(a) drama schools, (b) dance schools and (c) art colleges, made by each local education authority in Scotland in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information requested by the hon. Member is not held by the Department and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.

  Theatre in Education
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has on the local education authorities in Scotland which give financial support to Theatre in Education companies.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Information on this subject is not held centrally.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Buchanan-Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will arrange to collate centrally information on the processing of the community charge in relation to the proper completion of inquiry and registration forms and on the imposition of penalties for improper completion and for other offences.

  Mr. Lang
  My officials maintain regular contact with community charge registration officers to discuss general progress in compiling the community charge registers. I do not consider that a formal system for the central collection of data is practicable or necessary.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will give any advice or assistance to employers about payment of the community charge by employees in tied housing; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  The liability of people living in tied houses to pay community charges is no different from the liability of most other members of the community. I therefore have no plans to issue special guidance. Employers who provide tied housing will need to negotiate with their employees any changes in the conditions of employment under which such houses are provided, which may be required to take account of the effects of the abolition of domestic rates and the introduction of the community charge arrangements.

  Nurses
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give a breakdown by health boards in Scotland of the number of registered general nurses graded D who have more than one year's service.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This information is not held centrally.

  Debtors (Imprisonment)
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people are in prison in Scotland for non-payment of debts, excluding non-payment of fines.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 9 February 1989]: This information is not available in the form requested. In December 1988 the average daily population of civil prisoners in Scottish penal establishments was 0·6 persons. In the year 1987, 113 applications for civil imprisonment were disposed of by the courts; 98 of these were for non-payment of aliment.

  Civil imprisonment has therefore been a relatively little used procedure for anything other than non-payment of aliment. Since the Debtors (Scotland) Act 1987 came into

  Total area (has)

  Estimated extent of agricultural land (has)

  Estimated number of eligible farmers/ crofters

  Concluded agreements

  Area covered by agreements (has)

  Breadalbane

  120,000

  90,000

  160

  68

  30,400

  Loch Lomond

  42,000

  30,600

  89

  22

  10,500

  Whitlaw and Eildon

  8,000

  7,500

  65

  3

  330

  Stewartry

  42,000

  39,000

  300

  25

  3,400

  The Machair of the Uists, Benbecula, Barra and Vatersay

  7,000

  7,000

  '800

  69

  900

  1 Plus 65 Grazing committees.

HEALTH

  Child Abuse
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects his Department's 1989–90 programme of research in the sexual abuse of children to be concluded and announced to the public.

  Mr. Freeman
  Current projects being undertaken cover the period 1987 to 1993. Each project will end as determined by its timetable. Projects in the 1989–90 programme have not yet been commissioned. Each individual project will be considered carefully and thoroughly through the Department's research commissioning mechanism. The precise start and finish dates are dependent on the research design and any changes needed in the light of professional, scientific or interdepartmental advice.

  AIDS
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) for what specific medical or public health purpose it is necessary to collect and report on AIDS surveillance clinical report forms submitted by clinicians to the PHLS communicable disease surveillance centre, the full names and addresses of people diagnosed with AIDS to the centre; what precautions are taken to protect this information during and after transmission to the centre;170
  operation on 30 November 1988 there can be no civil imprisonment for rates, tax penalties or the majority of civil fines and penalties due to the Crown. Civil imprisonment has never been a competent penalty in respect of non-payment of community charges or of civil penalties imposed by community charges registration officers in Scotland.

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state in respect of environmentally sensitive areas in Scotland(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 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. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 13 February 1989]: The information is as follows:

  what information is stored in computer databanks and where; for what medical or public health purpose; and subject to what safeguards against unauthorised disclosure;

  (2) what precautions are taken in respect of HIV and AIDS clinical report forms and data submitted by microbiologists or clinicians to the PHLS communicable disease surveillance centre to ensure that such information is not accessible to temporarily employed staff;

  (3) in respect of AIDS surveillance clinical report forms submitted by clinicians to the PHLS communicable disease surveillance centre, to what extent the collection of data not necessary for specific medical or public health purposes has contributed to the national under-reporting of AIDS which has recently been identified and assessed by the centre and Office of Population Censuses and Surveys staff;

  (4) in respect of AIDS surveillance clinical report forms submitted by clinicians to the PHLS communicable disease surveillance centre, what steps he proposes to take to limit data collection to that necessary to ensure the most comprehensive possible reporting of AIDS diagnoses and deaths.

  Mr. Freeman
  The system for reporting HIV and AIDS cases to the communicable diseases surveillance centre (CDSC) is designed to provide the data necessary for surveillance while safeguarding confidentiality.
  171
  The information collected consists of personal and clinical data required to identify the health district of residence and the clinical condition. The forms used for data collection are kept under review in the light of experience, and are currently being revised.

  CDSC takes a number of steps to safeguard confidentiality. It urges reporting clinicians to encode surnames and provide assistance to them on the use of the soundex code. Addresses are not usually given as only the health district of residence is required. If addresses are given, CDSC encodes them. Only certain members of the staff have access to the written reports which are stored in lockable cabinets in particularly secure buildings. Data held on computer contains no names and addresses and access to it is protected by special security software. On starting employment, all staff have to sign a form drawing their attention to their responsibility to protect confidentiality.

  Current evidence suggests that the reporting of known AIDS cases is reasonably complete. To improve the completeness of reporting further, we announced on November 30 that we were asking Dr. Joe Smith, director of the public health laboratory service, to make proposals for reducing under-reporting to a minimum.

  General Practice
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioner practices with more than 11,000 patients there are in(a) Nottingham district health authority, (b) Nottingham, North constituency, (c) the city of Nottingham and (d) the Rushcliffe constituency.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  We collect the information requested from family practitioner committees, which are not necessarily coterminous with health authority boundaries. As at 1 October 1987 (the latest date for which figures are available) the number of partnerships in the area covered by the Nottingham family practitioner committee (which includes Nottingham district health authority) with 11,000 patients or more was 19. Information on Nottingham, North constituency, the city of Nottingham and the Rushcliffe constituency is not available centrally.

  Medical Advisers
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what regulations govern the appointment of medical advisers to local authorities.

  Mr. Freeman
  There are no regulations governing such appointments, but the Department's advice on procedures for the appointment of community physicians extends to doctors who provide services to local authorities.

  Select Committees (NHS Employees)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his policy regarding the attendance of National Health Service employees at Select Committees; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Department's policy on the attendance of National Health Service employees before Select Committees is that this should happen whenever it seems likely to be of material assistance to a Committee's inquiry. To date, National Health Service employees have 172
  appeared on a number of occasions before the Public Accounts Committee and the Social Services Committee, either at the request of the Committee concerned or, with the agreement of the Committee, to join witnesses from the Department of Health. We believe that they have made a useful contribution to the work of those Committees.

  Dental Videos
  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what was the total cost of producing the second in the series of dental postgraduate education videos, "ALARA"; and whether this can be broken down, approximately, into cost per video;

  (2) what was the total number of the dental education videos, "ALARA", distributed in Britain; and what was the regional distribution pattern in terms of dental practices supplied;

  (3) what categories of dental personnel were involved in the making of the dental educational video, "ALARA"; and what were the total numbers;

  (4) what arrangements have been made by his Department to collect and analyse responses to the second educational dental video, "ALARA"; and whether the results of such an analysis will be made available generally to the dental profession.

  Mr. Freeman
  The dental educational video, ALARA, was produced at a cost of approximately £41,500, just under £4 a copy, and distributed to all dental practices in England providing general dental services. The video has also been made available to dental practices in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

  Twelve members of the profession took part in the production, including the president of the British Dental Association, a professor of dental radiology, a consultant dental surgeon, a postgraduate dental dean together with general dental practitioners and senior dental officers of the Department.

  Arrangements have been made by the British Postgraduate Medical Federation, which commissioned the video, to receive dentists' comments. These will be analysed and the results published.

  Children in Care
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children there were in local authority care for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Freeman
  The numbers of children in local authority care for each year 1979–86 and provisional figures for 1987 are given in "Children in care of local authorities, year ending 31 March, England", published annually, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. Over this period the numbers in care have decreased.

  General Practitioners (Budgets)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will provide exemplifications of the total cost of indicative prescriptions budget for general practitioners n each National Health Service region.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I will be publishing shortly a working paper which discusses arrangements for the introduction of indicative drug budgets.
  173
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps he proposes to take to ensure that general practitioner practices accept chronically sick or disabled people on to their registers when cash limited budgets are introduced;

  (2) what assessment he has made of the effect of cash-limited budgets for general practitioners upon chronically sick people in the community.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Practice budgets will be set to reflect the age and tendency to sickness of practice lists to ensure that doctors have no reason at all to refuse patients for financial reasons. In exceptional cases adjustments will be required in respect of individual patients who require more costly treatment. The practice budgets and drug budgets of GPs will therefore have no effect at all on the attractiveness of chronically sick or disabled people as potential patients.

  Regional Health Authorities (Funding)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will provide exemplifications of allocations to regional health authorities on a weighted capitalisation basis for the 1988–89 financial year and also give the actual allocations made and the resources allocation working party targets for National Health Service regions in that year.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The table shows the initial 1988–89 revenue allocations to regional health authorities, together with their distances from RAWP targets. A comparison with allocations on a weighted capitation basis as set out in the White Paper "Working for Patients" is not possible in the absence for that year of any negotiations between regions about payments for cross-boundary flows.

  1988–89 Revenue Allocations and Distance from RAWP Targets

  Region

  Initial allocation1 £ million

  Distance from target per cent.

  Northern

  758

  -1·56

  Yorkshire

  851

  -1·39

  Trent

  1,058

  -2·70

  East Anglian

  451

  -3·99

  North West Thames

  878

  4·46

  North East Thames

  1,084

  7·29

  South East Thames

  949

  1·69

  South West Thames

  768

  0·97

  Wessex

  633

  -1·79

  Oxford

  499

  -2·58

  South Western

  749

  -1·39

  West Midlands

  1,214

  -1·32

  Mersey

  609

  1·48

  North Western

  1,039

  -1·35

  1 Includes RAWP allocation, joint finance and earmarked sums eg supra-regional services, AIDS, breast cancer screening. But excludes later additions for review body pay award.

  Sanitary Tampons
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to change the status of the sanitary tampon and redefine it as a medical appliance.

  Mr. Freeman
  No.

  Organochlorines (Human Milk and Tissue)
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement following the World Health Organisation investigation into the levels of PCBs, PCDDs and PCDFs in breast milk.

  Mr. Freeman
  The draft report of the World Health Organisation into the levels of polychlorinated biphenyls, polychlorinated dibenzoparadioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans in breast milk is among the data being considered by the Department's committee on toxicity of chemicals in food, consumer products and the environment. It has been asked to advise on the possible health effects from all dioxins.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the presence of organochlorines in infant body tissues.

  Mr. Freeman
  Organochlorine compounds persist in body fat which is therefore a good indicator of exposure of body tissues. Surveys of human fat for these compounds were done in the United Kingdom between 1963 and 1977 as well as more recently between 1982 and 1983. These surveys dealt with persons aged five years and over but the 1982–83 survey also looked at four samples of fat from infants aged from five days to three months. The results confirmed that residues of organochlorine compounds (OCCs) might occur in newly born infants but the results were too few to allow further interpretation. A further survey of human fat is being planned and it is intended to look at samples from infants where available. The levels of OCCs found in these human fat samples show a downward trend and are unlikely to result in any adverse health effects.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information is available to his Department on the presence of organochlorines in breast milk and umbilical cord tissue.

  Mr. Freeman
  Surveys of organochlorine compounds in breast milk were carried out in the United Kingdom in 1979–80 and 1983–84, the results being published in MAFF food surveillance papers No. 9 (1982) and 16 (1986). Copies of these are in the Library.

  There are no United Kingdom data on levels of organochlorine compounds in placental tissue and umbilical cord blood, but limited information from other countries, available in the published scientific literature, shows that organochlorine compounds do cross the placenta into the foetus. However, these compounds are highly fat-soluble and greater exposures occur postnatally via breastmilk than prenatally via the placenta.

  The independent expert committee advising the Government on these matters, the committee on the toxicity of chemicals in food, consumer products and the environment, has stated that the toxicological information available is not adequate to exclude the possibility of effects on infant health from exposure to organochlorine compounds in breast milk, and recommended continued monitoring of human milk samples in the United Kingdom. A further survey has been planned.

  Meningitis
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research has been conducted into a possible link between sea water pollution and cases of meningitis.
  175
  Mr. Freeman
  I am not aware of any such research. The research projects into meningitis supported by the Medical Research Council were listed in the reply given on 21 December by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Science at column 292.

  Sanitary Tampons
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research has been undertaken on the effects on women's health of dioxins in sanitary tampons; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  Research in Sweden has shown that the level of dioxins in sanitary tampons is extremely low. These levels are likely to present a negligible risk to women's health. The relevant trade association has been asked to provide information on levels found in products on sale in the United Kingdom and data on the bioavailability of dioxins in tampons. A further assessment of risks to health will then be made.

  Dioxins
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether there is a declared safe level for TCDD (tetrachlorodibenzodoxin);

  (2) whether there is a safe level of dioxins with regard to human health.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Department's committee on toxicity of chemicals in food, consumer products and the environment has been asked to advise on the possible health effects from all dioxins. One of these, TCDD, has been classified by the International Agency for Research into Cancer as a possible human carcinogen.

  Legionnaire's Disease
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will instruct local authorities and health authorities to provide the recently developed Legionnaire's disease rapid testing kits for use in water cooling systems to their engineers and environmental health officers.

  Mr. Freeman
  The latest advice available to me on this matter is from the expert advisory committee on biocides. Its report, published on 8 February, welcomed the appearance of this kit but considered a thorough evaluation of it was essential.

  Rutland Memorial Hospital
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received since September 1988 from residents of Rutland against the proposed closure of the maternity unit at the Rutland Memorial hospital, Oakham; what action he intends to take to prevent the Leicestershire health authority from proceeding with that closure; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  We have received 22 local representations on the matter.
  176
  Responsibility for the provision of local health services rests with the district health authority concerned.

  Ministers are not involved in such decisions unless agreement cannot be reached locally.

  Food Poisoning
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give the scientific basis for the assumption in the report of the joint working group on salmonella in eggs that a multiplication factor of 100 is appropriate in estimating total salmonella infections from recorded cases.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The report does not make this assumption, but it does quote some American practice of using a multiplication factor of 100.

  The public health laboratory service considers that there is considerable under-reporting of salmonella food poisoning, because not all affected persons consult a doctor, and those that do may not have a culture taken. Even when doctors secure positive results, the cases may not be reported. However, it is difficult to assess the degree of under-reporting of salmonella food poisoning in England and Wales as no specific studies of this question have been made.

  There is therefore no multiplier which can be specifically applied to this country.

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has any plans to establish an independent inquiry into food poisoning.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  An expert committee is to be established on microbiological safety in food. It will report to me and my hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, but it will have an independent chairman. Its members will include outside experts and Government advisers—for example, scientists or those with practical experience in the production, processing, retailing or preparation of food in the home or in catering. It will investigate issues referred to it by Departments, but it will also be able to initiate its own investigations. Its reports will be published.

  Ambulance Service
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the future of the ambulance service under the proposals in the White Paper on the National Health Service.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside (M r. Blunkett) on Wednesday 8 February at column 696.

  National Health Service (Finance)
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish a table showing the relevant figures in table 14.19 of Cm. 614 adjusted by the hospital and community health service pay and price deflator.

  Mr. Freeman
  Following is the information:
  177

  Hospital and community health services, United Kingdom—current expenditure

  £ millions

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  Cash figures table 14.19 Cm. 614

  Gross

  11,070

  11,706

  12,348

  13,249

  14,604

  Net

  10,767

  11,398

  12,018

  12,892

  14,219

  Figures adjusted by hospital and community health services pay and price deflator

  Gross

  14,284

  14,276

  14,325

  14,370

  14,604

  Net

  13,893

  13,900

  13,942

  13,983

  14,219

  The table sets out hospital and community health services current expenditure figures from 1983–84 adjusted by the hospital and community health services pay and price deflator for the years in which it is available. These figures do not take account of income from cash releasing cost improvements which, in the years shown, provided a significant contribution to the total resources available for service development.

  Parkside Hospital
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information is taken from patients in Parkside hospital area concerning patients' nationality and country of origin.

  Mr. Freeman
  This information is not held centrally. My hon. Friend, however, may wish to contact the chairman of Parkside health authority for further details.

  "Working for Patients"
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether any hospital wards which have been closed in the last two years will be reopened under the proposals of the White Paper "Working for Patients".

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  [holding answer 9 February 1989]: Hospital wards may be closed for a variety of reasons including, for example, the development of better alternative facilities. But under the present funding arrangements a hospital which becomes more efficient and could treat more patients may be prevented from doing so because funds do not flow with the patients. The White Paper's proposals will make it easier for NHS hospitals to offer their services to their own and other districts in a way which enables them to attract the funds they need in line with the work they are asked to do.

  Kidney Dialysis
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those district health authorities which have contracted out kidney dialysis services to(a) charities and (b) commercial companies.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 30 January 1989]: I am aware of only one district health authority which has contracted out hospital dialysis services in England. East Suffolk health authority has let a contract to Unicare Medical Services for provision of dialysis at Ipswich.

ENVIRONMENT

  Public Health Act 1933
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any plans to introduce legislation to amend section 33 of the Public Health Act 1933.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I understand that my hon. Friend is referring to section 33 of the Public Health Act 1936. I have no plans to introduce legislation to amend that provision.

  Mortgage Repossessions
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the figures for 1979 to the present for mortgage repossessions in the north-west of England and each of the metropolitan boroughs of the north-west of England.

  Mr. Trippier
  The Department has no estimate for the numbers of mortgage repossessions in the north-west of England. The Building Societies Association publishes numbers of repossessions only for the United Kingdom, because the numbers are too small to break down by regions. My Department collects information on repossessions instigated in respect of mortgages made by local authorities, who made less than 1 per cent. of the total mortgage loans in the United Kingdom in 1987. In 1987–88 there were an estimated 90 repossessions in the north-west administrative region which were made by local authorities.

  Building society repossessions, United Kingdom

  Number

  1979

  2,530

  1980

  3,020

  1981

  4,240

  1982

  5,950

  1983

  7,320

  1984

  10,870

  1985

  16,770

  1986

  20,930

  1987

  22,930

  1 1988

  9,770

  1 First half

  Local authority mortgage repossessions, England

  Number

  1981–82

  1,100

  1982–83

  950

  1983–84

  840

  1984–85

  570

  1985–86

  630

  1986–87

  490

  1987–88

  330

  Thames Water Authority (Prosecutions)
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will indicate how many successful prosecutions were brought against the Thames water authority in(a) 1987 and (b) 1988, to the extent that information is available, for (i) causing pollution or (ii) in any other ways failing to meet their obligations as a water authority.
  179
  Mr. Moynihan
  In 1987 there was one successful prosecution against Thames water authority for the failure of a sewage treatment works to comply with the terms of its discharge consent.

  Tenants' Choice
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how the appointed teller described in his Department's consultation paper "Tenants' Choice: Consultation and Voting" will be able to communicate in the manner described with a seaman on active service overseas serving on Her Majesty's submarines for extended periods in times of international tension;

  (2) whether a service man or service woman on active service overseas who does not respond to the tellers' inquiries as described in "Tenants' Choice: Consultation and Voting", will have his or her home transferred to another landlord.

  Mr. Trippier
  The numbers of service personnel affected by tenants' choice will be small. Any who are, including submariners, will be enabled by regulations to cast an advance vote at any point in the 13-week consultation period if they expect to be absent during the vote itself. In addition, the independent teller will be able to contact virtually all service personnel overseas through the British Forces Post Office. Where the tenancy concerned is a joint one, a vote may be cast on behalf of all the joint tenants, including any service personnel on overseas duty. Tenants eligible to vote who did not do so would become tenants of the applicant if a tenants' choice transfer went ahead.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what detailed advice he has given as to recommended procedures for balloting tenants to determine whether tenants wish to remain local authority tenants as provided under the Housing Act 1988.

  Mr. Trippier
  A consultation paper "Tenants' Choice—Consultation and Voting" was issued to interested parties on 8 December 1988; copies were placed in the Library. Secondary legislation is being prepared to give effect to this and other provisions of part IV of the Housing Act 1988.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library information showing the form of questions put, to date, by local authorities to tenants, in ballots to determine whether tenants wish to remain local authority tenants.

  Average domestic rate poundages and illustrative community charges in Cambridgeshire

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  Cambridge

  Average Domestic Rate Bill

  (£)

  307

  345

  357

  481

  513

  552

  Domestic Rate

  (p)

  124·5

  139·5

  144·5

  194·0

  206·0

  221·0

  Community Charge

  (£)

  n/a

  95

  110

  154

  190

  213

  East Cambridgeshire

  Average Domestic Rate Bill

  (£)

  205

  233

  244

  333

  357

  378

  Domestic Rate

  (p)

  119·8

  134·9

  140·7

  190·1

  201·1

  211·0

  Community Charge

  (£)

  n/a

  84

  104

  150

  182

  196

  Fenland

  Average Domestic Rate Bill

  (£)

  195

  220

  231

  312

  334

  356

  Domestic Rate

  (p)

  124·8

  139·3

  145·3

  194·4

  206·5

  218·7

  Community Charge

  (£)

  n/a

  90

  110

  158

  185

  208

  180
  Mr. Trippier
  ; Copies of ballot forms from the three authorities which have so far applied for consent to the sale of their housing stocks have been placed in the Library.

  Climatic Change
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the extent to which the current mild winter is a result of climatic change.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I am advised by the Meteorological Office that the current mild winter in the United Kingdom is a result of unusually persistent south-westerly winds. There is no evidence that this pattern heralds a lasting climate change.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice is being given to district councils about the best time to canvass for the information necessary for the community charge registers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  Charging authorities have been advised that we propose to bring the regulations which will place a duty on individuals to provide information to registration officers into effect on 22 May, following the distribution by the Government of a public information leaflet.

  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish his best estimates of the costs of administration, per community charge account, of the community charge in England.

  Mr. Ridley
  Price Waterhouse estimated that the annual cost of collecting the community charge would be between £374 million and £430 million, an average of £9·40 to £10·70 per account. This is in line with the current unit cost of collecting rates.

  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the average domestic rate for each district in Cambridgeshire for each year from 1983–84 to 1988–89; and what the community charge would have been for each year if the system had been in place.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 6 February 1989]: The information requested is given in the table.

  The actual average domestic rate bill and poundage in each year is shown for each district together with the illustrative full community charge, where available.
  181

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  Huntingdonshire

  Average Domestic Rate Bill

  (£)

  246

  276

  288

  382

  406

  429

  Domestic Rate

  (p)

  126·0

  140·3

  145·8

  192·6

  202·9

  213·5

  Community Charge

  (£)

  n/a

  96

  117

  157

  181

  203

  Peterborough

  Average Domestic Rate Bill

  (£)

  254

  282

  295

  384

  408

  435

  Domestic Rate

  (p)

  139·5

  154·5

  161·5

  209·5

  221·5

  234·5

  Community Charge

  (£)

  n/a

  125

  141

  182

  214

  231

  South Cambridgeshire

  Average Domestic Rate Bill

  (£)

  308

  351

  364

  493

  526

  554

  Domestic Rate

  (p)

  121·4

  137·6

  142·0

  191·2

  201·4

  211·6

  Community Charge

  (£)

  n/a

  80

  104

  135

  167

  186

  n/a—No illustrative community charge figures available.

  Palace of Westminster
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what areas of the Palace of Westminster remain to be cleaned and repaired; what is his estimate of the cost of this work; when he expects the work to be done; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  The repair, restoration and cleaning of the stonework of the Palace of Westminster is being carried out in a number of phases. The current phase, covering the Central Lobby tower, is scheduled for completion towards the end of this year.

  The only sections of the external elevations then remaining to be tackled will be the Victoria tower and the south elevation, overlooking the Victoria tower gardens. These together will form the next phase of the programme. Work is scheduled to start early in 1990 and will take about two and a half years to complete. The cost is estimated at between £7 million-£8·5 million.

  The final stage will be the repair, restoration and cleaning of the stonework in the inner courtyards. A preliminary estimate made last year indicated that the cost would exceed £15 million.

  CFCs
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what support his Department is giving to local authorities who wish to reduce or eliminate their use of CFCs.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Local authorities, in common with all other consumers, have an important contribution to make in achieving the objective of reducing use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and halons to the maximum possible extent. We welcome the steps they are already taking. The Department, in conjunction with the Scottish Office, Welsh Office and the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland, will shortly be meeting representatives of the local authority associations to discuss practical ways of reducing CFC and halon use, including dissemination of information and guidance to local authorities.

  Houses and Flats (Huyton)
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list, by year for the last 15 years for which figures are available, the annual number of completions, within Huyton borough council area of(a) private sector houses and flats, (b) council houses and flats and (c) housing association houses and flats.
  182
  Mr. Trippier
  Housebuilding completions, as reported by Knowsley metropolitan council for 1980 to 1987, appear in table 1 of "Housebuilding in England by local authority areas: 1980 to 1987". For earlier years figures appear in the following issues of "Local Housing Statistics".

  Year

  Issue number

  Table

  1974

  33

  5

  1975

  37

  5

  1976

  41

  5

  1977

  45

  5

  1978

  49

  5

  1979

  59

  4(a)

  Copies of these publications are available in the Library. Comparable figures for 1973 are not available because of the reorganisation of local government in 1974.

  Water Cooling Systems
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what extra resources have been given to local environmental health officers to ensure that guidance notes and best practice advice are available to owners of water cooling systems.

  Mr. Gummer
  It is for local authorities to decide what resources to allocate to environmental health officers to enable them to meet the needs of their area. Central Government support local authorities' revenue spending by way of block grant. Entitlement to block grant is calculated on the basis of each authority's assessed expenditure needs, taking into account environmental health duties. The grant is, however, unhypothecated. It is for each authority to determine its expenditure priorities.

  Dog Registration
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received concerning the desirability of establishing a dog registration scheme; whether he has any plans to introduce legislation to provide for such a scheme on the lines advocated by the RSPCA; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Since 24 May 1988 when the Local Government Act 1988 came into force 110 letters have been received from hon. Members and 130 letters from members of the public, local authorities and animal welfare organisations. The majority of the letters refer to a registration scheme. We have no plans to introduce a registration scheme.

  Radiological Monitoring (Cumbria)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the levels of radiological monitoring and public protection for people living in Ravenglass and along the River Esk in Cumbria.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement regarding the levels of radioactive contamination found recently on the banks of the River Esk in Cumbria.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I am satisfied with the level of radiological monitoring undertaken by the authorising departments and British Nuclear Fuels plc. Data obtained from this monitoring confirms that members of the public living in the Ravenglass/River Esk area are exposed to doses of radiation that are well within internationally recommended limits.

  Winsor Housing Scheme, Newham
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what approach or consultations he has had with the London Docklands development corporation concerning the cost of construction and level of rent of the Winsor housing scheme in the London borough of Newham; and if he will state his current determination of the level of affordable rent expressed as a range of percentages or a given percentage of mean or average income, or similar computation.

  Mr. Trippier
  The London Docklands development corporation has recently submitted proposals for the Winsor park housing scheme to the Department. All aspects of these are currently under consideration.

  Water Suppliers
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any proposals to require the Crown estates Commissioners to pay compensation for(a) the failure to supply water, (b) the provision of water of a harmful quality and (c) failure of water suppliers to respond to queries.

  Mr. Moynihan
  No.

  South Bank Theatre of Dance
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with the chairman of the London residuary body about the preservation of a site for a south bank theatre of dance.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  None.

  Planning Appeals (Durham)
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many appeals against Durham city council's planning decisions were made to him in each of the last five years; and what proportion of these were successful in each case.

  Mr. Chope
  The number of planning appeals made against decisions of the Durham city council since 1 April 1984 (the earliest date for which such information is available) is shown in the table, together with the number of such cases decided and the number and proportion of these for which planning permission was granted.
  184

  Year

  Appeals received

  Appeals decided

  Appeals allowed

  Per cent allowed

  1984–85

  11

  8

  0

  —

  1985–86

  8

  6

  1

  16·7

  1986–87

  16

  11

  6

  54·5

  1987–88

  17

  17

  6

  35·3

  London Docklands Development Corporation
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the London Docklands development corporation target for new jobs for residents in(a) the urban development area, and (b) the London borough of Newham, Tower Hamlets and Southwark in 1989.

  Mr. Trippier
  LDDC has set itself the target of bringing unemployment down to a minimum and at a faster rate than London and national trends. These and other employment aims are set out in an LDDC occasional paper, published on 10 February, which has been sent to the hon. Member. LDDC has not set targets for particular areas, but under its memorandum of agreement with the London borough of Newham it will help ensure that 25 per cent. of jobs in the Royal docks area will be taken by Newham residents.

  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what mechanism has been established to ensure that the memorandum of agreement between the London Docklands development corporation and the London borough of Newham is implemented.

  Mr. Trippier
  The memorandum represents a commitment by the LDDC and the London borough of Newham to work together to secure the benefits of regeneration for the area. Progress is reviewed by regular meetings at both officer and member level.

  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of London Docklands development corporation expenditure was spent in 1988; and what are the forecasts for future years on(a) community needs of the residential population and (b) transport infrastructure.

  Mr. Trippier
  Approximately half of LDDC's expenditure in 1988–89 will relate to transport projects. Firm forecasts are not available for future years. All of LDDC's expenditure on regeneration should benefit the local communities, directly or indirectly.

  Thames House
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when Thames house, the temporary annexe of Newham community college, will be up and running; and what is the basis of its capital and revenue funding.

  Mr. Trippier
  The LDDC expects to complete refurbishment of its former Thames house office by mid-June, but parts will be available for college use before then. Opening dates will be decided by the college.

  The corporation is paying the costs of refurbishment, and will licence the building to the London borough of Newham on a peppercorn basis. In addition it will contribute 20 per cent. of revenue costs for five years, up to agreed cash limits. Annual revenue costs are expected to be approximately £1 million.

  Dogs
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what he estimates to be the non-working dog population, and the number of dogs destroyed as sick or unwanted during the last 10 years for which statistics are available.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Department does not collect this information. I understand that the Pet Food Manufacturers Association estimate the total dog population in the United Kingdom to be 6·8 million. It is not known how many are working dogs, nor how many are destroyed as sick or unwanted.

  D. Harvey
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to how long the Nature Conservancy Council has been negotiating with D. Harvey, of Ninham Farm, Shanklin.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I am advised by the Nature Conservancy Council that its negotiations with Mr. Harvey over a variety of proposed uses of the land commenced in March 1986.

  Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what solutions his Department is seeking to reduce polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in tap water; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  At the request of the Department, water undertakers are conducting a major survey of their supplies to establish whether standards for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are being exceeded. If they are, remedial programmes will be needed comprising the flushing, relining or replacement of water mains.

  Management Agreements
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average waiting time for management agreements to be entered into by the Nature Conservancy Council.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I am advised by the Nature Conservancy Council that the average time for negotiating agreements involving payments of under £5,000 per annum is slightly under six months. In cases involving higher payments negotiations can be complex and can take up to two years, or more, to complete. In such cases short term interim agreements can sometimes be agreed.

  Dioxins
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if there are any research proposals from his Department regarding sources of dioxin production;

  (2) what research is carried out into the formation of TCDD from less harmful dioxins;

  (3) whether the release of dioxins from hospital incinerators is monitored;

  (4) what was the level of dioxins created by the chemical, plastics and pharmaceutical industries at the most recent date.
  186
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the level of dioxins arising from the manufacture and use of pesticides, herbicides and slimicides.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Detailed information is not available on the levels of dioxins created by hospital incinerators, the chemical, plastics and pharmaceutical industries, nor by the manufacture and use of pesticides, herbicides and slimicides. The Department of the Environment, in conjunction with the Department of Health, HSE, DTI and MAFF have been working for some time on a statement on the known sources of dioxins, their possible health effects and the expected exposure of the public to them. This statement will be published shortly.

  There are 75 different dioxins of which 22 are TCDDs. Only one of these, 2,3,7,8-TCDD is considered particularly harmful. I understand that some research has been done on the formation of TCDDs from the other dioxins. It does not indicate that 2,3,7,8-TCDD is formed preferentially. This topic will be addressed in the report.

  Sanitary Towels
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action is currently taken to ensure that the legal provisions covering the disposal of sanitary towels are fully enforced.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  There are no specific legal requirements. Disposal is conducted within the general statutory controls of local authorities under the Control of Pollution Act 1974 over waste handling and disposal methods and standards.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what statistics are available relating to the disposal via the sewage system of sanitary towels and tampons and the persistence of these items in coastal waters and on beaches.

  Mr. Moynihan
  None.

  Sea Water (Pollution)
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action is being taken to deal with the increasing appearance of pathogens resistant to the natural disinfectant action of sea water.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I am not aware of any evidence to suggest that the number of pathogens entering the sea, which are resistant to natural disinfectant processes, is increasing. If the hon. Member has any information on the subject she might wish to send it to me.

  The Department continues to sponsor research to investigate the survival of human pathogens from sewage effluent in sea water.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on pollution of the sea by plastics.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Discarded plastic at sea is a serious hazard to marine life, affecting seabirds, fish and mammals. The United Kingdom Government are committed to help prevent it. New regulations introduced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for
  187
  Transport under the Merchant Shipping Act make it an offence to throw plastic overboard from any ship or boat. These regulations give effect in the United Kingdom to annex V of the international convention for the prevention of pollution from ships, 1973 and are being extensively publicised. Litter left on beaches or carried by rivers also contributes to this problem which everyone can help to tackle.

  Paper Industry (Toxic Material)
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what information he has as to which countries have tried to reduce or eliminate the use of chlorine in paper manufacture;

  (2) if he will undertake a study on the effects on the environment during the production of paper pulp for use in the manufacture of disposable nappies at all points in the process from tree felling to pulping and bleaching;

  (3) what representations he has received from environmental organisations over the production of dioxins associated with chlorine-bleached paper pulp; and if he will make a statement;

  (4) what information he has on the United States paper industry dioxin strategy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  As far as is known, paper pulp for use in disposable nappies is not manufactured in the United Kingdom, and consequently a study on environmental effects is not called for.

  Sweden and Canada have taken steps to reduce the use of chlorine in paper manufacture and are encouraging manufacturers to change to a mechanical pulp process which does not involve chlorine bleaching. This is primarily because of concern over the effluents discharged by pulp mills using chlorine bleaching. In the United Kingdom, pulp is manufactured solely by processes which do not involve the use of chlorine bleaching.

  I have not received any representations from environmental organisations concerning the formation of dioxins during the chlorine bleaching pulp process.

  Copies of the United States paper industry dioxin strategy are available and are being examined for their relevance to United Kingdom circumstances.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what resources are available to monitor toxic effluent from paper mills.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Arrangements for authorising and monitoring waste effluents from paper mills and other industrial premises are currently matters for the regional water authorities.

  Re-Chem
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on environmental aspects of the closure of Re-Chem plants at Pontypool and Bonnybridge.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The plant at Bonnybridge was closed for commercial reasons in October 1984 before an independent review group, appointed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland reported in February 1985 that there was no substantive evidence of any abnormal environmental effects from the plant.

  The plant at Pontypool is still in operation and is subject to an appropriate range of environmental controls.

  Agent Orange
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department has received copies of any United States studies on the effects of Agent Orange herbicide.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Considerable information on the United States studies on the effects of Agent Orange herbicide has been published in scientific literature which is available to the Department.

  Disposable Nappies
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the percentage that disposable nappies form of domestic refuge as a whole.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  No precise figure is available but it is estimated that disposable nappies represent less than 1 per cent. by weight of total household waste.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether there have been any reports of viruses discovered in rubbish tips associated with soiled disposable nappies handled as normal domestic waste.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We are not aware of any such reports. It would, however, be very difficult to determine whether or not viruses discovered in landfill sites are directly attributable to the presence of disposable nappies.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the closed-circuit television monitoring of sewers; and if he will estimate the annual cost of drains blocked by disposable nappies.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The water authorities use mobile closed circuit television equipment extensively and successfully to make detailed surveys of the most critical sections of their sewage systems. It is neither necessary nor practicable to extend its use to monitor all public sewers.

  WCs and private drainage systems are not designed to deal with disposable nappies. Maintenance and repair of these systems are the responsibility of the owners and no information is available centrally on which to base an estimate of the annual cost of clearing blockages in them.

  Drinking Water (Pesticides)
  Mr. Garrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, further to his answer of 7 February, if he will list in the Official Report the number and location of breaches in the precautionary standard for pesticides in drinking water in 1988 in supplies provided by the Anglian water authority.

  Mr. Moynihan
  During the period December 1987 to November 1988 there were breaches of the standard of 0·1 microgram per litre for pesticides, specified in the EC drinking water directive, in water supplies leaving 14 of Anglian water authority's treatment works. These were:Alton, Ardleigh, Bedford, Clayhill, Covenham, Drove Lane, Etton, Foxcote, Grafham, Heigham, Houghton, Marham, Pitsford and Wing.

  Local Authority Pension Funds
  Mr. Garrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which local authority pension funds had
  189
  implemented the results of an interim valuation before 28 July 1988 and will therefore be covered by the protection offered by him in his letter of that date.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The information requested is not available to the Department. I shall be writing in response to a letter which I have received from the hon. Gentleman on this subject.

  Local Authorities (Funding)
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish, for each local authority in England, as available, its(a) cash backed, (b) non-cash backed and (c) total capital receipts as at 31 March 1988.

  Mr. Ridley
  My Department has now received accumulated capital receipts returns for 1987–88 from 99 per cent. of English local authorities. On the basis of these it is estimated that at the end of 1988–89 local authorities in England held accumulated receipts of £11·7 billion. Some of these receipts such as leasing disposals, were notional. The cash from much of the remainder had been used for such purposes as repaying debt and financing capitalised housing repairs. After allowing for such factors only £6·4 billion out of the £11·7 billion could be converted to cash.

  I have today placed in the Library a table showing for each local authority which has provided a return, (a) the accumulated receipts and (b) the amount which could be converted into cash.

  Football Hooliganism
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Derbyshire, North-East (Mr. Barnes) of 1 February,Official Report, columns 56–60, whether he has received letters from Southampton or Fulham football clubs regarding the table of arrests for the 1987–88 football season.

  Mr. Moynihan
  [holding answer 9 February 1989]: The chairman of Southampton football club wrote to me on 3 January about the 1987–88 arrest figures in respect of the club. I have received no correspondence from Fulham football club.

  Water Charges
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide information showing(a) the range of rates paid, (b) rateable values and (c) water charges paid as a proportion of rates paid and rateable values prevailing in each water authority area in England and Wales (i) in 1979, (ii) in 1983 and (iii) for the last twelve months, to date; and if he will estimate, on the basis of recently announced increased water charges, the figures for the next 12 months.

  Mr. Moynihan
  [holding answer 10 February 1989]: Information in the form requested by the hon. Member is not available centrally.

  Rates Statistics
  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing the relationship of domestic rates to net equivalent household 190
  income, assuming a 100 per cent. rate rebate broken down in to (i) income bands of under £75, £75 to £100, £100, to £150, £150 to £200, £200 to £250, £250 to £300, £300 to £350, £350 to £400, £400 to £500 and over £500, all showing how many households fall into each income band and (ii) decile groups, showing how many households fall into each decile group.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 13 February 1989]: No. I have published illustrative community charge figures together with comparative figures for domestic rates on the basis of the latest tax and benefit rates. I have not been prepared to proceed by hypothetical example—either in forecasting the future or by "what-if" versions of history.

  Sewage Works
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if, pursuant to his answer of 8 February, he will list for each water authority in England the number of sewage works which breached their discharge consents in 1987–88.

  Mr. Ridley
  [holding answer 13 February 1989]: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer that I gave him on 20 December 198 at column 194. Figures for 1988 are not yet available.

  Environmental Health Officers
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many environmental health officer posts on the establishment of each local community are currently unfilled;

  (2) if he will make additional funds available to local authorities for the purpose of employing additional environmental health officers;

  (3) what discussions he has had concerning the level of training places for environmental health officers;

  (4) how many environmental health officers are employed by Westminster city council; and how many posts are on the establishment.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 13 February 1989]: Decisions on the resources to be made available within local authority budgets for the employment of environmental health officers, on the numbers of such posts to be created, on recruitment, and the timing of appointments to those posts, and on the training of such officers are all matters for the local environmental health authorities.

  Water Authorities (Privatisation)
  Mr. Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what indication he has had of the European Commission's view of the Government's proposals for a golden share in the water authorities after privatisation.

  Mr. Howard
  The Government have never been in any doubt about the legality of our policy on competition and merger in the water industry, and our proposals for a "Golden Share" to protect the new water plcs from takeover in their first five years in the private sector.

  In view of the quite unjustified doubts raised by some critics of water privatisation, I welcome the European Commission's clarification of the position.

  In a statement on 7 February, the Commissioner responsible, Sir Leon Brittan, said that having looked into the matter, the Commission

  191
  "has not found anything … which would raise problems as far as the Community law is concerned in the fields of competition or company capital structure".

  This is exactly as we had expected, since our proposal involves absolutely no element of discrimination as between different categories of potential investors. I recognise that this will disappoint those opposed to water
  192
  privatisation and therefore opposed to this sensible and temporary protection of the new plcs and their customers. Our proposals will simply avoid major and potentially damaging upheaval too early in their private sector existence, and provide a long-term safeguard against loss of comparative competition.

  PRIVATISATIONS: LAND SALES BY PURCHASERS
  PRIVATISATIONS: LAND SALES BY PURCHASERS
  CYPRUS
  CYPRUS