Written Answers of 23 February 1989

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Macdonald-Wheeler Fund Management
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Attorney-General for how long investigations into Macdonald-Wheeler Fund Management Ltd. have been proceeding.

  The Attorney-General
  An inquiry under section 447 of the Companies Act 1985 was commenced by the Department of Trade and Industry on 28 July 1986 and concluded on 6 August 1986 when upon the Secretary of State's petition to the court the Official Receiver was appointed provisional liquidator. Police inquiries into the management of Macdonald-Wheeler Fund Management Ltd. commenced in August 1986, one month after the company ceased trading. In April 1988 the newly formed serious fraud office adopted the inquiry and continued the investigation in conjunction with the police. Criminal proceedings were commenced against one person in June 1988.

PRIME MINISTER

  Merchant Shipping
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Prime Minister if Her Majesty's Government have any proposals to amend the Merchant Shipping Act 1988.

  The Prime Minister
  No.

  Kenilworth
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has any plans to make an official visit to Kenilworth.

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

  Wales
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Prime Minister when she next expects to visit Wales.

  The Prime Minister
  I make official visits to Wales from time to time.

  "Death on the Rock"
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations she has had about the tone of Her Majesty's Government's response to the Windlesham report on the "Death on the Rock" programme.

  The Prime Minister
  None, as far as I am aware.

  Mr. Yitzhak Shamir
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Prime Minister whether she is now in a position to announce a date for the forthcoming visit to Britain by Mr. Yitzhak Shamir, Prime Minister of the state of Israel.

  The Prime Minister
  Professor Arens told me on 15 February that Mr. Shamir hopes to visit soon. No dates have yet been fixed.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 'Thursday 23 February.

  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 23 February.

  Mr. Holt
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 23 February.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 23 February.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 23 February.

  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 23 February.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 23 February.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 23 February.

  The Prime Minister
  This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with Ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today.

  Abortion
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Prime Minister whether she has any plans to establish a Royal Commission on the operation of the Abortion Law Reform Act 1967.

  The Prime Minister
  We have no plans to do so.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Set-Aside
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing in each of the three counties of Yorkshire, how many applications and registrations he has received under the set-aside scheme (a) within and (b) outside less favoured areas; and within each category how many applications he has received for (i) permanent fallow, (ii) rotational fallow, (iii) farm woodland and (iv) non-agricultural use.

  Mr. Ryder
  The available information is as follows:
  707

  Applications: less favoured areas

  Applications: other areas

  Registrations: all areas1

  North Yorkshire

  Permanent Fallow

  7

  42

  Rotational Fallow

  3

  20

  Woodland

  1

  8

  Non-agricultural Use

  1

  12

  Totals2

  8

  62

  1,039

  West Yorkshire

  Permanent Fallow

  Nil

  3

  Rotational Fallow

  Nil

  Nil

  Woodland

  Nil

  1

  Non-agricultural Use

  Nil

  2

  Totals2

  Nil

  5

  118

  South Yorkshire

  Permanent Fallow

  Nil

  11

  Rotational Fallow

  Nil

  3

  Woodland

  Nil

  Nil

  Non-agricultural Use

  Nil

  1

  Totals2

  Nil

  12

  178

  Notes:

  1 Breakdown between less favoured and other areas not available.

  2 Some applications are for more than one land use.

  Food Surveillance
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 13 February,Official Report, column 94, what factors were taken into consideration by the Government in taking the decision not to publish details of individual brands sampled under the food surveillance programme.

  Mr. Ryder
  The purpose of the sampling undertaken under the programme of the steering group of food surveillance is to carry out scientific surveys of particular issues; it is not an enforcement programme. Sampling programmes are necessarily selective and do not cover every item on the market. It would therefore be inequitable to report data on those brands included when others of equal quality are excluded.

  Woodland
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 16 February,Official Report, column 357, under which grant scheme the regeneration of older woodland is taking place; and if he will provide figures to illustrate the extent to which this has happened over the past five years.

  Mr. Macgregor
  Regeneration of older woodland is taking place under all the Forestry Commission grant schemes, including the woodland grant scheme.

  The area of woodland regenerated in England over the last five years, both by the Forestry Commission and the private sector, is given in the table.

  Year ended 31 March

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  Area restocked (hectares)

  with conifers

  3,375

  2,966

  3,060

  3,532

  3,259

  with broadleaves

  1,127

  972

  1,442

  1,896

  2,068

  Area of broadleaves as percentage of total area

  25%

  25%

  32%

  35%

  39%

  Wool
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is able to announce the guaranteed price for wool for the 1989 clip; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Together with the Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, I have reviewed the state of the wool market and prospects for the 1989 clip.

  The British Wool Marketing board has achieved good prices for United Kingdom wool in 1988. Average market prices for the 1988 clip rose above the prevailing guarantee, enabling the board to make further repayments to the stabilisation fund. Stocks are low and demand continues to be good; the wool board is confident of market prospects for 1989.

  We have given careful consideration to an appropriate guarantee level for 1989 in the light of these market circumstances. We have also noted the deficit on the stabilisation fund, currently around £14·5 million and my announcement in October last year of our plans to abolish the wool guarantee. We have decided in the light of these considerations to set the price guarantee for the 1989 clip at an unchanged level, 129p/kg.

  Following the sale of the 1989 clip any remaining deficit falls to be written off under the terms of the financial agreement with the board, During the following period leading up to the termination of the guarantees for wool we would not expect to raise the price guarantee above its present level.

  Milk
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will issue the consultation paper dealing with the proposed ban on the sale of untreated milk.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The consultation paper is being issued today and seeks views on the proposal to prohibit the sale
  709
  of untreated milk for liquid consumption in England and Wales. It also seeks views on untreated cream (which poses risks similar to those arising from untreated milk) and on cheese made from unpasteurised milk. There is no proposal to introduce any prohibition on the use of unpasteurised milk in the manufacture of cheese. I am placing a copy in the Library of the House. Copies will also he made available in the Vote Office.

  White Mineral Oil
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the reported effects on animals of white mineral oil in the report to his Department by Shell.

  Mr. Ryder
  [holding answer 22 February 1989]The major effect in rats at all dose levels was a moderate to severe granulomatous inflammation associated with oil droplets in the mesenteric lymph nodes in both sexes and in the livers of females only.

  Listeria
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what notifications have been issued to the National Farmers Union over the past 12 months concerning the possible incidence of listeria infection in United Kingdom cheese production; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ryder
  Action over individual instances of listeria in cheese has been taken with the individual producers concerned. The NFU has been made aware of the general problem through the series of meetings of all the organisations concerned that led to the production of the code of practice for cheese producers that was issued in August 1988.

  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from the Food and Drink Federation concerning possible listeria infection in United Kingdom produced cheese; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ryder
  I have received no such representations from the Food and Drink Federation.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what research his Department is currently funding into the causes and incidence of listeria contamination in dairy products other than liquid milk;

  (2) what research his Department is currently funding into the causes and incidence of listeria contamination in fresh milk.

  Mr. MacGregor
  A considerable programme of research into the micrological safety of food is being undertaken and funded by my Department. This programme includes work on factors which cause the listeria organisms to multiply and methods of inhibiting such growth.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence he has that milk infected with listeria became infected(a) from listeria endemic or internal to the cow or (b) through contamination from listeria in the environment.

  Mr. Ryder
  Listeria infections in cattle udders are unusual. If contamination of milk occurs, it is more likely 710
  to be due to environmental contamination. The presence of listeria in milk is minimised by ensuring that mill: is produced and processed under hygienic conditions—and the Milk and Dairies Regulations aim to achieve this.

  Cheese
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the current number of United Kingdom producers of soft cheese who use unpasteurised milk.

  Mr. Ryder
  Precise figures are not available but it is estimated that there are about 50 United Kingdom producers of soft cheese who use unpasteurised milk.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the volume of United Kingdom production for each of the last three years of soft cheese using unpasteurised milk.

  Mr. Ryder
  The latest information available to me indicates that soft cheese production during the last three years was as follows:

  Year

  Tonnes1

  1985

  900

  1986

  600

  1987

  700

  1 To the nearest 100 tonnes.

  I have no information as to the volume of this cheese that was produced from unpasteurised milk.

  Food Quality
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those measures he has enacted in each of the last three years to improve the quality and wholesomeness of(a) home produced and (b) imported food.

  Mr. Ryder
  One of the major objectives of my Department is to maintain the quality and wholesomeness of the food supply and this is taken into account in all measures which we enact most of which apply to imported as well as home-produced food. In 1986, 20 measures were enacted including The Milk and Dairies (Heat Treatment of Cream) (Amendment) Regulations 1986, The Milk-Based Drinks (Hygiene and Heat Treatment) (Amendment) Regulations 1986 and The Horticultural Produce Act. In 1987, 15 measues were enacted including The Coffee and Coffee Products (Amendment) Regulations 1987, The Colouring Matter in Food (Amendment) Regulations 1987, The Materials and Articles in Contact with Food Regulations 1987. In 1988, 14 measures were enacted including The Animals and Fresh Meat (Examination for Residues) Regulations 1988, The Animals and Fresh Meat (Hormonal Substances) Regulations 1988, The Pesticides (Maximum Residue Levels in Food) Regulations, The Importation of Milk Regulations 1988, The Sweeteners in Food (Amendment) Regulations 1988, The Milk (Special Designation) Regulations 1988, The Milk and Dairies (Semi-skimmed and Skimmed Milk) (Heat Treatment and Labelling) Regulations 1988.

  Proposals have been issued for consultation on the following draft regulations:—

  711

  Tetrachloroethylene in Olive Oil Regulations

  Caseins and Caseinates (Amendment) Regulations

  Preserved Milk (Amendment) Regulations

  Soft Drinks Regulations

  Fish Product Regulations

  Fat Spread Products Regulations

  Amendments to Food Labelling Regulations to introduce alcoholic strength marking and restrictions on the use of the term "low alcohol"

  Regulations to ban the use of mineral hydrocarbons in food and food processing

  Preservatives in Food Regulations

  In addition I am considering proposals to limit the quantities of colouring matter in food; a number of important reviews, affecting the quality and wholesomeness of our food, are currently being undertaken by the Food Advisory Committee and, as part of the single market programme, nine Community directives were adopted, or a common position agreed, last year and these will all be implemented into United Kingdom legislation. They cover jams, fruit juices, quick-frozen food, additives, labelling, materials and articles in contact with food, foods for particular nutritional uses, batch marking and the official inspection of foodstuffs.

ENERGY

  Conservation Systems
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what steps his Department has taken to promote British-produced energy conservation systems outside the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  We continue to promote energy efficiency both at home and abroad.

  Research and Development Investment
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish a table of comparable annual research and development investment in renewables by Organisation of Economic, Co-operation and Development countries and a table showing the number of renewable energy research projects undertaken annually in each EEC member state since 1979.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The table gives the expenditure on renewable energy research projects by OECD countries in 1987.

  Country

  £ million

  Canada

  6·94

  United States

  77·33

  Australia

  0·49

  Japan

  57·33

  New Zealand

  0·22

  Austria

  2·11

  Belgium

  2·56

  Denmark

  2·44

  Germany

  38·89

  Greece

  4·22

  Ireland

  0·27

  Italy

  18·06

  Netherlands

  11·33

  Norway

  1·39

  Portugal

  0·89

  Spain

  7·80

  Sweden

  8·39

  Switzerland

  6·33

  Turkey

  0·27

  United Kingdom

  15·05

  712
  Notes:

  1. This information was derived from the IEA 1987 Review, Energy Policies and Programmes of IEA Countries, published in 1988.

  2. For the United Kingdom the table includes expenditure on renewable energy R and D by Department of Energy, Department of Trade and Industry, Natural Environmental Research Council and the Science and Engineering Research Council.

  No information is available on the number of renewable energy research projects undertaken annually in each EEC member state since 1979. This information has not been collected in the past by the Commission but it is currently considering setting up a database of information on member states R and D programmes. In the case of the Department's programme, over 250 projects are currently underway with 70 to 80 new projects being initiated each year.

  Nuclear Power
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list all occasions over the past year when he has discussed with Government representatives or industrialists from abroad the prospects of their purchasing United Kingdom-designed nuclear power plants or nuclear fuel services.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The Government fully support the efforts of British industry in pursuing suitable export opportunities which would comply with our international non-proliferation obligations.

EMPLOYMENT

  Tourism
  Mr. Butterfill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps his Department is taking to promote British tourism abroad; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  My Department promotes British tourism abroad through its sponsorship of the British Tourist Authority which undertakes a wide range of promotional and marketing activities to encourage visits to Britain from abroad.

  Prosecutions (Social Security)
  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many companies have been(a) prosecuted and (b) successfully prosecuted for offences under section 55 of the Social Security Act 1986 and its predecessors, region by region, each year since 1979.

  Mr. Lee
  This information is not collated centrally and is not available for any years between 1979 and 1987. Since 1988, two companies, in Wales and Kent, have been prosecuted, both successfully, for offences under section 55 of the Social Security Act 1986.

  Labour Force Survey
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to publish the next labour force survey.
  713
  Mr. Lee
  The preliminary results of the 1988 labour force survey, together with revised employment estimates incorporating those results, will be published in the next month.

  A copy of the information being published will be placed in the Library.

  Employment Training
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of people who have so far registered for an ET course; what are the number and proportion which have ceased attending; and what are the main reasons for withdrawal.

  Mr. Nicholls
  By 10 February 1989, 174,500 people had started on employment training. By the end of December, the latest date for which information is available, it is estimated that about 20,000 of these people had left the programme. People leave the programme for a number of reasons such as completing their training or getting a job. Information on the numbers leaving for particular reasons is not yet available.

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the cost of each ET placement; if this sum has changed since(a) the announcement and (b) commencement of the scheme; and if he will give his reasons for any change.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Government expect to spend about £2,300 on average on each trainee on employment training. There has been no change in the grants and allowances for ET since the announcement and start of the programme.

  Horseracing (Safety)
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many horseracing and equestrian establishments have been prosecuted for breaches of health and safety regulations in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Nicholls
  [holding answer 22 February 1989]During the period 1 April 1978 to 31 March 1988 two prosecutions under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act were brought against horseracing and equestrian establishments—one in 1986 and one in 1987.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Trading Standards Officers
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what information he has on the number of trading standards officers in post in each year from 1978.

  Mr. Forth
  Trading standards officers (TSOs) are employed by local weights and measures authorities. Records indicate that some 1,323 TSOs were in post in 1978. Information from 1979 is held in the House of Commons Library and contained in "Trading Standards Statistics' published jointly by the Societies of County Trading Standards Officers and County Treasurers until 1987 and subsequently by CIPFA.

  Import Penetration
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish a table showing(a) the
  714
  current degree of import penetration and (b) that in December 1978 for (1) radios, (2) black and white televisions, (3) video recorders, (4) colour televisions, (5) telephone receivers, (6) refrigerators, (7) passenger motor vehicles, (8) microwave ovens, (9) calculators, (10) desk top computers, (11) computer printers, (12) word processors, (13) microchips, (14) irons, (15) commercial vehicles, (16) x-ray machines, (17) dental instruments and appliances, (18) shoes, (19) sewing machines, (20) excavators, (21) lawn mowers, (22) public transport type passenger motor vehicles, (23) burglar alarms, (24) built-in ovens, (25) hovercraft, (26) lasers, (27) vending machines, (28) dishwashers, (29) medical instruments and appliances, (30) paper, (31) wallpaper, (32) printed matter and (33) furniture, respectively.

  Mr. Forth
  The information available is shown in the table.

  Import penetration by product

  Import penetration1 per cent.

  Product

  1978

  January to September 1988

  Black and white televisions

  248

  104

  Video recorders

  n/a

  81

  Colour televisions

  18

  40

  Telephone receivers

  2

  641

  Refrigerators

  46

  51

  Cars3

  49

  456

  Microwave ovens

  n/a

  60

  Irons

  15

  65

  Commercial vehicles3

  22

  440

  X-ray machinery

  n/a

  33

  Dental instruments and appliances

  n/a

  30

  Footwear

  30

  547

  Domestic sewing machines

  37

  n/a

  Excavators

  102

  64

  Lawn mowers

  10

  n/a

  Buses and coaches3

  3

  438

  Burglar alarms (including fire alarms)

  6

  33

  Vending machines and parts

  44

  54

  Dishwashers

  n/a

  78

  Medical instruments and appliances

  47

  57

  Pulp, paper and board

  53

  563

  Wallcoverings

  6

  511

  Printed matter

  10

  511

  Wooden furniture and upholstery

  11

  20

  1 Unless otherwise stated, import penetration is defined as imports divided by home demand where home demand is estimated as United Kingdom manufacturers' sales plus imports minus exports. The figures are evaluated in value terms and may exceed 100 per cent, in products subject to a substantial degree of entrepot trading.

  2 Fourth quarter only.

  3 Based on vehicle registration data. Import penetration is defined as numbers of imported vehicles registered divided by total registrations.

  4 1988 data

  5 1987 data.

  6 Subscribers' telephone apparatus.

  Chemicals (Manufacture)
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) if he will publish in the Official Report, the site locations in the United Kingdom where trichloroethylene is produced;

  (2) if he will publish in the Official Report the site location of the five plants in the United Kingdom producing ethylene dichloride;
  715
  (3) if he will publish in the Official Report the site locations in the United Kingdom where perchloroethylene is produced.

  Mr. Maude
  Within the United Kingdom, both trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene are produced at one site in Runcorn. I am aware of only four United Kingdom plants for the production of ethylene dichloride; these are at Runcorn, Wilton (Teeside), Fleetwood and Ellesmere port.

  Barlow Clowes
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will make a statement on the implications for his Department's investigation of the Barlow Clowes affair of the refusal of Singer and Friedlander to hand over the proceeds of the sale of shares in Buckleys to Harp to the liquidators of Barlow Clowes.

  Mr. Maude
  It has no implications for my Department's investigation. It is a matter for the liquidator.

  Ozone Layer
  Mr. David Young
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will indicate what action his Department is taking to encourage British industry to stop emissions that affect the ozone layer; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 21 February 1989]Officials from my Department are in regular contact with producers and users of ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) to consider what measures industry can take to meet the targets for CFC reductions set by the Montreal protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer. Before emissions can be stopped completely, practicable and safe alternative substances, products and processes need to be developed. It is open to companies to make full use of the assistance available under schemes operated by my Department, against the relevant criteria.

WALES

  Empty Properties
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has as to the number of empty properties owned by each Welsh district council and the average time they have been empty.

  Mr. Grist
  The number of local authority dwellings vacant on 1 April 1988 is given in the following table. Data

  Name

  Place of residence

  Appointing authority

  Asby, Mrs. J. (Chairman)

  Narbeth, Dyfed

  Dyfed County Council

  Douglas W. R. (Vice-Chairman)

  Tenby, Dyfed

  South Pembrokeshire District Council

  Barton, Mrs. C. P.

  Lampeter, Dyfed

  Secretary of State for Wales

  Cawood, J. G.

  Berea, Haverfordwest

  Dyfed County Council

  Evans, M.

  Ammanford, Dyfed

  Dyfed County Council

  Evans, W. G.

  Haverfordwest, Dyfed

  Secretary of State for Wales

  Evans, W. L.

  Fishguard, Dyfed

  Dyfed County Council

  Herbert Prof. D. T.

  Swansea, West Glamorgan

  Secretary of State for Wales

  Jones, H.

  St. Dogmaels, Cardigan

  Dyfed County Council

  Luke, A. C.

  Goodwick, Dyfed

  Dyfed County Council

  Martin, T. R. L.

  Broad Haven, Haverford west

  Dyfed County Council

  Mould, P.

  Pentane, Fish guard

  Secretary of State for Wales

  Parry, C.

  Frey strop, Haverford west, Dyfed

  Secretary of State for Wales

  Parry, N. R.

  Manor bier, Tenby, Dyfed

  Dyfed County Council

  Pratt, R. C.

  Fish guard, Pembrokeshire, Dyfed

  Secretary of State for Wales

  716
  are not held centrally on the average length of time that properties have been empty but the number of these local authority dwellings that had been vacant for more than six months is given.

  Local authority vacant dwellings

  Welsh districts

  At 1 April 1988

  Vacant for more than 6 months

  Aberconwy

  30

  0

  Alyn and Deeside

  49

  4

  Arfon

  43

  0

  Blaenau Gwent

  96

  5

  Breakneck

  0

  0

  Cardiff

  399

  27

  Carmarthen

  11

  0

  Erudition

  46

  0

  Colwyn

  20

  0

  Cynon Valley

  159

  76

  Daly

  50

  7

  Infer

  0

  0

  Dwyfor

  14

  1

  Glyndwr

  154

  0

  Islwyn

  146

  22

  Llanelli

  100

  5

  Lliw Valley

  42

  22

  Meirionnydd

  19

  13

  Merthyr Tydfil

  166

  0

  Monmouth

  64

  1

  Montgomery shire

  46

  4

  Neath

  58

  0

  Newport

  178

  41

  Ogwr

  166

  0

  Port Talbot/Afan

  199

  0

  Preseli

  56

  6

  Radnor

  1

  1

  Rhondda

  59

  1

  Rhuddlan

  15

  0

  Rhymney Valley

  146

  0

  South Pembrokeshire

  11

  2

  Swansea

  118

  0

  Taff-Ely

  70

  7

  Torfaen

  211

  40

  Vale of Glamorgan

  20

  1

  Wrexham Maelor

  328

  96

  Ynys Mon

  75

  7

  Wales Total (LA)

  3,365

  389

  Source: WHO4 Relts Enquiry.

  Pembrokeshire National Park Committee
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the names and main place of residence of each member of the Pembrokeshire national park committee together with the nominating authority for each member.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The information is as follows:
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  Name

  Place of residence

  Appointing authority

  Pullin, Rev J

  Tenby, Dyfed

  Dyfed County Council

  Thomas, D. J.

  Llandissilio, Clynderwen

  Dyfed County Council

  Woodruff, B. R.

  Milford Haven, Dyfed

  Dyfed County Council

  School Buildings
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list by Welsh county the total capital allocation for improvements to and the construction of school buildings in each of the last 15 years.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  This information is not available. Prior to 1981–82 formal capital allocations were not issued, and since 1985–86 capital allocations have not been hypothecated to particular services. In the intervening years capital allocations for education did not differentiate between expenditure on schools and on other educational provision.

  Hospitals
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the hospitals in each district health authority.

  Mr. Grist
  The position at 30 September 1988 is given in the following table:

  Clwyd District Health Authority

  Abergele

  Broughton

  Catherine Gladstone

  Coed Du

  Colwyn Bay Community

  Denbighshire Infirmary

  Dobshill

  Flint

  Gwynfa

  HM Stanley

  Holywell

  Llangollen

  Lluesty

  Meadowslea

  Mold

  North Wales

  Penley

  Pool Park

  Prestatyn Community

  Royal Alexandra

  Ruthin

  Trevalyn

  Ysbyty Glan Clwyd

  Ysbyty Maelor

  East Dyfed District Health Authority

  Aberaeron

  Amman Valley

  Bronglais

  Bryntirion

  Cardigan

  Cartrefle Unit

  Llandovery

  Llanelli

  Mynydd Mawr

  St. Davids

  Tregaron

  West Wales General

  Gwent District Health Authority

  Abertillery

  Allt-yr-Yn

  Blaenavon Health Care Unit

  Blaina

  County, Griffithstown

  Ebbw Vale

  718

  Llanfrechfa Grange

  Monmouth

  Mount Pleasant

  Nevill Hall

  Oakdale

  Pen-y-Fal

  Pontypool

  Royal Gwent

  St. Cadoc's

  St. Lawrence

  St. Woolos

  Tredegar

  Gwynedd Distict Health Authority

  Bronygarth

  Bryn Beryl

  Brynseiont

  Bryn-y-Neuadd

  Caernarvonshire Eye and Cottage

  Cefni

  Conway

  Dolgellau and Barmouth

  Druid

  Eryri

  Ffestiniog memorial

  Garth Angharad

  Groesynyd

  Llandudno

  Llwyn View

  Madoc Memorial

  Minffordd

  Stanley Sailors

  St. David's

  Towyn

  Valley

  Ysbyty Gwynedd

  Mid Glamorgan District Health Authority

  Aberbargoed

  Aberdare

  Bridgend General

  Caerphilly District Miners

  Dewi Sant

  East Glamorgan

  Energlyn

  Fedw Hir

  Glanrhyd

  Hensol

  Llwynypia

  Llynfi

  Maesgwyn

  Maesteg

  Mardy

  Merthyr

  Mountain Ash

  Parc

  Pentwyn

  Penyfai

  Pontypridd

  Porth

  Prince Charles

  Princess of Wales

  Redwood

  Rhiwfelin

  St. Tydfils

  Talygarn

  Tonteg

  Treherbert

  Tyntyla

  Ystrad Mynach

  Pembrokeshire District Health Authority

  South Pembrokeshire

  Tenby

  719

  Withybush

  Powys District Health Authority

  Breconshire War Memorial

  Bronllys

  Brynhyfryd

  Builth

  Knighton

  Llandrindod Wells

  Llanidloes

  Llys Maldwyn

  Machynlleth and district

  Machynlleth Chest

  Mid Wales

  Montgomery County Infirmary

  St. David's

  Victoria Memorial

  Ystradgynlais Community

  South Glamorgan District Health Authority

  Barry Community

  Cardiff Royal Infirmary

  Children's ENT

  Ely

  Glan Ely

  Lansdowne

  Llandough

  Neale Kent

  Prince of Wales

  Rookwood

  Royal Hamadryad

  St. David'

  Sully

  University Hospital of Wales

  Velindre

  Whitchurch

  West Glamorgan District Health Authority

  Cefn Coed

  Clydach

  Cymla

  Fairwood

  Garngoch

  Gellinudd

  Gorseinon

  Groswen

  Hill House

  Llwyneryr

  Morriston

  Mount Pleasant

  Neath General

  Port Talbot

  Singleton

  Tonna

  CADW
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will set out in table form(a) the total expenditure on CADW maintained sites, (b) the total income from sales and admissions at CADW maintained sites, (c) the total expenditure on non-CADW maintained sites by CADW, (d) other income to CADW and (e) other expenditure by CADW in each of the past four years.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  [holding answer 16 February 1989]The total direct expenditure by CADW on each of the categories identified by my hon. Friend is shown in the following table:
  720

  £'000

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  A. Total expenditure on CADW maintained sites

  2,187

  1,940

  1,893

  2,575

  B. Total income from sales and admissions at CADW maintained sites

  1937

  1,158

  1,182

  1,415

  C. Total expenditure on non-CADW sites

  1,517

  2,215

  2,084

  2,202

  D. Other income

  1n/a

  107

  35

  382

  E. Other expenditure

  1,003

  1,669

  1,614

  2,018

  1 No breakdown of income sources B and D is available for 1984–85.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Field Workers (Exchange)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to create an exchange of technical field workers employed in the health field between the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Under the overseas aid programme we actively encourage and support the exchange of information and experience between health workers in this country and in developing countries and between developing country workers. The exchanges take many forms. In 1987, 907 person years of training were funded in health and health-related subjects in Britain. Staff are exchanged under link arrangements which many United Kingdom institutions have with counterpart organisations in the developing world. Study tours are also arranged to enable individuals and groups from developing countries to visit this country and third countries.

  Calorie Supply
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list, for each of those countries that are actual or potential recipients of British overseas aid, the latest estimate available to his Department of(a) daily per capita calorie supply and (b) the percentage it represents of daily calorie requirements.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Information on food supply (calories per capita per day) is included in the FAO production yearbook 1987. Information on daily per capita calorie supply as a percentage of the requirement needed to maintain health is based on figures from FAO and World Bank sources. The estimates for all developing countries taken from those sources are given in the following table.

  Country

  Calories per caput supply per day 1984–86

  Daily per capita calorie supply as percentage of requirements: 1985

  Europe

  Cyprus

  —

  —

  Gibraltar

  —

  —

  Greece

  3,688

  145

  Malta

  2,878

  —

  Portugal

  3,134

  124

  Turkey

  3,146

  125

  721

  Country

  Calories per caput supply per day 1984–86

  Daily per capita calorie supply as percentage of requirements: 1985

  Yugoslavia

  3,542

  134

  Africa—North of the Sahara

  Algeria

  —

  121

  Egypt

  —

  127

  Liberia

  —

  103

  Morocco

  —

  108

  Tunisia

  —

  119

  Africa—South of the Sahara

  Angola

  —

  86

  Benin

  2,188

  94

  Botswana

  2,231

  95

  Burkina Faso

  2,047

  87

  Burundi

  2,268

  99

  Cameroon

  2,040

  89

  Cape Verde

  2,729

  —

  Central African Republic

  1,940

  92

  Chad

  —

  79

  Comoros

  2,110

  —

  Congo

  2,598

  108

  Djibouti

  —

  —

  Equatorial Guinea

  —

  —

  Ethiopia

  —

  94

  Gabon

  —

  124

  Gambia

  2,365

  —

  Ghana

  1,733

  78

  Guinea

  1,782

  85

  Guinea-Bissau

  —

  105

  Ivory Coast

  —

  102

  Kenya

  2,140

  87

  Lesotho

  2,296

  100

  Liberia

  2,357

  103

  Madagascar

  2,413

  111

  Malawi

  2,373

  95

  Mali

  2,020

  69

  Mauretania

  2,283

  97

  Mauritius

  2,736

  —

  Mayotte

  —

  —

  Mozambique

  1,608

  68

  Namibia

  —

  —

  Niger

  2,347

  97

  Nigeria

  2,114

  92

  Reunion

  3,010

  —

  Rwanda

  1,881

  87

  St. Helena

  —

  —

  Sao Tome and Principe

  2,386

  —

  Senegal

  2,336

  109

  Seychelles

  2,261

  —

  Sierra Leone

  1,868

  85

  Somalia

  2,088

  91

  Sudan

  2,074

  93

  Swaziland

  2,550

  —

  Tanzania

  2,214

  99

  Togo

  2,224

  97

  Uganda

  2,221

  109

  Zaire

  2,159

  96

  Zambia

  2,126

  85

  Zimbabwe

  2,119

  84

  America North and Central

  Anguilla

  —

  —

  Antigua

  2,089

  —

  Bahamas

  2,699

  —

  Barbados

  3,181

  —

  Belize

  2,585

  —

  Bermuda

  2,545

  —

  Cayman Islands

  —

  —

  Costa Rica

  —

  118

  Cuba

  3,107

  127

  Dominica

  2,649

  —

  Dominican Republic

  2,464

  110

  E1 Salvador

  —

  91

  Grenada

  2,408

  —

  Guadeloupe

  2,674

  —

  722

  Country

  Calories per caput supply per day 1984–86

  Daily per capita calorie supply as percentage of requirements: 1985

  Guatemala

  2,296

  99

  Haiti

  1,902

  79

  Honduras

  2,078

  95

  Jamaica

  2,581

  112

  Martinique

  2,780

  —

  Mexico

  3,148

  126

  Montserrat

  —

  —

  Netherlands Antilles

  2,925

  —

  Nicaragua

  —

  105

  Panama

  2,439

  98

  St. Kitts—Nevis

  2,349

  —

  St. Lucia

  2,499

  —

  St. Pierre et Miquelon

  2,776

  —

  St. Vincent

  —

  —

  Trinidad and Tobago

  3,058

  126

  Turks and Caicos Islands

  —

  —

  Virgin Islands

  —

  —

  America South

  Argentina

  3,191

  122

  Bolivia

  —

  88

  Brazil

  2,643

  107

  Chile

  2,574

  102

  Colombia

  2,550

  111

  Ecuador

  2,058

  88

  Falkland Islands

  —

  —

  French Guyana

  2,747

  —

  Guyana

  2,455

  —

  Paraguay

  2,843

  127

  Peru

  2,192

  34

  Surinam

  2,713

  —

  Uruguay

  2,676

  103

  Venezuela

  2,532

  95

  Asia-Middle East

  Bahrain

  —

  —

  Iran

  —

  118

  Iraq

  —

  118

  Israel

  3,038

  119

  Jordan

  —

  117

  Kuwait

  3,078

  —

  Lebanon

  —

  101

  Oman

  —

  —

  Qatar

  —

  —

  Saudi Arabia

  3,032

  132

  Syria

  3,259

  129

  United Arab Emirates

  3,713

  —

  Yemen

  2,274

  93

  Yemen (Democratic)

  2,331

  93

  Asia-South

  Afghanistan

  —

  92

  Bangladesh

  1,922

  78

  Bhutan

  —

  —

  Burma

  —

  117

  India

  2,204

  94

  Maldives

  —

  —

  Nepal

  2,050

  88

  Pakistan

  2,244

  93

  Sri Lanka

  2,436

  114

  Asia—Far East

  Brunei

  2,850

  —

  China

  2,628

  111

  Hong Kong

  2,778

  119

  Indonesia

  2,513

  109

  Kampuchea

  —

  85

  Korea (DPR)

  3,199

  126

  Korea Republic

  2,875

  117

  Laos

  —

  96

  Macao

  2,205

  —

  Malaysia

  2,723

  110

  Mongolia

  2,829

  117

  Philippines

  2,353

  101

  Singapore

  2,854

  114

  723

  Country

  Calories per caput supply per day 1984–86

  Daily per capita calorie supply as percentage of requirements: 1985

  Taiwan

  —

  —

  Thailand

  2,328

  102

  Timor

  —

  —

  Vietnam

  —

  97

  Oceania

  Cook Islands

  —

  —

  Fiji

  2,901

  —

  Kiribati

  2,939

  —

  Nauru

  —

  —

  New Caledonia

  2,984

  —

  Niue Islands

  —

  —

  Pacific Islands (United States)

  —

  —

  Papua New Guinea

  —

  79

  Pitcairn Islands

  —

  —

  Polynesia French

  —

  —

  Soloman Islands

  2,163

  —

  Tokelau Islands

  —

  —

  Tonga

  2,942

  —

  Tuvalu

  —

  —

  Vanuatu

  2,344

  —

  Wallis and Futuna

  —

  —

  Western Samoa

  —

  —

  Notes:

  Data not available is shown as '—'.

  The countries in the list are those classified as developing countries by the Development Assistance Committee of the OECD.

TRANSPORT

  Lockerbie Air Disaster
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he yet has any knowledge of the type and country of origin of the explosive that brought down the Boeing 747 aircraft, flight 103 over Lockerbie; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  At the moment nothing can be added to what my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State said in his statement to the House on 10 January at column 696.

  Surface Transport (Europe)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the post, ranks and responsibilities of the United Kingdom representatives due to attend the meeting of the Northern Europe Sub-Committee of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's Planning Board for European Inland Surface Transport at the Civil Defence College in the spring.

  Mr. Portillo
  One officer at grade 7 level from the Department of Transport and a major from the Ministry of Defence. Further details are confidential.

  London Airports
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has considered the Civil Aviation Authority consultative paper (CAP548); and if he will respond by initiating plans for the construction of an extra runway in the London area as soon as possible.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  CAP 548 canvasses views on what advice the CAA should offer my right hon. Friend in July 724
  on United Kingdom airport capacity and traffic distribution policy for airports serving the London area. It would be inappropriate for him to respond before the authority makes formal recommendations, in the summer.

  Talking Pelican Crossings
  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many talking pelican crossings for the blind have been installed in Britain; if he will name the local authorities where they exist; and how many more are planned.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  My right hon. Friend has not approved the installation of any crossings of this type, nor has he plans to approve any, in England.

  We understand that one such crossing has been installed by Oxfordshire county council without approval.

  Information about crossings in Wales and Scotland is a matter for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and Scotland, respectively.

  Blind People (Fares)
  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many local authorities in Britain provide concessionary fares for blind people; and if he will name them.

  Mr. Portillo
  Voluntary surveys carried out in 1986 by the Department of Transport, the Scottish Office and the Welsh Office showed that in November that year there were concessionary fares schemes for the blind in 326 English and Welsh districts, some run by the districts themselves and some by the county council or passenger transport authority; and that schemes were also operated by nine regional councils and two island councils in Scotland. Further details of the schemes are given in Transport and Road Research Laboratory research report 165 on "Concessionary Fares Schemes in Great Britain 1986", a copy of which has been deposited in the library of the House. The London boroughs also operate a joint scheme for the blind covering the London area.

  Settle-Carlisle Railway
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to make a statement on the application by British Rail to withdraw services from the Settle-Carlisle section of British Railways.

  Mr. Portillo
  My right hon. Friend will make a statement when he has fully considered all the evidence before him.

  Second Severn Crossing
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will outline the envisaged timetable for(a) completion of planning and (b) length of construction of a second Severn crossing.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We hope to be in a position to select the successful tenderer by the end of the year. The shortlist of tenderers for the second Severn crossing project will be announced very soon. The length of construction will depend in part on the bids received. We expect that construction might take between three and four years.
  725
  We remain on course to provide the crossing by the mid-1990s, if traffic levels show it was needed by then.

  River Thames
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to encourage public transport on the River Thames in London.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Government believe that riverbus services in London can contribute to the relief of road congestion and encourage the development of riverside areas in need of regeneration, particularly docklands. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has accordingly joined with me in offering to make a grant of up to £500,000 as part of a £2·5 million public/private sector initiative to promote and improve the service provided by Thamesline. The grant will be paid under section 17 of the Ministry of Transport Act 1919.

  Concrete Bridges
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the report of the study carried out by G. Maunsell and Partners to determine the state of the concrete bridges for which his Department is responsible.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Yes. The report will be published by HMSO in March. The report provides valuable information on the performance of concrete bridges in service and how greater durability and better performance in the future may be achieved. The report has not revealed new problems. It has indicated that the known problems are more widespread than anticipated.

  Some provision for extra spending on the maintenance of concrete bridges has already been allowed for in the 15-year bridge rehabilitation programme announced in November 1987. This programme will be modified to take account of the extra work revealed by the study. The report confirms that our trunk road bridges are safe, despite the signs of deterioration.

  The Department's structures are regularly inspected and priority given to repairs where structural integrity or the safety of the public is in question. An increased effort is needed over the next 15 years to ensure that our bridges will continue to give useful service for their intended lives.

ENVIRONMENT

  Green Belt
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any proposals to release land from the green belt around Doncaster; and what was the last application to do so.

  Mr Chope
  My right hon. Friend has no such proposals before him at present. A proposal to site a mobile home in the green belt at Bentley was rejected by my right hon. Friend, on appeal, in August 1988.

  Toxic Discharges
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take steps to control or modify such processes in the paper industry that create toxic discharge, in the light of scientific evidence about environmental damage.
  726
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Major processes in the paper making industry would be subject to integrated pollution control. Proposals were made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment on 28 July 1988.

  Cambridge
  Sir Eldon Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has considered the implications for planning policy of the study made by the department of land economy of Cambridge university of dispersal opportunities arising from the recent growth of the Cambridge sub-region; and if it is his policy to seek to relieve the pressures on the City of Cambridge by dispersing Government offices away from Cambridge to Newmarket.

  Mr. Chope
  The Department is aware of the study in question but it is too soon for the Secretary of State to consider any implications for planning policy. The study is only at draft stage and its preliminary findings have still to be accepted by the local authorities concerned. It will then be for the standing conference of East Anglian local authorities (SCEALA) to consider incorporating the report recommendations in its draft regional strategy document before submitting it to the Secretary of State for his consideration.

  There is no present policy to relocate Government offices from Cambridge to Newmarket.

  Nuclear Waste
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many litres equivalent of(a) intermediate and (b) low-level nuclear waste is currently awaiting permanent disposal in the United Kingdom.

  Mrs.Virginia Bottomley
  The latest estimates of waste accumulations in terms of volumes to be disposed are:

  Litres

  Intermediate-level waste

  59,400,000

  Low-level waste

  2,340,000

  Chloroflurocarbons
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information his Department has on the level of the release of chloroflurocarbons from landfill sites in landfill gas.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Trace quantities of chloroflurocarbons have been detected in landfill gas. They are one of many substances to be found in low concentrations in landfill gas.

  Greenhouse Gases
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what information his Department has on the level of the release of methane from landfill sites; and what assessment he has made of the impact of this release as a greenhouse gas;

  (2) what assessment his Department has made of the overall level of release of greenhouse gases from landfill sites in England.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Department is currently developing an assessment of the release from landfill sites
  727
  of methane and of carbon dioxide, the other major greenhouse gas from this source. Although the figures will not be available in time for this year's digest of environmental and water statistics, due to be published later this week, we hope to include them in next year's issue.

  Insulation Materials
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out the procedure for approving the thermal conductivity of insulation materials as satisfying the requirements of the building regulations, and the respective roles of CIBSE, the BBA and the BSI in such a procedure.

  Mr. Trippier
  Part L of the Building Regulations 1984 (in its current form) requires the calculated rate of heat loss from various parts of the exposed fabric of a new building to be within certain prescribed limits. The enforcement of these requirements is a matter for the building control authority. Practical guidance is provided in approved document L "Conservation of Fuel and Power", but the advice given in this document is not mandatory.

  The approved document advises that information about the thermal conductivity of a product should be obtained from the supplier or manufacturer, or that a value should be obtained from table A3–22 of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers guide. In the case of certain products, the approved document also advises that a test certificate should be obtained. The use of materials which comply with an appropriate British Standard or which are certified by the British Board of Agrement is another way of demonstrating that the requirements of the regulations have been met.

  Clinical Waste
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures he proposes to improve the monitoring and usage of landfill sites receiving clinical waste.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Waste disposal authorities are responsible for licensing and monitoring disposal facilities.

  Guidance on best practice for the treatment and disposal of clinical waste is contained in waste management paper No. 25 published in 1983.

  A review of current practice is planned for 1989–90 and waste management paper No. 25 will be revised if necessary.

  Bats
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department will analyse the study by the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology on the effect of Lindane and PCP on bats.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Department of the Environment is represented on a working group on bats organised by the advisory committee on pesticides which is a group of independent experts who advise Government on pesticides. The working group will consider the report of the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology on lindane and bats amongst other evidence and report its findings to the advisory committee.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he will introduce regulations that prevent personal data contained within the community charge registers being used or disclosed for purposes not connected with the community charge by the community charge registration officer or charging authority; and whether he will make a statement;

  (2) whether he will introduce regulations that prevent personal data being disclosed from community charge registers by the community charge registration officer or charging authority (a) to any Departments of State under the conditions specified in section 34(5)(a) of the Data Protection Act, if the disclosure is not for purposes connected with the community charge, (b) to the police, immigration and tax officials for the purposes specified in section 28 of the Data Protection Act, and (c) to the security services for the purposes specified in section 27 of the Data Protection Act, 1984; and whether he will make a statement;

  (3) whether he will introduce regulations that prevent personal data being disclosed from community charge registers by the community charge registration officer or charging authority to public utilities; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  No. There is no need for such regulations. Community charges registration officers and charging authorities have no power to disclose data contained in registers to any third party other than those specified in the Local Government Finance Act 1988 and regulations to be made under it.

  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has made any estimate of the average change in the disposable income of equestrian and agricultural workers which will result from the implementation of the poll tax in England and Wales.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 22 February 1989]There are no plans for the introduction of a poll tax. In respect of the community charge, no such estimates can usefully be made because of the widely differing circumstances of individuals.

  Mr. Simon Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimates have been made to calculate how much it will cost Chelmsford borough council to introduce the community charge.

  Mr. Gummer
  The Government have made no estimates of the cost of introducing the community charge in Chelmsford borough council area. We commissioned Price Waterhouse to undertake an independent study of the total costs of preparation and collection for England and Wales and have allocated resources to authorities on the basis of those national forecasts.

  Common Land
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to introduce legislation on common land, on the lines recommended by the Common land forum; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We intend to introduce legislation based broadly on the report of the Common land forum at a suitable opportunity when parliamentary time permits.

  Nitrogenous Fertilisers
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with representatives of the farming industry concerning the use of nitrogenous fertilisers and their effect on water supplies.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Officials from my Department met representatives of the National Farmers Union, the Fertiliser Manufacturers Association and the Country Landowners Association on 15 December 1988 prior to the publication on 16 December of the report "The Nitrate Issue". Officials from MAFF and DTI were also present.

  Rates
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the average unrebated domestic rates bill in England in each year since 1985–86

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The figures for average unrebated domestic rates bills in England are:

  £

  1985–86

  351

  1986–87

  400

  1987–88

  429

  1988–89

  468

  Water Charges
  Mr. Madel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the chairmen of the private water companies whom he has called in to see him as a result of them announcing increases in water charges of more than 10 per cent. for the year 1989–90; what response they gave to him; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  I asked the chairmen of any company which was proposing an increase of more than 10 per cent. to come and see me. As of today I have seen 18 chairmen. One company has so far indicated to me that it proposes an increase of under 10 per cent. Discussions with a number of other companies are continuing.

  Sports Council
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he will take regarding the financial management and control of the Sports Council following the publication of the report of the National Audit Office.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The Public Accounts Committee is to take evidence on the National Audit Office's report on the Sports Council (HC 196) on 1 March. It would not be appropriate for me to comment on the report before then.

  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if any staff from his Department were seconded to the Sports Council during the period covered by the National Audit Office report into the Sports Council.

  Mr. Moynihan
  A grade 5 and his personal secretary from this Department were on secondment to the Sports Council between January 1987 to February 1988.

  Cowes National Sailing Centre
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied that full consultation took place before the Cowes national sailing centre was sold.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The National Audit Office has reported on the sale of the national sailing centre at Cowes in its recent publication, HC 196. The Public Accounts Committee will be taking evidence on this report on 1 March. It would not be appropriate for me to comment in advance of the hearing.

  Hospital Waste
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of hospital waste is incinerated; what controls exist to ensure its proper disposal, together with the disposal of non high-risk waste matter; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  There are no centrally collected figures for hospital waste. Disposal outside hospital premises including mixture with other wastes must be to sites suitably licensed under the Control of Pollution Act 1974. Incineration is subject to appropriate controls over emissions from combustion processes. For disposal within hospital premises the Government expect health authorities to seek to confirm with the same controls despite the existence of Crown immunity.

  Engagements
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all his official engagements for 4 January.

  Mr. Ridley
  I had no official engagements that day.

  Derbyshire and Staffordshire County Councils
  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people were employed in total, both full-time and part-time(a) by Derbyshire county council and (b) by Staffordshire county council in 1981.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Derbyshire county council employed 38,408 people and Staffordshire county council employed 42,023 people in all services in June 1981.

  This compares with 47,650 for Derbyshire and 43,337 for Staffordshire in June 1988.

  Rent Levels
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has about the growth of private sector rent levels in the London boroughs over the last 18 months; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 22 February 1989]Information on rents in London boroughs regulated under the Rent Act 1977, as amended by the 1980 Housing Act, is published in Housing and Construction Statistics 1977–1987, table 11·6, and in notes supplied to rent officers; both of these are available in the Library.

  Local Authority Services
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will give in tabular form(a)

  731
  Carrick, (b) Adur, (c) Alnwick, (d) Berwick-upon-Tweed and (e) Cheltenham district councils (i) which councils have declared themselves nuclear-free zones (ii) what is the estimated number of homeless people in the district for the most recent month for which figures are available, (iii) what is the number of empty council homes at the end of the most recent month for which figures are available and (iv) whether they have a declared policy of providing the funding for law centres;

  (2) if he will give in tabular form for (a) Southend-on-Sea, (b) Three Rivers, (c) West Lindsey, (d) Wyre Forest, (e) South Somerset and (f) Chelmsford district councils (i) which councils have declared themselves nuclear-free zones, (ii) what is the estimated number of homeless people in the district for the most recent month for which figures are available, (iii) what is the number of empty council homes at the end of the most recent month for which figures are available and (iv) whether they have a declared policy of providing the funding for law centres;

  (3) if he will give in tabular form for (a) Eastleigh, (b) Hastings, (c) Hereford, (d) Kerrier, (e) Maidstone, (f) Mendip, (g) Milton Keynes, (h) Pendle, and (i) Peterborough district councils (i) which councils have declared themselves nuclear-free zones, (ii) what is the estimated number of homeless people in the district for the most recent month for which figures are available, (iii) what is the number of empty council homes at the end of the most recent month for which figures are available and (iv) whether they have a declared policy of providing the funding for law centres.

  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 22 February 1989]The information is as follows:

  The information available on homelessness relates to the number of households for which authorities have accepted responsibility to secure accommodation under the homelessness provision of the 1985 Housing Act. This information is as follows:

  Number of households accepted

  In quarter ending

  Carrick

  21

  September 1988

  Adur

  52

  March 1988

  Alnwick

  3

  June 1988

  Berwick-upon-Tweed

  3

  September 1988

  Cheltenham

  18

  September 1988

  Southend-on-Sea

  65

  September 1988

  Three Rivers

  34

  June 1988

  West Lindsey

  40

  September 1988

  Wyre Forest

  92

  September 1988

  South Somerset

  31

  September 1988

  Chelmsford

  63

  September 1988

  Eastleigh

  35

  September 1988

  Hastings

  60

  September 1988

  Hereford

  32

  September 1988

  Kerrier

  43

  September 1988

  Maidstone

  63

  September 1988

  Mendip

  37

  September 1988

  Milton Keynes

  103

  September 1988

  Pendle

  64

  September 1988

  Peterborough

  110

  September 1988

  The numbers of empty council dwellings (wherever situated) at 1 April 1988 are as follows:
  732

  Number of dwellings

  Carrick

  19

  Adur

  44

  Alnwick

  2

  Berwick-upon-Tweed

  9

  Cheltenham

  98

  Southend-on-Sea

  153

  Three Rivers

  90

  West Lindsey

  49

  Wyre Forest

  151

  South Somerset

  64

  Chelmsford

  139

  Eastleigh

  99

  Hastings

  30

  Hereford

  71

  Kerrier

  35

  Maidstone

  84

  Mendip

  52

  Milton Keynes

  57

  Pendle

  83

  Peterborough

  159

  Information is not held centrally on authorities which have declared themselves to be nuclear free zones or which have a declared policy of providing funding for law centres.

  Local Authority Expenditure
  Mr. Douglas French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will give in tabular form for(a) Carrick, (b) Adur, (c) Alnwick, (d) Berwick-upon-Tweed and (e) Cheltenham district councils (i) which political party or groups of parties control the councils, (ii) what has been the percentage change in spending by the councils in each financial year since 1986–87, (iii) what has been the change in staffing levels, in whole-time equivalents, for each year since 1985, and (iv) what has been the change in the rate poundage expressed as a percentage for each financial year since 1986 and 1987;

  (2) if he will give in tabular form for (a) Southend-on-Sea, (b) Three Rivers, (c) West Lindsey, (d) Wyre Forest, (e) South Somerset and (f) Chelmsford district councils (i) which political party or groups of parties control the councils, (ii) what has been the percentage change in spending by the council in each financial year since 1986 and 1987, (iii) what has been the change in staffing levels, in whole-time equivalent, for each year since 1985 and (iv) what has been the change in the rate poundage expressed as a percentage for each financial year since 1986 and 1987;

  (3) if he will give in tabular form for (a) Eastleigh, (b) Hastings, (c) Hereford, (d) Kerrier, (e) Maidstone, (f) Mendip, (g) Milton Keynes, (h) Pendle and (i) Peterborough district councils (i) which political party or groups of parties control the councils, (ii) what has been the percentage change in spending by the council in each financial year since 1986–87 (iii) what has been the change in staffing levels, in whole-time equivalents, for each year since 1985, and (iv) what has been the change in the rate poundage expressed as a percentage for each financial year since 1986 and 1988.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 22 February 1989]The information for the authorities listed is as follows:
  733

  Table A

  Percentage change in net current expenditure and local rate poundage

  Percentage change in net current expenditure

  Percentage change in local rate poundages

  1986–87 to 1987–88

  1987–88 to 1988–891

  1986–87 to 1987–88

  1987–88 to 1988–89

  Adur

  4·9

  11·8

  34·0

  7·6

  Alnwick

  14·9

  23·0

  -5·9

  22·0

  Berwick-upon-Tweed

  6·3

  11·6

  0·0

  16·9

  Carrick

  17·3

  9·4

  5·0

  14·7

  Chelmsford

  32·5

  16·3

  -11·7

  35·9

  Cheltenham

  12·0

  5·4

  15·2

  5·0

  Eastleigh

  6·4

  53·0

  0·1

  5·9

  Hastings

  17·4

  16·6

  7·4

  4·8

  Hereford

  11·4

  4·2

  0·0

  -33·6

  Kerrier

  11·5

  24·0

  2·6

  17·2

  Maidstone

  27·6

  3·5

  6·4

  1·3

  Mendip

  20·8

  10·5

  4·0

  11·5

  Milton Keynes

  20·7

  47·7

  0·0

  3·9

  Pendle

  10·6

  14·7

  9·3

  9·6

  Peterborough

  19·7

  10·6

  0·0

  8·8

  South Somerset

  11·7

  22·6

  3·6

  31·2

  Southend-on-Sea

  9·0

  12·1

  -4·5

  0·0

  Three Rivers

  5·2

  17·4

  6·5

  0·8

  West Lindsey

  60·6

  13·9

  4·4

  7·1

  Wyre Forest

  3·8

  23·5

  -0·6

  13·6

  1 Using local authority budgets.

  Table B

  Changes in staffing levels1 since 1985

  Authority

  Total staff (FT plus PT)2

  Changes at June, compared with a year earlier

  at June 1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  Adur

  431

  +3

  -4

  3—

  Alnwick

  203

  +1

  +10

  -6

  Berwick-upon-Tweed

  193

  -8

  -6

  -1

  Carrick

  504

  +12

  +11

  +41

  Chelmsford

  876

  +13

  +20

  +29

  Cheltenham

  813

  +19

  +36

  3—

  Eastleigh

  554

  -9

  -1

  +20

  Hastings

  831

  +17

  +33

  +39

  Hereford

  514

  +6

  +15

  +26

  Kerrier

  545

  -14

  +25

  +24

  Maidstone

  1,027

  -18

  -95

  +15

  Mendip

  317

  +11

  +5

  -2

  Milton Keynes

  869

  +20

  -10

  +1

  Pendle

  814

  +47

  3—

  3—

  Peterborough

  3—

  3—

  3—

  3—

  South Somerset

  725

  +4

  +26

  +3

  Southend-on-Sea

  1,737

  +45

  -350

  +23

  Three Rivers

  500

  -17

  +10

  +10

  West Lindsey

  412

  +2

  +2

  +8

  Wyre Forest

  906

  +60

  +66

  +2

  1 Figures are for general services (i.e. excluding law and order services).

  2 Full-time equivalent figures are not available at individual authority level.

  3 Data not available.

  Seven authorities of those listed, namely adur, Carrick, Chelmsford, Eastleigh, Hereford, South Somerset and Three Rivers, are currently controlled by a single party. In each case SLD has overall control.

  Local Authorities (Expenditure Assessments)
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will list those local authorities which in the financial years 1987–88, and 1988–89, have used their financial reserves to support spending levels above their grant-related expenditure assessments.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 20 February 1989]: The authorities which have used their financial reserves (1) to
  734
  support spending levels (2) above their grant related expenditure assessments in 1987–88 are given in list A and in 1988–89 are given in list B.

  Note:

  (1) Defined as use of balances and/or unallocated contributions from special and capital funds.

  (2) Defined as the latest available "total expenditure" returned by authorities.

  1987–88—List A

  Avon

  Buckinghamshire

  Cheshire

  Cleveland

  Derbyshire

  Durham

  Gloucestershire

  Humberside

  Isle of Wight

  Lancashire

  Leicestershire

  Northamptonshire

  Northumberland

  Somerset

  Bury

  Manchester

  Oldham

  Salford

  Tameside

  Wigan

  Liverpool

  Sheffield

  Gateshead

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  North Tyneside

  South Tyneside

  Sunderland

  Walsall

  Wolverhampton

  Bradford

  Calderdale

  Kirklees

  Wakefield

  I.L.E.A.

  735

  Camden

  Greenwich

  Hackney

  Lewisham

  Southwark

  Tower Hamlets

  Wandsworth

  Barnet

  Bexley

  Brent

  Haringey

  Hounslow

  Newham

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  Bristol

  Northhavon

  Luton

  Reading

  Chiltern

  Crewe and Nantwich

  Ellesmere and Neston

  Warrington

  Hartlepool

  Middlesbrough

  Stockton on Tees

  Kerrier

  South Lakeland

  Erewash

  Exeter

  Torbay

  Torridge

  Weymouth and Portland

  Darlington

  Derwentside

  Durham

  Teesdale

  Brighton

  Eastbourne

  Basildon

  Castle Point

  Rochford

  Thurrock

  Gloucester

  Stroud

  East Hampshire

  Southampton

  Dacorum

  East Hertfordshire

  Hertsmere

  North Hertfordshire

  Stevenage

  Holderness

  East Yorkshire

  Medina

  South Wight

  Canterbury

  Tunbridge Wells

  736

  Lancaster

  Preston

  West Lancashire

  Leicester

  North West Leicester

  Boston

  Norwich

  Corby

  Daventry

  Kettering

  Northampton

  Blyth Valley

  Wansbeck

  Harrogate

  Scarborough

  Ashfield

  Bassetlaw

  Gedling

  Newark and Sherwood

  Nottingham

  Oxford

  Oswestry

  Shrewsbury and Atcham

  Ipswich

  Elmbridge

  Epsom and Ewell

  North Warwickshire

  North Wiltshire

  Metropolitan Police Authority

  Greater Manchester Police Authority

  West Midlands Police Authority

  Merseyside Fire Authority

  West Midlands Fire Authority

  West Yorkshire Fire Authority

  Greater Manchester Transport Authority

  Merseyside Transport Authority

  1988–89—List B

  Avon

  Bedfordshire

  Buckinghamshire

  Cambridgeshire

  Cheshire

  Cleveland

  Cumbria

  Essex

  Gloucestershire

  Hertfordshire

  Lancashire

  Leicestershire

  Northamptonshire

  Northumberland

  North Yorkshire

  Nottinghamshire

  Oxfordshire

  Somerset

  Staffordshire

  Surrey

  Warwickshire

  Wiltshire

  Bolton

  Bury

  Manchester

  737

  Rochdale

  Salford

  Stockport

  Tameside

  Wigan

  Knowsley

  Liverpool

  St. Helens

  Sefton

  Wirral

  Doncaster

  Rotherham

  Gateshead

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  North Tyneside

  South Tyneside

  Sunderland

  Birmingham

  Coventry

  Dudley

  Sandwell

  Walsall

  Wolverhampton

  Bradford

  Calderdale

  Kirklees

  Leeds

  Wakefield

  I.L.E.A.

  Camden

  Greenwich

  Islington

  Lambeth

  Lewisham

  Southwark

  Barking and Dagenham

  Ealing

  Harrow

  Hillingdon

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  Newham

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  Sutton

  Waltham Forest

  Northavon

  Woodspring

  North Bedfordshire

  Mid Bedfordshire

  South Bedfordshire

  Reading

  Windsor and Maidenhead

  Wokingham

  South Bucks

  Chiltern

  Milton Keynes

  Wycombe

  Peterborough

  Chester

  Congleton

  Crewe and Nantwich

  Halton

  Macclesfield

  Vale Royal

  Warrington

  Hartlepool

  Langbaurgh

  738

  Middlesbrough

  Stockton on Tees

  Caradon

  Carrick

  Kerrier

  Allerdale

  Carlisle

  Copeland

  South Lakeland

  Amber Valley

  Bolsover

  Chesterfield

  Derby

  Erewash

  High Peak

  North East Derbyshire

  South Derbyshire

  Derbyshire Dales

  Mid Devon

  Torbay

  Bournemouth

  Chester le Street

  Darlington

  Derwentside

  Durham

  Easington

  Sedgefield

  Teesdale

  Wear Valley

  Eastbourne

  Hastings

  Lewes

  Rother

  Basildon

  Brentwood

  Castle Point

  Chelmsford

  Epping Forest

  Harlow

  Maldon

  Rochford

  Southend on Sea

  Tendring

  Uttlesford

  Gloucester

  Stroud

  East Hampshire

  Eastleigh

  Hart

  New Forest

  Portsmouth

  Rushmoor

  Southampton

  Winchester

  Leominster

  Malvern Hills

  Redditch

  Worcester

  Wychavon

  Wyre Forest

  Dacorum

  East Hertfordshire

  North Hertfordshire

  St. Albans

  Stevenage

  Three Rivers

  Watford

  739

  Beverley

  Boothferry

  Cleethorpes

  Glanford

  Great Grimsby

  Holderness

  Scunthorpe

  Medina

  South Wight

  Ashford

  Canterbury

  Dover

  Gravesham

  Maidstone

  Sevenoaks

  Shepway

  Swale

  Thanet

  Tonbridge and Mailing

  Tunbridge Wells

  Blackburn

  Blackpool

  Burnley

  Chorley

  Fylde

  Hyndburn

  Lancaster

  Pendle

  Preston

  Ribble Valley

  Rossendale

  South Ribble

  West Lancashire

  Wyre

  Harborough

  Leicester

  Melton

  North West Leicester

  Oadby and Wigston

  Boston

  East Lindsey

  Lincoln

  North Kesteven

  South Kesteven

  West Lindsey

  Great Yarmouth

  Norwich

  Corby

  Daventry

  Northampton

  Alnwick

  Blyth Valley

  Tynedale

  Wansbeck

  Craven

  Hambleton

  Harrogate

  Richmondshire

  Scarborough

  Selby

  Ashfield

  Bassetlaw

  Broxtowe

  Gedling

  Mansfield

  Newark and Sherwood

  Nottingham

  Rushcliffe

  Oxford

  740

  North Shropshire

  Shrewsbury and Atcham

  The Wrekin

  Sedgemoor

  Cannock Chase

  Newcastle Under Lyme

  Stafford

  Staffs. Moorlands

  Stoke-on-Trent

  Babergh

  Forest Heath

  Ipswich

  Mid Suffolk

  Suffolk coastal

  Epsom and Ewell

  Guildford

  Reigate and Banstead

  Spelthorne

  Tandridge

  Waverley

  North Warwickshire

  Rugby

  Stratford-on-Avon

  Warwick

  Adur

  Arun

  Crawley

  Worthing

  North Wiltshire

  Thamesdown

  West Wiltshire

  Greater Manchester Police Authority

  South Yorkshire Police Authority

  West Midlands Police Authority

  West Yorkshire Police Authority

  Greater Manchester Fire Authority

  Merseyside Fire Authority

  South Yorkshire Fire Authority

  Tyne and Wear Fire Authority

  West Midlands Fire Authority

  West Yorkshire Fire Authority

  Greater Manchester Transport Authority

  Tyne and Wear Transport Authority

  Local Councils (Statistics)
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give in tabular form for(a) the London borough of Tower Hamlets, (b) the London borough of Richmond-upon-Thames, (c) the London borough of Sutton, (d) Calderdale Metropolitan district council and (e) Stockport Metropolitan district council (i) which councils are nuclear-free zones, (ii) which councils, acting as a local education authority, employ staff to teach peace studies as part of the curriculum, (iii) what is the estimated number of homeless people in the district for the most recent month for which figures are available, (iv) what is the number of empty council homes at the end of the most recent month for which figures are available and (vi) whether they have a declared policy of providing the funding for law centres.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 13 February 1989]The information available on homelessness relates to the number of households for which authorities have accepted
  741
  responsibility to secure accommodation under the homelessness provision of the 1985 Housing Act. This information is as follows:

  Number of households accepted

  in quarter ending

  Tower Hamlets

  332

  March 1988

  Richmond

  89

  September 1988

  Sutton

  105

  September 1988

  Calderdale

  56

  September 1988

  Stockport

  120

  September 1988

  The numbers of empty council dwellings at the first of April 1988 are as follows:

  Number of dwellings

  Tower Hamlets

  2,526

  Richmond

  154

  Sutton

  110

  Calderdale

  448

  Stockport

  452

  Information is not held centrally on authorities which have declared themselves to be nuclear free zones, or which employ staff to teach peace studies as part of the curriculum, or which have a declared policy of providing funding for law centres.

  Homeless Families
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the comparative public sector revenue costs of housing homeless families in(a) Greater London and (b) in English non-metropolitan areas by (i) providing them with newly built council dwellings, (ii) providing them with council dwellings newly acquired from the private sector and improved for letting, and (iii) providing them with bed and breakfast accommodation; and if he will publish these figures on a comparable basis with those published in his replies to the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith) on 16 January, Official Report, columns 331–32 and on 4 March 1987,Official Report, column 639.

  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 16 February 1989]: Estimates for 1987–88 are as follows:

  Greater London £

  English metropolitan areas £

  New build

  8,200

  5,000

  Acquisition and renovation

  8,200

  5,500

  Bed and breakfast

  40

  15

  Notes:

  1 . The estimates for new build and for acquisition and renovation show the total first year costs to local authorities of the accommodation shown;

  2. Estimates of average new build and renovation costs were derived from information provided by local authorities in housing subsidy and can show significant variation from authority to authority and year to year reflecting differences in the mix of work undertaken,

  3. The bed and breakfast figures are gross costs per household day and are based on returns to CIPFA from those local authorities providing information on both gross expenditure on bed and breakfast and the number of household days of bed and breakfast provided.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Schools (Surplus Places)
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what he estimates to be the number of surplus places in Oxfordshire for (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools; and the cost of such places.

  Mr. Butcher
  Information about the number of surplus places in individual local education authorities is not held centrally.

  Parental Rights
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a further statement detailing existing parental rights with regard to out of catchment area exceptional admissions to primary and secondary schools.

  Mr. Butcher
  Under section 6 of the Education Act 1980, parents have the right to express a preference as to the school at which they want their child to be educated, and that preference has to be met if the child is eligible and there is a place available at the school of the parents' choice. These rights exist irrespective of whether the parents live in a defined area, although pupils living near the school are sometimes given priority if there are more applicants than available places.

  Special Boarding Schools
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what advice he has received from the working party considering the future of Inner London education authority special boarding schools; and what steps he proposes to take to consult the parents concerned before reaching a final decision.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 22 February 1989 to my hon. Friend the Member for Rugby and Kenilworth (Mr. Pawsey).

  GCSE
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what appeal procedure exists for teachers whose school-based examination syllabus is rejected by the GCSE board; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  It is entirely a matter for individual Examining Groups to determine which syllabuses they offer. All GCSE syllabuses must conform to national criteria. Syllabuses in subjects for which there are specific criteria must also be approved by the School Examinations and Assessment Council. SEAC will always indicate necessary modifications in cases where it withholds approval.

  ILEA Dwellings
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has about the total number of dwellings in Greater London owned by the Inner London education authority which are unlawfully occupied.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Information on this subject is not held by my Department.

SCOTLAND

  Rural Areas (Jobs)
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many public sector jobs there were in rural areas in Scotland at the latest date for which figures are available; and how many there were in 1979.

  Mr. Rifkind
  The information requested is not available.

  Job Creation
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many jobs have been created in Scotland since 1983, how many of them are self-employed, how many are part-time; and how many he estimates are in rural areas.

  Mr. Rifkind
  It is estimated that between September 1983 and September 1988 the civilian work force in employment in Scotland increased by 41,000. In this period the number of self-employed increased by 22,000 and the number of female part-time employees in employment increased by 52,000. These estimates may be revised when the results of the 1987 census of employment and the 1988 labour force survey become available. Comparable figures are not available for the self-employed working part-time and for male part-time employees in employment. It is not possible to provide comparable information for rural areas in Scotland.

  Constituency Registers
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the total number of people in each parliamentary constituency in Scotland listed on (a) the electoral registers for 1988–89, (b) the electoral registers for 1989–90 and (c) the poll tax registers for 1989–90

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The following table compares the numbers on the electoral registers published in February 1988 and February 1989. Information about the numbers on the community charges register in each constituency is not held centrally.

  Constituency

  Number of electors

  1988 electoral register

  1989 electoral register

  Aberdeen North

  62,075

  60,604

  Aberdeen South

  60,323

  58,947

  Angus East

  61,643

  61,899

  Argyll and Bute

  48,912

  48,695

  Ayr

  67,063

  66,545

  Banff and Buchan

  63,054

  62,830

  Caithness and Sutherland

  30,978

  31,031

  Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley

  56,708

  56,338

  Central Fife

  56,440

  56,183

  Clackmannan

  49,127

  48,757

  Clydebank and Milngavie

  50,128

  49,075

  Clydesdale

  62,602

  62,456

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  46,392

  46,345

  Cunninghame North

  55,566

  55,262

  Cunninghame South

  50,414

  49,931

  Dumbarton

  59,369

  58,328

  Dumfries

  59,972

  59,962

  Dundee East

  61,221

  60,394

  744

  Constituency

  Number of electors

  1988 electoral register

  1989 electoral register

  Dundee West

  61,445

  60,246

  Dunfermline East

  51,008

  50,894

  Dunfermline West

  51,384

  51,413

  East Kilbride

  63,956

  63,715

  East Lothian

  65,542

  66,108

  Eastwood

  62,839

  63,483

  Edinburgh Central

  58,975

  57,069

  Edinburgh East

  48,745

  47,802

  Edinburgh Leith

  60,031

  58,984

  Edinburgh Pentlands

  58,884

  58,538

  Edinburgh South

  64,026

  62,452

  Edinburgh West

  62,652

  61,172

  Falkirk East

  52,737

  52,679

  Falkirk West

  50,606

  50,506

  Galloway and Upper Nithsdale

  53,621

  53,481

  Glasgow Cathcart

  48,767

  47,702

  Glasgow Central

  50,867

  50,535

  Glasgow Garscadden

  46,916

  44,931

  Glasgow Govan

  50,190

  48,908

  Glasgow Hillhead

  57,704

  56,718

  Glasgow Maryhill

  52,039

  50,589

  Glasgow Pollok

  50,829

  49,497

  Glasgow Provan

  42,908

  41,086

  Glasgow Rutherglen

  56,929

  55,695

  Glasgow Shettleston

  53,883

  53,254

  Glasgow Springburn

  50,489

  48,785

  Gordon

  75,228

  75,537

  Greenock and Port Glasgow

  57,339

  55,612

  Hamilton

  63,167

  62,688

  Inverness, Nairn and Lochaber

  66,695

  67,262

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  63,325

  62,834

  Kincardine and Deeside

  64,398

  64,432

  Kirkcaldy

  53,823

  53,626

  Linlithgow

  60,584

  61,135

  Livingston

  58,008

  59,533

  Midlothian

  61,139

  61,089

  Monklands East

  50,271

  49,533

  Monklands West

  51,300

  50,450

  Moray

  63,206

  62,840

  Motherwell North

  58,331

  57,971

  Motherwell South

  52,599

  51,704

  North East Fife

  52,442

  52,313

  North Tayside

  54,582

  54,367

  Orkney and Shetland

  31,180

  31,115

  Paisley North

  48,973

  48,213

  Paisley South

  50,403

  49,595

  Perth and Kinross

  63,957

  64,505

  Renfrew West and Inverclyde

  57,025

  57,234

  Ross, Cromarty and Skye

  52,278

  53,062

  Roxburgh and Berwickshire

  43,631

  43,484

  Stirling

  58,715

  58,387

  Strathkelvin and Bearsden

  63,296

  62,706

  Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale

  38,438

  38,773

  Western Isles

  23,085

  23,097

  Total

  3,967,377

  3,932,921

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will introduce regulations to restrict the sale, copying or inspection of the electoral register when the electoral registrar obtains information from the poll tax registers.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  No. The considerations governing the sale, copying and inspection of the electoral register have not altered since the present policy was reviewed in 1985–86. The Representation of the People (Scotland) Regulations 1986 already forbid the supply of data which is not required to be published in the register itself.

  Local Government and Housing Bill
  Mr. McTaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any information on the number of people who will be affected by the provisions of the Local Government and Housing Bill relating to political officers who are currently serving councillors.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  This information is not held centrally.

  New Towns
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, pursuant to his answer of 1 February,Official Report, column 317, to the hon. Member for East Kilbride, he will give the updated list of bodies and organisations which have responded To Whom It May Concern: the consultation document "The Scottish New Towns—Maintaining the Momentum."

  Mr. Lang
  I am pleased to note that over 100 bodies and organisations have responded to the consultation document. The comprehensive list requested by the hon. Member for East Kilbride is as follows:

  Abronhill Community Council (Cumbernauld)

  Ardrossan, Saltcoats, Stevenston Enterprise Trust

  Ayrshire and Arran Health Board

  Ayrshire. Chamber of Industries

  Barclay and Cameron Way Residents Association (Livingston)

  Bathgate Area Support for Enterprise Ltd (BASE)

  Beckman Industrial Ltd

  Bellsquarry Community Council (Livingston)

  Broomlands and Bourtreehill Residents Association

  Busby East Church

  Calderwood Community Council

  Church of Scotland Department of Ministry and Mission

  City of Glasgow

  Coleman Ballantine Architects, Glasgow

  Collydean Residents/Tenants Association (Glenrothes)

  Condorrat Community Council (Cumbernauld)

  Craigshill Initiative (Livingston)

  Crofthead Farm Community Centre

  Cumbernauld Business Associations

  Cumbernauld Citizens Advice Bureau

  Cumbernauld Development Corporation

  Cumbernauld and District Trades Council

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth Constituency Association Scottish National Party

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth Constituency Labour Party

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth District Council

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth Enterprise Trust

  Cumbernauld Ministers' Fraternal

  Cumbernauld Theatre Trust Ltd

  Cunninghame District Council

  Deans Community High School (Livingston)

  Deans and District Labour Party (Livingston)

  746

  Deans Senior Citizens' Club (Livingston)

  Dedridge Community Council (Livingston)

  Donaldsons

  Dundee and Tayside Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Fife Branch

  East Kilbride Central Branch, Scottish National Party

  East Kilbride Chamber of Commerce

  East Kilbride Christian Council

  East Kilbride Citizens Advice Bureau

  East Kilbride Development Corporation

  East Kilbride District Council

  East Kilbride Fabian Society

  East Kilbride Old Parish Church

  East Kilbride Residents Federation

  East Kilbride Voluntary Organisation's Council

  Fife Regional Council

  Fraser and Partner, Business Managers, Glenrothes

  Girdle Toll and Bourtreehill Community Council (Cumbernauld)

  Glenrothes Development Corporation

  Glenrothes Enterprise Trust Ltd.

  Glenrothes Residents Council

  Hamilton District Council

  Housing Architects Group Irvine Development Corporation

  Institute of Housing in Scotland

  Irvine Development Corporation

  Kildrum Parish Church

  King and Co.

  Kirkcaldy District Council

  Knightsridge Community Council (Livingston)

  Knightsridge West Residents Association (Livingston)

  Labour Party Scottish Council

  Landscape Institute Scotland

  Livingston Constituency Labour Party

  Livingston Development Corporation

  Livingston East Branch, Scottish National Party

  Livingston Ecumenical Parish

  Livingston Federation of Residents and Tenants Association

  Livingston Industrial and Commercial Association

  Livingston Justice and Peace Group

  Livingston Voluntary Organisations Council

  Lothian Regional Council

  Motherwell District Council

  Murieston Residents' Association (Livingston)

  National and Local Government Officers Association (NALGO)

  Neighbourhood Care Networks (Livingston)

  Scottish Building Employers' Federation

  Scottish Church's Industrial Mission

  Scottish Community Woods Campaign

  Scottish Consumer Council

  Scottish Council for Single Homeless

  Scottish Democrats

  Scottish Development Agency

  Scottish Engineering Employers' Association

  Scottish Federation of Housing Associations

  Scottish Homes

  Scottish Local Authorities with New Towns (SLANT)

  Scottish National Party

  Scottish New Towns Housing Association

  Scottish Old Age Pensions Association

  Scottish Society of Directors of Planning

  Scottish Special Housing Association

  Scottish Wildlife Trust

  Sealand Industries PLC Cumbernauld

  Sixth Year Cumbernauld High School

  Strathclyde Regional Council

  The Building Societies Association

  The Royal Town Planning Institute

  Town and Country Planning Association

  West Lothian College of Further Education

  West Lothian District Council

  Whinneyknowe and Balgeddie Meadows Residents Association (Glenrothes)

  Rates
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the level of domestic rates relief in each year since 1985–86.
  747
  Mr. Lang
  The information requested is set out in the table.

  Total domestic element £ million

  1985–86

  102·9

  1986–87

  91·3

  1987–88

  90·8

  1988–89

  91·9

  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average unrebated domestic rates bill in each year since 1985–86.

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

  Scotland average unrebated domestic rate bill £

  1985–86

  392

  1986–87

  417

  1987–88

  474

  1988–89

  495

  Rating Valuation and Practice
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made in the talks between the rating assessors in Scotland and the Inland Revenue with regard to harmonisation of rating valuation and practice north and south of the border; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  The talks between the Scottish Assessors' Association and the Inland Revenue valuation office have made significant progress. The major areas of cross-border difference have been identified and the underlying causes analysed. The discussions have concentrated on identifying areas where progress could be made in the 1990 revaluation, broadly within the present statutory and case law framework, and on identifying where subsequent changes in the law will be necessary. Powers to allow the Secretary of State to prescribe methods of valuation for particular subjects were taken in the Local Government Finance Act 1988 specifically to promote harmonisation.

  In the case of the majority of subjects valued on the basis of rental evidence, the outcome of the harmonisation discussions will be to ensure that the handling and interpretation of the evidence north and south of the border is in line.

  The discussions have identified certain classes of subjects where there have been more fundamental differences of practice north and south of the border. There will now be moves towards a more common approach, within the constraints of statute and case law, and the result of this is expected to be the closing of many of the major gaps which have existed between valuations under the two systems. We are giving serious consideration along with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment to the use of powers taken in the 1988 Act to allow prescription of common decapitalisation rates north and south of the border for properties valued on the
  748
  contractor's basis. One area of difficulty relates to the valuation of plant and machinery, which is carried out in accordance with different statutory rules in Scotland and in England and Wales. Analysis of the differences in terms of the effect on valuation is complex. The harmonisation discussions have concluded that it would be impracticable to seek to make changes before the 1990 revaluation but, as we have already announced, we are to set up a committee to advise on this matter with a view to achieving harmonisation as soon as possible thereafter.

  Mr. Manouchehr Tehrani
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received regarding the dismissal of Mr. Manouchehr Tehrani from his employment as a consultant surgeon at the Inverclyde royal hospital, by the Argyll and Clyde Health Board; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. and learned Friend has received a number of representations. Solicitors acting for Mr. Tehrani have lodged notices of appeal to the Secretary of State against his summary dismissal by the Argyll and Clyde health board in accordance with NHS terms and conditions of service. On Mr. Tehrani's application the health board's decision to dismiss him summarily is subject to proceedings for judicial review, and my right hon. and learned Friend has deferred consideration of the applications for appeal meantime.

  Hospitals
  Mr. Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the hospitals in each health board.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This information is included in the annual publication "Scottish Health Service Costs", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Assisted Places Scheme
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has decided the amount of fee remission grant to allocate to schools participating in the assisted places scheme in respect of session 1989–90.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The allocations of fee remission grant for 1988–89 are shown in the table. I have decided to admit two additional schools to the scheme, Hamilton college, and Oxenfoord Castle school, Midlothian, which are included in the table and I am also currently looking at an extension of the scheme to cover pupils in the later stages of preparatory schools in the 1989–90 session. Overall, these allocations and the extension of the scheme to the preparatory sector should result in a significant increase in the number of pupils being assisted from the current level of about 2,670 to about 2,830 and there will be further expansion to bring the total benefiting to about 3,000 by the 1991–92 academic session. The scheme will continue to concentrate assistance on less well-off families, increasing their opportunities to exercise real choice in the education of their children.

  School

  £

  Albyn School for Girls, Aberdeen

  34,00

  Belmont House School, Newton Mearns

  38,000

  Craigholme School for Girls, Glasgow

  56,000

  749

  School

  £

  Dollar Academy

  126,000

  Edinburgh Academy

  122,000

  Fernhill School, Glasgow

  75,000

  Fettes College, Edinburgh

  115,000

  Fort Augustus Abbey School

  120,000

  George Heriot's School, Edinburgh

  465,000

  Glasgow Academy

  85,000

  Glenalmond College, Perthshire

  162,00

  Gordonstoun School, Morayshire

  100,000

  Hamilton College

  16,000

  The High School of Dundee

  364,000

  The High School of Glasgow

  119,000

  Hutchesons' Grammar School, Glasgow

  247,000

  Keil School, Dumbarton

  143,000

  Kelvinside Academy, Glasgow

  136,000

  Kilgraston (Convent of the Sacred Heart), Perthshire

  116,000

  Kilquhanity House School, Castle Douglas

  35,000

  Lomond School, Helensburgh

  113,00

  Loretto School, Musselburgh

  100,000

  Merchant Company Schools, Edinburgh

  1,250,000

  Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh

  199,000

  Morrison's Academy, Crieff

  320,000

  Oxenfoord Castle School, Midlothian

  12,000

  Rannoch School, Perthshire

  88,000

  Robert Gordon's College, Aberdeen

  100,000

  Rudolf Steiner School of Edinburgh

  120,000

  St. Aloysius' College, Glasgow

  260,000

  St. Denis and Cranley School, Edinburgh

  57,000

  St. George's School for Girls, Edinburgh

  41,000

  St. Leonard's School, St. Andrews

  71,000

  St. Margaret's School for Girls, Aberdeen

  29,000

  St. Margret's School for Girls, Edinburgh

  131,000

  Strathallan School, Forgandenny, Perthshire

  151,000

  Wellington School, Ayr

  93,000

  West of Scotland School Company

  571,000

  Total

  6,380,000

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will announce the statistics for the assisted places scheme in Scotland in the 1988–89 school session and the income scale which will apply to the scheme in school session 1989–90.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  At the beginning of the current school session there were 2,543 pupils receiving assistance under the assisted places scheme. Additional pupils will be admitted to assisted places throughout the 1988–89 school session and I expect that the final total will be broadly in line with that for the 1987–88 session, when 2,670 pupils benefited.

  The scheme continues to concentrate assistance on lower income families. In 1988–89 1,108 pupils (44 per cent. of those in the scheme) will be receiving full fee remission because they have a family income of £7,258 per annum or less. A further 121 pupils (4 per cent.) have family incomes between £7,259 and £8,000 per annum and 86 (3 per cent.) between £8,001 and £8,500.

  For school session 1989–90 I propose to lay regulations before the House in due course providing for progressive parental contributions for one assisted pupil in relation to family income as follows:

  Part of relevant income to which the specified percentage applies

  Parental contribution (percentage)

  That part (if any) which exceeds £7,418 but does not exceed £8,066

  9

  That part (if any) which exceeds £8,066 but does not exceed £8,725

  12

  That part (if any) which exceeds £8,725 but does not exceed £10,032

  15

  750

  Part of relevant income to which the specified percentage applies

  Parental contribution (percentage)

  That part (if any) which exceeds £10,032 but does not exceed £12,043

  21

  That part (if any) which exceeds £12,043 but does not exceed £14,668

  24

  That part (if any) which exceeds £14,668

  33

  The relevant income scale is open ended, but the remission can of course be given only where the parental contribution is less than the school tuition fee.

  Forestry
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications for forestry grants in Scotland were made in the year to March 1988; how many were referred to regional advisory committees; how many were completely rejected; and how many were accepted in modified form.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Forestry Commission received 1,530 applications for grant in Scotland in the year to 31 March 1988. Of these, 34 were referred to regional advisory committees, of which six were refused and 20 were approved after modifications.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Palestinian Uprising
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's consul general in Jerusalem has conveyed to local Palestinian leaders the views of Her Majesty's Government on call number 34, issued by the unified national leadership of the uprising, describing 23 and 25 February as days of Palestinian Molotovs.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We share the hon. Member's concern over the use of violence in the occupied territories. The membership of the "unified national leadership of the uprising" is anonymous, but Her Majesty's consul general in Jerusalem has repeated our concern in his contacts with leading Palestinians.

  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has communicated to the Palestine Liberation Organisation its views on the proposal contained in call number 34 that 23 and 25 February should be days of Palestinian Molotovs.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We share the hon. Member's concern over the use of violence in the occupied territories, and have made our views clear to representatives of the PLO.

  Mr. Charles Bester
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will specify the criteria on which his decisions to make representations to the South African Government on behalf of the Sharpeville Six and Nelson Mandela, but not in the case of Mr. Charles Bester, were based.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Each case is considered on its individual merits.

  Prisoners of Conscience
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement of the criteria he applies when deciding whether or not to intervene with national governments on behalf of prisoners of conscience.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Each case is considered on its individual merits.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the countries to which he has made representations on behalf of prisoners of conscience during the past 10 years.

  Mrs. Chalker
  This information is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  South Africa (Prisoners)
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the names of those in custody in the Republic of South Africa on whose behalf representations have been made by Her Majesty's Government to the Government of South Africa, together with the offence under which the prisoners were charged, and the number of occasions on which representations have been made since 1979 to the present.

  Mrs. Chalker
  This information is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  Vietnamese Refugees
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if in the light of the agreement by the United States of America, Canada and Australia to admit more Vietnamese refugees, he will now confirm the agreement to increase the United Kingdom quota announced on 22 December 1988; what the arrangements will be for the increased numbers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Pursuant to the answer my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State gave to the hon. Member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley (Mr. Foulkes) on 21 February at column 539, we announced on 22 December 1988 that we were prepared in principle to contribute to a major international effort to tackle the problem of Vietnamese boat people in Hong Kong by taking a further 1,000 Vietnamese refugees from Hong Kong over two to three years, provided that others were prepared to contribute commensurately. We have conducted a vigorous diplomatic campaign to urge other resettlement countries to match what we intend to do by accepting substantial additional numbers of Vietnamese refugees from Hong Kong. The response to our call has been very good and amounts to a significantly increased international effort.

  Accordingly, we have decided to proceed with our new resettlement plans. The refugees will be resettled in ways which minimise the pressure on housing resources in certain urban areas of the country.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Housing Executive
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many homes the Housing Executive has constructed in each of the past 10 years.

  Mr. Needham
  This is a matter for the chief executive of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, who has advised that the information requested is as follows:

  Number

  1978–79

  5,134

  1979–80

  2,962

  1980–81

  2,710

  1981–82

  2,342

  1982–83

  3,628

  1983–84

  3,872

  1984–85

  3,386

  1985–86

  3,158

  1986–87

  2,216

  1987–88

  1,810

  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many homes have been sold by the Housing Executive in each of the past 10 years.

  Mr. Needham
  This is a matter for the chief executive of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive who has advised that the information requested is as follows:

  Number

  1978–79

  485

  1979–80

  517

  1980–81

  2,039

  1981–82

  7,042

  1982–83

  5,583

  1983–84

  5,471

  1984–85

  5,469

  1985–86

  4,213

  1986–87

  3,261

  1987–88

  2,915

  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many homes have been owned by the Housing Executive in each of the past 10 years.

  Mr. Needham
  This is a matter for the chief executive of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, who has advised that the information requested is as follows:

  Number

  31 March 1978

  186,388

  31 March 1979

  192,000

  31 March 1980

  196,787

  31 March 1981

  196,435

  31 March 1982

  189,640

  31 March 1983

  189,257

  31 March 1984

  183,761

  31 March 1985

  183,439

  31 March 1986

  181,717

  31 March 1987

  179,910

  31 March 1988

  176,832

  RUC and Army Raids
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how much has been paid out in compensation, and in how many cases, in respect of damage resulting from raids on homes by the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the Army during the last 12 months;
  753
  (2) how many claims for compensation have been received from people claiming damage in respect of Royal Ulster Constabulary and Army raids on their homes during the last 12 months.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Gerard Hanratty
  Mr. Charles Wardle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on Gerard Hanratty, currently in custody in the Federal Republic of Germany.

  Mr. Tom King
  I understand that a police investigation with a view to possible charges in respect of Hanratty in the Federal Republic of Germany is continuing.

  Her Majesty's Government have submitted a request for the return of Hanratty to face charges for firearms offences arising from an incident in Northern Ireland in 1984 once German proceedings have been completed.

  Income Support
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many applicants for income support have not had a final decision made because of delays caused by waiting lists for sight examinations.

  Mr. Needham
  Decisions on claims for income support are made on the basis of the circumstances at the date the claim is received. Information is not available about the number of claimants awaiting sight examinations.

  Water Pollution
  Dr. John Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give details of recorded water pollution incidents in the Omagh district between September and November 1988.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 22 February 1989]Water pollution incidents in the Omagh district for the period in question were as follows:

  Number

  September

  32

  October

  23

  November

  19

  Total

  74

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Social Fund
  Mr. Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he is taking to ensure that the sums allocated for the social fund budget, both grants and loans, will be fully spent in 1988–89.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I refer the hon. Member to my replies to the hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen) on 20 February at column 474.

  Claimants (Waiting Time)
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average waiting time for claimants calling personally at social security offices at Crown Dale, Stockwell road and Camberwell New road in Lambeth.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The average waiting times for callers to two of the offices in question are set out as follows:

  Income support (Minutes)

  Contributory benefits (Minutes)

  Camberwell New road (Oval office)

  55

  5

  Crown Dale (Crystal Palace office)

  39·5

  11·5

  This information was obtained as a result of sampling at the end of 1988.

  The information for Stockwell road (Brixton office) will not be available until the beginning of April.

  Old Age Pension
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security at what level the basic old age pension would now stand if it had been uprated in line with earnings since 1979.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Based on annual upratings in line with earnings since 1979, the current weekly value of basic retirement pension would be £49·10 for a single pensioner, and £78·65 for a pensioner couple.

DEFENCE

  Low-level Flights (East Linton)
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the speed, height and purpose of the low-level flight by a jet aircraft over East Linton, East Lothian, at 1 pm on Monday 23 January.

  Mr. Neubert
  Two Tornado aircraft from RAF Cottesmore flying out of RAF Leuchars were authorised to carry out a terrain following low-level training sortie in the area at a height of 700 ft. and under the normal speed restrictions for the aircraft and type of sortie.

  United States Forces
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when Menwith hill was first made available for use by United States forces.

  Mr. Neubert
  The Menwith hill site was first made available to United States forces in June 1955.

  Research Agreements
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many contracts or agreements for research and development have currently been placed with United Kingdom universities and other institutions of higher education by the atomic weapons research establishment; what is their total value; and with which United Kingdom and other institutions of higher education they were placed.
  755
  Mr. Sainsbury
  The atomic weapons establishment has currently 39 contracts or agreements placed with United Kingdom universities or institutions of higher education; their total value is £2·2 million. It is not our policy to give further details of these arrangements.

  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many research contracts or agreements the scientific research and development branch has currently placed with United Kingdom universities and other institutions of higher education; what is their total value; and if he will list them.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Ministry of Defence has currently 757 research agreements and 96 contracts with United Kingdom universities and other institutions of higher education; the total value is £55 million. It is not our policy to give details of these arrangements; it is for the universities themselves to confirm their involvement.

  Pension Scheme
  Mr. Conway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the opportunities available to members of the armed forces for making additional voluntary contributions in order to enhance the benefits payable under the armed forces pension scheme.

  Mr. Neubert
  The armed forces pension scheme (AFPS) provides an excellent range of benefits which are already mainly at the limits allowed by the Inland Revenue for occupational pension schemes. Nevertheless where scope does exist for additional voluntary contributions (AVCs), in-scheme facilities have been introduced so that service men can, so far as is possible, bring their benefits up to Inland Revenue limits. Under these arrangements all service men can enhance the widow's/widower's pension and the death in service lump sum; service men with military salaries in excess of those upon which pension rates are based can enhance all their AFPS benefits; and late entrants to the services can buy added years. MOD is prepared to issue certificates where appropriate to those wishing to make free standing AVCs (FSAVCs) for the same range of benefits.

  I am pleased to say that it is now also possible for some service men to make FSAVCs in respect of additional pay which they might be receiving.

  Additional pay in the armed forces does not readily lend itself to AVC purposes because most of it is unpredictable in incidence and discontinuous or short term. There are also wide variations in the amount of money involved. Provided certain criteria are fulfilled, however, some service men could benefit and in these circumstances MOD is now prepared to certify applications for FSAVCs.

  I believe that these facilities provide opportunities for members of the AFPS which are as far as possible in line with those envisaged for other occupational pension schemes in keeping with the spirit of this Government's recent legislation.

  Service Personnel (Shootings)
  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when was the last time that service personnel fired shots on the British mainland in the course of their duty when they were not involved in training exercises.
  756
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  As the hon. Gentleman will be aware, a sentry on duty at Clive barracks, Tern hill, fired three shots at terrorist intruders shortly after 3 am on Monday, 20 February.

  Police
  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any plans to reduce the complement of the Ministry of Defence police.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Like all other forms of MOD manpower, the requirements for MOD police are reviewed regularly, in the light of current policing and security requirements. It is not MOD policy to reveal details of future manning levels in the force.

  Security Firms
  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any plans to increase the use of private security firms in guarding establishments of his Department.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The use of private security firms in guarding establishments is an option open to MOD in those cases where their use can satisfy certain security criteria. Any change in the present scale of such arrangements will result from the assessment of the level of security protection required at specific establishments and an appraisal of the performance of those private security firms currently employed.

  Defence Police Federation
  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultations have been held with the Defence Police Federation regarding the complementing criteria exercise.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Defence Police Federation has been regularly consulted, both orally and in writing, about each stage of the complementing criteria since its inception in 1986.

  Security Arrangements
  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the annual expenditure on fencing and other physical security arrangements for establishments of his Department in 1988.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It would require disproportionate cost and effort to establish a comprehensive figure for all MOD and service establishments.

  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes to security arrangements for his Department's establishments on the British mainland have been initiated in the light of evidence of terrorist access to Semtex and similar explosives.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Our security arrangements are constantly reviewed in the light of our assessment of the terrorist threat.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to let the right hon. Member for
  757
  Swansea, West have a full reply about the low-flying incidents which he reported to his Department a month ago; and why the reply has taken so long to prepare.

  Mr. Neubert
  As I explained in my letter of 1 February to the right hon. Member, investigations by the RAF police into low-flying incidents are always very thorough and may take some months to complete. I shall, however, write to the right hon. Member with a full response as soon as possible.

  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will extend the very low-flying prohibition zone further from the built-up areas of the city of Swansea; if he will include upper Trillay within that area; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neubert
  As the right hon. Member is aware, pilots are already instructed to avoid overflying the centres of major conurbations and built-up areas such as Swansea at low level, although we cannot guarantee to avoid overflying the outskirts of major towns and smaller communities. Pilots will however make every effort to avoid populated areas wherever possible.

  Tern Hill Barracks
  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the explosives used in the attack on Tern hill barracks on Monday 20 February were planted; and when the challenge was issued by security personnel to two suspected intruders.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The soldiers challenged the terrorists on seeing them inside the barrack area at just after 0300 hrs. When the explosives were planted is a matter for the police investigation to establish.

  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the exact period of time between the issuing of a challenge to the intruders at the Tern hill barracks on Monday 20 February and the detonation of explosives inside the barracks.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The first explosion occurred some 20 minutes after the soldiers first challenged the terrorists on seeing them inside the barrack area. There were two subsequent explosions. The precise timing and sequence of events is a matter for the police investigation.

  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when were security personnel at Tern hill barracks informed about the theft of the car suspected of being used in connection with the attack.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I assume that the hon. Gentleman is referring to the Austin Montego car hijacked from the Simpsons. Information was received at Clive barracks that the terrorists had made off in a hijacked car at about 0415 hrs on Monday, 20 February.

  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many complaints have been received from local residents near the Tern hill barracks about unauthorised access to the site of the barracks in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There is no record of any complaints having been received from local residents about unauthorised access to Clive barracks, Tern hill during the last three years.
  758
  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when was the last time security at the Tern hill barracks was(a) tested and (b) evaluated.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Within the United Kingdom land forces command, all units are required to carry out regular security exercises. A co-ordinated test and evaluation of security at Tern hill barracks was last carried out on 18 December 1988.

  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the expenditure on perimeter fencing at the Tern hill barracks in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Tern hill barracks was rebuilt in 1981 as an open-plan barracks. During the past year, a number of improvements to the fencing at the barracks have been carried out. However, the cost of these improvements is not readily identifiable.

  Royal Ordnance, Bishopton
  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will provide details of expenditure incurred by his Department in the procurement of raw materials for use by Royal Ordnance, Bishopton for the financial year 1986–87 expended in(a) Scotland and (b) Strathclyde region;

  (2) if he will provide details of expenditure incurred by his Department in the procurement of general administrative goods and services for use by Royal Ordnance, Bishopton for the financial year 1986–87 expended in (a) Scotland and (b) Strathclyde region;

  (3) if he will provide details of expenditure incurred by his Department in the procurement of the services of contractors and sub-contractors for use by Royal Ordnance, Bishopton for the financial year 1986–87 expended in (a) Scotland and (b) Strathclyde region.;

  (4) if he will provide details of expenditure incurred by his Department in the procurement of plant for use by Royal Ordnance, Bishopton for the financial year 1986–87 expended in (a) Scotland and (b) Strathclyde region;

  (5) if he will provide details of expenditure incurred by his Department in the procurement of goods and services for the purpose of maintenance and general upkeep of plant and premises at Royal Ordnance, Bishopton for the financial year 1986–87 expended in (a) Scotland and (b) Strathclyde region;

  (6) if he will provide details of expenditure incurred by his Department in the procurement of non-product raw materials for use by Royal Ordnance, Bishopton for the financial year 1986–87 expended in (a) Scotland and (b) Strathclyde region.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  None. Royal Ordnance was an incorporated company in 1986–87, which was the financial year immediately preceding privatisation. The Department made no purchases on behalf of Royal Ordnance, Bishopton, and the purchasing of raw materials and plant, and the cost of sub-contractors, maintenance, administration and services in order to carry out its operations, were all matters for the company.

  A90
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the contractual problems with the A90 complex at AWE Aldermaston have been
  759
  overcome; and what assessment has been made of whether the ventilation and ducting system will fully meet the health and saftey requirements of the contract.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The contract in question is the responsibility of the Property Services Agency which, I understand is currently investigating the claims made in the programme. Assessments of the installation of certain elements of the A90 ducting system against contractual requirements and in relation to safety are being conducted.

  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the A90 complex at AWE Aldermaston is on schedule to meet the heads of the Trident programme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer the hon. Member to the report on Trident produced for the Select Committee on Defence, a copy of which was placed in the Library of the House on 17 January. The Trident project remains on programme to enter service as planned in the mid-1990s.

  Ordnance Depot, Donnington
  Mr. Conway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the findings of the board of inquiry into the fire at Central Ordnance depot, Donnington, on 25 April 1988 and the action which he is taking on them.

  Mr. Neubert
  I have now considered the findings of the Army board of inquiry which was set up to investigate the major fire at the central ordanance depot, Donnington on 25 April 1988 and to make recommendations on the action to be taken to prevent a recurrence. I have placed in the Library of the House a summary of the board of inquiry's report, with its findings and recommendations set out in full.

  The board of inquiry concluded that the fire must have been caused deliberately, but was unable to establish who was responsible. The fire destroyed two-thirds of one large storage building (B1) and its contents. Those stocks were due to be transferred in September 1988 to a new fully fire-protected building at Donnington which it was decided to build following the fire at the depot in 1983. The board found that the recommendations of the board of inquiry into that fire had, with minor exceptions, been implemented. It observed, however, that stocks in the B1 building lacked effective fire-protection during the period when the new building to which they were to be transferred was being built.

  The board found no evidence of a significant pollution hazard during or after the fire, although the contents and fabric of the B1 building represented a potential hazard. It took the view that insufficient information was given to the public to allay concern about possible health hazards. It also found some weaknesses in emergency procedures and occupational health arrangements for those employed at the depot and considered that, while the arrangements for ensuring its security were generally satisfactory, they did not cater sufficiently for the high risk of building B1.

  Subject to two qualifications, the Ministry of Defence accepts the board's findings. The Ministry considers that the board's observation on the lack of protection for the stocks in building B1, pending their transfer to the new building, does not take sufficient account of the steps which were taken after the 1983 fire to reduce the level of stocks in the building and to improve the fire protection
  760
  arrangements. The Ministry also considers that the board's view that insufficient information was given to allay public concern about possible health hazards disregards both the assurances given in public statements at the time of the fire and its aftermath and the steps taken to keep the local authorities informed.

  The board of inquiry made 25 recommendations to deal with these aspects. They cover changes in policy and practice for the control of hazardous stores, handling of emergencies, public information, health and safety responsibilities, security and training. Its main recommendation is that funds should be made available as a matter of urgency to provide storage buildings with the proper level of fire-protection appropriate to the risk and that there should be an examination of the most practical way of protecting stocks while this work is being carried out.

  In general the Ministry of Defence accepts the board's recommendations and is taking the necessary follow-up action. Some of the recommendations have already been or are being put into effect. Others require further consideration before final conclusions can be reached about how they should be implemented and this is proceeding as quickly as possible. As regards the board's main recommendation, all storage buildings need to be surveyed in order to assess what fire-protection measures are needed and to determine priorities. In view of the large number of buildings and the scale of work involved, the whole programme will need to be phased over several years, but the aim will be to complete it as soon as practical. Ways of providing protection against fire during this period are being considered.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Forensic Science Service
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many research contracts or agreements the forensic science service has currently placed with United Kingdom universities and other institutions of higher education; what is their total worth; and if he will list them.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The forensic science service has nine research contracts outstanding with United Kingdom universities and institutions of higher education, as follows:

  Research Organisation

  Nature of Research

  Contract (£)

  Loughborough University

  High performance liquid chromatography

  23,300

  Hull University

  High sensitivity detection of drugs by chemiluminescence

  10,710

  Manchester University

  ABO grouping of bloodstains by an automated process

  19,785

  Aston University

  Expert systems to assess forensic evidence

  14,025

  Swansea University

  Flake powders for fingerprint applications

  74,650

  Scottish College of Textiles

  Colour coding of individual textile fibres

  20,122

  Keele University

  Motor vehicle paint sample collections

  13,986

  Queen's University Belfast

  Improved reagents for detecting fingerprints

  45,522

  St. George's Hospital Medical School

  Tablet and capsule identification system

  12,000

  761

  Research Organisation

  Nature of Research

  Contract (£)

  234,100

  Naturalisation Applications
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the approximate date of application of the naturalisation applications which are currently being processed;

  (2) how long it will take to process the naturalisation applications which have been outstanding for more than one year.

  Mr. Renton
  Applications for naturalisation currently being processed span a wide spread of dates but the average time taken to complete such applications in January 1989 was 21 months. It is not possible to give a reliable forecast of how long naturalisation applications which have been outstanding for more than one year will take to complete.

  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of his staff are engaged on processing naturalisation applications.

  Mr. Renton
  On 31 January 1989 171 staff in the nationality division were engaged on processing naturalisation applications.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce regulations to restrict the sale, copying or inspection of the electoral register when the electoral registrar obtains information from the poll tax registers.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  No. The considerations governing the sale, copying and inspection of the electoral register have not changed since the present policy was comprehensively reviewed in 1985–86. The Representation of the People Regulations 1986 already forbid the supply of data which is not required to be published in the register itself.

  Police Cells
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what new measures he is taking to reduce the number of prisoners held in police cells.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The measures initiated last year, which are continuing to deliver more prison accommodation, are being supplemented by a programme of vigorous management action to obtain the maximum capacity from the accommodation currently available.

  Pornography (Imports)
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ensure that following 1992 there will remain sufficient safeguards to prevent the import of pornographic material into the United Kingdom from Europe.

  Mr. Renton
  We intend to maintain tough controls on such material. The scope for exercising control at the point 762
  of importation is among the matters we shall be discussing with our European Community partners in general context of 1992.

  Airport Security
  Mr. George
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much is spent by his Department on private security firms performing services at immigration detention centres at Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham and Manchester airports, for each year since 1985; and how many firms are involved.

  Mr. Renton
  Group 4 Total Security Ltd. holds the sole contract for the provision of orderly and escort services for persons detained under the Immigration Act 1971 in the immigration detention centres at Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester. There is no longer a detention centre at Birmingham airport.

  The contract was let to Group 4 Total Security Ltd. with effect from 31 December 1988 following competitive tenders. Between 1 July 1970 and 30 December 1988 the contract was held by Securicor Ltd. The cost of the services is a matter of commercial and contractual confidentiality which it would not be right to disclose.

  Carriers Liability
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the receipts to date under the Carriers Liability Act; and what are the arrears.

  Mr. Renton
  Payments totalling £3·888 million had been received up to 31 January 1989, and £4·349 million was outstanding.

  Special Constables
  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many special constables there are at present in England and Wales; and what plans he has to encourage further recruitment.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The strength of the special constabulary in England and Wales at the end of 1987 (the latest available figure) was 16,209.

  Recruitment is a matter for individual chief constables. My right hon. Friend convened a conference in December 1987 in order to enable chief officers to discuss all aspects of the special constabulary, particularly how to increase its strength and improve its deployment. A report has been circulated to all forces.

  The Government are also reviewing the allowances paid to special constables, in consultation with the Police Advisory Board for England and Wales.

  Confiscation Orders
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to seek to extend the power of courts to issue confiscation orders.

  Mr. John Patten
  We have no present plans to extend the powers of courts to make confiscation orders, but the Prevention of Terrorism Bill would give courts additional powers to order forfeiture of funds destined for use in connection with terrorism.

  "Broadcasting in the '90s"
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further representations he has received from the British Broadcasting Corporation on the implications for its existing levels of service of the proposals in his White Paper; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  The British Broadcasting Corporation's response to the White Paper was published on Monday 6 February. We keep in close touch with the BBC about broadcasting policy issues.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many responses he has received to his White Paper on broadcasting.

  Mr. McTaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has now received on the broadcasting White Paper.

  Mr. Renton
  Just over 1,200 written responses so far. We would welcome any further representations before the consultation period ends on 28 February.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how he defines night hours in his White Paper on broadcasting.

  Mr. Renton
  The White Paper refers to the definition given by the Peacock committee, namely the period between 1 am and 6 am (paragraph 3.12). It will be for the ITC to determine the boundaries between the different licence periods on Channels 3 and 5.

  Penal System (Privatisation)
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what representations he has received from private companies about privatisation within the penal system; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will list those companies which have tendered for private remand prisons; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  No such tenders have been either invited or received. A number of private companies have submitted comments in response to the Green Paper "Private Sector Involvement in the Remand System" (Cm. 434, July 1988), and expressed interest in becoming involved in the areas of work which the Green Paper considers. My right hon. Friend expects to make an announcement shortly on the results of the Green Paper consultation and of the associated management consultancy study into the practicality of the options described in the Green Paper.

  Prisoners (Transfers)
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many special category A Irish prisoners have been transferred from a jail in England and Wales to a jail in Northern Ireland during the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  None, but one is awaiting transfer.

  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many requests for transfers to jails 764
  in Northern Ireland are currently outstanding from prisoners who are serving their sentences in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Nineteen requests for permanent transfer and nine for temporary transfer to Northern Ireland are awaiting a final decision.

  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average length of time taken to process a request for transfer to a jail in Northern Ireland from a prisoner who is currently serving his or her sentence in England or Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Approximately 13 weeks.

  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether a decision has yet been made about the application for transfer to a jail in Northern Ireland from prisoner 463799 (McCartney); and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  No. A decision will be reached as soon as possible.

  Broadcasting
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what information he has on the number of broadcasting transmitter faults reported and repaired in 1988;

  (2) what information he has on the cost in each of the last five years of maintenance on the broadcasting transmitter networks.

  Mr. Renton
  We do not have the information requested. Broadcasting transmission is the responsibility of the IBA and the BBC.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has on the number of broadcast hours on(a) BBC-1, (b) BBC-2, (c) independent television and (d) Channel 4 made by United Kingdom independent producers in 1988; and at what cost.

  Mr. Renton
  The information requested is not currently available. I will write to the hon. Gentleman when it is.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish a table showing the cost of transmission for each independent television company and for Channel 4(a) in cash terms and (b) per capita in catchment areas.

  Mr. Renton
  No. Broadcasting transmission costs are the responsibility of the BBC and the IBA.

  Broadcasting Companies (Training)
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of training presently conducted by(a) the British Broadcasting Corporation, (b) the Independent Broadcasting Authority, (c) the Independent Television companies and (d) Channel 4, independent producers will be required to undertake.

  Mr. Renton
  The White Paper "Broadcasting in the '90s" does not propose any requirement for independent producers to undertake training.
  765
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Independent Television Commission will be required to undertake the training for transmission presently conducted by the Independent Broadcasting Authority.

  Mr. Renton
  We shall not make detailed decisions on the responsibilities of the ITC in relation to transmission until we have received and considered the study which we have commissioned from Price Waterhouse. In a fully privatised transmission system the presumption is that any training necessary would he carried out by the private transmission operators.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what information he has on the investment by(a) the Independent Broadcasting Authority, (b) each independent television company and (c) Channel 4 in training in each of the past five years;

  (2) what information he has on the investment by the BBC in training in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Renton
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to questions from him on 14 February 1989 at column 115.

  Broadcasting Companies (Disabled Employees)
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he will publish a table showing what proportion of the total work force(a) the British Broadcasting Corporation, (b) each Independent Television company and (c) Channel 4 were registered disabled in each of the past five years;

  (2) whether he will publish a table showing how many registered disabled persons were employed by (a) the BBC, (b) ITV companies and (c) Channel 4 in each of the past five years.

  Mr. Renton
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  Police Expenditure
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any guidelines are issued to police forces regarding the cost of pursuing prosecutions so as to place a limit on expenditure in relation to petty offences; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  No. The decision whether to initiate a prosecution in a particular case is an operational matter for the chief officer of the police force concerned.

  Police Searches
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he issues on the conduct of inquiries carried out by a police force on behalf of another force as to whether officers may be authorised to carry out searches without being accompanied by officers from the originating force; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr Hogg
  None. Police constables in England and Wales have full constabulary powers throughout England and Wales. It is not therefore necessary for a police officer carrying out a search to be accompanied by an officer from the force that initiated the inquiry. Guidance to the police on the conduct of searching persons and premises 766
  generally is contained in the codes of practice issued in accordance with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.

  Rape
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to ensure a specific minimum sentence for those convicted of rape; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  Our criminal justice system does not provide for minimum sentences, except for the offence of murder. It is for the courts to consider the circumstances of each case and decide on a sentence which reflects the gravity of the individual offence, within the maximum penalties determined by Parliament. Following guidance given by the Court of Appeal, the proportion of convicted rapists receiving sentences of five years' imprisonment or longer increased from 42 per cent. in 1985 to 79 per cent. in 1987.

  Police Cars
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy on the use of unmarked police cars; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The use of unmarked police vehicles is an operational matter for individual chief officers of police.

  Mr. Charles Pitts
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the letters to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State from the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey dated 12 December, 1988, 28 December 1988 and 6 January, on a matter relating to his constituent, Mr. Charles Pitts, who is a prisoner at Her Majesty's Prison Wandsworth will be answered; and if he will give the reasons why the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey has not received replies to these letters before now.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I have written to the hon. Member. The correspondence raised a number of issues on which detailed inquiries needed to be made.

  Metropolitan police (Properties)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many properties owned by the Metropolitan police are unlawfully occupied.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that none of these properties is unlawfully occupied.

  Police (Assaults)
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement outlining any plans which he has to introduce legislation to increase penalties available for assaults upon police officers.

  Mr. John Patten
  [holding answer 21 February 1989]We have no plans to increase the present maximum
  767
  penalties (six months' imprisonment or a fine of £2,000 or both), which are the maxima for offences tried in magistrates courts. More serious assaults would normally be dealt with as offences against the person, with higher maximum penalties, including life imprisonment for wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm and attempted murder.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Inflation
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest forecast for inflation for 1989–90.

  Mr. Major
  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor will be giving a forecast in his Budget statement next month.

  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many members of the European Community have inflation rates lower than that in Britain.

  Mr. Lilley
  Nine.

  Mr. Jack Thompson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest target for inflation.

  Mr. Lilley
  The ultimate objective of this Government is price stability.

  Interest (Taxation)
  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has any plans to change the arrangements for taxing interest on building society and bank deposits.

  Mr. Brooke
  I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget statement.

  Scotch Whisky
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the revenue obtained from excise duty and value-added tax from the sales of Scotch whisky in the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Brooke
  Figures are not directly available for Scotch whisky. The revenue yield for excise duty and value added tax on Scotch whisky was about 95 per cent. of that from those taxes on all whiskies.

  Employee Shareholders
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the number of employee shareholders in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the number of employee shareholders in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the number of employee shareholders in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  About 1¾ million employees have received shares, or options over shares, through the approved share schemes, open to all employees.

  Indirect Taxation
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of total tax revenue arose from indirect taxes in 1988; and what figures he has for the United States of American, Japan and West Germany.

  Mr. Major
  The latest directly comparable OECD figures are for 1986. They show that the share of indirect taxes in the total was 43 per cent. for the United Kingdom, 29 per cent. for the United States of America, 27 per cent. for Japan and 30 per cent. for West Germany.

  Self-employment
  Mr. Norris
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the total growth in self-employment since 1979.

  Mr. Lord
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the total growth in self-employment since 1979.

  Mr. Kirkhope
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the total growth in self-employment since 1979.

  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the total growth in self-employment since 1979.

  Mr. Major
  Between June 1979 and September 1988 the number of self-employed people in Great Britain rose by 60 per cent. to nearly 3 million.

  Bank of England (Governor)
  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met the Governor of the Bank of England; and what was discussed.

  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will next be meeting the Governor of the Bank of England; and what matters will be raised.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met the Governor of the Bank of England; and what was discussed.

  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent meetings he has had with the Governor of the Bank of England; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  My right hon. Friend meets the governor from time to time to discuss a variety of matters.

  Public Sector Price Increases
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the effect of public sector price increases on the inflation rate.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  A change of 1 per cent. in the nationalised industries component of the retail prices index will at present lead to a change of approximately 0·054 per cent. in the RPI. The Autumn Statement (table 2·7) forecast an increase of 64¼per cent. in the nationalised industries component of the RPI in the year to the fourth quarter of 1989.

  New Businesses
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest official figures on the number of business start-ups over the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the number of business start-ups over the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest official figures on the number of business start-ups over the latest year for which figures are available.

  Sir Michael Shaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest official figures on the number of business start-ups over the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Major
  In 1987, the latest year for which figures have been published by the Department of Employment, the net increase in the number of businesses registered for VAT was 45,000, comprising 205,000 registrations and 160,000 deregistrations. Department of Employment figures for 1988 will be available in the summer.

  Economic Growth
  Mr. Andrew MacKay
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of economic growth in the most recent one-year period for which figures are available.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of economic growth in the most recent one-year period for which figures are available.

  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current rate of economic growth.

  Mr. Major
  The output measure of gross domestic product grew by 4¾ per cent. in real terms in 1988. This has been the fourth consecutive year of growth in excess of 3 per cent., a performance unmatched since the war.

  Group of Seven
  Mr. Andy Stewart
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his last meeting with his counterparts in the Group of Seven.

  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his last meeting with his counterparts in the Group of Seven.

  Mr. Patnick
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his last meeting with his counterparts in the Group of Seven.

  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his last meeting with his counterparts in the Group of Seven.

  Mr. Lilley
  I refer my hon. Friends to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Colne Valley (Mr. Riddick) on 15 February 1989 at column 204.

  Retail Sales and Credit
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement regarding the December and January figures for retail sales and consumer credit.

  Mr. Lilley
  Between December and January the volume of retail sales fell 1½ per cent. in real terms.

  The amount of consumer credit outstanding to finance houses and other specialist credit grantors, building societies, retailers and on bank credit cards increased by about £0·3 billion in December. The amount outstanding on all consumer credit agreements (published quarterly) increased by £1·3 billion in the fourth quarter of 1988, the lowest rise since the fourth quarter of 1987. Figures for January are not published yet.

  These figures provide further evidence that growth of consumer spending and borrowing has slowed significantly since last summer, and that tighter monetary policy is proving effective.

  Manufactured Goods
  Mr. Butterfill
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has on the value of exports of manufactured goods for the United Kingdom for each of the last two years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Major
  United Kingdom exports of manufactured goods rose in value from £60,656 million in 1987 to £65,454 million in 1988. This is another indicator reflecting the strong performance of our manufacturing sector.

  Investment and Consumption
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the growth of(a) total investment and (b.) total consumption in 1988.

  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the growth of(a) total investment and (b) total consumption in 1988.

  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the growth of(a) total investment and (b) total consumption in 1988.

  Mr. Wood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the growth of(a) total investment and (b) total consumption in 1988.

  Mr. Major
  Figures for total investment and total consumption for the whole of 1988 are not yet available. In the first three quarters of 1988 total investment and total consumtion were 9·1 per cent. and 5 per cent. higher respectively than in the same period a year earlier.

  Balance of Payments
  Mr. Radice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest forecast for the balance of payments in 1989 and 1990.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the balance of payments deficit in 1988–89 and 1989–90.

  Mr. Major
  The Autumn Statement provided forecasts of the current account for calendar years 1988 and 1989 only. A new forecast will be published on Budget day.

  Tax Cuts
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the different impact of his tax cuts in the last Budget on the median earner in(a) the south-east and (b) other regions.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the differential impact of his tax cuts in the last Budget on the median earner in(a) the south-east and (b) other regions.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I refer the hon. Members to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Paymaster General gave to the hon. Member for Bradford, West (Mr. Madden) earlier today.

  Employment
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the growth of total employment since 1983.

  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the growth of total employment since 1983.

  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the growth of total employment since 1983.

  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the growth of total employment since 1983.

  Mr. Major
  The work force in employment has increased by over 2¼ million since March 1983 to over 25¼ million, its highest ever level.

  Companies (Rate of Return)
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an estimate of the net real rate of return on non-North sea industrial and commercial companies in 1987.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an estimate of the net real rate of return on non-North sea industrial and commercial companies in 1987.

  Mr. Mans

  : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an estimate of the net real rate of return of non-North sea industrial and commercial companies in 1987.

  Mr. Major
  The net rate of return for non-North sea industrial and commercial companies rose for the sixth successive year to reach 10·2 per cent. in 1987. For 1988 it was forecast to be about 12 per cent. in the Autumn Statement, its highest level for 24 years.

  Overseas Assets
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the stock of United Kingdom net overseas assets at the end of 1987; and what earnings were generated by these assets in 1987.

  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the stock of United Kingdom net overseas assets at the end of 1987; and what earnings were generated by these assets in 1987.
  772
  Mr. Hayward
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the stock of United Kingdom net overseas assets at the end of 1987; and what earnings were generated by those assets in 1987.

  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the stock of United Kingdom net overseas assets at the end of 1987; and what earnings were generated by these assets in 1987.

  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the stock of United Kingdom net overseas assets at the end of 1987; and what earnings were generated by these assets in 1987.

  Mr. Major
  The stock of net overseas assets is estimated to have been £89·5 billion at the end of 1987. The net earnings on the United Kingdom's net assets in 1987 are estimated to have been £5,463 million.

  Incomes
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the growth of real personal disposable income over the latest 12-month period for which figures are available.

  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the growth of real personal disposable income over the latest 12-month period for which figures are available.

  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the growth of real personal disposable income over the latest 12-month period for which figures are available.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the growth of real disposable personal income over the latest 12-month period for which figures are available.

  Mr. Major
  I refer my hon. Friends to the answer my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Fylde (Mr. Jack).

  Pensioners (Medical Insurance)
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many pensioners do not receive tax relief for private medical insurance.

  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many pensioners do not receive tax relief for private medical insurance.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  At present no pensioners receive tax relief for private medical insurance. From April 1990, anyone paying eligible premiums for a person over 60—including themselves—will benefit from basic rate tax relief given at source, and higher rate relief if appropriate.

  Mr. Turner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the total cost to the Exchequer in a full year of tax relief for private medical insurance for pensioners.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Dunfermline, East (Mr. Brown) on 21 February at columns 542–43.

  Exchange Rate
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the recent outcome of the Government's policy of achieving a firm exchange rate.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the recent outcome of the Government's policy of achieving a firm exchange rate.

  Mr. Lilley
  I refer the hon. Members to the reply given to the Members for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) and for Torfaen (Mr. Murphy) on 26 January at column 677.

  Interest Rates
  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assumptions on future rises in interest rates he is making in drawing up his Budget proposals.

  Mr. Lilley
  The Government never publish assumptions about future levels of interest rates.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what effect current interest rates are having on(a) business investment and (b) mortgage payers.

  Mr. Lilley
  Surveys from the CBI and from the Department of Trade and Industry show that strong investment growth is expected to continue. Higher mortgage interest rates mean that mortgage payers have, for a period, to curb expenditure on other things. This is one of the ways in which they reduce inflationary

  Growth of whole economy productivity (percentage change on a year earlier)

  USA

  Japan

  France

  Germany

  Canada

  Italy

  United Kingdom

  1G7

  1981

  1·2

  3·0

  1·8

  0·9

  -5·8

  0·9

  2·2

  1·3

  1982

  -1·7

  1·8

  2·4

  1·1

  6·7

  0·6

  4·3

  0·6

  1983

  2·6

  1·4

  1·0

  3·1

  5·5

  0·8

  4·2

  2·4

  1984

  2·9

  4·4

  2·2

  2·6

  2·0

  2·8

  1·0

  2·9

  1985

  1·7

  4·0

  2·0

  1·3

  0·3

  2·4

  2·0

  2·1

  1986

  0·7

  1·6

  1·9

  1·3

  1·1

  2·4

  2·4

  1·3

  1987

  0·9

  3·3

  2·0

  1·2

  0·9

  3·3

  2·9

  1·8

  2 1988

  1·7

  4·2

  3·0

  2·9

  -2·6

  2·4

  2·6

  2·4

  Period average

  1·2

  3·0

  2·0

  1·8

  1·0

  2·0

  2·7

  1·8

  1 Weighted average.

  2 The estimates for 1988 compare with the average level of productivity in the first three quarters (except for France, for which data for the first half of 1988 only are available) with the average level in 1987 as a whole.

  Source: OECD, CSO.

  Child Care (Taxation)
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements he has made with regard to the tax liability of employees in his Department for the proposed child care provision.

  Mr. Brooke
  My Department is participating in one of two multi-departmental holiday play schemes being run in London during school holidays by the Westminster Play Association. The scheme will be treated in the same way as any other scheme would, where tax liability arises only on the net cost to the employer. Taking account of parental contributions, the scheme is broadly self-financing.
  774
  pressures. Both businesses and mortgage payers have far more to fear from a resurgence of inflation than from a period of higher interest rates.

  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement on the level of interest rates.

  Mr. Lilley
  Bank base rates are 13 per cent.

  Productivity
  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in tabular form the growth of productivity each year for the whole economy since 1980 in the United Kingdom and in each of the other major industrialised countries.

  Sir David Price
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in tabular form the growth of productivity each year for the whole economy since 1980 in the United Kingdom and in each of the other major industrialised countries.

  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the growth of productivity each year for the whole economy since 1980 in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) each of the other major industrialised countries.

  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in tabular form the growth of productivity each year for the whole economy since 1980 in the United Kingdom and in each of the other major industrialised countries.

  Mr. Major
  The information requested is as follows:

  Tax and Prices Index
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the increase in the tax and prices index in the 12 months to December 1988.

  Mr. Lilley
  In the 12 months to December 1988 the tax and prices index rose by 4·8 per cent.

  Business Expansion and Share Option Schemes
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost in revenue of the business expansion and share option schemes.
  775
  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I refer the hon. Member to table 21.1.25 of Cm. 621, "The Government's Expenditure Plans" chapter 21—supplementary analyses and index.

  Privatisation
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the state-owned commercial sector in 1979 has now been transferred to the private sector.

  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the state-owned commercial sector in 1979 has now been transferred to the private sector.

  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the state owned commercial sector in 1979 has now been transferred to the private sector.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Battersea (Mr. Bowis) on 20 February 1989, at column 478.

  Personal Equity Plans
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the latest estimate of the number of PEPs taken out in 1988.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Over 100,000 PEPs were taken out in 1988.

  Manufacturing Industry
  Mr. Burt
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the investment intention of British manufacturing industry.

  Mr. Irvine
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the investment intentions of British manufacturing industry.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the investment intentions of British manufacturing industry.

  Mr. Major
  The latest survey of investment intentions carried out by the Department of Trade and Industry and published in December showed that manufacturing investment was expected to increase by 11 per cent. in real terms in 1989.

  Mortgage Interest Rates
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the impact on first-time house buyers of the increase in mortgage interest rates since September 1988.

  Mr. Lilley
  Increases in mortgage rates mean that all mortgage payers, including first-time house buyers, will for a period need to cut back on other expenditure. But the resurgence of inflation which would have followed if the Government had failed to take action would have been far more damaging.

  European Monetary System
  Mr. Steel
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a further statement on his policy towards membership of the European monetary system.
  776
  Mr. Lawson
  I refer the right hon. Member to the reply my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary gave on 17 February to my hon. Friend the Member for Southend, East (Mr. Taylor), at column 402.

  World Bank and IMF
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when next he will meet the directors of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund; and what matters will be discussed.

  Mr. Lilley
  My right hon. Friend expects to see the managing director of the IMF and the president of the World Bank at the interim and development committee meetings in Washington in April, when a wide range of matters will be discussed.

  Government Expenditure
  Mr. Janman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the path of general Government expenditure over the period 1982–83 to the latest available date.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the path of general Government expenditure over the period 1982–83 to the latest available date.

  Mr. Major
  I refer my hon. Friends to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Wanstead and Woodford (Mr. Arbuthnot).

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Brandon-Bravo
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total fall in long-term unemployment in the year to October 1988.

  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total fall in long-term unemployment in the year to October 1988.

  Mr. Goodlad
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total fall in long-term unemployment in the year to October 1988.

  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total fall in long-term unemployment in the year to October 1988.

  Mr. Major
  In the year to October 1988, long-term unemployment fell by 280,000.

  CBI
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met the director general of the Confederation of British Industry; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met the director general of the Confederation of British Industry; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Couchman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met the director general of the Confederation of British Industry; and what matters were discussed.
  777
  Mr. Charles Wardle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met the director general of the Confederation of British Industry; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Major
  My right hon. Friend meets the director general of the CBI from time to time and a wide range of subjects are discussed.

  Inflation and Unemployment
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the total number of months in which inflation and unemployment fell simultaneously in the 117 months between May 1979 and January 1989.

  Mr. Major
  The annual rate of change in the retail prices index has fallen in about half of the months between May 1979 and January 1989 and has averaged less than 5 per cent. over the last five years, compared with an average of about 15 per cent. between 1974 and 1979. Unemployment has fallen for the last 30 months in succession to under 2 million. Inflation and unemployment have fallen simultaneously in five months.

  Debt Repayment
  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much debt repayment has been made in each of the past two years.

  Mr. Major
  The public sector debt repayment (PSDR) in 1987–88 was £3·5 billion. In 1988–89, the PSDR now looks likely to be somewhat higher than the £10 billion forecast in the Autumn Statement. This will be the first time that we have seen two successive years of public sector debt repayment since the beginning of the 1950s.

  Banking Flows
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the amount of banking flows into the United Kingdom in 1987 and 1988.

  Mr. Major
  Banking flows into the United Kingdom are estimated to have been £54·7 billion in 1987 and £35·3 billion in the first three quarters of 1988.

  Mortgage Interest (Tax Relief)
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many individuals are currently receiving mortgage interest tax relief; what were the comparable figures five, 10, 15 and 30 years ago; what is the current cost to the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Estimates of the number of tax units—single persons and married couples—benefiting from mortgage interest tax relief are given in the table. Estimates for years prior to 1983–84 are derived from the survey of personal incomes and exclude option mortgagors and other non-taxpayers with mortgages. As there was no survey for 1958–59, a figure for 1959–60 has been given. Following the introduction of MIRAS in April 1983, option mortgages were subsumed within the MIRAS scheme and the estimates for 1983–84 onwards cover all tax units, including non-taxpayers, with mortgages.
  778

  Number of tax units benefiting from mortgage interest tax relief

  Thousands

  1959–60

  11,000

  1973–74

  14,400

  1978–79

  5,600

  1983–84

  7,500

  1988–89

  29,100

  1 Building Society mortgage interest only

  2 Provisional.

  In 1988–89, the total cost of mortgage interest relief is estimated to be about £5,500 million.

  Exports and Imports
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish figures on the growth in visible exports and imports for 1988 and provide his latest forecast for 1989.

  Mr. Major
  Between 1987 and 1988 the volume of visible exports grew by ¼per cent. and the volume of visible imports grew by 13 per cent. The latest forecast for 1989 was published in the Autumn Statement.

  VAT
  Mr. Ashton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current annual income from value added tax; and what was the comparable figure for the financial year 1978–79.

  Mr. Lilley
  The information at current prices, is as follows:

  £ million

  1978–79

  4,837·5

  1987–88

  24,129·0

  Hospital Radio
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on zero rating value added tax on hospital radio broadcasting equipment.

  Mr. Lilley
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Belfast, South (Rev. Martin Smyth) on 20 February at column 479.

  Aviation Gasoline
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out the rates of duty on aviation gasoline used by piston engined light aircraft in each of the EEC member states.

  Mr. Lilley
  The United Kingdom is the only member state to levy a lower rate of duty on aviation gasoline than on motor gasoline. The latest available figures for the rates of duty on aviation gasoline in the EEC are:—

  State

  Duty (excluding VAT) Pence per gallon

  Total tax (including VAT) As a percentage of RSP

  Belgium

  79

  66

  Denmark

  132

  74

  France

  125

  77

  779

  State

  Duty (excluding VAT) Pence per gallon

  Total tax (including VAT) As a percentage of RSP

  Germany

  79

  65

  Greece

  85

  70

  Ireland

  113

  71

  Italy

  161

  78

  Luxembourg

  66

  58

  Netherlands

  106

  70

  Portugal

  124

  69

  Spain

  90

  60

  United Kingdom

  46

  33

  Banking Services Law
  Mr. Allan Stewart (Eastwood)
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to publish the report of the review committee on banking services law; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lilley
  The report of the review committee on banking services law under the chairmanship of Professor Robert Jack is being published as a command paper today. I am very grateful to Professor Jack and his colleagues for taking on the challenging task of examining the law and practice relating to banking services. Their report is the result of two years of consultation and study covering the evolution of banking law over more than 100 years.

  The terms of reference of the review committee were to examine the statute and common law relating to the provision of banking services within the United Kingdom to personal and business customers, including payment and remittance services; but excluding taxation, company law and parts of the law whose relevance is to trading or to the provision of services in general, rather than particularly to banking. The objectives of the review were to examine the law and its practical implications from the points of view of banker, customer and the general public interest in the availability, reliability, security and efficient and effective operation of payment, remittance and other banking services. The committe was to have regard to:

  (a) current and prospective developments in banking
  and payment systems, including developments in electronic data processing and electronic funds
  transfer technology;

  (b) areas of particular difficulty in, or confusion about, existing law and practice and the rights and obligations of banks and their customers respectively;

  (c) differences in the law and practice of different parts of the United Kingdom and, where relevant, other studies and reviews of United Kingdom law;

  (d) developments in the law of the European Community and in other relevant international laws and conventions;

  1979

  Per cent. of total

  1988

  Per cent. of total

  London and South East

  54,304

  52·5

  53,585

  46·8

  Other regions

  49,038

  47·5

  60,896

  53·2

  Total

  103,342

  114,481

  The home Civil Service does not include Foreign and Commonwealth Office staff for whom equivalent information is not available.
  780
  (e) developments and trends in international payment systems and reviews by international bodies.

  The committee has made a number of recommendations to banks and building societies providing banking services. These are mostly aimed at improving standards of banking practice. There are also numerous recommendations for changes in legislation addressed to the Government. Many of these are very technical in nature.

  The Government welcome the committee's report. In considering their response to the recommendations, they will wish to take account of the views of those who will be affected by the proposals, and will consider carefully the implications for bankers, their customers and the general public interest. The Government will set out their detailed response in due course.

  Blind People (Aids)
  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much value added tax is collected by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise off aids and adaptations for blind people.

  Mr. Lilley
  There are already extensive reliefs for aids and adaptations for blind people. Estimates for those that bear tax are unavailable.

  Fuel Duty
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has as to how much was raised, in each of the last three financial years, by the duty payable on fuel used during research and testing of engines by motor manufacturers; and how much these amounts represent of the industry's total tax bill and turnover.

  Mr. Lilley
  I regret that official figures are unavailable.

  Civil Service (Dispersal)
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the number and location of Civil Service posts above executive officer level which have been dispersed from London and the south-east of England to other areas of the United Kingdom since 1979 and the percentage this represents of the total number of posts above executive officer level.

  Mr. Brooke
  [holding answer 20 February 1989]The information is not held centrally in the form requested. The overall numbers for the grades above executive officer level in the home Civil Service at 1 January 1979 and April 1988 were as follows:

HEALTH

  Pharmacists Review Panel
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has on when the pharmacists review panel last met; and what was discussed.
  781
  Mr. Freeman
  The most recent matter considered by the pharmacists review panel was the way in which the profit payable to retail pharmacists for their NHS work should be determined, on which the panel reported in February 1988.

  Food Poisoning
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give the location of preparation of the eggs involved in the 49 cases of salmonella food poisoning this year; if he will state whether the eggs involved were cooked, eaten raw, or mixed with other foods; what evidence led the Chief Medical Officer to decide that the food poisoning in the 49 cases was due to eggs rather than inadequate kitchen hygiene; what was the source of the eggs in the 49 cases; what was the age of the eggs before they were eaten; and how long the eggs had been prepared before they were eaten.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Detailed information on the 46 outbreaks of salmonellosis associated with the consumption of eggs reported to the public health laboratory service to the end of October 1988 is given in the public health laboratory service's memorandum submitted to the Agriculture Select Committee. I will arrange to send a copy to my hon. Friend. Information suggests that while inadequate kitchen hygiene may have been a contributory factor in some outbreaks we have no reason to believe that hygiene practices have shown any significant deterioration in 1988. Inadequate hygiene cannot account for the very marked increase in the total outbreaks of egg-associated salmonellosis reported in 1988.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase expenditure on measures that would help to limit food poisoning.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The hon. Member will be aware of many measures to help reduce food poisoning which have recently been announced by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and my Department. We will continue to take any necessary action.

  Sir Geoffrey Finsberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of salmonellosis and of campylobacter have been recorded in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Laboratory reports of cases of salmonellosis and campylobacter infection submitted to the Public Health Laboratory Service for the years 1983 to 1987 are given in the tables. The number of cases for 1988 are not yet available.

  Year

  Number

  Cases of salmonellosis

  1983

  13,250

  1984

  13,093

  1985

  11,172

  1986

  14,177

  1987

  16,991

  Cases of campylobacter infection

  1983

  17,001

  1984

  20,861

  1985

  23,463

  1986

  24,757

  1987

  27,229

  782
  In most instances there is no evidence which links individual reported cases of campylobacter infection with a food vehicle.

  Basingstoke and North Hampshire Health Authority
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the real term increase or decrease in expenditure by the Basingstoke and North Hampshire health authority in each year since the formation of that health authority.

  Mr. Mellor
  Following is information derived from the annual accounts of the Basingstoke and North Hampshire health authority since its establishment on 1 April 1982.

  Per annual accounts

  At 1987–88 prices

  Percentage increase/ (decrease ) at 1987–88 prices

  £000

  £000

  On preceding year

  On 1982–83

  Total revenue expenditure

  1982–83

  31,464

  39,630

  —

  —

  1983–84

  33,587

  40,464

  2·1

  2·1

  1984–85

  35,435

  40,634

  0·4

  2·5

  1985–86

  37,284

  40,564

  (0·2)

  2·4

  1986–87

  39,945

  42,054

  3·7

  6·1

  1987–88

  43,301

  43,301

  3·0

  9·3

  Total capital expenditure

  1982–83

  2,427

  3,024

  —

  —

  1983–84

  2,356

  2,805

  (7·2)

  (7·2)

  1984–85

  3,081

  3,511

  25·2

  16·1

  1985–86

  3,314

  3,564

  1·5

  17·9

  1986–87

  3,682

  3,838

  7·7

  26·9

  1987–88

  2,476

  2,476

  (35·5)

  (18·1)

  Notes:

  1. The figures for the earlier years have been expressed at 1987–88 prices by the use of the gross domestic product deflator.

  2. The figures for capital expenditure include sums in respect of capital schemes within the district recorded in the annual accounts of the Wessex regional health authority (RHA) and they reflect changes in the pattern of investment at sub-regional levels over the period.

  3. All expenditure incurred by the Wessex RHA for the region as a whole is excluded.

  Royal Hallantshire Hospital
  Mr. Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds currently exist within the Royal Hallamshire hospital, Sheffield; how many have been withdrawn from service over the past five years as a result of a lack of funds; and what will be the estimated effect on the utilisation of beds were the hospital to be designated a National Health Service hospital trust.

  Mr. Freeman
  The total number of beds that currently exist within the Royal Hallamshire hospital, Sheffield is 728.

  As regards the number of beds in use in the hospital, it is for local health authorities to determine the best use of resources to meet local needs.

  It is too early to assess the effect of the Government's plans for National Health Service hospital trusts.

  Hepatitis B
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has on the incidence of infection of patients by surgeons infected with hepatitis B.

  Mr. Mellor
  The average annual risk of a patient developing acute hepatitis B as a result of infection by staff
  783
  during surgical procedures has been estimated as one in a million operations (Polakoff, British Medical Journal 1986 volume 293 pages 33–36).

  Waiting Lists
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give for each district health authority the waiting time for non-urgent ear, nose and throat consultations in November 1987 and November 1988.

  Mr. Mellor
  We do not collect information centrally about out-patient waiting times.

  Child Abuse
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has received a proposal for research into the sexual abuse of children from the Northhope Hall trust; and will he make a statement.

  Hospital Medical and Dental Consultants1 analysis by specialty at 30 September each year Trent Regional Health Authority

  1977

  1982

  1987

  Total Number

  Whole time Number

  Part time Number

  Total Number

  Whole time Number

  Part time Number

  Total Number

  Whole time Number

  Part time Number

  All Specialties

  906

  455

  451

  1,078

  594

  484

  1,269

  672

  597

  All Medical Specialties

  872

  439

  433

  1,042

  576

  466

  1,226

  653

  573

  General Medicine

  69

  17

  52

  80

  27

  53

  92

  41

  51

  Cardiology

  5

  1

  4

  5

  2

  3

  6

  2

  4

  Diabetes and Endocrinology 2

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  0

  1

  0

  1

  Gastroenterology

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  1

  Nephrology

  5

  3

  2

  6

  4

  2

  6

  5

  1

  Thoracic Medicine

  20

  17

  3

  12

  8

  4

  7

  3

  4

  Geriatric Medicine

  28

  27

  1

  39

  35

  4

  46

  40

  6

  Audiological Medicine

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  1

  2

  0

  2

  Clinical Genetics 3

  —

  —

  —

  3

  1

  2

  3

  1

  2

  Clinical Neuro Physiology

  2

  1

  1

  3

  2

  1

  4

  2

  2

  Clinical Pharmacy and Therapy

  5

  1

  4

  5

  1

  4

  5

  1

  4

  Clinical Physiology

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  2

  2

  0

  2

  Dermatology

  14

  4

  10

  15

  7

  8

  20

  7

  13

  Genito-Urinary Medicine

  10

  10

  0

  11

  10

  1

  16

  16

  0

  Medical Oncology

  3

  3

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Infectious Diseases

  1

  1

  0

  1

  1

  0

  3

  2

  1

  Neurology

  7

  3

  4

  9

  5

  4

  11

  6

  5

  Occupation Health4

  —

  —

  —

  0

  0

  0

  3

  3

  0

  Rheumatology

  14

  12

  2

  17

  11

  6

  19

  7

  12

  Other

  3

  3

  0

  2

  0

  2

  1

  0

  1

  Paediatrics

  34

  25

  9

  43

  31

  12

  60

  45

  15

  Paediatric Neurology5

  —

  —

  —

  3

  3

  0

  1

  0

  1

  Accident and Emergency

  11

  10

  1

  14

  12

  2

  16

  13

  3

  General Surgery

  70

  5

  65

  73

  13

  60

  81

  21

  60

  Cardio-Thoracic Surgery

  8

  7

  1

  8

  6

  2

  10

  6

  4

  Otolaryngology6

  26

  7

  19

  31

  10

  21

  34

  7

  27

  Neurosurgery

  6

  1

  5

  6

  5

  1

  6

  3

  3

  Ophthalmology

  26

  4

  22

  27

  6

  21

  34

  2

  32

  Paediatric Surgery

  4

  4

  0

  4

  4

  0

  5

  5

  0

  Plastic Surgery

  8

  3

  5

  7

  3

  4

  8

  2

  6

  Traumatic and Orthopaedic Surgery

  48

  5

  43

  57

  5

  52

  62

  8

  54

  Urology

  7

  4

  3

  11

  6

  5

  16

  6

  10

  Obstetrics and Gynaecology

  52

  8

  44

  63

  19

  44

  67

  14

  53

  Anaesthetics

  108

  61

  47

  152

  104

  48

  187

  108

  79

  Radiology

  57

  36

  21

  71

  49

  22

  86

  56

  30

  Nuclear Medicine

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Radiotherapy

  11

  8

  3

  15

  14

  1

  17

  14

  3

  General Pathology

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Blood Transfusion

  3

  3

  0

  3

  3

  0

  4

  4

  0

  Chemical Pathology

  15

  12

  3

  15

  13

  2

  18

  14

  4

  Haematology

  21

  17

  4

  25

  19

  6

  28

  20

  8

  Histopathology

  42

  24

  18

  46

  24

  22

  52

  29

  23

  Immuno-Pathology

  3

  0

  3

  4

  0

  4

  5

  1

  4

  Medical Microbiology

  22

  9

  13

  23

  9

  14

  27

  13

  14

  784
  Mr. Mellor
  The Department has received from the Northorpe Hall trust details of a proposal to establish a therapeutic centre for sexually abused children and their families which would also include an element of monitoring and research in relation to those treated. The proposal will be considered along with others of a similar nature which have been received.

  Consultants (Trent RHA)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many consultants are employed by the Trent regional health authority; if he will give a breakdown by hospital and specialty; if he will show how many of the consultants by specialty are employed on a full-time or part-time basis; and if he will give comparable figures for five years and 10 years ago.

  Mr. Mellor
  The informatin for the Trent region is set out in the table. We do not have information centrally for individual hospitals.
  785

  1977

  1982

  1987

  Total

  Whole time

  Part time

  Total

  Whole time

  Part time

  Total

  Whole time

  Part time

  Number

  Number

  Number

  Number

  Number

  Number

  Number

  Number

  Number

  Neuropathology

  2

  2

  0

  2

  2

  0

  2

  1

  1

  Mental Illness

  72

  53

  19

  87

  65

  22

  104

  84

  20

  Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

  16

  14

  2

  21

  19

  2

  26

  22

  4

  Forensic Psychiatry

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  0

  2

  1

  1

  Mental Handicap

  13

  13

  0

  14

  13

  1

  15

  13

  2

  Psychotherapy

  1

  1

  0

  3

  3

  0

  5

  5

  0

  All Dental Specialties

  34

  16

  18

  36

  18

  18

  43

  19

  24

  Oral Surgery7

  18

  7

  1

  19

  9

  10

  21

  6

  15

  Orthodontics

  10

  6

  4

  11

  7

  4

  14

  10

  4

  Restorative Dentistry

  6

  3

  3

  6

  2

  4

  8

  3

  5

  Paediatric Dentistry8

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1 Includes Permanent Paid and Honorary Staff. Prior to 1987 SHMOs and SHDOs with allowance are included.

  2 Prior to 1987 this specialty was called Endocrinology.

  3 New specialty introduced in 1979. Figures included with "Other" prior to 1979.

  4 New specialty introduced in 1983. Figures included with "Other" prior to 1983.

  5 Prior to 1981 figures included with "Paediatrics".

  6 Prior to 1985 this specialty was called Ear, Nose and Throat.

  7 Prior to 1982 this specialty was called Dental Surgery.

  8 New specialty introduced in 1983.

  Locum Doctors
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Don Valley of 12 December 1988,Official Report, column 449, on locum doctors, if he is now able to give an answer.

  Mr. Mellor
  I replied to the hon. Member today.

  AIDS
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the numbers of HIV/AIDS centres in Britain which he has visited; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  I have visited the Kobler centre, at St. Stephen's hospital, and London Lighthouse—the two facilities in London purpose-built for people with HIV disease. I have visited some and intend to visit other hospitals and voluntary organisations which are developing treatment and support facilities; not all of these will be dedicated to people with HIV.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people died as a result of AIDS, from 1980 to 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  There have been 1,059 known deaths from AIDS from 1980 up to the end of December 1988. Data on the numbers of deaths from AIDS and numbers of AIDS cases are published early each month by our Department.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his Department's support for AIDS education campaigns organised by groups representing homosexual men and women.

  Mr. Mellor
  We provide financial support to the National AIDS Trust which gives funding to voluntary organisations, and to the Terrence Higgins Trust whose work includes the provision of information and advice to homosexuals. In addition the Health Education Authority has been provided with funds to develop campaigns aimed at the general public and at particular sections of the population, including homosexual and bisexual men. Planning guidelines issued to health authorities in July 786
  1988 asked them to encourage preventive initiatives for people in selected target groups, including homosexuals, to encourage them to avoid behaviour that might place them at risk of HIV infection.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the provision within the National Health Service of aerosolised pentamidine and associated nebolisers for people with AIDS or who are HIV positive.

  Mr. Mellor
  Pentamidine is available under the NHS in aerosolised form for the treatment of pneumocystis carinii pneumonia—the opportunistic infection to which people with HIV disease are particularly susceptible. Nebulisers are available for the administration of the drug in hospital settings, but are not available under the NHS for use by patients at home.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his estimate of(a) current figures and (b) future figures for (i) people who are HIV anti-body positive and (ii) people who have developed AIDS in the United Kingdom for each year from 1989 to 1992; and on what basis such estimates have been made.

  Mr. Mellor
  There have been 2,049 reported AIDS cases up to the end of January 1989. The report of the working group on short-term prediction of HIV infection and AIDS in England and Wales, chaired by Sir David Cox (the Cox report), estimated that there were between 20,000 and 50,000 persons infected with HIV by the end of 1987.

  The Cox report also contained estimates of future diagnoses of new AIDS cases up to 1992. The figures in the table are those recommended as a basis for planning, and accepted by the Government as such, for the years 1989 to 1992.

  AIDS cases diagnosed (estimates)

  Number

  1989

  1,800

  1990

  2,350

  1991

  2,950

  1992

  3,600

  787
  The group did not make forecasts of the level of HIV infection because no satisfactory historical data exists upon which to base any, and because such forecasts would depend on individuals' behaviour patterns which cannot be predicted.

  The basis on which the estimates were made, and the possible impact of underreporting, are set out in appendices to the Cox report, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Sight Tests
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has on whether the use of an auto-refractor and an auto-optitester provides a suitable and accurate sight test for people with less than perfect vision.

  Mr. Mellor
  Auto-refractors and auto-optitesters provide reasonably accurate information on the lenses patients may require to correct their sight. These instruments cannot, however, carry out examinations for injury or disease which form an important part of every sight test.

  Manpower Supply Strategies
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if all regional health authorities have been asked to prepare manpower supply strategies and supply measures and training strategies.

  Mr. Mellor
  Regional health authorities have been asked through the issue of HC(88)43 "Health Services Development—Resource Assumptions and Planning Guidelines" issued July 1988, to prepare for all staff groups manpower supply strategies assessing demand and supply measures necessary to meet assessed demand together with proposed steps to deal with any shortfalls. Also where necessary that supply strategies be linked to training strategies.

  A copy of HC(88)43 has been placed in the Library (refer to paragraphs 32–38).

  Residential Homes
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he has any plans to review the scope of the Registered Homes Act 1984, so as to encompass homes caring for three occupants or fewer;

  (2) when his Department last evaluated and reassessed the effectiveness of criteria for minimum statutory requirements for residential and nursing homes for the elderly.

  Mr. Mellor
  The Department's social services inspectorate reviewed the implementation of the Registered Homes Act 1984 in relation to residential care homes for elderly people and other dependent groups of people. The report on this review, "Certain Standards", was published last year. The Wagner report, "Residential Care: A Positive Choice", which was also published last year, contained recommendations on the regulation of these homes including those with fewer than four residents. Both reports are in the Library.

  We are considering carefully the findings of these reports before deciding whether any change is desirable in the current arrangements. In January 1985 the National Association of Health Authorities issued guidance, endorsed by the Department, in its handbook on registration and inspection of nursing homes. A supplement giving advice on quality of life in nursing homes was issued in September 1988.

  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how district health authority and local authority inspectors are selected and trained for residential and nursing homes for the elderly; and who draws up the criteria by which these inspectors measure a home's standards.

  Mr. Mellor
  The statutory duty to register and inspect residential care homes and nursing homes is placed by the Registered Homes Act 1984 upon local social service authorities and district health authorities respectively. It is for each authority to recruit and train the necessary staff and to deaw up the criteria for the registration of homes in their area within the legislative requirements, the recommendations in the code of practice for residential care "Home Life", and the "Handbook for Health Authorities: Registration and Inspection of Nursing Homes", and the general guidance that has been issued by the Secretaries of State for Health and for Wales.
  790
  The Departments have commissioned distance-learning training material for registration and inspection staff of authorities from the centre for environmental and social studies in aging at the Polytechnic of North London. This material should be available later this year.

  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has any plans to ensure tighter public oversight and controls over public and private residential homes.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 17 February 1989]: The Registered Homes Act 1984 and associated regulations place the responsibility on local authorities as registering authorities to register private and voluntary residential care homes and inspect them at least twice a year. In addition general guidance on the running of these homes is available in "Home Life", a code of practice for residential care, and in circulars issued by the Department. Authorities are also responsible for ensuring adequate standards in their own homes. The Department's social services inspectorate monitors and advises authorities on the discharge of these duties.

  Lady Wagner's report "Residential Care—A Positive Choice" included recommendations on the regulation of homes in all sectors. We are giving them careful consideration before deciding whether any change is desirable in the current arrangements.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which private residential and nursing homes have had their registrations cancelled since the Registered Homes Act came into force; who were the proprietors concerned; and what were the reasons for the cancellation.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 22 February 1989]: This information is held by the Department for the purpose of the Registered Homes Act 1984 and is received from and passed to registration authorities in confidence for that purpose only. It would not be right to make the information more widely available.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the full cost of public funds of action taken by local authorities or health authorities to protect the welfare of residents following the de-regulation of private residential or nursing homes since the Registered Homes Act came into force.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 22 February 1989]: We do not hold this information centrally.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking following the publication of the National Consumer Council report proposing an independent national inspectorate for residential homes, a copy of which has been sent to him.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 22 February 1989]: The report of the committee chaired by Lady Wagner, "Residential Care—A Positive Choice", included recommendations on the regulation of homes. We are giving careful consideration to the recommendations in the report and to responses to it such as the National Consumer Council's report before deciding whether any change is desirable in the current arrangements.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what action he is taking following the recent
  791
  publication of the joint report from the social services inspectorate and the health advisory service in respect of the concern expressed about the number of social service staff employed by Northamptonshire county council who also own or manage private residential homes;

  (2) if he will take steps to ensure that local authority social services staff are not permitted also to own, manage, or have interests in private residential or nursing homes.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 22 February 1989]: The duty to register a person running a residential care home or nursing home is placed by the Registered Homes Act 1984 upon local social service authorities and district health authorities respectively. It is for them to decide, subject to appeal, whether a person is not fit to run a home. Similarly it is for authorities as employers to determine the terms and conditions of service of their staff. I look to authorities to ensure that potentially undesirable conflicts of interest do not arise.

  In the case of the report by the National Health Services health advisory service and the Department's social services inspectorate on "Services for Elderly People provided by Kettering Health Authority and the Social Services Department of Northamptonshire County Council," the report states that the health authority and the social services department have asked staff to declare any interest they may have in private homes.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if registered homes tribunals have the right to impose conditions of registration.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 22 February 1989]: Yes.

  Elderly People
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department is monitoring the growth of the private sector in relation to National Health Service facilities in the field of elderly care.

  Mr. Mellor
  It is for the individual health authorities to decide what level of service to provide for the elderly people in the populations they serve. The Government give guidance on the range of services which should be available to elderly people; but health authorities may take into account the level of private sector health care in determining the level of services that they will provide themselves.

  The Government welcome the growth in the private health care sector, because it adds to the total resources available, offers greater choice to the patient and provides flexibility to health authorities in service delivery.

  Touche Ross Inquiry
  Mr. Madel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what conclusions were reached by the ToucheRoss inquiry into the supply of generic pharmaceuticals; if he will publish those parts of the evidence which are not commercially confidential, along with the consultants' recommendations; if he will place a copy of the report in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  We are considering the report prepared by Touche Ross. When announcing the study on 11 March 1988 the then Secretary of State for Social Services, made it clear that the contents of the report would contain 792
  commercially sensitive information and would remain confidential. To publish the report would breach this commitment to those who contributed to the study.

  Organisations (Recognition)
  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the organisations recognised by his Department under circular HM(54)32;

  (2) what applications for recognition under circular HM(54)32 he has received from organisations seeking to offer indemnity to medical and dental practitioners; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  The organisations listed in circular HM(54)32 (Legal Proceedings) are the Medical Defence Union, the Medical Protection Society, and the Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland. Any enquiries from other organisations seeking to offer indemnity to medical and dental practitioners would be treated in confidence. I am considering what arrangements should be made in future to provide indemnity cover for doctors and dentists employed in the Health Service.

  Dental and Eye Health
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much he expects to receive from charges for(a) dental check-ups and (b) eye tests in 1989–90; and by how much he estimates expenditure on dental and eye health will change as a result of the introduction of such tests.

  Mr. Mellor
  The estimated income from dental examination charges in England in 1989–90 is £35 million. It is not anticipated that the introduction of dental examination charges will have any direct effect on the forecast level of gross NHS expenditure on the general dental services.

  There are no charges for sight tests. The effect of the Health and Medicines Act, 1988, is that from 1 April 1989 the NHS sight test will no longer be universally available; it will be restricted to certain priority groups of people, including children, the registered blind and partially sighted, people on low incomes and diabetics. Savings on family practitioner service spending from the restriction of the NHS sight test to certain priority groups are expected to be £70 million in a full year in England. The new arrangements are not expected to affect demand for eye care.

  Charges
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish a table showing prescription, dental and optical charges in April 1979 and the latest date available in current and constant prices showing both the cash and real increase for each charge.

  Mr. Mellor
  The table sets out the latest available information in relation to prescription and average dental charges. No comparable figures for optical charges are available because the supply of NHS spectacles ceased in July 1986. Information relates to financial years.

  Prescription charges

  £

  1979–80

  0·20

  1988–89 (current prices)

  2·60

  1988–89 (1979–80 prices)

  1·39

  793

  Prescription charges

  £

  Average dental charge

  1979–80

  6·83

  1987–88 (current prices)

  18·43

  1987–88 (1979–80 prices)

  10·50

  Family Practitioner Committees
  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the criteria used when exercising the right of choice between different nominations from local authorities for a family practitioner committee.

  Mr. Mellor
  In appointing members of family practitioner committees our overriding aim is to find suitable candidates for the job. We also seek to achieve a balanced representation among members of age, sex, geographical spread, professional and other experience. In the case of the local authority vacancies arising on 1 April 1989, neither St. Helens metropolitan borough council nor Knowsley metropolitan borough council offered, at first, a choice of candidates. I am glad to say that St. Helens MBC has this week offered a choice and I hope to make an appointment very shortly.

  Cook-chill Food
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will issue instructions that no further hospitals should switch to cooked-chilled food, and that no further hospital plans should make provisions for utilising it, until further research has been carried out to establish its safety or risk.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  No. In 1980 my Department issued guidelines on cook-chill catering in the NHS and elsewhere. We remain quite satisfied that, provided these guidelines are followed, food produced by this sytem is safe.

  Mental Health Act Commission
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of the 92 members of the Mental Health Act Commission are members of ethnic minority communities; what are their ethnic origins; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  At the moment the Mental Health Act Commission has 84 members of whom six are from ethnic minority communities, either Asian or Afro-Caribbean. It is Ministers' intention to increase ethnic minority representation on the commission and this is being actively pursued in the current round of appointments.

  Child Sexual Abuse
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what co-ordination of research into child sexual abuse takes place between his Department and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.

  Hospital

  Area/District

  Type

  Year

  Croft Baker Maternity

  Humberside

  T

  1979

  Immingham

  Humberside

  T

  1979

  Townend Maternity1

  Humberside

  T

  1979

  Nightingale

  Derbyshire

  T

  1979

  Davenham

  Cheshire

  T

  1979

  Skegness and District1

  Lincolnshire

  P

  1981

  Urmston Cottage

  Trafford

  T

  1981

  Harpenden Memorial

  North West Hertfordshire

  P

  1982

  794
  Mr. Mellor
  We have no specific arrangements for co-ordinating research into child sexual abuse with the NSPCC, but officials are in touch regularly to discuss subjects of mutual concern, including research.

  Health Service Review
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he anticipates making available to hon. Members the working papers further to his Health Service review document.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Copies of the eight working papers were placed in the Vote Office on Monday 20 February, the date of publication.

  Leicestershire DHA and CHC
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will seek from the Trent regional health authority, for publication in the Official Report, the names and addresses of the members of (a) the Leicestershire district health authority and (b) the Leicestershire community health council, indicating the date when each person commenced their service and when the expiry of their term is due.

  Mr. Mellor
  This is a local matter. The information is available on request from Trent regional health authority.

  GP Maternity Units
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether he will set out in tabular form, identifying the unit in each case(a) how many isolated general practitioner maternity units have been closed in each year sice 1979 and (b) how many integrated general practitioner maternity units have been closed over each period;

  (2) whether he will set out in tabular form, identifying the unit in each case, the number of (a) isolated and (b) integrated general practitioner maternity units where a formal decision has been taken and published to close the unit, indicating where appropriate when the decision by Ministers is awaited following a formal objection by the community health council.

  Mr. Freeman
  The table lists GP maternity units which we are aware have been approved for partial or total closure following public consultation. The period covered is from 1979 to end 1987, the latest date for which details are available, although there were no cases in 1987.

  Cases currently awaiting ministerial decision are lifted at the end.

  "Isolated" is taken to mean not part of a district general hospital. All cases are isolated unless stated.
  795

  Hospital

  Area/District

  Type

  Year

  Ashgate Maternity Home

  North Derbyshire

  T

  1983

  Chase Hospital

  Mid Staffordshire

  P

  1983

  Wendover Maternity Unit

  Southmead

  T

  1983

  Alexandra Maternity Hospital

  Plymouth

  T

  1983

  Woodgages Maternity Home1

  East Yorkshire

  T

  1984

  Darley Hall Maternity

  North Derbyshire

  T

  1984

  Corbar Hall Maternity

  North Derbyshire

  T

  1984

  Westbury Maternity

  Milton Keynes

  T

  1984

  Westminster Memorial1

  Wiltshire

  P

  1984

  Wellington Maternity Home

  Somerset

  T

  1984

  Leek Memorial

  North Staffordshire

  T

  1984

  Queen Mary Maternity House

  South Derbyshire

  T

  1986

  Phyllis Memorial Home

  East Suffolk

  T

  1986

  Market Harborough

  Leicestershire

  P

  1986

  Rutland Memorial

  Leicestershire

  P

  1986

  St. Mary's Melton Mowbray

  Leicestershire

  P

  1986

  Ashby de la Zouch

  Leicestershire

  P

  1986

  Isebrook

  Kettering

  P

  1986

  Ashcombe House

  Bristol and Weston

  T

  1986

  Rossendale General2

  Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale

  P

  1986

  1 Ministerial decision.

  2 Integrated unit.

  Note: The Leek Memorial hospital is, in fact, still open but is scheduled to close this year.

  Cases currently with Ministers

  Partial closures at Sandleford, Wokingham and Townlands hospitals—all West Berkshire.

  St. Paul's maternity unit, Hemel Hempstead hospital, North-West Hertfordshire.

  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will set out in tabular form, identifying the unit in each case, the number of(a) isolated and (b) integrated general practitioner maternity units which are currently the subject of public consultation on closure.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will list by name and date since 1979(a) the isolated and (b) the integrated general practitioner rural maternity units where Ministers have rejected a closure proposal, following an adverse report from the community health council; and which of these units remain open.

  Mr. Freeman
  We are aware of two such cases.

  In 1984 proposals to close GP maternity beds at Amersham general hospital (integrated unit) and Crowborough war memorial hospital (isolated unit) were rejected by Ministers. The beds at Amersham are currently closed for redecoration; those at Crowborough remain open.

  London Ambulance Service
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has assessed the quality and adequacy of the installed communication links between local ambulance stations of the London ambulance service and local police, fire brigade and other emergency services.

  Mr. Freeman
  Questions relating to the detailed management of the London ambulance service are matters for the South West Thames regional health authority.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member of Newham, South,Official Report, 7 February, columns 635–7, what are the annual rental costs of the private wire circuits between the central control room of the London ambulance service and ambulance stations; and what is budgeted for the next financial year, for this purpose.
  796
  Mr. Freeman
  I understand from South West Thames RHA, which is responsible for the management of the London ambulance service (LAS) that the annual rental cost of the private wire circuits between the LAS central control room and ambulance stations is £60,615 for the current financial year. When the circuits are integrated into the new computer system, the wires will be connected to equipment owned by the LAS rather than by British Telecom. This will reduce rental costs to an estimated £53,115 in 1989–90. The same number of lines will be available, but they will be of higher quality.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set out in tabular form in the Official Report the principal items of income and expenditure of the London ambulance service for each of the financial years since he has been responsible for its direct funding, showing for each year the expenditure related to (a) administration, (b) communication, (c) equipment, (d) personnel, (e) premises, and (f) vehicles, etc., with an indication of the sums allocated or ascribable to emergency and non-emergency services, respectively, together with a statement of the method he uses to ensure that the resources available to the emergency services enable them to reach as near the national ORCON standards as are practicable in London traffic conditions.

  Mr. Freeman
  The table sets out, in the form held by the South West Thames RHA, London ambulance service (LAS) expenditure for the year 1987–88, the first year in which the allocation of funds was made direct to the managing authority. An estimate of expenditure for the current financial year is not yet available. It is not possible to separate out the personnel component of each of the items listed except at disproportionate cost. The revenue budgets available to the LAS for the years 1987–88 and 1988–89 were £43·099 million and £46·060 million respectively.

  Management of the LAS, including questions of resource requirements and attainment of standards, is a matter for South West Thames RHA. Officials of the

  797
  Department are in regular touch with officials of the RHA on these matters and a management review of the LAS is conducted annually.

  Department

  Net expenditure 1987–88 £

  A. Operational Services

  General Manager

  0

  Headquarters Administration

  824,165

  Control Services—Emergency

  2,428,204

  Control Services—Non-Emergency

  2,251,230

  Ambulance Stations—Emergency

  23,967,237

  Ambulance Stations—Non-Emergency

  7,977,645

  Other Ambulance Services—Emergency

  38,029

  Other Ambulance Services—Non-Emergency

  904,143

  Total Operational Services

  38,390,653

  B. General Services

  Administration Office

  1,638,330

  Training and Education

  1,228,124

  Catering

  38,908

  Domestic Cleaning

  203,622

  Portering

  24,040

  Laundry

  37,316

  Linen Services

  0

  Transport

  123,075

  Engineering Maintenance

  95,298

  Energy

  358,607

  Water and Sewerage

  57,374

  Building Maintenance

  540,903

  Grounds and Gardens

  21,006

  General Estate Expenses

  780,347

  Miscellaneous Services and Expenses

  0

  General Services Direct Credits

  0

  Total General Services

  5,140,850

  Grand Total

  43,531,508

  Secure Units (Juveniles)
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many juvenile offenders can be accommodated in secure units in the United Kingdom as a whole; and if there are any plans to increase the number of units.

  Mr. Freeman
  Secure accommodation in England is provided by local authorities and directly by the Department of Health in youth treatment centres. Such accommodation is available for children in care generally, some of whom will he juvenile offenders. Young people who have been convicted of grave crimes, and sentenced to be detained under section 53 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933, may also be placed in such accommodation.

  The number of places available in approved secure units in England on 31 December 1988 was 294. A number of secure units, providing a further 46 places, were temporarily closed on that date because of rebuilding/refurbishment work. In addition, there were 60 secure places in the youth treatment centres.

  A number of local authorities have brought forward proposals to expand provision which are being actively considered.

  Information relating to Wales and Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and Northern Ireland and for Scotland for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

  Artificial Limb Service
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what have been the costs to his Department of the changes in the artificial limb service in 1986, 1987 and 1988; and what are the budgets for this service in 1989 and 1990.

  Mr. Mellor
  The cost of supplying and maintaining artificial limbs for 1985–86 and 1986–87 was £36·068 million and £38·689 million respectively. The cost for the period April to June 1987 was £9·642 million. Expenditure on the artificial limbs in England from 1 July 1987 is a matter for the Disablement Services Authority, to which the hon. Member should address this part of the question.

  Hospital Waste
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has estimated the cost to hospitals in England of ensuring that their incinerators meet the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act following the ending of Crown immunity later in the current year; and what major defects in hospital incinerators will need to be corrected.

  Mr. Mellor
  Regulations under the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act which will bring large incinerators within the control of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution will not affect most hospital incinerators. Controls on smaller incinerators, which will be introduced as soon as possible and from which it is not intended that the National Health service should have Crown immunity, will create the need for a major programe of upgrading and replacement. The main requirements are likely to be an increase in the height of chimneys, improved combustion and monitoring and sampling of emissions. If these improvements were made immediately we estimate the cost to the National Health Service would be in the region of £50 million, but it is anticipated that there will be a transitional period allowed for the replacement of existing installations. Many incinerators will therefore be upgraded or replaced at the end of their useful lives as part of the normal cycle of planned equipment renewal. Authorities will also be expected to review their waste disposal services taking account of the scope for rationalising and reducing the number of incinerator facilities and the contribution which the private sector can make to the disposal of "clinical waste".

  London Teaching Hospitals
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the funds now held which are completely at their own disposal for each of the London teaching hospitals.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Details of the funds currently available to individual hospitals are not held centrally. Section 10 of the health services costing returns provides expenditure figures for all major acute and mainly acute hospitals in teaching districts in London and elsewhere. A copy is held in the Library.

  Hospitals (Opting Out)
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has any plans to enable a hospital which elects to opt out of National Health Service management under the recent proposals to charge patients for special or any other services needed for effective treatment.
  799
  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I assume that the hon. Member is referring to self-governing hospitals. As they will remain within the NHS, they will continue to provide all necessary treatment to NHS patients without charge at point of delivery.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether he will insist on the provision of emergency services in his core services in opted-out hospitals;

  (2) why he has excluded gynaecology, maternity and preventive medicines for women from his core services for the opted-out hospitals.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I assume that the hon. Member is referring to self-governing NHS hospitals. I have not excluded gynaecology, maternity and preventative medicines from being regarded as core services to be provided by such hospitals. Examples of core services are identified in broad terms in the White Paper "Working for Patients" but I have not prescribed and I have no intention of prescribing a definitive list. The first and second of the working papers published on 20 February make it clear that it will be for each district to consider in the light of local circumstances what its core services should be. The district will then decide whether these services can best be provided by a self-governing hospital, or by other NHS hospitals and make arrangements accordingly. fuller details are given in the working papers.

  Hospitals
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the hospitals in each district health authority.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information requested is contained in the "Hospitals and Health Services Year Book", a copy of which is held in the Library.

  Patients (No Fixed Abode)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has on the number of patients of hospitals in Greater London who state they are of no fixed abode.

  Mr. Freeman
  This information is not collected centrally.

  "Promoting Better Health"
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the discussions with the British Medical Association's General medical services committee about the White Paper "Promoting Better Health" are progressing.

  Mr Kenneth Clarke
  A Green Paper "Primary Health Care—an agenda for discussion" was published in April 1986. Following public consultation, the primary care White Paper "Promoting Better Health" was published in November 1987. Detailed proposals for implementing the reforms to the family doctor services as set out in the White Paper, were sent in March 1988 to the negotiators of the general medical services committee (GMSC), the GPs' representative body. Since then the reforms have been the subject of full consultation for almost a year with the GMSC negotiators.
  800
  Consultations are now nearing completion and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I have decided to send to all general practitioners a report setting out in full the changes to the GPs' remuneration system and terms of service that the Government wish to introduce. This report will form the basis of final discussions with GMSC negotiators early in March. Copies of this report have been lodged in the Libraries of both Houses.

  A number of themes run through our proposals. In the first place we want to make it much easier for the patient to find the GP that best suits that individual's needs. More information about the services that GPs provide will therefore be made available. The bureaucracy involved in changing doctors will be removed and the patients' complaints procedure simplified. Family practitioner committees will be conducting consumer surveys to ensure that patients' views are being taken into account in the development of health care services.

  Secondly, health promotion and disease prevention will become a central feature of general practice in future. GPs will be expected to provide regular check-ups for their patients—this means giving good advice on keeping well and avoiding future health problems. There will be particular emphasis on the assessment of childhood development for the under-fives and on mobility and well-being of the over-75s. New target payments are to be introduced to encourage GPs to provide improved cover for childhood immunisation and screening for cancer of the cervix. Increasingly, GPs will be running clinics for a range of health promotion activities such as anti-smoking, alcohol control, well-person, dieting, exercise and stress management.

  Thirdly, important changes are to be made to the GPs' terms of service and remuneration system. The terms of service will in future set out in more specific terms what is expected of a family doctor who is in contract with the National Health Service. Aspects such as health promotion and disease prevention—not previously stated in specific terms—will be made a clear requirement of the GPs contract.

  Changes to the remuneration system are designed to make general practice more responsive to patient needs and to ensure that the taxpayer gets better value for money. As proposed in "Working for Patients", capitation fees will form a much greater proportion of the GPs' income from fees and allowances. This means that capitation fees for each patient will be much higher and, as a consequence, greater recognition will be given to the importance of the individual patient to the practice and to the importance of providing all of the services that that patient needs. New incentive payments will be introduced to encourage the health promotion and disease prevention measures already mentioned. In addition, the importance of medical education will be given greater prominence in the remuneration system. Continuing education—keeping up to date with the latest techniques, therapies and disease management methods—will be encouraged through a new postgraduate education allowance payable to GPs who regularly attend approved courses. GPs who teach medical students will receive a new allowance.

  Lastly, we are preparing family practitioner committees (FPCs) to play a greater management role in the provision of local services. In particular they will manage service development budgets aimed at improving surgery premises and extending practice teams. The Government believe

  801
  that GPs working with other health care professionals will provide a better service to patients. FPCs will have service development plans aimed at encouraging greater use of practice nurses, counsellors, chiropodists and other health professionals.

  The package of changes that we plan to introduce will provide a better range and quality of services for patients. Many GPs already run first-class practices and under the new arrangements these GPs will be better rewarded. Others may need to consider extending their services to ensure that they too benefit from the reforms that the Government are planning.

  Abortions
  Mr. Stevens
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total number of abortions so far performed under the Abortion Act 1967; and how many of these were performed on non-United Kingdom resident women.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 24 January 1989]: The total number of notifications of legal abortions, to resident and non-resident women, carried out under the Abortion Act 1967 from 27 April 1968 to 30 June 1988 in England and Wales, is 2,899,4051. Of these 921,6081 (31·8 per cent.) were performed on non-United Kingdom resident women.

  1 The total number of abortions is based on notifications received (1968 to 1980) and on occurrences (1981 to 1988). Data for 1988 are provisional.

  Listeria
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the possibility of monitoring for listeria in milk and cheese.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  [holding answer 20 February 1989]: Microbiological control of foods such as milk and cheese is primarily achieved by adherence to good manufacturing and retail practice based on the hazard analysis and critical control point approach. The Department's advice to manufacturers, retailers, and enforcement officers is to concentrate on these aspects rather than to undertake enhanced routine final product testing.

  NHS (Expenditure)
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the spending on the National Health Service in 1979 and in the latest available year, in real terms.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 21 February 1989]: Gross spending on the NHS in England totalled £6·5 billion in 1978–79 and in the current financial year amounts to over £19·4 billion. This represents a real terms increase of some 37 per cent. Additional expenditure planned for next year is expected to bring this increase to over 41 per cent. which includes the additional £163 million announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 16 February. This is before taking account of the extra cash that will be released in 1989–90 by the reduction in employers' superannuation contributions and from health authorities' cost improvement and income generation schemes. Taken together with the cash increase these will amount to the equivalent of a 5·5 per cent. real terms increase in the resource available to the NHS in 1989–90 alone.

  Retired People
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will consider creating a standing committee of representatives of the pensioners' movement together with the Minister and senior civil servants dealing with the areas mainly affecting the retired in health matters.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 21 February 1989]: I have not plans to do so. We do, of course, regularly meet groups representing elderly people to discuss health matters.

  Zidovudine
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will receive copies of all reports given by the independent data and safety monitoring committee to the chairmen of the MRC/INSERM co-ordinating committee of the trial on the benefits of zidovudine for healthy people who are HIV positive; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 22 February 1989]: The Medical Research Council will keep the Department of Health up to date with the trial's findings as appropriate. However, I do not expect to receive copies of reports given by the independent data and safety monitoring committee to the chairman of the MRC/INSERM co-ordinating committee; the conduct of the trial is strictly a matter for the MRC and INSERM.

  BOVINE SOMATOTROPIN
  BOVINE SOMATOTROPIN