Written Answers of 28 February 1989

WALES

  Cervical Cytology
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will publish in the Official Report the latest available figures of the failure of take-up of cervical cytology appointments for each health authority in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  The information is not available at this stage. However, the relevant computer package is now in place on all family practitioner committee computers and the Welsh Office will be monitoring the position as soon as meaningful data are available.

  Civil Servants (Political Activity)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many staff within his Department in each of the following categories:(a) politically restricted, (b) intermediate and (c) politically free as defined by the Civil Service pay and conditions of service code, are local authority councillors.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The figures are(a) none, (b) three and (c) one.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many staff within his Department in each of the years 1979 to 1988 in the categories(a) politically restricted, (b) intermediate as defined by the Civil Service pay and conditions of service code, have (a) successfully and (b) unsuccessfully appealed to the Civil Service appeal tribunal against a refusal of permission to take part in local or national political activity.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The totals are In 1987 one member of staffin the intermediate group unsuccessfully appealed to the Civil Service appeal tribunal. There have been no other cases.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many staff within his Department fall within each of the categories:(a) politically restricted, (b) intermediate and (c) politically free as defined by the Civil Service pay and conditions of service code.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The totals are(a) 313·5, (b) 1,596 and (c) 256·5.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many staff within his Department in the category intermediate, as defined by the Civil Service pay and conditions code, have permission to engage in local or national political activity.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Six.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many staff within his Department in the category politically restricted, as defined by the Civil Service pay and conditions code, have permission to engage in local political activity.
  104
  Mr. Peter Walker
  None.

  Departmental Staff (Voluntary Public Service)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his Department's policy with regard to(a) paid and (b) unpaid leave for staff to undertake voluntary public service.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  My Department follows the Civil Service pay and conditions of service code and each application is considered sympathetically on its merits.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Prison Officers
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost of the removal allowances granted to prison officers in the last year before their abolition.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Since May 1984 newly joined prison officers have not qualified for payment of removal allowances on taking up their first appointment after initial training. The cost of removal allowances paid to new entrant prison officers in the last year before abolition was £2·3 million. Removal allowances are still paid to established prison officers in accordance with the Civil Service pay and conditions of service code when they are transferred at public expense.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many early resignations there have been from the prison service by area in the latest available year; and what reasons were given for such resignations.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  During 1988 a total of 319 staff of all grades resigned from the prison service before minimum retirement age. The figures for each region were:

  Number

  Midland

  46

  North

  81

  South-East

  144

  South-West

  48

  Information about reasons for resignation is not available.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average annual number of hours worked by prison officers prior to the introduction of Fresh Start; and what is the figure for prison officers working under Fresh Start at the latest available date.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Before the introduction of Fresh Start, prison officers worked on average 56 hours per week. The equivalent figure for 1988–89 is 46·6 hours. From 1 April this year no prison officer will work more than an average of 45 hours per week and this will reduce progressively in subsequent years so that from 1 April 1992 all officers will work an average 39-hour week.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects increases in prison officer staffing levels to reach a level equivalent to half the capacity represented by the reduction in annual working hours of prison officers to be achieved.
  105
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The undertaking under the framework agreement to replace with additional staff half of the hours lost as a result of the transition to a shorter working week is already being implemented. We are making additonal new recruits available annually before each decrease in hours. This process will continue until the end of the framework period on 1 April 1992.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many newly trained prison officers applied for a posting(a) in London and were posted elsewhere and (b) outside London and were posted in London in the latest available year.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Of the 2,743 officers who joined the prison service in the year ending 31 January 1989, 441 were posted to London, having expressed a preference to be posted to another part of the country. All those who expressed a preference for a London posting were posted there.

  Prisons (Lay Visitors)
  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the provision for compensation for lay visitors injured in the course of their duties;

  (2) whether nationwide insurance cover is provided by his Department for prison lay visitors.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply to a question from the hon. Member for Tooting (Mr. Cox) on 17 January at column 138.

  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison lay visitors have been registered in the United Kingdom for each of the last 10 years; and how many for each year have been injured in the course of their duties.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Appointments of lay visitors to police stations are made by the appropriate police authority. No central register is kept.

  We are not aware that any lay visitor to police stations in the Metropolitan police division has been injured in the course of his or her duties. Information about lay visitors outside the metropolitan area is a matter for the police authority concerned.

  South Yorkshire Police
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of South Yorkshire as to what, by territorial division and sub-division for the South Yorkshire police, the present establishment manning levels are; what is the actual figure; what are the comparable national figures; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Information on South Yorkshire is set out. Comparable information about other police forces is not held centrally.

  South Yorkshire Police (as at 22 February 1989)

  Force

  Establishment

  Actual strength

  2,951

  2,903

  A Division

  510

  504

  Divisional HQ

  48

  57

  A1 Sub Division

  169

  166

  106

  Force

  Establishment

  Actual strength

  A2 Sub Division

  137

  131

  A3 Sub Division

  156

  150

  B Division

  402

  392

  Divisional HQ

  44

  44

  B1 Sub Division

  177

  170

  B2 Sub Division

  181

  178

  C Division

  402

  391

  Divisional HQ

  40

  45

  C1 Sub Division

  150

  144

  C2 Sub Division

  105

  102

  C3 Sub Division

  107

  100

  D Division

  472

  454

  Divisional HQ

  42

  44

  D1 Sub Division

  274

  259

  D2 Sub Division

  156

  151

  E Division

  311

  305

  Divisional HQ

  34

  35

  E1 Sub Division

  140

  137

  E2 Sub Division

  137

  133

  F Division

  315

  297

  Divisional HQ

  40

  40

  F1 Sub Division

  142

  131

  F2 Sub Division

  133

  126

  Complaints Against the Police
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by year and by police force the number of complaints that the Police Complaints Authority has received since its inception in April 1985; how many have been substantiated; how many prosecutions have been instituted; what was the result; if found proved, what was the sentence; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The numbers of complaints against each police force dealt with by the Police Complaints Authority are contained in the authority's annual reports for 1985 (Cmnd 307), 1986 (Cmnd 295) and 1987 (HC 465). Copies have been placed in the Library of the House. The report for 1988 will be published later this year. The reports also contain other details of the authority's casework, including analyses by category of the disciplinary outcome of all complaints, the reasons for the authority's decisions that no disciplinary charges should be preferred and for 1987 the total number of criminal charges brought.

  Totals of the numbers of all complaints which were substantiated and the type of proceedings that resulted are published annually in the reports of Her Majesty's chief inspector of constabulary and the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.

  Football-related Offences (London)
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many exclusion orders have(a) been sought and (b) been granted against persons convicted of football-related offences in the Metropolitan police area in the last five years for which information is available;

  (2) what is the current policy of the Metropolitan police Commissioner towards seeking exclusion orders against persons convicted of football-related offences in the Metropolitan police area; and if he will make a statement.
  107
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Since 1 August 1987, when the exclusion order provisions of the Public Order Act 1986 came into force, the Metropolitan police have recorded 254 exclusion orders made against persons convicted of a football-related offence in the Metropolitan police district. The decision to make an exclusion order is a matter for the courts, who may exercise their power if they are satisfied that the making of an order will help to prevent violence or disorder at, or in connection with, prescribed football matches.

DEFENCE

  NATO (Anniversary)
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has planned any local celebrations for the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation in areas where there is a prominent military presence.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Ministry of Defence and NATO are sponsoring a NATO briefing tour and a touring exhibition to mark the 40th anniversary of NATO. They will visit 21 locations throughout the United Kingdom between April and September. There is a prominent military presence in most of the localities covered.

  RAF Upper Heyford
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the report on noise levels to the east of RAF Upper Heyford to be complete; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neubert
  The report is being prepared but it cannot be finalised until further noise measurements to assess the effect of an alternative take-off pattern have been completed. A short period of settled weather with winds from an easterly direction would allow completion of this exercise.

  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the study into the possible realignment of the runway at RAF Upper Heyford or other ways of reducing aircraft noise to be complete; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neubert
  I hope to be in a position to publish the results of the study shortly after Easter.

  Royal Fleet Auxiliary
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement on his proposals to change the status of Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend the Member for Tonbridge and Mailing (Sir John Stanley) announced on 18 April 1985 at column 251 that we were considering a change in the status of FRA vessels which 108
  would have meant their ceasing to be registered as British merchant ships for the purpose of the Merchant Shipping Acts, and operating instead as Government-owned vessels on non-commercial service.

  We gave an undertaking that full consultation would follow that announcement and during that process it became clear that this proposal could have had unwelcome implications for the legal rights of RFA personnel. We have therefore decided to prepare instead a new Order in Council to replace the 1911 Order in Council which now governs all RFA vessels. The new Order in Council will enable RFA vessels to be designed and operated in a way which will meet military requirements, and to remain as British-registered vessels.

  Air Combat Manoeuvering
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what agreements or understandings he has reached with British Aerospace to make use of its proposed air combat manoeuvering facility in the North Sea.

  Mr. Neubert
  None.

  International Military Services
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if International Military Services still maintains its office in Tehran.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Hamilton (Mr. Robertson) on 13 January 1988 at column 200. The position is unchanged.

ENVIRONMENT

  Pensioners
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will reproduce the figures 7, 8, 10 and 11 of his Department's note on the relationship between local taxes and income and the distributional impact of the community charge, published on 15 December 1988, to show the impact on pensioner couples.

  Mr. Gummer
  The information requested has been placed in the Library. The figures show that 55 per cent. of married pensioner couples stand to pay less with the introduction of the community charge.

  Improvement Grants (Bolton)
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much funding has been provided by Bolton council for improvement grants for owner-occupied homes over each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  Bolton metropolitan borough council has reported the following information:
  109

  Renovations: Grants paid to owner occupied dwellings Bolton

  Year

  Conversion and improvement

  Intermediate

  Repairs

  Number of dwellings

  Amount2 (£ thousand)

  Number of dwellings

  Amount2 (£ thousand)

  Number of dwellings

  Amount2 (£ thousand)

  1984

  573

  4,174

  298

  1,041

  128

  405

  1985

  550

  4,517

  213

  615

  144

  497

  19861

  429

  3,016

  140

  348

  79

  256

  1987

  510

  2,984

  271

  663

  111

  384

  19881

  356

  2,073

  246

  498

  83

  294

  1 Figures cover nine months since returns for the June quarters of 1986 and 1988 have not been received.

  2 Up to and including the March quarter 1986 includes amounts paid to landlords (including housing associations). Of all amounts reported paid to owner-occupiers and landlords since March 1986 owner-occupiers accounted for 88 per cent. of conversion and improvement grants, 94 per cent. of intermediate grants, and 99 per cent. of repairs grants.

  Heveningham Hall
  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the latest position on the ownership of and the intended developments at Heveningham hall.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Heveningham hall is owned by ID Investment Development AG, which purchased it in 1981. Gulfpark Property Management Ltd, which manage the hall on the behalf of the owners, have stated publicly that rebuilding of the fire-damaged east wing will start this spring.

  Housing
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Derbyshire, North-East,Official Report, 20 December 1988, column 191, how many foam slag houses in each of the areas listed in that answer are owner-occupied, council houses and alternatively owned.

  Mr. Trippier
  North East Derbyshire district council has now identified 196 poured concrete houses using foam slag aggregate: 178 are council-owned, and 18 owner-occupied. Ownership details for the Scottish properties are not readily available.

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has plans to include foam slag houses within the categories covered by the Housing Defects Act.

  Mr. Trippier
  We have no evidence justifying designation of foam slag properties under the housing defects legislation.

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Derbyshire, North-East,Official Report, 20 December, column 191, on foam slag and no-fines houses, he anticipates that the Building Research Establishment will be able to publish its forthcoming technical guidance.

  Mr. Trippier
  The Building Research Establishment hopes to publish its report on Wimpey no-fines houses this summer. It expects to issue technical leaflets on the other, less common, no-fines types at intervals over the next year.

  Severn-Trent Water Authority
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the performance targets set for the chairman of the 110
  Severn-Trent water authority in 1987–88; and if he will specify the annual bonus received by the chairman in each of the last four years.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Information about Government controls on the Severn-Trent water authority, including performance aims and achievement against them, is set out in the authority's report and accounts for 1987–88 on pages 60 and 61. A copy is available in the Library.

  Water authority chairmen and executive board members were first eligible for performance bonuses in respect of 1986–87. The chairman of the Severn-Trent water authority received a bonus of 7·5 per cent. of his annual salary for that year and 9 per cent. for 1987–88.

  Industrial Pollution Control
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what responses he has received to his consultation document on a new system of industrial pollution control for industry; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We have received responses from 91 organisations and individuals. A list of these has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. Respondents gave a broad welcome to our proposals. In particular, there was a widespread acceptance of the idea that processes subject to control should be operated according to the best available technology not entailing excessive cost; and of our proposal that the new system should adopt a consent-based approach for authorising discharges, but with a residual duty remaining with the operator to carry out all other functions not specified in the consent in accordance with best practice.

  A clear majority of respondents to the Department's separate consultation document on the inputs of dangerous substances to water also agreed with our proposal that the responsibility for authorising the discharge of substances from prescribed processes to water should rest with Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution acting in consultation with the proposed National Rivers Authority. The Department therefore proposes to proceed on this basis. We shall make a further announcement about the results of this consultation exercise shortly.

  Our proposals, which will mark a significant advance in industrial pollution control in this country, have been welcomed in this way, and will be introduced into legislation at the earliest opportunity.

  Insulation
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment why loft and roof insulation are not included in statutory building regulations; and if he has plans to add them to present requirements.

  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 27 February 1989]: The Building Regulations 1985 include a requirement for the insulation of the roof or loft. A consultation paper issued last July porposed that the existing thermal insulation requirements (including those for the roof) should be upgraded. Responses to the consultation are being considered. It was also proposed that the form of this part of the regulations should be brought more into line with that of other parts, by requiring reasonable provision to be made for the conservation of fuel and power, and by including guidance on insulation standards in the approved document. Experience has shown that this approach enables effective control to be maintained, but in a clearer and more flexible way

  Rating Reform
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice he plans to issue to community charges registration officers on how to register(a) submariners spending alternate periods of four weeks at sea and four weeks on shore, (b) members of the armed forces on four months tours of duty in Northern Ireland, (c) Gurkhas, (d) Royal Navy personnel on sea-going vessels and (e) members of the armed forces attached to foreign forces and serving abroad with them.

  Mr Ridley
  [holding answer 27 February 1989]: My Department is consulting the local authority associations, and we shall issue guidance shortly.

  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment is he has any proposals to seek to exempt from community charge residents of(a) homes for elderly persons run by the Abbeyfield Society or (b) other homes run by other organisations including local authorities and charities of the same type of accommodation and level of care as Abbeyfield.

  Mr. Ridley
  [holding answer 27 February 1989]: I intend to amend the definition of a residential care home in paragraph 9(2) of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 (using the power conferred by paragraph 9(6)) to include any home run by the Abbeyfield society. This will bring the definition of a residential care home, for community charge purposes, more closely into line with the definition used for income support purposes.

  People receiving care or treatment in a home run by any organisation will be exempt from personal community charge liability, if they have their sole or main residence in the home, and if the home falls within the description in the 1988 Act of a residential care home, a nursing home, a mental nursing home or a hostel providing a high level of care.

  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what instructions he proposes to give to valuation and community charge tribunals concerning the provision of material in ethnic minority languages and translation facilities.

  Mr. Ridley
  [holding answer 27 February 1989]: The Government are making available to local authorities
  112
  translations of the notes to the community charge canvass form in five important minority languages. These explain the right to appeal. Most members of valuation and community charge tribunals will have been members of local valuation panels, and will have experience of appeals from people whose first language is not English. Anyone appealing to a tribunal may be accompanied by a friend or representative, who may speak on their behalf.

  Water Pollution
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment why there has been a delay in the publication of the first report of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution on river water quality containing data collected in 1987; when he expects the report to be published; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ridley
  [holding answer 27 February 1989]: The first annual report of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution covering the period 1 April 1987 to 31 March 1988 is due for publication before Easter. The issue of the Department's annual digest of environmental protection and water statistics published on 24 February contains information on river water quality based on data collected in 1987.

  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide details of the financial target percentages and external financing limits for each water authority for the year 1989–90.

  Mr. Ridley
  [holding answer 27 February 1989]: The external financial limits for water authorities in England (DOE services) are given in the table, on a full-year basis. They will be adjusted to take account of the privatisation of the water authorities, due to take place in the year. It is not the intention to set financial targets by statutory instrument for the year 1989–90 because the water authorities will have been privatised before it is over.

  External finance limits for water authorities in England 1989–90

  DoE services only

  £ million

  Anglian

  29

  Northumbrian

  12

  North-West

  50

  Severn-Trent

  24

  Southern

  28

  South-West

  3

  Thames

  -65

  Wessex

  12

  Yorkshire

  25

  Civil Servants (Political Activity)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many staff within his Department fall within each of the categories(a) politically restricted, (b) intermediate and (c) politically free, as defined by the Civil Service pay and conditions of service code.

  Mr. Ridley
  [holding answer 27 February 1989]: The numbers are as follows:

  DOE(central)

  Property Services Agency

  Politically restricted

  1,385

  974

  Intermediate

  5,000

  13,650

  Politically free

  1,285

  8,600

  113
  Part-time and casual staff are included in these figures.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many staff within his Department in each of the years 1979 to 1988 in the categories(a) politically restricted and (b) intermediate, as defined by the Civil Service pay and conditions of service code, have (i) successfully and (ii) unsuccessfully, appealed to the Civil Service appeal tribunal against a refusal of permission to take part in local or national political activity.

  Mr. Ridley
  [holding answer 27 February 1989]: One officer in the politically restricted category of staff appealed in 1986 to the Civil Service appeal board against the Department's refusal to permit him to stand for election to a local authority. The board upheld the Department's decision. No other appeals have been made.

  Departmental Staff (Voluntary Public Service)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his Department's policy with regard to(a) paid and (b) unpaid leave for staff to undertake voluntary public service.

  Mr. Ridley
  [holding answer 27 February 1989]: My Department's policy on these matters accords with paragraphs 870–873 of the Civil Service pay and conditions of service code, a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Peak Park Planning Board
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to how many people have been appointed by Derbyshire county council to serve on the Peak Park planning board; and how many of them live in the board's area.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [pursuant to her reply, 22 February 1989, c. 702]: Eight members of the board are appointed by Derbyshire county council. At present one of these lives within the national park.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much money has been paid by his Department to the Peak Park planning board over the last six years.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [pursuant to her reply, 22 February 1989, c. 702]: A total of £10,834,400 in national parks supplementary grant has been allocated in respect of the board's net expenditure over the period 1983–84—1988–89.

  Water Supply (Nitrates)
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which water abstraction plants for domestic use in the Anglian water region are complying with EEC limits on the nitrate levels in water supply; which are not; and on what dates each of the plants which are not complying will comply with the limits.

  Mr. Moynihan
  With the exception of the following:

  Isleham

  Congham

  Bircham

  Waneham Bridge

  Fring

  Drove Lane (Clayhill)

  Sedgeford

  Barrow

  Beachamwell

  Ulceby

  Gayton

  Otby/Bully Hills

  Marham

  Aswarby

  Moulton

  Binbrook

  Bedford

  Haborough

  114

  Little London

  Bowthorpe

  Branston Booths

  Lyng Forge

  Thorpe

  Harpley

  all remaining water treatment plants in the Anglian water authority region comply with the nitrate standard in the EC drinking water directive.

  Programmes of improvement have been submitted to my Department and, depending on the progress of the development work now in hand, all plants should comply with the directive standard by 1995.

  Cryptosporidia
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he is taking to tackle the outbreak of cryptosporidia contamination in the Thames water authority's Farmoor reservoir; if he will initiate a full inquiry into the causes of this outbreak; what action will be taken to prevent a recurrence of this outbreak; how far the levels of cryptosporidia contamination exceeded normal safety standards; and when this contamination was first discovered.

  Mr. Howard
  A possible link between a diarrhoea] illness called cryptosporidiosis in the Oxford and Swindon areas and the water supply from Thames water authority's Farmoor treatment works was first identified a little over a week ago.

  On finding cryptosporidia organisms in the treatment works and the distribution system on 20 February, Thames Water, in conjunction with local health authorities, immediately advised the public to take certain precautionary steps including boiling water for one minute before use by young children and immuno-compromised people. The water authority took urgent steps to remove the organisms from the water and tests over the last few days indicate that there has been a substantial improvement in the water leaving the works. Thames Water cannot yet be certain that there are none of these organisms left in the water and it is, therefore, maintaining the advice to boil water for the time being.

  I understand that Thames Water also proposes to undertake an independently led review at learning lessons from the experience.

  I am entirely satisfied that Thames Water has behaved in a very responsible manner throughout this incident and is taking all the necessary steps.

  Until 1985 there had been no confirmed connection anywhere in the world between cryptosporidiosis and water supplies. However, it is extremely difficult to detect the organism and complex new analytical techniques are only now being developed. Thames Water is in the forefront of these developments. For both these reasons, there is no routine sampling for this organism in water supplies.

  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will make a statement on the response of the Thames water authority to the possible threat to the public water supply in the Swindon area from the organism cryptosporidia;

  (2) what information he has on routine testing by water authorities for the organism cryptosporidia in the public water supply; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) what information he has on the incidence of the organism cryptosporidia, in the public water supply; and if he will make a statement.
  115
  Mr. Moynihan
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given today by my hon. and learned Friend the Minister for Water and Planning to the hon. Member for Oxford, East (Mr. Smith).

TRANSPORT

  Railways (Electrification)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will hold talks with the chairman of British Rail about the closure of the longsight overhead line department and the alternative provision of emergency electrification problems in the new region.

  Mr. Portillo
  No, I see no reason to do so. These are management matters for the British Railways board.

  London Underground (Automatic Ticket Barriers)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Leyton of 8 February,Official Report, column 707, what information he has as to the total expected cost of the automatic ticket barriers programme on London Underground.

  Mr. Portillo
  LRT estimates that the total cost of installing automatic ticket barriers at 63 stations will be £22·2 million at current prices.

  Accidents
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for each year since 1980 the number of(a) fatalities and (b) serious injuries on Britain's roads and railways, respectively.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The information requested is given in the table; 1987 is the most recent year for which complete data are available.

  Fatal and serious casualties on roads and railways: GB 1980–87

  Road accidents

  Rail accidents1

  Killed

  Seriously injured

  Killed

  Seriously injured

  1980

  6,010

  79,390

  69

  807

  1981

  5,846

  78,259

  76

  319

  1982

  5,934

  79,739

  57

  251

  1983

  5,445

  70,623

  69

  264

  1984

  5,599

  73,059

  76

  259

  1985

  5,165

  70,980

  74

  322

  1986

  5,382

  68,752

  72

  372

  1987

  5,125

  64,293

  104

  434

  1 All accidents, comprising train accidents, movement accidents, and non-movement accidents. Casualties comprise passengers, railway staff and other persons.

  Road Signs
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to include in the relevant regulations, for use within the highway, speed-activated signs.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Speed-activated signs may already be authorised by the Secretary of State for appropriate locations. Further experience and research is required before such signs are generally prescribed in the Traffic Signs (Speed Limit) Regulations for use by local highway authorities.
  116
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in installing speed-activated signs on roads for which he has responsibility in Leicestershire.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  There are no current plans to install speed-activated signs on trunk roads in Leicestershire.

  A427 (Leicestershire)
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will designate the A427 in Leicestershire a trunk road.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  No. The proposed M1-A1 Link, a new trunk road, will serve the movement of longer distance traffic in that area. Work on that scheme is expected to start later this year.

  Rural Transport Facilities
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what will be the rate of grant for rural bus services in 1989–90.

  Mr. Portillo
  Rural bus grant will be paid at the rate of 1p per eligible bus mile.

  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he is taking to encourage the provision of transport facilities in rural areas not well served by public transport.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Rural Development Commission is provided with £1 million a year from the Department of Transport to encourage new transport facilities in rural areas inadequately served by public transport. To date 194 grants, totalling £1·8 million, have been made. Funds are still available to support worthwhile projects.

  To assist that process the Rural Development Commission and the National Advisory Unit have jointly produced a new booklet to promote new approaches to the transport needs of rural communities. The booklet describes the scope for encouraging more flexible commercial services as well as self-help options, such as community buses and social car schemes as well as other solutions. The booklet points the way to sources of advice and financial incentives available. It should prove a valuable guide to the development of transport facilities for rural communities. A copy of the booklet entitled "Promoting Transport for Rural Communities" has been placed in the Library.

  Traffic Commissioners
  Mr. Ken Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the annual reports of the Traffic Commissioners for 1987–88 will be published.

  Mr. Portillo
  The reports will be published on 28 February and I am placing copies in the Library.

  Severn Bridge
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will now announce the shortlisted tenderers for the provision of a second crossing of the river Severn.
  117
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Yes. We received preliminary proposals from eight private sector consortia in response to the invitation published in the Official Journal of the European Communities on 7 December 1988 for proposals for the provision of a second crossing over the River Severn. This initial selection process was aimed to avoid abortive tendering costs being incurred by the construction industry.

  We are grateful to all those who responded.

  The shortlist of consortia selected as full tenderers is Costain/Amec/Wimpey; John Laing/GTM Entrepose; Tarmac/HBM/Fairfield Mabey; and Trafalgar House/ Balfour Beatty.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Sanitary Towels
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will introduce guidelines to ensure manufacturers remove the words "fully flushable" from packets of sanitary towels pending further research on the problem of blocked drains and contamination at sea.

  Mr. Forth
  I have no plans to do so. I understand that the industry has its own rigorous flushability test code and that it continues to work closely with the Water Research Council to ensure that any non-degraded waste material is effectively screened by water and sewage authorities.

  Post Offices
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list in the Official Report (a) the main post offices and (b) the sub-post offices in the areas of Colchester borough and Maldon district which have opened or closed since 1979.

  Mr. Forth
  The Post Office has supplied the following information. There has been no change since 1979 in the provision of main post offices in the Colchester Borough and Maldon district. During the same period one sub-office has been opened, at Fiveways (Colchester); and four sub-offices have been closed, at Lee road, Greenstead road, St. Botolph's (all in Colchester borough) and Mill road (Maldon district).

  Money Lenders
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he intends to remove the £30 limit on agreements on the licensing of money lenders.

  Mr. Forth
  As part of the review of the consumer credit licensing system, it is proposed that the exemption from licensing of traders lending money for sums not exceeding £30 shall be removed.

  Product Standards
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster(a) how many British Standard Institute technical committees exist to advise on drawing up product standards and (b) how many of these committees have a representative of a consumer organisation, defined as a member of an organisation belonging to the consumers in the European community group sitting as one of their members.
  118
  Mr. Forth
  [holding answer 24 February 1989]: The British Standards Institution informs me that BSI has 3,160 technical committees and sub-committees, of which about 1,200 are active at any one time, and the great bulk of which have work programmes which include product standards. Of these, about one quarter are concerned with consumer products. The consumer policy committee of BSI, which brings together most United Kingdom members of the consumers in the European Community group and others, is represented on 305 BSI technical committees and sub-committees.

  Trade Deficit (International Comparisons)
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many of the European countries which have a larger trade deficit than the United Kingdom are oil producers.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  [holding answer 27 February 1989]: With the exception of Norway no other western European country produces significant quantities of oil. The United Kingdom trade deficit is larger than that of Norway.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Health and Safety
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Lord President of Council if he will seek to initiate a review of all offices occupied by right hon. and hon. Members and their staff, to establish whether guidelines laid down under health and safety legislation in respect of space per person are being exceeded.

  Mr. Wakeham
  I refer the hon. Lady to the Services Committee's second report of Session 1986–87: "New Parliamentary Building (Phase 2)", HC378, and its first report of Session 1987–88: "New Parliamentary Building (Phase 2): The Next Steps", HC561. Those reports, which were recently considered by the House, recommend certain standards of accommodation for Members and their staff.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Ethiopia
  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if, in view of reported atrocities by the Ethiopian armed forces against civilians in Eritrea and Tigray, he will seek to procure the termination of support for the present Ethiopian regime through the Lome conventions;

  (2) whether he will consult his European partners in the Twelve as to the propriety of continuing Lome aid to Ethiopia in the light of its activities in the north of that country;

  (3) if he will take steps to reduce by £25·3 million the United Kingdom component of long-term aid to Ethiopia under Lomé III until the Ethiopian regime ceases its operations against civilians.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 27 February at column 1.

PRIME MINISTER

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

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

  Storm Damage (Clear-up)
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Prime Minister what is the latest estimate of the cost of clearing up operations after the storm of 13 February; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  It is too soon to assess the extent and cost of damage and restoration work arising from the recent storms. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland has sought detailed reports directly from those authorities affected in order to make an assessment of the situation as soon as possible.

  Consumer Protection
  Mr. Harry Ewing
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will appoint a Minister for the Protection of Consumers.

  The Prime Minister
  I have no plans to do so.

  10 Downing Street (Chief Press Officer)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the regrading of the post of chief press officer at Number 10 Downing street; and what staff inspection procedures were conducted prior to this regrading.

  The Prime Minister
  This post has not been regraded.

  Modern Language Teaching
  Sir David Price
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has any plans, in view of the increasing needs of the single European market, to seek to increase the emphasis being placed by schools and colleges upon the teaching of modern European languages.

  The Prime Minister
  The Government attach importance to improving the nation's skills in modern foreign languages. Our policies aim to make all levels of the education system more responsive to national needs and consumer demand.

  ILEA (Abolition)
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) whether she has any plans to meet representatives of the borough of Wandsworth to discuss funding for 1990–91, following the abolition of the Inner London education authority;

  (2) whether she has received any representations from the borough of Wandsworth about the level of funding following the abolition of the Inner London education authority in 1990; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  No.

  Engagements
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 28 February.
  120
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 28 February.

  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 28 February.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 28 February.

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

THE ARTS

  Business Sponsorship
  Mr. McLennan
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the breakdown of awards to arts organisations under the business sponsorship incentive scheme by regional arts association areas, Wales and Scotland for each year since its inception.

  Mr. Luce
  A regional breakdown from October 1984 to 1987–88, in descending order of awards under the business sponsorship incentive scheme, is as follows:

  Scheme started 1 October 1984

  Region

  Awards

  BSIS

  Sponsorship

  1984–85

  London

  14

  217,800

  888,232

  National

  11

  113,433

  353,791

  Northern

  5

  22,310

  66,925

  Yorkshire

  4

  63,350

  215,050

  South West

  4

  41,332

  128,994

  Scotland

  4

  38,706

  196,114

  Southern

  3

  48,417

  245,250

  West Midlands

  3

  42,501

  127,500

  Wales

  3

  32,500

  112,500

  North West

  2

  45,000

  160,000

  Eastern

  2

  11,751

  35,250

  East Midlands

  1

  15,000

  45,000

  Merseyside

  1

  3,000

  9,000

  International

  —

  —

  —

  Lincolnshire and Humberside

  —

  —

  —

  South East

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  57

  695,100

  2,583,606

  1985–86

  London

  39

  363,039

  1,184,000

  Scotland

  19

  124,620

  285,450

  Southern

  18

  85,101

  188,522

  South West

  17

  73,027

  172,726

  Eastern

  16

  64,152

  175,850

  National

  13

  136,379

  324,930

  West Midlands

  10

  65,402

  130,980

  North West

  8

  75,684

  90,900

  Wales

  8

  54,335

  122,500

  Northern

  7

  24,500

  43,300

  East Midlands

  7

  14,434

  21,100

  South East

  6

  58,500

  167,070

  Merseyside

  4

  52,750

  80,250

  Lincolnshire and Humberside

  2

  14,000

  14,000

  Yorkshire

  2

  7,000

  7,000

  International

  1

  5,000

  5,000

  Total

  177

  1,217,923

  3,012,578

  1986–87

  121

  Region

  Awards

  BSIS

  Sponsorship

  London

  44

  435,176

  1,537,007

  Southern

  25

  161,408

  256,322

  National

  22

  270,887

  522,592

  Scotland

  21

  122,214

  430,974

  Yorkshire

  15

  88,833

  130,500

  West Midlands

  14

  64,967

  88,900

  Wales

  12

  81,917

  155,417

  South West

  12

  69,717

  79,050

  Northern

  12

  59,440

  77,440

  Eastern

  12

  74,785

  86,415

  North West

  8

  25,384

  42,050

  South East

  8

  58,500

  58,500

  East Midlands

  6

  8,600

  10,600

  Lincolnshire and Humberside

  6

  10,234

  19,700

  Merseyside

  3

  12,500

  12,500

  International

  1

  8,500

  8,500

  Total

  223

  1,553,062

  3,516,467

  1987–88

  London

  36

  354,329

  779,097

  Scotland

  26

  1193,352

  1348,438

  Southern

  19

  131,386

  168,550

  South East

  15

  115,385

  232,650

  National

  15

  156,665

  359,992

  Wales

  14

  82,334

  142,700

  West Midlands

  13

  56,584

  68,550

  South West

  12

  84,250

  188,375

  Eastern

  10

  62,500

  116,850

  Yorkshire

  10

  56,267

  142,050

  North West

  9

  36,584

  112,250

  Northern

  7

  38,535

  64,501

  East Midlands

  5

  12,760

  12,760

  Lincolnshire and Humberside

  5

  9,834

  14,500

  International

  3

  35,000

  90,000

  Merseyside

  2

  7,250

  17,750

  Total

  201

  1,433,015

  2,859,013

  1 Since the Written Answer on 6 February at column 544, the figures have been slightly re-adjusted in the light of further information.

  Tate Galleries
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will estimate the annual central Government subsidy per visitor in the latest available year to(a) the Tate at Millbank and (b) the Tate in the North.

  Mr. Luce
  It is not possible to make direct comparisons in the form requested since the Tate gallery Liverpool has only been open since 28 May 1988.

  Grant-in-aid allocations for the Tate and visitor numbers are as follows:

  £ million

  1987–88

  6,497,000

  1988–89

  10,551,000

  Visitor numbers

  1987

  1,742,000

  1988

  12,091,000

  From 28 May 1988

  2491,000

  1 Including Tate, Liverpool.

  2 Liverpool only.

  Grain-in-aid per visitor over the two year period is approximately £4·45.

CIVIL SERVICE

  Civil Servants (Political Activity)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service how many staff within the Civil Service in the category intermediate, as defined by the Civil Service pay and conditions code, have permission to engage in local or national political activity.

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 27 February 1989]: A review in 1987 showed that about 97,000 people in the intermediate category were in posts whose occupants are given standing permission to take part in local or national political activities.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service how many staff within the Civil Service fall within each of the categories(a) politically restricted, (b) intermediate and (c) politically free as defined by the Civil Service pay and conditions of service code.

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 27 February 1989]: The information is not held centrally.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service how many staff within the Civil Service in each of the years 1979 to 1988 in the categories(a) politically restricted and (b) intermediate, as defined by the Civil Service pay and conditions of service code, have (i) successfully and (ii) unsuccessfully appealed to the Civil Service appeal tribunal against a refusal of permission to take part in local or national political activity.

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 27 February 1989]: The Civil Service appeal board has heard three appeals against a refusal of permission to take part in local or national political activity. In each case, the Department's decision was upheld. One appeal, from a member of the restricted category, was heard in 1986 and the other two, both in the intermediate category, in 1987.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service how many staff within the Civil Service in each of the categories(a) politically restricted, (b) intermediate and (c) politically free as defined by the Civil Service pay and conditions of service code, are local authority councillors.

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 27 February 1989]: This information is not held centrally.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Conventional Arms Talks (Vienna)
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the commencement of conventional arms talks in Vienna.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Negotiations on conventional forces in Europe and on confidence and security building measures will begin in Vienna on 6 March. My right hon. and learned Friend and other Foreign Ministers of CSCE participating countries will attend their opening. NATO Ministers first called for such talks in May 1986. An outline of NATO's objectives in these negotiations is set out in the 8 December statement from the North Atlantic Council ministerial meeting, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Israeli-occupied Territories
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the United States State Department on its report regarding human rights abuses in the Israeli occupied territories.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  None. The State Department report is in line with our own assessment.

  Iraq (Chemical Weapons)
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, during his recent visit to Iraq, he gained assurances from the Iraqi Government that they will, in future refrain from using chemical weapons.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Hamilton (Mr. Robertson) on 20 February 1989 at columns 472–3.

  European Single Market
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next intends to hold meetings with European Economic Community Ministers with regard to the establishment of the single market in 1992; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The Foreign Secretary and I regularly meet with Ministers from other member states at Foreign Affairs Councils the next one of which will be 20–21 March. However, single market issues are normally dealt with in the Internal Market Council which is attended by DTI Ministers. The next IMCs will be on 13 March and 6–7 April.

  Ethiopia
  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent information he has received on alleged atrocities being perpetrated by Ethiopian armed forces against the civilian population in the north.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We have recently received oral and written reports from the Relief Society of Tigray (UK). We are studying these carefully.

  Mr. Amery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, having regard to the 45th session of the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva, he will, under item 12 of the agenda, seek to raise the issue of the repeated violations of the Ethiopian regime against the human rights of the peoples of Eritrea and Tigray.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We shall refer under item 12 of the agenda of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights to our concern about reports of violations of human rights in Eritrea and Tigray.

  Iranian Arms Procurement Office
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Iranian arms procurement office in Victoria street has re-opened; and if he will make a statement.
  124
  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Iranian military procurement office has not re-opened.

  Iran (Arms Supply)
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affiairs what has been the status of the supply of arms to Iran since the end of the Iran-Iraq war; and what it is at present.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  There has been no change in our policy on arms sales to Iran as set out in the answer by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Trade and Industry on 18 January at column 241.

  Argentina (Arms Sales)
  Mr. Andy Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on recent arms sales from the United States of America to Argentina; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The United States transaction referred o in press reports was arranged a long time ago. Although we were aware of it, we have no reason to believe that it will increase the threat to the Falkland Islands, or that it reflects any change in United States policy.

  Since the lifting of its human-rights-linked arms embargo in 1983, the United States has supplied Argentina with routine equipment and spares. The United States Government are aware of our concerns.

SCOTLAND

  Universities
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has any proposals to change the statutory powers and functions of the rectors in the ancient Scottish universities.

  Mr. Rifkind
  I refer to the answer that I gave to my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Perth and Kinross (Sir N. Fairbairn) on 15 February 1989 at column 223.

  Devolution
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in formulating his policy on devolution, he consulted experts on the way in which devolved powers operate in Spain, Germany and the United States of America.

  Mr. Rifkind
  No.

  Homelessness
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many homeless 16 and 17-year-old males and females there are in Scotland; what is his estimate of the projected number there are likely to be as a result of the 1988 changes in income support; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information sought is not collected centrally.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his best estimate of the number of poll tax
  125
  registration forms incorrectly filled in in each of the local authority areas of Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  The processing of community charges inquiry forms is a matter for individual community charges registration officers and the information requested is not held centrally.

  Strathclyde (Jobs)
  Dr. Godman
  To as the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 9 February,Official Report, columns 783–4, how many of the planned jobs in Strathclyde were realised in (a) Strathclyde and (b) Greenock and Port Glasgow.

  Mr. Lang
  Figures on employment levels, realised are not available in the form requested. Many of the projects

  Table 1

  YTS Filled Places

  1988

  1989

  Training Occupational Classifications

  April

  May

  June

  July

  August

  September

  October

  November

  December

  January

  Administrative and Clerical

  Clerical

  98

  109

  118

  127

  120

  119

  116

  115

  108

  109

  Typists, Keyboard Operators

  28

  27

  51

  49

  45

  63

  58

  53

  52

  54

  Computing

  40

  38

  30

  24

  22

  18

  18

  18

  17

  19

  General

  18

  17

  21

  22

  25

  23

  28

  28

  27

  30

  Creative, and Educational and Recreational Service

  3

  3

  3

  9

  13

  18

  17

  16

  19

  30

  Health, Community and Personal Service

  Hairdressers

  152

  147

  143

  130

  135

  140

  150

  145

  140

  162

  Other H, C and P Service

  9

  9

  12

  12

  11

  11

  10

  10

  10

  10

  General

  19

  19

  17

  18

  22

  28

  25

  27

  26

  31

  Selling and Storage

  Retail Selling

  141

  131

  133

  145

  156

  146

  156

  152

  154

  166

  Stores and Warehouse Workers

  54

  57

  61

  54

  64

  63

  64

  63

  60

  56

  Other Selling and Storage

  —

  —

  2

  2

  2

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Catering and Food Preparation and Processing

  Chefs, Cooks

  2

  —

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  Other C and FP and P

  12

  18

  30

  27

  30

  28

  31

  32

  30

  36

  General

  16

  15

  13

  12

  13

  15

  14

  19

  19

  21

  Transport Operating

  6

  6

  5

  5

  5

  5

  5

  5

  4

  2

  Construction and Civil Engineering

  Bench Joiners

  4

  4

  4

  2

  1

  5

  5

  5

  5

  6

  Plumbers

  1

  1

  1

  1

  2

  2

  2

  2

  1

  1

  General

  84

  72

  99

  96

  98

  102

  100

  109

  105

  127

  Electrical and Electronic Engineering

  Electrical/Electronic Maintenance Fitters

  33

  33

  33

  33

  47

  32

  30

  30

  30

  33

  Other Electrical/Electronic Engineering

  23

  31

  31

  30

  28

  28

  27

  27

  30

  29

  General

  7

  5

  5

  7

  6

  5

  3

  2

  2

  2

  Mechanical Engineering and Metal Production and processing

  Other Mechanical Engineering and Metal Production/Processing

  11

  10

  11

  10

  7

  9

  8

  8

  8

  6

  General

  59

  51

  60

  59

  55

  63

  56

  50

  44

  47

  Motor Vehicle Repair and Maintenance

  Motor Vehicle Mechanics

  84

  82

  63

  57

  65

  72

  72

  71

  74

  78

  Motor Vehicle Body Repairs

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  General

  50

  46

  54

  51

  49

  48

  48

  45

  42

  45

  Printing

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  1

  Clothing and Textiles Manufacturing

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  4

  2

  5

  5

  10

  Classification not known

  84

  80

  85

  79

  77

  69

  67

  62

  60

  58

  126
  announced in more recent years are not yet complete, as a result of which, full employment levels will not have yet been reached.

  YTS
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish for 1988 and to date for Greenock and Port Glasgow(a) the number of filled places in YTS by training occupational classification and (b) the number of contracted places in YTS by training occupational classification.

  Mr. Lang
  The information is not available in the exact form requested. Figures for Inverclyde district for the current financial year from April 1988 to January 1989 are given in tables 1 and 2.
  127

  1988

  1989

  Training Occupational Classifications

  April

  May

  June

  July

  August

  September

  October

  November

  December

  January

  Total

  940

  902

  969

  936

  981

  1,000

  999

  988

  968

  1,063

  Note:

  Some filled places figures exceed agreed place numbers. This is because managing agents have the flexibility to increase provision within certain limits.

  Table 2

  YTS Agreed Places

  Training Occupational Classifications

  1988

  1989

  April

  May

  June

  July

  August

  September

  October

  November

  December

  January

  Administrative and Clerical

  Clerical

  161

  149

  149

  144

  144

  144

  144

  144

  144

  144

  Typists, Keyboard Operators

  27

  27

  27

  27

  27

  27

  27

  27

  27

  27

  Computing

  29

  29

  29

  29

  29

  29

  29

  29

  29

  29

  General

  28

  28

  28

  28

  29

  29

  29

  29

  29

  29

  Creative, and Educational and Recreational Service

  40

  40

  40

  40

  40

  40

  40

  40

  40

  40

  Health, Community and Personal Service

  Hairdressers

  225

  173

  169

  169

  169

  169

  169

  169

  169

  169

  Other H, C and P Service

  29

  6

  6

  6

  6

  6

  6

  6

  6

  6

  General

  36

  36

  36

  36

  36

  36

  36

  36

  36

  36

  Selling and Storage

  Retail Selling

  188

  272

  270

  239

  239

  239

  239

  239

  239

  239

  Stores and Warehouse Workers

  63

  62

  62

  62

  62

  62

  62

  62

  62

  62

  Other Selling and Storage

  —

  13

  13

  13

  13

  13

  13

  13

  13

  13

  Catering and Food Preparation and Processing

  Chefs, Cooks

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  Other C and FP and P

  114

  50

  50

  50

  50

  50

  50

  50

  50

  50

  General

  10

  10

  10

  10

  10

  10

  10

  10

  10

  10

  Transport Operating

  3

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  Construction and Civil Engineering

  Bench Joiners

  5

  5

  5

  5

  5

  5

  5

  5

  5

  5

  Plumbers

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  General

  102

  102

  102

  102

  102

  102

  102

  102

  102

  102

  Electrical and Electronic Engineering

  Electrical/Electronic Maintenance Fitters

  37

  37

  37

  33

  33

  33

  33

  33

  33

  33

  Other Electrical/Electronic Engineering

  33

  25

  25

  25

  25

  25

  25

  25

  25

  25

  General

  29

  29

  29

  29

  29

  29

  29

  29

  29

  29

  Mechanical Engineering and Metal Production and processing

  Other Mechanical Engineering and Metal Production/Processing

  2

  2

  2

  2

  5

  5

  5

  5

  5

  5

  General

  117

  117

  117

  117

  135

  135

  135

  135

  135

  135

  Motor Vehicle Repair and Maintenance

  Motor Vehicle Mechanics

  63

  64

  64

  64

  64

  64

  64

  64

  64

  64

  Motor Vehicle Body Repairs

  17

  17

  17

  17

  17

  17

  17

  17

  17

  17

  General

  52

  52

  52

  52

  52

  52

  52

  52

  52

  52

  Printing

  8

  8

  8

  8

  8

  8

  8

  8

  8

  8

  Clothing and Textiles Manufacturing

  24

  24

  24

  24

  24

  24

  24

  24

  24

  24

  Total

  1,445

  1,382

  1,376

  1,336

  1,358

  1,358

  1,358

  1,358

  1,358

  1,358

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the average weekly take-home pay for YTS leavers in(a) Greenock and Port Glasgow, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland as a whole; and what steps he is currently taking to review these pay rates.

  Mr. Lang
  The Government do not collect such information. However, the centre for educational 128
  sociology at Edinburgh university gathered some information in autumn 1987 on average rates of pay offered to young people after they left YTS as part of the Scottish young people's survey. Details were as follows:
  129

  Gross weekly earnings

  Sample numbers

  Strathclyde

  £86·02

  392

  Scotland

  £88·01

  801

  The survey sample size precludes the provision of meaningful figures for Greenock and Port Glasgow.

  When a young person leaves YTS for a job the pay received is entirely a matter for the employer.

  Forestry
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the sale of Loch Hourn plantation, Highland region, by the Forestry Commission was carried out in compliance with the guidelines on Forestry Commission disposals set out in the written answer to the hon. Member for Caerphilly on 23 January,Official Report, column 405.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Yes.

  Heritage
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what criteria must be satisfied before he will take sites of historic or archaeological importance into his guardianship.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Sites to be taken into the guardianship of the Secretary of State are normally those sites of eminent national importance, in historical or archaeological terms, whose maintenance and management cannot satisfactorily be undertaken by any other party.

  Civil Servants (Political Activity)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many staff within his Department in each of the following categories:(a) politically restricted, (b) intermediate and (c) politically free, as defined by the Civil Service pay and conditions of service code, are local authority councillors.

  Mr. Rifkind
  The answer is:

  (a) none

  (b) three

  (c) none.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many staff within his Department in each of the years 1979 to 1988 in the categories(a) politically restricted and (b) intermediate, as defined by the Civil Service pay and conditions of service code, have (i) successfully and (ii) unsuccessfully appealed to the Civil Service appeal tribunal against a refusal of permission to take part in local or national political activity.

  Mr. Rifkind
  None.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many staff within his Department in the category politically restricted, as defined by the Civil Service pay and conditions code, have permission to engage in local political activity.

  Mr. Rifkind
  None.
  130
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many staff within his Department fall within each of the categories:(a) politically restricted, (b) intermediate and (c) politically free, as defined by the Civil Service pay and conditions of service code.

  Mr. Rifkind
  The numbers of Scottish Office staff falling into the three categories are(a) restricted—846, (b) intermediate—4,826·5 and (c) free—1,048·5.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many staff within his Department in the category intermediate, as defined by the Civil Service pay and conditions of service code, have permission to engage in local or national political activity.

  Mr. Rifkind
  Scottish Office records date from 1972. Since then 42 members of staff in the intermediate category have received permission to engage in local or national political activity.

  Departmental Staff (Voluntary Public Service)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his Department's policy with regard to(a) paid and (b) unpaid leave for staff to undertake voluntary public service.

  Mr. Rifkind
  Staff are granted(a) paid and (b) unpaid leave in accordance with the Civil Service pay and conditions code. Each case is considered sympathetically and on its own merits.

  Education Policy
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what regard he has paid to the opinion of the organised teaching professions in shaping his policies on schools and education in Scotland.

  Mr. Rifkind
  [holding answer 27 February 1989]: I am always prepared to take account of the views of teachers' organisations when formulating policies for education in Scotland.

  I have been particularly pleased to see the EIS ending its opposition to school boards.

  Self-governing Schools
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list each of the teachers' organisations consulted by him whilst preparing his paper on "Self-Governing Schools: Extending the Choice for Scottish Parents".

  Mr. Rifkind
  [holding answer 27 February 1989]: The teaching unions have all been invited to comment on the paper on "Self-Governing Schools"—to date three have responded.

  Labour Statistics
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide a breakdown of the unemployment statistics for Greenock and Port Glasgow by district electoral division, or on another convenient basis.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 23 February 1989]: On 12 January 1989 (the latest date for which information is available) the number of unemployed claimants in each electoral ward of the Greenock and Port Glasgow parliamentary constituency was as shown in the table.
  131

  Ward name

  Unemployed claimants

  Bellville

  426

  Blairmore

  352

  Bow

  468

  Broomhill

  275

  Clune Brae

  483

  Gateside

  281

  Gibshill

  637

  Greenock East Central

  671

  Greenock South

  367

  Greenock West Central

  251

  Greenock West End

  180

  Larkfield

  425

  Port Glasgow East

  574

  Port Glasgow South

  485

  Port Glasgow West

  305

  Upper Larkfield

  439

  Constituency Total

  6,619

  This information is available in the Library.

NATIONAL, FINANCE

  Relocation
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department has taken to evaluate the Fylde coast as a suitable place for relocated Civil Service jobs.

  Mr. Brooke
  Departments for which my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer is responsible have in hand the serious and substantial reviews of relocation opportunities referred to in the answer I gave on 9 February 1989 at columns 751–2 to my hon. Friend the Member for Beverley (Mr. Cran). Like those being conducted by other Departments, these reviews are directed towards finding sites offering easier labour markets, value for money and increased operational efficiency. Decisions will be announced once the essential process of assessment, consultation and decision for each review have been completed.

  Official Secrets Bill
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much it would have cost to have reprinted the Official Secrets Bill following completion of the Committee stage.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 27 February 1989]: The cost to Her Majesty's Stationery Office for printing the Official Secrets Bill after its Committee stage would have been £2,374.

  Civil Servants (Voluntary Work)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the overall policy of the Civil Service with regard to(a) paid and (b) unpaid leave for staff to undertake voluntary public service.

  Mr. Brooke
  [holding answer 27 February 1989]: Paid leave may be granted for a variety of voluntary public service activities which have statutory support, including local government work, magisterial duties and school governor business. Annual limits, ranging from three days to 24 days, apply to each activity and an individual may be granted a maximum of 24 days paid special leave in any one year.
  132
  Unpaid leave is granted at the discretion of the employing Department. It may be allowed in addition to paid leave for work with statutory bodies or given to staff engaged in activities on behalf of non-statutory "voluntary aid" bodies.

HEALTH

  Renal Dialysis
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the National Health Service hospitals, by region, which provide renal dialysis, the number of dialysis machines at each hospital, and the number of in-patients and out-patients treated per annum at each unit.

  Mr. Freeman
  Renal units in England which report to the European Dialysis and Transplant Association registry (EDTA) are listed by regional health authority:

  Northern

  Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle

  South Cleveland Hospital, Middlesbrough

  Sunderland Royal Infirmary

  Yorkshire

  Hull Royal Infirmary

  St. James's University Hospital, Leeds

  The General Infirmary at Leeds

  Trent

  Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield

  Nottingham City Hospital

  Leicester General Hospital

  Derby City Hospital

  East Anglian

  Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge

  Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, Norwich

  North West Thames

  Charing Cross Hospital, London

  St. Mary's Hospital, London

  North East Thames

  The Royal Free Hospital, London

  St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London

  The London Hospital (Whitechapel)

  St. Paul's Hospital, London

  Westcliff Hospital, Westcliff-on-Sea

  South East Thames

  Kent and Canterbury Hospital, Canterbury

  St. Thomas' Hospital, London

  Guy's Hospital, London

  King's College Hospital, London

  Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton

  South West Thames

  St. Helier Hospital, Carshalton

  Wessex

  St. Mary's Hospital, Portsmouth

  Oxford

  Churchill Hospital, Oxford

  Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading

  South Western

  Southmead Hospital, Bristol

  Derriford Hospital, Plymouth

  Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (Wonford), Exeter

  Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, Gloucester

  West Midlands

  Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham

  East Birmingham Hospital

  North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary, Stoke-on-Trent

  133

  Wordsley Hospital, Stourbridge

  Walsgrave General Hospital, Coventry

  Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, Shrewsbury

  New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton

  Mersey

  Royal Liverpool Hospital

  Sefton General Hospital, Liverpool

  Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital (Alder Hey)

  North Western

  Manchester Royal Infirmary

  Royal Manchester Children's Hospital

  University Hospital of South Manchester (Withington Hospital), Manchester

  Hope Hospital, Salford

  Royal Preston Hospital

  Special Health Authority

  (Hammersmith and Queen Charlotte's)

  Hammersmith Hospital, London

  The list does not provide an accurate guide to the facilities available to the residents of particular regions, since there is significant movement of patients across regional boundaries. Furthermore, the list includes only those centres which report data directly to the EDTA registry; some units, particularly those which are satellites of main renal centres, are therefore omitted. Military hospitals are also excluded.

  Information on the number of dialysis machines is not collected centrally. The EDTA does not disclose activity statistics relating to individual units, but information on the number of patients receiving different forms of dialysis by region is given in my reply to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson) on 30 January at columns 42–44.

  Listeria
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence he has that unpasteurised milk or cheese is more likely than pasteurised to give rise to listeriosis.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I have no such evidence. The chief medical officer's recent advice to pregnant women and other vulnerable groups to avoid certain types of soft cheese drew no distinction between those made from pasteurised or unpasteurised milk.

  Food Storage
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health below what specific temperature the chief medical officer advises that food stored in a refrigerator should be kept.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The chief medical officer has not issued any such specific advice.

  Medical Audit Schemes
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what pilot studies he has initiated into medical audit schemes; what hospitals were involved; what private hospitals have been subject to medical audit; and which of the relevant Royal Colleges have recommended any such schemes.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Effective systems of medical audit are already established in a number of hospitals and the benefits are widely recognised within the profession. The royal colleges are committed to the principle of medical audit and in many cases have played a major role in developing audit methods and promoting their use.

  Plastic Surgery
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he proposes to provide funds for a third consultant post in plastic surgery in Leicester.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I announced in "Working for Patients" that we intend to fund centrally 100 additional consultant posts over the next three years. We will soon be inviting bids from health authorities for these posts. Whether individual bids succeed will depend on their meeting the criteria of the scheme. It is also open to health authorities themselves to fund new consultant posts as part of their normal service planning.

  Electoral Registration Statistics
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list in the Official Report the total number of people in each parliamentary constituency in England and Wales listed on (a) the electoral registers for 1988–89 and (b) the electoral registers for 1989–90.

  Mr. Freeman
  The total numbers of people listed on the electoral register for 1988–89 in each parliamentary constituency have been published by the OPCS in table 1.4 of "Electoral Statistics: 1988" (Series EL No. 15), a copy of which is in the Library. Similar figures for 1989–90 are still being collected from local electoral registration Officers. They will be included in "Electoral Statistics: 1989" (Series EL No. 16) which is scheduled for publication at the end of May.

  Locum Doctors
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give the cost by year, for the last five years, to the Trent regional health authority, by area health authority, for employing locum doctors; what has been the national average over the same period; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 12 December 1988]: Figures derived from the annual accounts of the district health authorities comprising the Trent region are shown in the table.

  Equivalent expenditure in England represents an approximate annual average per authority (district health authorities and the special health authorities for the London postgraduate teaching hospitals) as follows:

  £ thousand (cash)

  1983–84

  35

  1984–85

  51

  1985–86

  81

  1986–87

  131

  1987–88

  215

  However, these averages include data for the four Thames regions which tend to spend more in this category than other regions.

  In November 1988, health authorities were advised of the maximum rate they should pay to agencies supplying locum doctors for work in hospitals from 12 December 1988. We have no evidence that the advice has led to any significant reduction in the number of available agency locums; and we are currently considering the outcome of widespread consultation on guidance to be issued to health authorities on their employment.
  135

  Expenditure on Non-NHS Staff (Agency, Etc)—Medical

  £ cash

  Trent Region

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  District Health Authorities

  North Derbyshire

  —

  —

  —

  10,340

  4,149

  Southern Derbyshire

  14,829

  —

  —

  —

  330,215

  Leicestershire

  660

  —

  —

  —

  2,043

  North Lincolnshire

  —

  —

  —

  2,706

  19,903

  South Lincolnshire

  —

  230

  53,968

  128,774

  461,371

  Bassetlaw

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Central Nottinghamshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Nottingham

  —

  —

  —

  11,361

  6,130

  Barnsley

  168

  358

  262

  42,685

  23,990

  Doncaster

  —

  6,079

  49,060

  204,049

  164,169

  Rotherham

  1,261

  —

  —

  —

  28,748

  Sheffield

  12,765

  477,968

  606,789

  653,210

  855,549

  Total

  29,683

  484,635

  710,079

  1,053,125

  1,896,257

  Note:

  The figures relate to the health authorities' provision of hospital and community health services and exclude the costs of directly employed NHS medical staff engaged on locum duties.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Polytechnics (Science and Engineering)
  Mr. Bell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of places in science and engineering in polytechnics remain unfilled in the current year.

  Mr. Jackson
  Information on the number of places available in polytechnics is not held centrally either in total or by subject.

  School Leavers (Qualifications)
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what advice he has given Her Majesty's inspectorate in the light of the number of school leavers with insufficient basic educational qualifications.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Government look to Her Majesty's inspectorate for independent advice on all educational matters. We look forward to studying its forthcoming review of the lower attaining pupils' programme, which we established in 1982. Provisional statistics indicate that, following the introduction of GCSE, the proportion of school leavers with qualifications in English, maths and French has increased significantly, as has the proportion of 16-year-olds gaining five or more results at grade C or above.

  Food Research
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are his responsibilities for food research.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Department is responsible, through the science budget, for funding research by the research councils. This includes work relevant to food undertaken by the Agricultural and Food Research Council and the Medical Research Council.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received in respect of his letter of guidance to local authorities about the conduct of ballots for grant-maintained schools.
  136
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received in respect of his letter of guidance concerning the conduct of ballots for grant-maintained schools.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Parents, governors and others continue to make known to my right hon. Friend their concerns about the conduct of ballots on grant-maintained status.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many schools have applied to him for grant-maintained status; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ray Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many schools have applied to him for grant-maintained status; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many applications he has now received from schools wishing to opt out of local education authority control.

  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many schools have so far applied for grant-maintained status.

  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many schools have now applied for grant-maintained status; and when he expects to decide on those applications.

  Mr. John L. Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about the number of schools seeking to opt out under the Education Reform Act.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  My right hon. Friend recently approved proposals for grant-maintained status published by Skegness grammar school and Audenshaw high school, and has today approved the proposal from St. James's School, Bolton. A further 11 schools have published such proposals, and 16 more have been required to do so by a positive vote of parents in a secret, postal ballot. My right hon. Friend will determine such proposals as quickly as the statutory procedures and his consideration of all the relevant factors permit. The Department understands that ballots are at present required to be held in respect of a further 13 schools. A large number of parents and governors continue to contact the Department about making applications for grant-maintained status.
  137
  Mr. Colin Shepherd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many ballots have taken place for schools to adopt grant-maintained status; and if he will make a statement on the conduct of these ballots.

  Mr. Roger King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many schools have balloted on changing to grant-maintained status.

  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the latest ballots of parents for grant-maintained school status.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Parents have voted in ballots on grant-maintained status at 49 schools. My right hon. Friend is determined to ensure that all such ballots, and the preliminaries to them, are properly conducted. The Department wrote recently on this matter to the chief education officers of all local education authorities in England. I have sent a copy of that letter to all hon. and right hon. Members in England and Wales, and a copy has been placed in the Library of both Houses.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the progress of local education authorities in disseminating correct information about grant-maintained status when changes of schools to such status are being contemplated.

  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the conduct of ballots for schools considering opting out.

  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on intimidation in the context of schools deciding to apply for grant-maintained status.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Department's letter to local education authorities of 13 February sets out my right hon. Friend's views on these matters. It makes clear his concern about suggestions that some local education authorities may have been seeking to hinder or deter parents, governors and staff from considering a possible application for grant-maintained status, or from carrying out the statutory duties associated with such an application. It reminds local education authorities of their duties and responsibilities and of the need to ensure that any information they provide is accurate and represents a proper use of public funds.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has had representations from the Grant-Maintained Schools Trust with regard to funding; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received from the Grant-Maintained Schools Trust with regard to funding; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  I refer hon. Members to the replies my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Blackburn (Mr. Straw) on Friday, 17 February at columns 416–417.

  National Curriculum
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent representations he has received regarding the national curriculum.
  138
  Mr. Ken Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress he is making in introducing the national curriculum; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  We have received over 200 written comments from bodies representing various educational and other interests on the draft orders for mathematics and science published before Christmas. We shall take these into account in preparing final orders, which I expect to lay before the House early next month and which will start to come into effect in the autumn.

  Nursery Education
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to increase support for nursery education; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Bridgend (Mr. Griffiths).

  Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he last met members of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals; and what was discussed.

  Mr. Jackson
  My right hon. Friend often meets representatives of the CVCP to discuss a variety of issues.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps his Department is taking to monitor the implementation of sections 5 and 6 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butcher
  The primary responsibility for the implementation of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986 falls to my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Health. His social services inspectorate is undertaking a study of the implementation of the Act, including sections 5 and 6. Our two Departments will discuss the outcome of this study in due course.

  University Research (Dual Funding)
  Dr. Reid
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether it is his intention to maintain the principle of dual funding of research in all universities.

  Mr. Jackson
  We have no plans to depart from the principle of the present dual support approach to publicly funded research in universities. My right hon. Friend has advised the Universities Funding Council, which takes over university funding responsibilities, from the present University Grants Committee on 1 April 1989 that, within that framework, there needs to be greater concentration and selectivity of research; that funding for research should be more clearly distinguished from funding for teaching; and that the council should consider how judgments on the quality and quantity of research should influence its funding decisions.

  Education (Basildon)
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent correspondence he has received on education in Basildon.

  Mr. Butcher
  Apart from the recent letter from my hon. Friend, my right hon. Friend has received no recent correspondence on the organisation of education in Basildon.

  St. Francis Xavier School, Woolton
  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received from parents and others on the future of St. Francis Xavier school, Woolton.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received concerning the future of St. Francis Xavier school, Woolton, Liverpool; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Angela Rumbold
  My right hon. Friend has received four letters about the actions of the governing body of St. Francis Xavier School following their receipt of a request from parents that a ballot should be held on whether the school should seek grant-maintained status.

  Student Loans
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what discussions he has had with financial institutions concerning the Government's White Paper on student loans; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what discussions he has had with financial institutions concerning the Government's White Paper on student loans; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what discussions he has had with financial institutions concerning the Government's White Paper on student loans; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  My right hon. Friend met leaders of the clearing bank and building society sectors on two occasions before the publication of the White Paper. He and officials have been engaged in a series of discussions with a variety of financial institutions since then, and those discussions are continuing in a constructive spirit.

  Food Safety
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on his responsibilities for research into food safety.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Department is responsible, through the science budget, for funding research by the research

  Thousands

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  Secondary school pupils over school leaving age

  278

  261

  245

  235

  Full-time and sandwich students (full-equivalents) in maintained further education colleges

  327

  320

  309

  300

  140
  councils. This includes work relevant to food safety undertaken by the Agricultural and Food Research Council and the Medical Research Council.

  Sir David Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any plans to direct that the research councils increase research into the cleanliness and safety of foods for human consumption in the light of current public concern.

  Mr. Jackson
  No: the total resources available for science are distributed taking into account the needs of individual institutions and programmes, but that distribution is not determined by my Department. It is for councils to determine their expenditure on particular areas of research. However the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food does commission a considerable volume of research with the Agricultural and Food Research Council, a significant proportion of which is related specifically to food safety.

  Capital Allocations
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many local education authorities received a capital allocation for 1989–90 less than the figure shown as committed expenditure in their bid.

  Mr. Butcher
  A total of 48 local education authorities received a prescribed capital allocation for expenditure for 1989–90, less than the figure shown as committed expenditure in their plans.

  All local authorities were informed in December 1987 that committed expenditure arising from building works started in 1988–89 or earlier would be covered only up to the level of their provisional indications for 1989–90 and 1990–91. They were advised to contain their commitments within these figures except insofar as any excess could be financed from other sources—such as virement or capital receipts.

  Women Teachers
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has any plans to encourage more women into science and maths teaching.

  Mr. Butcher
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given earlier today by my hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Gateshead, East (Ms. Quin).

  Further Education
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the statistical projections with regard to those remaining in full-time education after 16 years which are contained in the public expenditure White Paper.

  Mr. Butcher
  The relevant statistical projections contained in the public expenditure White Paper are:
  141
  Since the public expenditure White Paper was written, provisional information has shown that the proportion of 16-year-olds staying on in full-time education has risen from 46 per cent. to 49 per cent. between 1987 and 1988. Future projections will take account of this and other information as it becomes available.

  Teachers
  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress has been made in agreeing new collective bargaining arrangements for the teaching profession.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to introduce legislation relating to changes in negotiating procedures in respect of teachers' pay and conditions of service.

  Mr. Haynes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he is going to announce his plans for the restoration of negotiating machinery for teachers' pay and conditions.

  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he is going to announce his plans for the restoration of negotiating machinery for teachers' pay and conditions.

  Mr. Flannery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he is going to announce his plans for the restoration of negotiating machinery for teachers' pay and conditions.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  I refer the hon. Members to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to my hon. Friend the Member for Salisbury (Mr. Key) on 31 January at column 159.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to receive the recommendations of the interim advisory committee on school teachers' pay and conditions.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to my hon. Friend the Member for Rugby and Kenilworth (Mr. Pawsey) on 16 February at columns 323–26.

  University Grants Committee
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he next plans to meet representatives of the University Grants Committee; and what matters will be discussed.

  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he last met the University Grants Committee; and what subjects were discussed.

  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will arrange to meet the University Grants Committee to discuss the proposed closure of the school of veterinary medicine at Glasgow university.

  Mr. Jackson
  My right hon. Friend frequently meets in the course of usual business the chairman of the University Grants Committee and the chairman and chief executive-designate of the Universities Funding Council to discuss a variety of issues relating to university funding and subject provision.

  Scottish Universities
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any plans to meet representatives of the principals of Scottish universities.

  Mr. Jackson
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan (Mr. Salmond) on 31 January at column 164.

  Student Unions
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received in response to his consultative paper on student unions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  No consultative paper has been issued. My Department is still analysing responses to its questionnaire about student unions. On the basis of the information obtained the Government will reach conclusions on the best action to take and will then consult all those concerned about those conclusions.

  Physics and Chemistry
  Dr. Moonie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the teaching of physics and chemistry in universities.

  Mr. Jackson
  I refer to the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Leeds, West (Mr. Battle) on 31 January at column 162.

  A-Levels
  Mr. Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of all 16-year-olds commenced studying A-levels in(a) September 1988 and (b) September 1978.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The proportion of 16-year-olds in England studying A levels was 25 per cent. in 1987–88 and 20 per cent. in 1979–80. Information by age prior to 1979–80 is not available, and information for 1988–89 is not yet available.

  School Governors
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any plans to introduce legislation to prevent local authorities from appointing nominees from one political party for all places as school governors; and what representations he has received concerning local authorities which have done this.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Government have received various representations on this matter and has consistently stated that those authorities which nominate only majority party supporters as school governors are not behaving as their electorates would expect. We hope that they can be persuaded to adopt a fairer approach. We are not convinced that this is an appropriate matter for legislation.

  Universities (Financing)
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received on the financial problems facing the universities; and if he will make a statement.
  143
  Mr. Jackson
  My right hon. Friend has received many representations about all aspects of university policy, including university funding.

  School Sports
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has on the level of participation of school children in team sports(a) currently and (b) 30 years ago.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  This information is not available centrally.

  Science Budget
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of his science budget is spent in Wales, Scotland and England, respectively.

  Mr. Jackson
  In 1987–88, the latest year for which figures are available, 3 per cent. of the science budget was spent in Wales, 9 per cent. in Scotland and 71 per cent. in England.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what increases in real terms are proposed in the science budget in 1990–91 and 1991–92.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what increases in real terms are proposed in the science budget in 1990–91 and 1991–92.

  Mr. Jackson
  The announced allocations for the science budget for 1990–91 and 1991–92 allow for real terms increases of 8·8 per cent. and 7·9 per cent. respectively over the revised allocation for 1988–89.

  Teacher Supply
  Mr. Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals he has to ensure adequate teacher supply; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butcher
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my right hon. Friend gave on 31 January to the hon. Member for Bridgend (Mr. Griffiths) at column 157.

  Surplus School Places
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has for assisting local authorities in reducing surplus places in schools; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has for assisting local authorities in reducing surplus places in schools; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butcher
  Local education authorities are aware of the high cost of under-used capacity at schools with a substantial proportion of surplus places. They recognise therefore that it is very much in their own interests to continue to come forward with proposals to rationalise their school provision where appropriate. The Government's public expenditure plans assume that authorities collectively will achieve the national targets for the removal of surplus places.

  City Technology Colleges
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress he has made on his plans for city technology colleges; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress he has made on his plans for city technology colleges; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butcher
  I refer the hon. Members to the answer my right hon. Friend gave earlier this afternoon to the hon. Member for Coventry, North-West (Mr. Hughes).

  Mr. Clelland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received from the City Technology Trust with regard to funding; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butcher
  The City Technology College Trust was established, with charitable status in April 1987. In August 1987 the chairman, Mr. Cyril Taylor made a request for grant-aid towards work that was being undertaken.

  Agreement was given in March 1988 for a grant of up to a maximum of £200,000, or ⅔ of the trust's total relevant expenditure, during the four years from 1987–88 to 1990–91. Grant is payable towards the trust's activities in finding sites for CTCs and providing advice and support to CTC projects. A request has recently been received concerning the extension of funding for a further two years.

  Student Finance
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many letters he has received during the last six months on the subject of student finance.

  Mr. Jackson
  Since 1 September, about 4,000.

  O-Levels
  Mr. Janman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will(a) make it his policy to encourage exam boards to make the O-level exam available in competition with the GCSE and (b) continue to allow education authorities, schools and parents to opt for either exam; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Section 5 of the Education Reform Act provides for the statutory approval of qualifications and syllabuses for children of compulsory school age in maintained schools. My right hon. Friend has asked the School Examinations and Assessment Council to advise what qualifications—GCSE and other—should be approved. He will consider that advice, which he expects to receive by May, in the context of his intention that GCSE and equivalent qualifications should constitute the principal method of assessment of pupils' attainment at age 16.

  Wandsworth
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what discussions he is having with the London borough of Wandsworth about its plans for running the education services in the borough; and if he will make a statement.
  145
  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Department is in regular contact with Wandsworth, as with other inner London boroughs, on a range of issues relating to their preparations for the transfer of education responsibility. These issues include the boroughs' development plans, the future of specific services, detailed arrangements for the transfer of functions and property and staffing matters.

  Teachers of the Deaf
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he plans to make any change in the local education authority training grants scheme so as to encourage an enhanced take-up of places for in-service training to become a specialist teacher of deaf children.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Training to become a qualified teacher of deaf children will again be a national priority area under the scheme in 1989–90 and grant-aided allocations to support our target number of 110 trainees were announced to authorities last autumn. My right hon. Friend will shortly consider detailed arrangements for the scheme in 1990–91.

  Inner London Education Authority
  Mr. Arbuthnot
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress has been made by London boroughs in preparing for taking over the responsibilities currently undertaken by the Inner London education authority.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The inner London councils are required, under section 165 of the Education Reform Act, to publish a development plan for education in their area. Ten have already done so, and the remaining three have confirmed that they will do so later this week. All the councils have consulted locally about their proposed plans and have also reached joint agreement on a range of important issues of common concern. They continue to discuss arrangements for certain services currently provided on a cross-borough basis. The Government are making available £25 million specific grant for the councils in 1989–90 to support continued planning and preparation; all are making senior appointments to their education departments and are preparing to take on further staff to work on transfer arrangements. The Government look to the inner London councils to maintain and indeed increase this momentum in the coming months.

  Secondary School Pupils
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the latest figure for spending per secondary pupil in inner London and the comparable figures for the rest of London and for the former metropolitan authorities.

  Mr. Butcher
  The average net institutional expenditure per pupil in maintained secondary schools in 1986–87, the latest year for which information about actual spending is available, is given in the table:
  146

  Average net institutional expenditure1 per secondary pupil2

  £ per pupil 1986–87 cash terms

  ILEA

  2,350

  Outer London boroughs

  1,550

  Metropolitan districts

  1,355

  1 Net institutional expenditure includes the cost of salaries and wages, premises and certain supplies and services. It does not include the cost of school meals, central administration and inspection, debt charges or revenue contributions to capital outlay.

  2 The figures are based on LEA expenditure returns to DOE and pupil number returns to DES.

  Medical Research
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the implications for medical research financed by the Medical Research Council of new proposals for the funding of the hospital service.

  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what arrangements he has made to protect medical research supported by the Medical Research Council with co-operation in clinical aspects by the National Health Service, in the light of the Government's new proposals for the funding of hospital services.

  Mr. Jackson
  The White Paper "Working for Patients' (Cm. 555) makes it clear that the Government are firmly committed to maintaining the quality of medical education and research. In the light of the proposals in the White Paper, the Government will be considering how best to ensure that costs associated with research in the National Health Service are met, and that appropriate arrangements exist between the MRC and the Health Service for the effective prosecution of research.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on future Government support for clinical medical research.

  Mr. Jackson
  The main agency through which the Government support medical research, including clinical medical research, is the Medical Research Council. My right hon. Friend announced on 7 February 1989 that the council's grant-in-aid for 1989–90 will be £176 million. This is an increase in real terms of 12 per cent. on the 1988–89 figure of £150 million. The council's cash planning figures for 1990–91 and 1991–92 are £181 million and £185 million respectively; these will be subject to review in the usual way in the public expenditure survey. The allocation of the council's funds between clinical and other research is a matter for the council, but I understand that it is planning to increase its emphasis on clinical research. Some support of clinical research is also provided through UGC block grants to universities and medical schools, and through regional health authorities' spending.

  LEAs (Charging)
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on the implementation of the circular on charging by local education authorities, following the enactment of the Education Reform Act 1988.
  147
  Mr. Butcher
  The circular on charges for school activities describes provisions in the Education Reform Act 1988 which come into force on 1 April. My right hon. Friend will be monitoring the implementation of these provisions.

  School Buildings
  Ms. Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make extra capital allocations to inner London boroughs to programme improvements to school buildings; and in the case of Tower Hamlets, if he will provide immediate resources to allow further expansion of the inner London education authority's school building programme.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  My right hon. Friend has announced the education block capital allocation for the inner London education authority for 1989–90. In making this allocation he took account of expected changes in pupil population, including those in Tower Hamlets. From 1 April 1990. the Government propose new arrangements for local authority capital expenditure; the Local Government and Housing Bill, currently before the House, sets out these arrangements.

  Village Schools
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what further steps he plans to take to encourage small village schools.

  Mr. Butcher
  Responsibility for educational provision in maintained schools in rural as well as in other areas rests with local education authorities. My right hon. Friend is continuing to support through education support grant some £1·5 million expenditure per annum on pilot projects in a number of LEAs with a view to improving the quality and range of the curriculum in small rural primary schools. My right hon. Friend is also proposing to support a research project by the university of Leicester to evaluate the pilot projects with a view to making recommendations on practices which could successfully be replicated in other LEAs.

  Children in Care
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to ensure that children who have been in the care of several local authorities are not disbarred from access to discretionary local authority grants.

  Mr. Jackson
  This is a matter for individual local education authorities.

  Secondary schools in England

  Examination results: average over the academic years 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87

  Local education authorities

  Expenditure per pupil (£) in the financial year 1986–87

  Percentage of school leavers attaining 5+ higher grades at O-level/CSE

  Ranking

  Barking

  1,470

  9·9

  96

  Barnet

  1,510

  41·0

  1

  Bexley

  1,370

  26·6

  24

  Teacher Supply
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on teacher supply in London and the south-east.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on teacher supply in London and the south-east.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  We recognise that there are problems of teacher supply in London and in the south-east more widely. Much can be done locally through good recruitment and deployment measures. Our current action programme to combat teacher shortages focuses on regions with recruitment difficulties.

  Primary School Teachers (London)
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, what specific initiatives he Intends to fund, beyond that which the local authorities are undertaking, to overcome the shortage of primary education teachers in London.

  Mr. Butcher
  There is no shortage of primary teachers nationally, though we recognise that there are problems in London and the south-east. Officers of the DES and the teaching as a career unit discuss recruitment measures with local education authorities. Our publicity and advertising continues to emphasise the demand for primary school staff in London.

  Local Authority Expenditure (Examinations)
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a list of local education authority expenditure per capita, together with their position of relative examination success, for the past five years for which figures are available.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The information gives the average cost per secondary school pupil for the financial year 1986–87; and the three-year average, over the academic years 1984–85, 1985–86 and 1986–87, of the proportion of school leavers who attained five or more higher grades at O-level/CSE. The latter figures are drawn from a 10 per cent. sample of pupils at each school. Sampling error is a major consideration where information in respect of individual local education authorities is concerned. While presentation of the figures in the form of a three-year average may help to mitigate the effects of sampling error, information presented over five individual years, as requested, would be subject to excessive fluctuation for valid year to year comparisons.
  149

  Examination results: average over the academic years 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87

  Local education authorities

  Expenditure per pupil (£) in the financial year 1986–87

  Percentage of school leavers attaining 5+ higher grades at O-level/CSE

  Ranking

  Brent

  1,805

  19·1

  74

  Bromley

  1,420

  30·5

  10

  Croydon

  1,535

  22·9

  52

  Ealing

  1,650

  19·6

  68

  Enfield

  1,380

  23·7

  45

  Haringey

  n.a.

  17·3

  83

  Harrow

  1,600

  37·8

  2

  Havering

  1,510

  23·9

  44

  Hillingdon

  1,520

  21·2

  62

  Hounslow

  1,505

  21·5

  61

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  1,530

  34·8

  3

  Merton

  1,325

  24·9

  37

  Newham

  n.a.

  12·4

  93

  Redbridge

  1,465

  25·6

  32

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  1,330

  26·5

  25

  Sutton

  1,300

  34·4

  4

  Waltham Forest

  1,915

  11·0

  94

  Birmingham

  1,345

  16·9

  85

  Coventry

  1,485

  19·9

  67

  Dudley

  1,350

  21·5

  59

  Sandwell

  1,410

  13·4

  92

  Solihull

  1,280

  29·4

  11

  Walsall

  1,430

  19·1

  73

  Wolverhampton

  1,395

  15·4

  89

  Knowsley

  1,515

  10·6

  95

  Liverpool

  1,445

  17·0

  84

  St. Helens

  1,340

  23·6

  46

  Sefton

  1,275

  27·0

  22

  Wirral

  1,280

  23·5

  48

  Bolton

  1,230

  24·9

  36

  Bury

  1,340

  28·4

  15

  Manchester

  1,660

  17·3

  82

  Oldham

  1,255

  16·1

  87

  Rochdale

  1,460

  20·2

  64

  Salford

  1,385

  18·9

  76

  Stockport

  1,270

  24·3

  41

  Tameside

  1,325

  23·5

  47

  Trafford

  1,315

  31·7

  7

  Wigan

  1,460

  27·2

  19

  Barnsley

  1,325

  15·7

  88

  Doncaster

  1,325

  19·2

  72

  Rotherham

  1,230

  17·4

  81

  Sheffield

  1,490

  18·9

  75

  Bradford

  1,235

  16·7

  86

  Calderdale

  1,330

  19·3

  70

  Kirklees

  1,250

  24·1

  43

  Leeds

  1,230

  21·5

  58

  Wakefield

  1,290

  15·4

  90

  Gateshead

  1,360

  18·8

  77

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  1,530

  17·7

  80

  North Tyneside

  1,455

  21·9

  57

  South Tyneside

  1,430

  18·1

  79

  Sunderland

  1,305

  19·3

  71

  ILEA

  2,345

  15·4

  91

  Avon

  1,310

  24·7

  38

  Bedfordshire

  1,250

  25·9

  29

  Berkshire

  1,280

  27·5

  18

  Buckinghamshire

  1,320

  31·6

  8

  Cambridgeshire

  1,205

  24·4

  40

  Cheshire

  1,235

  26·6

  23

  Cleveland

  1,355

  27·5

  17

  Cornwall

  1,175

  25·5

  33

  Cumbria

  1,315

  24·2

  42

  Derbyshire

  1,305

  21·5

  60

  Devon

  1,225

  23·4

  49

  Dorset

  1,190

  28·4

  16

  Durham

  1,225

  20·0

  66

  East Sussex

  1,235

  25·7

  31

  Essex

  1,255

  25·1

  35

  Gloucestershire

  1,260

  28·6

  14

  150 151

  Examination results: average over the academic years 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87

  Local education authorities

  Expenditure per pupil (£) in the financial year 1986–87

  Percentage of school leavers attaining 5+ higher grades at O-level/CSE

  Ranking

  Hampshire

  1,220

  26·0

  28

  Hereford and Worcester

  1,180

  25·7

  30

  Hertfordshire

  1,350

  28·9

  13

  Humberside

  1,270

  21·1

  63

  Isle of Wight

  1,150

  18·3

  78

  Kent

  1,145

  27·1

  20

  Lancashire

  1,255

  24·7

  39

  Leicestershire

  1,390

  22·9

  51

  Lincolnshire

  1,185

  25·3

  34

  Norfolk

  1,230

  21·9

  56

  North Yorkshire

  1,240

  31·4

  9

  Northamptonshire

  1,250

  20·0

  65

  Northumberland

  1,230

  29·0

  12

  Nottinghamshire

  1,365

  19·6

  69

  Oxfordshire

  1,350

  26·5

  26

  Shropshire

  1,285

  27·0

  21

  Somerset

  1,195

  22·2

  53

  Staffordshire

  1,255

  23·4

  50

  Suffolk

  1,165

  22·0

  55

  Surrey

  1,260

  34·4

  5

  Warwickshire

  1,220

  26·2

  27

  West Sussex

  1,220

  32·1

  6

  Wiltshire

  1,230

  22·1

  54

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the safety nets to be introduced for the inner London boroughs, to coincide with the introduction of the community charge and the abolition of the Inner London education authority, will be based on the actual level of spending by the Inner London education authority, or the Government's assessment of educational needs in individual boroughs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Proposals have been put to the local authority associations about the basis for the national safety net adjustments to revenue support grant which will apply from 1 April 1990. The proposals do not envisage that the safety net spending assumption will be based on local authorities' needs assessments but the two options put forward do assume that safety nets will be based on a measure of spending in 1989–90 uprated for inflation. One option is to base the safety net spending assumption on the 1989–90 RSG settlement spending assumption; the other option is to base the safety net spending assumption on the actual domestic rate poundage levied in 1989–90.

  Inner London Education Authority
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) whether he has received any representations from the borough of Wandsworth about the funding of the transitional arrangements in 1989–90 for the abolition of the Inner London education authority; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) whether he has received any representations from the borough of Wandsworth about the levels of funding for education following the abolition of the Inner London education authority in 1990; and if he will make a statement;
  152
  (3) whether he has any plans to meet representatives from the borough of Wandsworth to discuss funding for education following the abolition of the Inner London education authority in 1990; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Wandsworth's director of education wrote to the Department on 20 January, welcoming the specific grant for preparatory costs which was announced before Christmas. There has been correspondence between the borough and the Department on matters relating to capital expenditure from April 1990. No other specific representations have been received from Wandsworth, although my right hon. Friend and I have had a number of meetings with representatives of the inner London boroughs, including Wandsworth, at which the financing of education in inner London from April 1990 has been among the subjects discussed. A further such meeting is likely to take place soon.

  Education (Wandsworth)
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimates have been made by the London borough of Wandsworth of the cost of running education services in the borough in 1990–91; and what sum his Department has estimated for such provision.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Estimates made by the London borough of Wandworth are a matter for that borough. The Department is discussing with the inner London boroughs generally the basis of the revised needs assessments for education from 1 April 1990 and an appropriate disaggregation of ILEA spending. The cost of running education after transfer will depend on the policies adopted by each borough and the efficiency with which they are delivered.

  Greenhouse Effect
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received in the last six months concerning United Kingdom research into the greenhouse effect.

  Mr. Jackson
  My right hon. Friend has received eight representations on matters which raise issues relevant to United Kingdom research into the greenhouse effect.

  Full-time Education
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about the level of those aged 16 years staying on in full-time education.

  Mr. Jackson
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to my hon. Friend the Member for Rugby and Kenilworth (Mr. Pawsey) on 10 February at cols.846–850. The Government are committed to encouraging young people to pursue both full and part-time courses of education and training beyond the age of 16.

  Her Majesty's Inspectorate (Annual Report)
  Mr. Franks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when Her Majesty's inspectorate's latest annual report will be published.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  Her Majesty's inspectorate's annual report covering the academic year 1987–88 has been published today. Copies are available in the Vote Office. The report draws on evidence from the inspection and other activity of Her Majesty's inspectorate and on the reports published by Her Majesty's inspectorate throughout the academic year. As I announced in October 1987, this is a new-style annual Her Majesty's inspectorate report which takes the place of previous reports which were based on inspections carried out in just one term.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Spending Power
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if, on a similar basis to his answer to the hon. Member for Bradford, West (Mr. Madden) on 22 June,Official Report, columns 575–80, he will publish figures showing the average total weekly benefit payable to disabled claimants in (a) Durham and (b) England, before and after the social security reforms of April were completely phased in.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I regret that this information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The Department's published "Impact of the Reformed Structure of Income-Related Benefits", a copy of which is in the Library, shows the estimated effects of the reformed benefit system on, among others, the sick and disabled. Tables 9A and 9B show in both cash and structural terms the estimated average change in disposable income of the sick and disabled.

  Supplementary Benefit
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have lost transitional protection at the most recent date.
  154
  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I regret that the information is not available.

  Income Support (Water Rates)
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much income support was paid out by his Department as a part of water rates for each of the last five years.

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

  Income Support
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the average time an unemployed claimant has to wait for income support once he or she has registered for benefit.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Income support is normally paid fortnightly in arrears in line with unemployment benefit. I regret that no information is available on the average time that elapses between registration and the first payment of benefit.

  Residential and Nursing Homes
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to index-link the allowance per resident in private residential homes and private nursing homes.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The maximum amounts payable under income support to people in independent residential care and nursing homes are reviewed annually as part of the general uprating of social security benefits. Increases are made selectively to take account of the charges levied by different types of home. There are no plans to link the maximum amounts directly to a particular index.

  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received from associations or organisations representing private residential homes or private nursing homes concerning the allowance per resident.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  We have received representations from the Registered Nursing Homes Association, the Independent Hospitals Association, and the National Confederation of Registered Residential Care Homes Associations.

  Benefit (Take-up)
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in Greenock and Port Glasgow were in receipt of(a) attendance allowance at (i) the higher rate and (ii) the lower rate, (b) invalid care allowance, (c) mobility allowance, (d) invalidity benefit, (e) severe disablement allowance, (f) industrial disablement pension, (g) war disablement pension, (h) retirement pension, (i) income support and (j) supplementary benefit at the latest date for which figures are available; what those dates are; and if he will give comparable figures for five years and 10 years ago.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I regret that information is not available in the precise form requested. Nor are details
  155
  available of the number of people in Greenock and Port Glasgow receiving (a) attendance allowance, (b) invalid care allowance, (c) mobility allowance, (f) industrial disablement pension, (g) war disablement pension or (h) retirement pension.

  The following table gives the information available on the dates listed:

  Greenock

  Port Glasgow

  (d) Invalidity benefit1

  As at 31 January 1989

  4,463

  2,008

  As at 15 January 1985

  3,481

  1,446

  (e) Severe disablement allowance

  As at 31 January 1989

  393

  256

  As at 15 January 1985

  311

  211

  (i) Income support

  As at 30 November 1988

  11,423

  4,708

  (j) Supplementary benefit

  As at 18 November 1987

  12,338

  5,369

  As at 6 December 1983

  9,720

  4,128

  As at 27 November 1979

  6,317

  2,814

  1 Includes an unknown number of sickness benefit claimants as separate records of sickness/invalidity benefit claimants are not kept.

  Source: 100 per cent. count of cases in action.

  Note: With the exception of supplementary benefit, comparable figures for five years and 10 years ago are no longer held.

  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the take-up rate of benefits since the introduction of the income support scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my right hon. Friend the Member for Chesham and Amersham (Sir I. Gilmour) on 8 February at column 713.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many people would gain and what would be the average gain as a result of raising the level of savings under which housing benefit is payable to £10,000 on the assumption that(a) the rules for other benefits are

  Old benefit system at hypothetical rates April 1988

  South Tyneside LA

  Married couple with 2 children aged 4 and 6

  Earnings head

  Tax

  NI

  FIS

  Child benefit

  Rent

  Rent rebate

  Rates

  Rate rebate

  Fares to work

  Free school meals

  Free welfare milk

  Net inc. after housing costs

  60·00

  0·00

  3·00

  28·70

  14·50

  17·32

  15·80

  8·08

  5·64

  5·85

  2·55

  1·83

  94·77

  70·00

  0·00

  4·90

  23·70

  14·50

  17·32

  14·55

  8·08

  5·24

  5·85

  2·55

  1·83

  96·22

  80·00

  1·22

  5·60

  18·70

  14·50

  17·32

  13·30

  8·08

  4·84

  5·85

  2·55

  1·83

  97·65

  90·00

  3·92

  6·30

  13·70

  14·50

  17·32

  12·05

  8·08

  4·44

  5·85

  2·55

  1·83

  97·60

  100·00

  6·62

  7·00

  8·70

  14·50

  17·32

  10·80

  8·08

  4·04

  5·95

  2·55

  1·83

  97·55

  110·00

  9·32

  9·90

  3·70

  14·50

  17·32

  9·29

  8·08

  3·48

  5·85

  2·55

  1·83

  94·88

  120·00

  12·02

  10·80

  0·00

  14·50

  17·32

  7·21

  8·08

  2·66

  5·85

  2·55

  0·00

  92·85

  130·00

  14·72

  11·70

  0·00

  14·50

  17·32

  3·91

  8·08

  1·36

  5·85

  2·55

  0·00

  94·65

  140·00

  17·42

  12·60

  0·00

  14·50

  17·32

  0·61

  8·08

  0·00

  5·85

  2·55

  0·00

  96·39

  150·00

  20·12

  13·50

  0·00

  14·50

  17·32

  0·00

  8·08

  0·00

  5·85

  0·00

  0·00

  99·63

  160·00

  22·82

  14·40

  0·00

  14·50

  17·32

  0·00

  8·08

  0·00

  5·85

  0·00

  0·00

  106·03

  170·00

  25·52

  15·30

  0·00

  14·50

  17·32

  0·00

  8·08

  0·00

  5·85

  0·00

  0·00

  112·43

  156
  unaltered, (b) the interest actually received on savings and not an arbitrarily assumed return is used in assessing benefit and (c) no change is made to the rule that those with savings of under £3,000 receive benefit in full;

  (2) what would be the cost of raising the level of savings under which housing benefit is payable to £10,000 (a) in 1989–90 and (b) in a full year on the assumption that (i) the rules for other benefits are unaltered, (ii) the interest actually received on savings and not an arbitrarily assumed return is used in assessing benefit and (iii) no change is made to the rule that those with savings of under £3,000 receive benefit in full.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I shall let the hon. Member have such information as can be obtained as soon as possible.

  Spending Power
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish tables using the assumptions in his answer to the hon. Member for Bradford, West (Mr. Madden) on 22 June,Official Report, columns 575–80, but using expenditure and benefit figures appropriate for families in south Tyneside, together with a column showing the extent of the differences resulting from the April benefit changes.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 22 December 1988]: The information requested is set out in the tables. They compare the post-reform position in April 1988 not with all actual pre-form cash situation but with a hypothetical position which might have occurred, had the previous structure continued and been uprated on the assumptions in "Impact of the Reformed Structure of Income Related Benefits" (October 1987).

  In addition, it should be noted that although the comparisons are based on average local authority housing charges in south Tyneside they do not necessarily reflect either the wide variety of rents and domestic rates that people in the borough actually pay or real families' circumstances and their housing arrangements. Finally, the comparisons take no account of the housing benefit transitional cash protection announced on 27 April.
  157

  New benefit system from April 1988

  South Tyneside LA

  Married couple with 2 children aged 4 and 6

  Earnings head

  Tax

  NI

  Family credit

  Child benefit

  Rent

  Rent rebate

  Rates

  Rate rebate

  Fares to work

  Net inc. after housing costs

  Difference between systems

  60·00

  0·00

  3·00

  40·32

  14·50

  17·32

  2·56

  8·08

  0·67

  5·85

  83·80

  -10·97

  70·00

  0·00

  4·90

  34·65

  14·50

  17·32

  0·98

  8·08

  0·00

  5·85

  83·98

  -12·24

  80·00

  1·22

  5·60

  28·99

  14·50

  17·32

  0·00

  8·08

  0·00

  5·85

  85·42

  -12·23

  90·00

  3·92

  6·30

  24·37

  14·50

  17·32

  0·00

  8·08

  0·00

  5·85

  87·40

  -10·20

  100·00

  6·62

  7·00

  19·75

  14·50

  17·32

  0·00

  8·08

  0·00

  5·85

  89·38

  -8·17

  110·00

  9·32

  9·90

  16·67

  14·50

  17·32

  0·00

  8·08

  0·00

  5·85

  90·70

  -4·18

  120·00

  12·02

  10·80

  12·19

  14·50

  17·32

  0·00

  8·08

  0·00

  5·85

  92·62

  -0·23

  130·00

  14·72

  11·70

  7·71

  14·50

  17·32

  0·00

  8·08

  0·00

  5·85

  94·54

  -0·11

  140·00

  17·42

  12·60

  3·23

  14·50

  17·32

  0·00

  8·08

  0·00

  5·85

  96·46

  +0·07

  150·00

  20·12

  13·50

  0·00

  14·50

  17·32

  0·00

  8·08

  0·00

  5·85

  99·63

  0·00

  160·00

  22·82

  14·40

  0·00

  14·50

  17·32

  0·00

  8·08

  0·00

  5·85

  106·03

  0·00

  170·00

  25·52

  15·30

  0·00

  14·50

  17·32

  0·00

  8·08

  0·00

  5·85

  112·43

  0·00

  Old benefit system at hypothetical rates April 1988

  South Tyneside LA

  Married couple with 3 children aged 3, 8 and 11

  Earnings head

  Tax

  NI

  FIS

  Child benefit

  Rent

  Rent rebate

  Rates

  Rate rebate

  Fares to work

  Free school meals

  Free welfare milk

  Net inc. after housing costs

  60·00

  0·00

  3·00

  32·90

  21·75

  17·32

  16·84

  8·08

  5·98

  5·85

  5·10

  1·83

  110·15

  70·00

  0·00

  4·90

  30·50

  21·75

  17·32

  14·94

  8·08

  5·37

  5·85

  5·10

  1·83

  113·34

  80·00

  1·22

  5·60

  25·50

  21·75

  17·32

  13·69

  8·08

  4·97

  5·85

  5·10

  1·83

  114·77

  90·00

  3·92

  6·30

  20·50

  21·75

  17·32

  12·44

  8·08

  4·57

  5·85

  5·10

  1·83

  114·72

  100·00

  6·62

  7·00

  15·50

  21·75

  17·32

  11·19

  8·08

  4·17

  5·85

  5·10

  1·83

  114·67

  110·00

  9·32

  9·90

  10·50

  21·75

  17·32

  9·80

  8·08

  3·68

  5·85

  5·10

  1·83

  112·19

  120·00

  12·02

  10·80

  5·50

  21·75

  17·32

  8·15

  8·08

  3·03

  5·85

  5·10

  1·83

  111·29

  130·00

  14·72

  11·70

  0·50

  21·75

  17·32

  6·50

  8·08

  2·38

  5·85

  5·10

  1·83

  110·39

  140·00

  17·42

  12·60

  0·00

  21·75

  17·32

  3·36

  8·08

  1·14

  5·85

  5·10

  0·00

  110·08

  150·00

  20·12

  13·50

  0·00

  21·75

  17·32

  0·00

  8·08

  0·00

  5·85

  5·10

  0·00

  111·98

  160·00

  22·82

  14·40

  0·00

  21·75

  17·32

  0·00

  8·08

  0·00

  5·85

  0·00

  0·00

  113·28

  170·00

  25·52

  15·30

  0·00

  21·75

  17·32

  0·00

  8·08

  0·00

  5·85

  0·00

  0·00

  119·68

  New benefit system from April 1988

  South Tyneside LA

  Married couple with 3 children aged 3, 8 and 11

  Earnings head

  Tax

  NI

  Family credit

  Child benefit

  Rent

  Rent rebate

  Rates

  Rate rebate

  Fares to work

  Net inc. after housing costs

  Difference between systems

  60·00

  0·00

  3·00

  51·72

  21·75

  17·32

  0·90

  8·08

  0·00

  5·85

  100·12

  -10·03

  70·00

  0·00

  4·90

  46·05

  21·75

  17·32

  0·00

  8·08

  0·00

  5·85

  101·65

  -11·69

  80·00

  1·22

  5·60

  40·39

  21·75

  17·32

  0·00

  8·08

  0·00

  5·85

  104·07

  -10·70

  90·00

  3·92

  6·30

  35·77

  21·75

  17·32

  0·00

  8·08

  0·00

  5·85

  106·05

  -8·67

  100·00

  6·62

  70·0

  31·15

  21·75

  17·32

  0·00

  8·08

  0·00

  5·85

  108·03

  -6·64

  110·00

  9·32

  9·90

  28·07

  21·75

  17·32

  0·00

  8·08

  0·00

  5·85

  109·35

  -2·84

  120·00

  12·02

  10·80

  23·59

  21·75

  17·32

  0·00

  8·08

  0·00

  5·85

  111·27

  -0·02

  130·00

  14·72

  11·70

  19·11

  21·75

  17·32

  0·00

  8·08

  0·00

  5·85

  113·19

  +2·80

  140·00

  17·42

  12·60

  14·63

  21·75

  17·32

  0·00

  8·08

  0·00

  5·85

  115·11

  +5·03

  150·00

  20·12

  13·50

  10·15

  21·75

  17·32

  0·00

  8·08

  0·00

  5·85

  117·03

  +5·05

  160·00

  22·82

  14·40

  5·67

  21·75

  17·32

  0·00

  8·08

  0·00

  5·85

  118·95

  +5·67

  170·00

  25·52

  15·30

  1·19

  21·75

  17·32

  0·00

  8·08

  0·00

  5·85

  120·87

  +1·19

  Old benefit system at hypothetical rates April 1988

  South Tyneside LA

  Single person with 2 children aged 4 and 6

  Earnings head

  Tax

  NI

  FIS

  Child benefit

  Rent

  Rent rebate

  Rates

  Rate rebate

  Fares to work

  Free school meals

  Free welfare milk

  Net inc. after housing costs

  60·00

  0·00

  3·00

  28·70

  19·40

  17·32

  14·58

  8·08

  5·25

  5·85

  2·55

  1·83

  98·06

  70·00

  0·00

  4·90

  23·70

  19·40

  17·32

  13·33

  8·08

  4·85

  5·85

  2·55

  1·83

  99·51

  80·00

  1·22

  5·60

  18·70

  19·40

  17·32

  12·08

  8·08

  4·45

  5·85

  2·55

  1·83

  100·94

  90·00

  3·92

  6·30

  13·70

  19·40

  17·32

  10·83

  8·08

  4·05

  5·85

  2·55

  1·83

  100·89

  100·00

  6·62

  7·00

  8·70

  19·40

  17·32

  9·32

  8·08

  3·49

  5·85

  2·55

  1·83

  100·42

  110·00

  9·32

  9·90

  3·70

  19·40

  17·32

  7·67

  8·08

  2·84

  5·85

  2·55

  1·83

  97·52

  120·00

  12·02

  10·80

  0·00

  19·40

  17·32

  5·59

  8·08

  2·02

  5·85

  2·55

  0·00

  95·49

  158 159

  Earnings head

  Tax

  NI

  FIS

  Child benefit

  Rent

  Rent rebate

  Rates

  Rate rebate

  Fares to work

  Free school meals

  Free welfare milk

  Net inc. after housing costs

  130·00

  14·72

  11·70

  0·00

  19·40

  17·32

  2·29

  8·08

  0·72

  5·85

  2·55

  0·00

  97·29

  140·00

  17·42

  12·60

  0·00

  19·40

  17·32

  0·00

  8·08

  0·00

  5·85

  2·55

  0·00

  100·68

  150·00

  20·12

  13·50

  0·00

  19·40

  17·32

  0·00

  8·08

  0·00

  5·85

  0·00

  0·00

  104·53

  160·00

  22·82

  14·40

  0·00

  19·40

  17·32

  0·00

  8·08

  0·00

  5·85

  0·00

  0·00

  110·93

  170·00

  25·52

  15·30

  0·00

  19·40

  17·32

  ·000

  8·08

  0·00

  5·85

  0·00

  0·00

  117·33

  New benefit system from April 1988

  South Tyneside LA

  Single person with 2 children aged 4 and 6

  Earnings head

  Tax

  NI

  Family credit

  Child benefit

  Rent

  Rent rebate

  Rates

  Rate rebate

  Fares to work

  Net inc. after housing costs

  Difference between systems

  60·00

  0·00

  3·00

  40·32

  19·40

  17·32

  0·00

  8·08

  0·00

  5·85

  85·47

  -12·59

  70·00

  0·00

  4·90

  34·65

  19·40

  17·32

  0·00

  8·08

  0·00

  5·85

  87·90

  -11·61

  80·00

  1·22

  5·60

  28·99

  19·40

  17·32

  0·00

  8·08

  0·00

  5·85

  90·32

  -10·62

  90·00

  3·92

  6·30

  24·37

  19·40

  17·32

  0·00

  8·08

  0·00

  5·85

  92·30

  -8·59

  100·00

  6·62

  7·00

  19·75

  19·40

  17·32

  0·00

  8·08

  0·00

  5·85

  94·28

  -6·14

  110·00

  9·32

  9·90

  16·67

  19·40

  17·32

  0·00

  8·08

  0·00

  5·85

  95·60

  -1·92

  120·00

  12·02

  10·80

  12·19

  19·40

  17·32

  0·00

  8·08

  0·00

  5·85

  97·52

  +2·03

  130·00

  14·72

  11·70

  7·71

  19·40

  17·32

  0·00

  8·08

  0·00

  5·85

  99·44

  +2·15

  140·00

  17·42

  12·60

  3·23

  19·40

  17·32

  0·00

  8·08

  0·00

  5·85

  101·36

  +0·68

  150·00

  20·12

  13·50

  0·00

  19·40

  17·32

  0·00

  8·08

  0·00

  5·85

  104·53

  0·00

  160·00

  22·82

  14·40

  0·00

  19·40

  17·32

  0·00

  8·08

  0·00

  5·85

  110·93

  0·00

  170·00

  25·52

  15·30

  0·00

  19·40

  17·32

  0·00

  8·08

  0·00

  5·85

  117·33

  0·00

  Benefit system from April 1988

  Assumptions as in "Impact of reformed structure of income related benefits" October 1987.

  Average local authority rent and rates for South Tyneside lone mother with two children aged 4 and 6

  Income Support

  Rent

  Rates

  Housing Benefit

  CHB

  FSM

  FWM

  Net weekly spending power

  Difference between systems

  a. Not working after one year on benefit

  45·35

  17·32

  8·08

  23·84

  19·40

  2·55

  1·83

  66·27

  -1·88

  Income support

  Earnings

  Tax

  NI

  Fares to work

  Rent

  Rates

  Housing Benefit

  CHB

  FSM

  FWM

  Net weekly spending power

  Difference between systems

  b. Working part time earning £20

  40·35

  20·00

  0·00

  0·00

  2·92

  17·32

  8·08

  23·84

  19·40

  2·55

  1·83

  78·35

  +8·16

  c. Working part time earning £40

  20·35

  40·00

  0·00

  0·00

  2·92

  17·32

  8·08

  23·84

  19·40

  2·55

  1·83

  78·35

  +6·70

  Old tax and benefit system—assuming average local authority rent and rates for South Tyneside and a simple rescaling of April 1987 benefits to April 1988

  Lone mother with 2 children aged 4 and 6

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  Not working after one year on benefit

  Working part time earning £20

  Working part time earning £40

  £

  £

  £

  Supplementary benefit

  45·93

  30·89

  14·35

  Earnings

  —

  20·00

  40·00

  Tax

  —

  0·00

  0·00

  NI

  —

  0·00

  2·00

  Fares to work

  —

  2·92

  2·92

  Rent

  17·32

  17·32

  17·32

  Rates

  8·08

  8·08

  8·08

  Housing benefit

  23·84

  23·84

  23·84

  CHB

  19·40

  19·40

  19·40

  FSM

  2·55

  2·55

  2·55

  FWM

  1·83

  1·83

  1·83

  Net weekly spending power

  68·15

  70·19

  71·65

  160

  Widows
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many representations he has received concerning benefits for widows since the implementation of the Social Security Act 1986; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moore
  [pursuant to the reply, 19 December 1988, column 123]: I have been closely monitoring the operation of the social security reforms introduced by the Social Security Act 1986. An important part of those reforms was the restructuring of widows' benefits. The prime purpose of these changes was to focus help on older widows and widows with dependent children.

  The Government believed then—and continue to believe—that the measures taken to change widows' benefit were right; over the years the needs of widows have changed dramatically. But the basic structure of widows' benefits have remained substantially unaltered for forty years, a period when there have been far reaching social changes. More women work than ever before and occupational pension cover for widows has grown significantly. The reforms concentrate help when and where it is most needed—immediately on bereavement and to provide continuing help to widows with children and older widows.

  When the revised arrangements were introduced on 11 April 1988, some women whose husbands had died before that date lost their entitlement to widows' pension which they would have had under the old rules. Several such widows have taken cases to the social security commissioner. The commissioner's decisions on four of those cases were published earlier today. We are studying carefully the full legal implications and whether there is a need to appeal on any point. The commissioner decided in these cases that there was entitlement to widows' pension for those receiving widows' allowance but not for those receiving widowed mothers' allowance. I have decided however irrespective of the commissioner's decisions, on grounds of equity and fairness, to extend entitlement to women widowed before 11 April 1988 on the basis of the arrangements applying before that date. My decision will bring in those entitled to widowed mothers' allowance as well as widows' allowance.

  As a consequence of my decision, entitlement to widows' pension will be extended to the following groups of women widowed before 11 April 1988.

  (i)Women widowed when aged 40 or over but under 45 entitled to widows' allowance on 11 April 1988 (the group benefiting from the commissioner's decision). This group will now have entitlement to widows' pension.

  (ii) Women widowed when aged 45 or over but under 55 entitled to widows' allowance on 11 April 1988. This group will now have entitlement to a higher rate of widows' pension.

  (iii) Women entitled to widowed mothers' allowance on 11 April 1988 and who will be aged 40 or over but under 45 when their children cease to be dependent. This group will have entitlement to widows' pension.

  (iv) Women entitled to widowed mothers' allowance on 11 April 1988 and who will be aged 45 or over but under 55 when their children cease to be dependent. This group will have entitlement to a higher rate of widows' pension.

  162
  There will be no changes to affect those women widowed after 11 April 1988.

  My Department will be identifying and contacting the women affected in the next few weeks, and will be arranging payment as soon as possible. Any widow who thinks she may be affected and who has not been contacted within six weeks should get in touch with her local social security office. Over 20,000 women are expected to be affected by these changes at an estimated net cost to public funds of around £5 million in a full year. Payments will be made from the national insurance fund. The additional costs in the current year and 1989–90 will be met from the Reserve. It will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure. I propose to bring forward an amendment to the Social Security Bill currently before the House as soon as practicable. This will also include provision to allow payment of benefit in cases beyond a 12-month period.

EMPLOYMENT

  Vocational Qualifications
  Mr. David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what progress has been made by the National Council for Vocational Qualifications in rationalising vocational qualifications.

  Mr. Cope
  The National Council for Vocational Qualifications, with the support of industry and the examining and awarding bodies, has established a four-level framework for national vocational qualifications (NVQ) and is making good progress in accrediting qualifications within that framework.

  Qualifications are accredited only if they are based on nationally agreed standards of competence; they are then allocated to the appropriate NVQ level. This process is already producing a clearer and more comprehensible qualifications system, and has led in some areas to the replacement of several awards by a single NVQ.

  So far, more than 80 qualifications from many sectors of industry and commerce have been accredited, and the council is on target to have levels one to four in place in all significant sectors of employment by 1991.

  TVEI
  Mr. Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to further develop and extend the technical and vocational education initiative.

  Mr. Cope
  All education authorities in the country are now participating in TVEI; 48 authorities are currently involved in extending the initiative to all their schools and colleges, 30 more authorities will begin their extension programmes in September 1989, and negotiations are continuing with a number of others. From this autumn, half a million students in more than 3,000 schools and colleges will be participating in TVEI.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what were the numbers of(a) employees in employment, (b) self-employed, (c) persons on Government training schemes, and (d) Her Majesty's

  163
  forces each year at mid-year from 1979; and what was the increase each year in each case in numbers and by percentage.

  Work force in employment in Great Britain

  Thousand. Seasonally adjusted

  Employees in employment

  Self-employed

  Participants in work related government training programmes

  Her Majesty's Forces

  Work force in employment2

  June each year

  Number

  Net change since previous year

  Number

  Net change since previous year

  Number

  Net change since previous year

  Number

  Net change since previous year

  Number

  Net change since previous year

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  1979

  22·611

  365

  2

  1·842

  -1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  314

  -4

  -1

  24·767

  360

  2

  1980

  22·432

  -179

  -1

  1·950

  108

  6

  0

  0

  0

  323

  9

  3

  24·706

  -61

  0

  1981

  21·362

  -1·070

  -5

  2·058

  108

  6

  0

  0

  0

  334

  11

  3

  23·754

  -952

  -4

  1982

  20·896

  -466

  -2

  2·109

  51

  3

  0

  0

  0

  324

  -10

  -3

  23·329

  -425

  -2

  1983

  20·556

  -340

  -2

  2·160

  51

  2

  8

  —

  —

  322

  -2

  -1

  23·046

  -283

  -1

  1984

  20·729

  173

  1

  2·435

  275

  13

  168

  160

  2·000

  326

  4

  1

  23·658

  612

  3

  1985

  20·995

  266

  1

  2·550

  115

  5

  168

  0

  0

  326

  0

  0

  24·039

  381

  2

  1986

  21·079

  84

  0

  2·567

  17

  1

  218

  50

  30

  322

  -4

  -1

  24·184

  145

  1

  1987

  21·315

  236

  1

  2·801

  234

  9

  303

  85

  39

  319

  -3

  -1

  24·736

  552

  2

  19881

  21·597

  282

  1

  2·925

  124

  4

  335

  32

  11

  316

  -3

  -1

  25·172

  436

  2

  1 Self-employed figures for June 1988 are projections.

  2 The work force in employment is the sum of employees in employment, the self-employed, Her Majesty's Forces and participants on work related Government training programmes.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of vacancies, both regionally and nationally, each month since January 1986; and what was the six-monthly change in percentage terms in each case.

  Mr. Lee
  The following information is also in the Library. The table shows the seasonally adjusted level of unfilled vacancies at jobcentres for each month since January 1986 by region and nationally, together with the percentage change compared with six months previously.

  Unfilled vacancies at jobcentres

  Unfilled vacancies (seasonally adjusted)

  Percentage change compared with six months ago

  1986

  January

  60,330

  -2·8

  February

  63,460

  1·9

  March

  64,410

  5·0

  April

  65,250

  4·5

  May

  63,960

  3·8

  June

  68,280

  14·5

  July

  72,380

  20·0

  August

  75,480

  18·9

  September

  76,710

  19·1

  October

  78,790

  20·8

  November

  80,820

  26·4

  December

  80,170

  17·4

  1987

  January

  81,760

  13·0

  February

  80,180

  6·2

  March

  82,360

  7·4

  April

  83,540

  6·0

  May

  87,200

  7·9

  June

  87,920

  9·7

  July

  90,460

  10·6

  August

  90,690

  13·1

  September

  94,220

  14·4

  October

  101,040

  20·9

  November

  107,060

  22·8

  December

  102,330

  16·4

  1988

  January

  100,680

  11·3

  February

  100,380

  10·7

  March

  98,500

  4·5

  April

  101,520

  ·5

  May

  100,300

  -6·3

  June

  100,790

  -1·5

  July

  95,930

  -4·7

  August

  92,430

  -7·9

  164
  Mr. Lee
  The information is as follows:

  Unfilled vacancies (seasonally adjusted)

  Percentage change compared with six months ago

  September

  88,860

  -9·8

  October

  91,060

  -10·3

  November

  87,510

  -12·8

  December

  82,680

  -18·0

  1989

  January

  79,400

  -17·2

  Greater London

  1986

  January

  24,960

  -5·5

  February

  26,240

  -0·5

  March

  27,190

  5·1

  April

  27,360

  5·8

  May

  27,750

  7·9

  June

  28,440

  14·3

  July

  30,530

  22·3

  August

  32,430

  23·6

  September

  32,630

  20·0

  October

  33,360

  21·9

  November

  34,500

  24·3

  December

  34,650

  21·8

  1987

  January

  35,700

  16·9

  February

  35,520

  9·5

  March

  35,620

  9·2

  April

  35,810

  7·3

  May

  36,310

  5·2

  June

  36,250

  4·6

  July

  37,740

  5·7

  August

  36,950

  4·0

  September

  38,530

  8·2

  October

  40,960

  14·4

  November

  43,160

  18·9

  December

  40,440

  11·6

  1988

  January

  38,640

  2·4

  February

  36,580

  -1·0

  March

  34,290

  -11·0

  April

  35,130

  -14·2

  May

  34,350

  -20·4

  June

  33,550

  -17·0

  July

  30,450

  -21·2

  August

  29,400

  -19·6

  September

  27,770

  -19·0

  October

  29,010

  -17·4

  November

  28,550

  -16·9

  December

  28,430

  -15·3

  1989

  165

  Unfilled vacancies (seasonally adjusted)

  Percentage change compared with six months ago

  January

  26,800

  -12·0

  East Anglia

  1986

  January

  5,670

  -3·1

  February

  5,660

  -5·7

  March

  5,700

  -3·6

  April

  5,710

  -2·1

  May

  5,380

  -4·6

  June

  6,020

  10·5

  July

  6,340

  11·8

  August

  6,460

  14·1

  September

  6,560

  15·1

  October

  6,960

  21·9

  November

  6,690

  24·3

  December

  7,070

  17·4

  1987

  January

  6,910

  9·0

  February

  7,030

  8·8

  March

  7,480

  14·0

  April

  7,440

  6·9

  May

  7,850

  17·3

  June

  7,940

  12·3

  July

  7,870

  13·9

  August

  8,150

  15·9

  September

  8,320

  11·2

  October

  8,760

  17·7

  November

  8,990

  14·5

  December

  8,760

  10·3

  1988

  January

  8,830

  12·2

  February

  8,850

  8·6

  March

  9,060

  8·9

  April

  9,440

  7·8

  May

  9,810

  9·1

  June

  9,940

  13·5

  July

  10,420

  18·0

  August

  10,200

  15·3

  September

  10,310

  13·8

  October

  10,250

  8·6

  November

  10,120

  3·2

  December

  9,460

  -4·8

  1989

  January

  9,300

  -10·7

  South West

  1986

  January

  16,930

  3·4

  February

  17,940

  5·9

  March

  18,430

  11·6

  April

  18,210

  5·4

  May

  16,630

  -6·0

  June

  18,550

  7·3

  July

  18,610

  9·9

  August

  18,540

  3·3

  September

  18,570

  0·8

  October

  18,290

  0·4

  November

  18,630

  12·0

  December

  18,230

  -1·7

  1987

  January

  18,320

  -1·6

  February

  18,390

  -0·8

  March

  18,980

  2·2

  April

  19,300

  5·5

  May

  20,980

  12·6

  June

  20,150

  10·5

  July

  19,200

  4·8

  August

  19,620

  6·7

  September

  19,970

  5·2

  October

  20,880

  8·2

  November

  20,230

  -3·6

  December

  20,060

  -0·4

  166

  Unfilled vacancies (seasonally adjusted)

  Percentage change compared with six months ago

  1988

  January

  20,420

  6·4

  February

  19,820

  1·0

  March

  19,820

  -0·8

  April

  20,520

  -1·7

  May

  20,750

  2·6

  June

  20,940

  4·4

  July

  21,140

  3·5

  August

  20,160

  1·7

  September

  20,200

  1·9

  October

  20,600

  0·4

  November

  19,870

  -4·2

  December

  20,170

  -3·7

  1989

  January

  20,000

  -5·4

  West Midlands

  1986

  January

  13,180

  12·9

  February

  13,540

  12·3

  March

  14,140

  13·4

  April

  13,730

  6·0

  May

  13,960

  8·2

  June

  15,020

  15·9

  July

  15,910

  20·7

  August

  17,230

  27·3

  September

  16,530

  16·9

  October

  17,140

  24·8

  November

  16,990

  21·7

  December

  17,350

  15·5

  1987

  January

  17,590

  10·6

  February

  18,130

  5·2

  March

  18,330

  10·9

  April

  18,560

  8·3

  May

  20,570

  21·1

  June

  20,950

  20·7

  July

  21,450

  21·9

  August

  21,930

  21·0

  September

  22,740

  24·1

  October

  24,370

  31·3

  November

  24,750

  20·3

  December

  24,190

  15·5

  1988

  January

  24,370

  13·6

  February

  24,400

  11·3

  March

  24,010

  5·6

  April

  24,020

  -1·4

  May

  23,570

  -4·8

  June

  23,820

  -1·5

  July

  23,720

  -2·7

  August

  22,910

  -6·1

  September

  22,960

  -4·4

  October

  25,370

  5·6

  November

  25,270

  7·2

  December

  24,760

  3·9

  1989

  January

  23,110

  -2·6

  East Midlands

  1986

  January

  9,590

  5·3

  February

  9,790

  8·7

  March

  9,890

  10·4

  April

  9,910

  9·3

  May

  9,510

  3·4

  June

  9,940

  6·4

  July

  10,490

  9·4

  August

  10,830

  10·6

  September

  10,690

  8·1

  October

  11,170

  12·7

  167

  Unfilled vacancies (seasonally adjusted)

  Percentage change compared with six months ago

  November

  11,220

  18·0

  December

  10,810

  8·8

  1987

  January

  10,950

  4·4

  February

  11,090

  2·4

  March

  19,900

  2·0

  April

  11,670

  4·5

  May

  12,720

  13·4

  June

  12,500

  15·6

  July

  12,350

  12·8

  August

  12,410

  11·9

  September

  12,750

  17·0

  October

  13,150

  12·7

  November

  12,880

  1·3

  December

  12,740

  1·9

  1988

  January

  12,730

  3·1

  February

  13,010

  4·8

  March

  13,180

  3·4

  April

  13,750

  4·6

  May

  13,890

  7·8

  June

  14,030

  10·1

  July

  13,750

  8·0

  August

  13,580

  4·4

  September

  13,860

  5·2

  October

  14,630

  6·4

  November

  14,360

  3·4

  December

  14,190

  1·1

  1989

  January

  13,920

  1·2

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  1986

  January

  9,350

  0·5

  February

  9,330

  9·0

  March

  9,410

  9·3

  April

  9,640

  13·5

  May

  10,320

  18·9

  June

  11,310

  22·4

  July

  11,720

  25·3

  August

  12,370

  32·6

  September

  12,460

  32·4

  October

  13,270

  37·7

  November

  13,620

  32·0

  December

  13,220

  16·9

  1987

  January

  13,860

  18·3

  February

  14,230

  15·0

  March

  14,980

  20·2

  April

  14,960

  12·7

  May

  15,800

  16·0

  June

  15,660

  18·5

  July

  15,290

  10·3

  August

  15,770

  10·8

  September

  16,230

  8·3

  October

  17,010

  13·7

  November

  16,840

  6·6

  December

  16,400

  4·7

  1988

  January

  15,910

  4·1

  February

  15,850

  0·5

  March

  15,690

  -3·3

  April

  15,730

  -7·5

  May

  15,110

  -10·3

  June

  15,140

  -7·7

  July

  15,210

  -4·4

  August

  15,030

  -5·2

  September

  15,340

  -2·2

  October

  16,340

  3·9

  November

  15,440

  2·2

  December

  14,880

  -1·7

  168

  Unfilled vacancies (seasonally adjusted)

  Percentage change compared with six months ago

  1989

  January

  14,420

  -5·2

  North West

  1986

  January

  16,820

  7·5

  February

  17,820

  12·5

  March

  17,480

  5·2

  April

  17,440

  3·9

  May

  17,330

  4·9

  June

  18,780

  12·1

  July

  19,400

  15·3

  August

  19,810

  11·2

  September

  19,630

  12·3

  October

  20,810

  19·3

  November

  21,330

  23·1

  December

  21,660

  15·3

  1987

  January

  21,970

  13·2

  February

  21,550

  8·8

  March

  22,580

  15·0

  April

  23,030

  10·7

  May

  24,220

  13·5

  June

  24,500

  13·1

  July

  24,970

  13·7

  August

  25,060

  16·3

  September

  25,070

  11·0

  October

  26,820

  16·5

  November

  26,310

  8·6

  December

  23,720

  -3·2

  1988

  January

  22,410

  -10·3

  February

  22,170

  -11·5

  March

  23,930

  -4·5

  April

  23,950

  -10·7

  May

  24,000

  -8·8

  June

  23,910

  0·8

  July

  23,250

  3·7

  August

  22,920

  3·4

  September

  23,420

  -2·1

  October

  25,770

  7·6

  November

  25,820

  7·6

  December

  24,670

  3·2

  1989

  January

  22,840

  -1·8

  Northern

  1986

  January

  8,240

  3·78

  February

  8,600

  12·27

  March

  8,800

  8·11

  April

  8,770

  8·54

  May

  8,910

  10·14

  June

  9,250

  16·65

  July

  9,780

  18·69

  August

  10,530

  22·44

  September

  10,610

  20·57

  October

  11,320

  29·08

  November

  11,600

  30·19

  December

  11,330

  22·49

  1987

  January

  11,560

  18·20

  February

  11,280

  7·12

  March

  11,270

  6·22

  April

  11,650

  2·92

  May

  11,720

  1·03

  June

  12,130

  7·06

  July

  12,260

  6·06

  August

  12,190

  8·07

  September

  12,170

  7·99

  October

  12,700

  9·01

  169

  Unfilled vacancies (seasonally adjusted)

  Percentage change compared with six months ago

  November

  12,800

  9·22

  December

  12,080

  -0·41

  1988

  January

  11,460

  -6·53

  February

  11,520

  -5·50

  March

  11,590

  -4·77

  April

  11,680

  -8·03

  May

  11,680

  -8·75

  June

  11,860

  -1·82

  July

  11,230

  -2·01

  August

  10,780

  -6·42

  September

  10,560

  -8·89

  October

  11,480

  -1·71

  November

  11,260

  -3·60

  December

  11,630

  -1·94

  1989

  January

  11,190

  -0·36

  Wales

  1986

  January

  8,510

  5·32

  February

  8,430

  6·04

  March

  8,790

  11·83

  April

  8,670

  7·17

  May

  8,750

  6·71

  June

  9,110

  7·18

  July

  9,660

  13·51

  August

  10,090

  19·69

  September

  10,400

  18·32

  October

  10,770

  24·22

  November

  10,200

  16·57

  December

  10,490

  15·15

  1987

  January

  10,510

  8·80

  February

  10,820

  7·23

  March

  10,280

  -1·15

  April

  10,230

  -5·01

  May

  10,510

  3·04

  June

  11,530

  9·91

  July

  10,990

  4·57

  August

  11,140

  2·96

  September

  11,270

  9·63

  October

  12,340

  20·63

  November

  11,810

  12·37

  December

  11,110

  -3·64

  1988

  January

  11,200

  1·91

  February

  11,180

  0·36

  March

  11,060

  -1·86

  April

  11,940

  -3·24

  May

  12,640

  7·03

  June

  12,400

  11·61

  July

  12,480

  11·43

  August

  12,130

  8·50

  September

  12,130

  9·67

  October

  12,430

  4·10

  November

  12,640

  0·00

  December

  12,360

  -0·32

  1989

  January

  12,140

  -2·72

  Scotland

  1986

  January

  14,320

  -1·58

  February

  14,940

  4·6

  March

  15,780

  8·1

  April

  15,740

  6·0

  May

  15,880

  9·7

  June

  16,990

  21·9

  July

  17,430

  21·7

  August

  17,280

  15·7

  170

  Unfilled vacancies (seasonally adjusted)

  Percentage change compared with six months ago

  September

  16,930

  7·3

  October

  16,360

  3·9

  November

  16,660

  4·9

  December

  16,750

  -1·4

  1987

  January

  17,470

  0·2

  February

  17,640

  2·1

  March

  17,910

  5·8

  April

  17,230

  5·3

  May

  18,050

  8·3

  June

  18,340

  9·5

  July

  18,430

  5·5

  August

  18,660

  5·8

  September

  19,460

  8·7

  October

  20,590

  19·5

  November

  20,950

  16·1

  December

  20,610

  12·4

  1988

  January

  19,630

  6·5

  February

  19,490

  4·4

  March

  19,750

  1·5

  April

  20,600

  0·0

  May

  20,060

  -4·2

  June

  19,630

  -4·8

  July

  19,790

  0·8

  August

  19,970

  2·5

  September

  20,040

  1·5

  October

  20,550

  -0·2

  November

  20,010

  -0·2

  December

  20,500

  4·4

  1989

  January

  19,910

  0·6

  Great Britain

  1986

  January

  162,940

  1·5

  February

  169,500

  5·6

  March

  172,840

  7·3

  April

  173,070

  5·6

  May

  170,640

  4·7

  June

  183,240

  13·8

  July

  191,700

  17·7

  August

  198,620

  17·2

  September

  199,080

  15·2

  October

  204,880

  18·4

  November

  207,760

  21·8

  December

  207,070

  13·0

  1987

  January

  210,900

  10·0

  February

  210,350

  5·9

  March

  215,070

  8·0

  April

  217,600

  6·2

  May

  229,640

  10·5

  June

  231,620

  11·9

  July

  233,280

  10·6

  August

  235,610

  12·0

  September

  242,200

  12·6

  October

  257,660

  18·4

  November

  262,610

  14·4

  December

  251,990

  8·8

  1988

  January

  247,640

  6·2

  February

  246,680

  4·7

  March

  246,590

  1·8

  April

  253,140

  -1·8

  May

  251,810

  -4·1

  June

  252,480

  0·2

  July

  246,930

  -0·3

  August

  240,110

  -2·7

  September

  237,650

  -3·6

  October

  248,460

  -1·8

  171

  Unfilled vacancies (seasonally adjusted)

  Percentage change compared with six months ago

  November

  242,290

  -3·8

  December

  235,300

  -6·8

  1989

  January

  226,200

  -8·4

  Northern Ireland

  1986

  January

  1,791

  9·9

  February

  1,907

  20·9

  March

  1,915

  16·4

  April

  2,069

  27·4

  May

  2,007

  22·6

  June

  1,992

  17·2

  July

  2,032

  13·5

  August

  2,128

  11·6

  September

  2,114

  10·4

  October

  2,118

  2·4

  November

  2,130

  6·1

  December

  1,925

  -3·4

  1987

  January

  2,010

  -1·1

  February

  1,990

  -6·5

  March

  1,963

  -7·1

  April

  1,981

  -6·5

  May

  1,992

  -6·5

  June

  2,031

  5·5

  July

  2,021

  0·5

  August

  2,089

  5·0

  September

  2,191

  11·6

  October

  2,246

  13·4

  November

  2,449

  22·9

  December

  2,937

  44·6

  1988

  January

  3,134

  55·1

  February

  2,871

  37·4

  March

  2,799

  27·7

  April

  2,801

  24·7

  May

  2,651

  8·2

  June

  2,619

  -10·8

  July

  2,725

  -13·1

  August

  2,639

  -8·1

  September

  2,625

  -6·2

  October

  2,695

  -3·8

  November

  2,863

  8·0

  December

  2,993

  14·3

  1989

  January

  2,989

  9·7

  United Kingdom

  1986

  Work force in employment in Great Britain (seasonally adjusted)

  Work force in employment

  Males

  Females

  Full-time

  Part-time1

  All

  Full-time

  Part-time

  All

  Thousands

  Thousands

  Thousands

  Thousands

  Thousands

  Thousands

  December 1979

  2

  2

  15,006

  5,827

  4,053

  9,880

  March 1980

  2

  2

  14,958

  5,777

  4,089

  9,866

  June 1980

  14,030

  856

  14,886

  5,711

  4,109

  9,819

  September 1980

  2

  2

  14,731

  5,663

  4,075

  9,738

  December 1980

  2

  2

  14,558

  5,589

  4,058

  9,647

  March 1981

  2

  2

  14,387

  5,532

  4,047

  9,579

  June 1981

  13,390

  843

  14,232

  5,480

  4,041

  9,521

  September 1981

  2

  2

  14,118

  5,458

  4,054

  9,512

  December 1981

  2

  2

  14,012

  5,425

  4,052

  9,478

  March 1982

  2

  2

  13,957

  5,449

  4,029

  9,478

  June 1982

  13,016

  869

  13,885

  5,420

  4,023

  9,443

  September 1982

  2

  2

  13,810

  5,369

  4,023

  9,392

  December 1982

  2

  2

  13,721

  5,366

  3,974

  9,340

  March 1983

  12,795

  868

  13,663

  5,357

  3,977

  9,334

  June 1983

  12,740

  895

  13,635

  5,378

  4,032

  9,411

  172

  Unfilled vacancies (seasonally adjusted)

  Percentage change compared with six months ago

  January

  164,731

  1·6

  February

  171,407

  5·7

  March

  174,755

  7·4

  April

  175,139

  5·8

  May

  172,647

  4·8

  June

  185,232

  13·8

  July

  193,732

  17·6

  August

  200,748

  17·1

  September

  201,194

  15·1

  October

  206,998

  18·2

  November

  209,890

  21·6

  December

  208,995

  12·8

  1987

  January

  212,910

  9·9

  February

  212,340

  5·8

  March

  217,033

  7·9

  April

  219,581

  6·1

  May

  231,632

  10·4

  June

  233,651

  11·8

  July

  235,301

  10·5

  August

  237,699

  11·9

  September

  244,391

  12·6

  October

  259,906

  18·4

  November

  265,059

  14·4

  December

  254,927

  9·1

  1988

  January

  250,774

  6·6

  February

  249,551

  5·0

  March

  249,389

  2·0

  April

  255,941

  -1·5

  May

  254,461

  -4·0

  June

  255,099

  0·1

  July

  249,655

  -0·4

  August

  242,749

  -2·7

  September

  240,275

  -3·7

  October

  251,155

  -1·9

  November

  245,153

  -3·7

  December

  238,293

  -6·6

  1989

  January

  229,229

  -8·2

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the increase in employment each quarter since January 1980; what was the percentage change for(a) each quarter and (b) each year; and how many jobs in each quarter were (i) full-time male, (ii) full-time female, (iii) part-time male and (iv) part-time female.

  Mr. Lee
  The available information is as follows:
  173

  Work force in employment

  Males

  Females

  Full-time

  Part-time1

  All

  Full-time

  Part-time

  All

  Thousands

  Thousands

  Thousands

  Thousands

  Thousands

  Thousands

  September 1983

  12,162

  982

  13,744

  5,417

  4,143

  9,560

  December 1983

  12,762

  1,039

  13,801

  5,459

  4,212

  9,670

  March 1984

  12,802

  1,030

  12,832

  5,496

  4,237

  9,733

  June 1984

  12,830

  1,045

  13,875

  5,523

  4,260

  9,783

  September 1984

  12,882

  1,048

  13,930

  5,558

  4,296

  9,854

  December 1984

  12,917

  1,077

  13,994

  5,570

  4,344

  9,914

  March 1985

  12,953

  1,062

  14,015

  5,605

  4,357

  9,962

  June 1985

  12,944

  1,086

  14,029

  5,623

  4,387

  10,010

  September 1985

  12,953

  1,096

  14,049

  5,636

  4,448

  10,084

  December 1985

  12,935

  1,112

  14,047

  5,643

  4,456

  10,099

  March 1986

  12,918

  1,086

  14,004

  5,647

  4,482

  10,128

  June 1986

  12,861

  1,138

  13,999

  5,647

  4,539

  10,186

  September 1986

  12,879

  1,167

  14,046

  5,672

  4,604

  10,276

  December 1986

  12,860

  1,198

  14,059

  5,706

  4,654

  10,359

  March 1987

  12,899

  1,201

  14,100

  5,723

  4,696

  10,418

  June 1987

  12,938

  1,263

  14,201

  5,777

  4,758

  10,535

  September 1987

  12,973

  1,306

  14,279

  5,808

  4,806

  10,614

  December 1987

  12,971

  1,343

  14,314

  5,858

  4,847

  10,705

  March 1988

  13,029

  1,330

  14,359

  5,892

  4,882

  10,774

  June 1988

  13,007

  1,356

  14,363

  5,910

  4,899

  10,809

  September 1988

  13,035

  1,358

  14,393

  5,966

  4,934

  10,899

  1 Part-time male figures are not seasonally adjusted.

  2 Unavailable.

  Work force in employment in Great Britain (seasonally adjusted)

  Net change over previous quarter

  Males

  Females

  Full-time

  Part-time1

  All

  Full-time

  Part-time

  All

  Thousands

  Thousands

  Thousands

  Thousands

  Thousands

  Thousands

  December 1979

  2

  2

  0

  6

  35

  41

  March 1980

  2

  2

  -47

  -51

  36

  -14

  June 1980

  2

  2

  -72

  -66

  19

  -46

  September 1980

  2

  2

  -155

  -48

  -33

  -81

  December 1980

  2

  2

  -173

  -74

  -17

  -92

  March 1981

  2

  2

  -172

  -56

  -11

  -67

  June 1981

  2

  2

  -154

  -52

  -6

  -58

  September 1981

  2

  2

  -114

  -22

  13

  -9

  December 1981

  2

  2

  -106

  -33

  -2

  -35

  March 1982

  2

  2

  -55

  24

  -23

  0

  June 1982

  2

  2

  -72

  -29

  -5

  -34

  September 1982

  2

  2

  -75

  -51

  -1

  -51

  December 1982

  2

  2

  -90

  -4

  -49

  -52

  March 1983

  2

  2

  -57

  -9

  3

  -6

  June 1983

  -55

  27

  -28

  21

  55

  77

  September 1983

  22

  87

  109

  38

  111

  149

  December 1983

  0

  57

  57

  42

  68

  110

  March 1984

  40

  -9

  31

  37

  26

  63

  June 1984

  28

  15

  43

  27

  23

  50

  September 1984

  52

  3

  55

  35

  36

  71

  December 1984

  35

  29

  64

  12

  48

  59

  March 1985

  36

  -16

  21

  35

  13

  49

  June 1985

  -10

  24

  14

  17

  30

  48

  September 1985

  10

  10

  20

  14

  61

  74

  December 1985

  -18

  16

  -2

  7

  8

  15

  March 1986

  -16

  -28

  -43

  4

  26

  29

  June 1986

  -57

  52

  -6

  0

  57

  57

  September 1986

  18

  30

  47

  25

  65

  90

  December 1986

  -18

  31

  13

  34

  50

  84

  March 1987

  39

  3

  42

  17

  42

  59

  June 1987

  39

  62

  101

  54

  62

  117

  September 1987

  34

  43

  78

  31

  48

  79

  December 1987

  -2

  37

  35

  50

  41

  92

  March 1988

  58

  -13

  45

  34

  35

  89

  June 1988

  -22

  26

  4

  18

  17

  35

  September 1988

  28

  2

  30

  56

  35

  91

  1 Part-time male figures are not seasonally adjusted.

  2 Unavailable.

  174 175

  Workforce in employment in Great Britain (seasonally adjusted)

  Percentage change over previous quarter

  Males

  Females

  Full-time

  Part-time1

  All

  Full-time

  Part-time

  All

  per cent.

  per cent.

  per cent.

  per cent.

  per cent.

  per cent.

  December 1979

  2

  2

  0·0

  0·1

  0·9

  0·4

  March 1980

  2

  2

  -0·3

  -0·9

  0·9

  -0·1

  June 1980

  2

  2

  -0·5

  -1·1

  0·5

  -0·5

  September 1980

  2

  2

  -1·0

  -0·8

  -0·8

  -0·8

  December 1980

  2

  2

  -1·2

  -1·3

  -0·4

  -0·9

  March 1981

  2

  2

  -1·2

  -1·0

  -0·3

  -0·7

  June 1981

  2

  2

  -1·1

  -0·9

  -0·1

  -0·6

  September 1981

  2

  2

  -0·8

  -0·4

  0·3

  -0·1

  December 1981

  2

  2

  -0·8

  -0·6

  0·0

  -0·4

  March 1982

  2

  2

  -0·4

  0·4

  -0·6

  0·0

  June 1982

  2

  2

  -0·5

  -0·5

  -0·1

  -0·4

  September 1982

  2

  2

  -0·5

  -0·9

  0·0

  -0·5

  December 1982

  2

  2

  -0·6

  -0·1

  -1·2

  -0·6

  March 1983

  2

  2

  -0·4

  -0·2

  0·1

  -0·1

  June 1983

  -0·4

  3·2

  -0·2

  0·4

  1·4

  0·8

  September 1983

  0·2

  9·7

  0·8

  0·7

  2·7

  1·6

  December 1983

  0·0

  5·8

  0·4

  0·8

  1·7

  1·2

  March 1984

  0·3

  -0·9

  0·2

  0·7

  0·6

  0·7

  June 1984

  0·2

  1·5

  0·3

  0·5

  0·5

  0·5

  September 1984

  0·4

  0·3

  0·4

  0·6

  0·8

  0·7

  December 1984

  0·3

  2·8

  0·5

  0·2

  1·1

  0·6

  March 1985

  0·3

  -1·4

  0·1

  0·6

  0·3

  0·5

  June 1985

  -0·1

  2·2

  0·1

  0·3

  0·7

  0·5

  September 1985

  0·1

  1·0

  0·1

  0·2

  1·4

  0·7

  December 1985

  -0·1

  1·5

  0·0

  0·1

  0·2

  0·1

  March 1986

  -0·1

  -2·3

  -0·3

  0·1

  0·6

  0·3

  June 1986

  -0·4

  4·8

  0·0

  0·0

  1·3

  0·8

  September 1986

  0·1

  2·6

  0·3

  0·4

  1·4

  0·9

  December 1986

  -0·1

  2·7

  0·1

  0·6

  1·1

  0·8

  March 1987

  0·3

  0·2

  0·3

  0·3

  0·9

  0·6

  June 1987

  0·3

  5·1

  0·7

  0·9

  1·3

  1·1

  September 1987

  0·3

  3·4

  0·5

  0·5

  1·0

  0·7

  December 1987

  0·0

  2·8

  0·2

  0·9

  0·9

  0·9

  March 1988

  0·4

  -1·0

  0·3

  0·6

  0·7

  0·6

  June 1988

  -0·2

  2·0

  0·0

  0·3

  0·3

  0·3

  September 1988

  0·2

  0·1

  0·2

  0·9

  0·7

  0·8

  1 Part-time male figures are not seasonally adjusted.

  2 Unavailable.

  Work force in employment in Great Britain (seasonally adjusted)

  Workforce in employment

  Males

  Females

  Full-time

  Part-time1

  All

  Full-time

  Part-time

  All

  Thousands

  Thousands

  Thousands

  Thousands

  Thousands

  Thousands

  December 1979

  2

  2

  47

  2

  2

  182

  March 1980

  2

  2

  -3

  2

  2

  128

  June 1980

  -105

  22

  -83

  -104

  126

  22

  September 1980

  2

  2

  -274

  -158

  58

  -100

  December 1980

  2

  2

  -447

  -239

  5

  -233

  March 1981

  2

  2

  -572

  -244

  -42

  -286

  June 1981

  -640

  -14

  -654

  -230

  -68

  -298

  September 1981

  2

  2

  -613

  -205

  -21

  -226

  December 1981

  2

  2

  -547

  -164

  -6

  -169

  March 1982

  2

  2

  -430

  -84

  -18

  -102

  June 1982

  -374

  27

  -347

  -60

  -18

  -78

  September 1982

  2

  2

  -308

  -89

  -32

  -120

  December 1982

  2

  2

  -291

  -59

  -78

  -138

  March 1983

  2

  2

  -294

  -92

  -52

  -144

  June 1983

  -276

  26

  -250

  -41

  9

  -33

  September 1983

  2

  2

  -66

  47

  121

  168

  December 1983

  2

  2

  80

  93

  238

  330

  March 1984

  7

  162

  169

  139

  260

  399

  June 1984

  90

  150

  240

  145

  228

  372

  September 1984

  120

  66

  186

  141

  153

  294

  December 1984

  155

  38

  193

  111

  132

  243

  March 1985

  151

  32

  183

  109

  120

  229

  June 1985

  113

  41

  154

  99

  127

  227

  September 1985

  71

  48

  119

  78

  152

  230

  December 1985

  18

  35

  53

  73

  112

  185

  March 1986

  -35

  24

  -11

  41

  125

  166

  June 1986

  -83

  52

  -31

  24

  152

  178

  September 1986

  -75

  71

  -3

  35

  156

  191

  176 177

  Workforce in employment

  Males

  Females

  Full-time

  Part-time1

  All

  Full-time

  Part-time

  All

  Thousands

  Thousands

  Thousands

  Thousands

  Thousands

  Thousands

  December 1986

  -75

  86

  12

  63

  198

  261

  March 1987

  -19

  115

  96

  76

  214

  290

  June 1987

  77

  125

  203

  130

  219

  349

  September 1987

  94

  138

  233

  136

  202

  338

  December 1987

  111

  145

  255

  152

  194

  346

  March 1988

  129

  129

  258

  169

  186

  356

  June 1988

  68

  93

  162

  133

  141

  274

  September 1988

  62

  52

  114

  158

  128

  286

  1 Part-time male figures are not seasonally adjusted.

  2 Unavailable.

  Workforce in employment in Great Britain (seasonally adjusted)Percentage change over previous year

  (Per cent.)

  Males

  Females

  Full-time

  Part-time1

  All

  Full-time

  Part-time

  All

  December 1979

  2

  2

  0·3

  2

  2

  1·9

  March 1980

  2

  2

  0

  2

  2

  1·3

  June 1980

  -0·7

  2·6

  -0·6

  -1·8

  3·2

  0·2

  September 1980

  2

  2

  -1·8

  -2·7

  -1·4

  -1·0

  December 1980

  2

  2

  -3·0

  -4·1

  0·1

  -2·4

  March 1981

  2

  2

  -3·8

  -4·2

  -1·0

  -2·9

  June 1981

  -4·6

  -1·6

  -4·4

  -4·0

  -1·5

  -3·0

  September 1981

  2

  2

  -4·2

  -3·6

  -0·5

  -2·3

  December 1981

  2

  2

  -3·8

  -2·9

  -0·1

  -1·8

  March 1982

  2

  2

  -3·0

  -1·5

  -0·4

  -1·1

  June 1982

  -2·8

  3·2

  -2·4

  -1·1

  -0·4

  -0·8

  September 1982

  2

  2

  -2·2

  -1·6

  -0·8

  -1·3

  December 1982

  2

  2

  -2·1

  -1·1

  -1·9

  -1·5

  March 1983

  2

  2

  -2·1

  -1·7

  -1·3

  -1·5

  June 1983

  -2·1

  3·0

  -1·8

  -0·8

  0·2

  -0·3

  September 1983

  2

  2

  -0·5

  0·9

  3·0

  1·8

  December 1983

  2

  2

  0·6

  1·7

  6·0

  3·5

  March 1984

  0·1

  18·7

  1·2

  2·6

  6·5

  4·3

  June 1984

  0·7

  16·7

  1·8

  2·7

  5·7

  4·0

  September 1984

  0·9

  6·7

  1·4

  2·6

  3·7

  3·1

  December 1984

  1·2

  3·7

  1·4

  2·0

  3·1

  2·5

  March 1985

  1·2

  3·1

  1·3

  2·0

  2·8

  2·4

  June 1985

  0·8

  3·9

  1·1

  1·8

  3·0

  2·3

  September 1985

  0·6

  4·6

  0·9

  1·4

  3·5

  2·3

  December 1985

  0·1

  3·2

  0·4

  1·3

  2·6

  1·9

  March 1986

  -0·3

  2·3

  -0·1

  0·7

  2·9

  1·7

  June 1986

  -0·6

  4·8

  -0·2

  0·4

  3·5

  1·8

  September 1986

  -0·6

  6·5

  0

  0·6

  3·5

  1·9

  December 1986

  -0·6

  7·8

  0·1

  1·1

  4·4

  2·6

  March 1987

  -0·1

  10·6

  0·7

  1·3

  4·8

  2·9

  June 1987

  0·6

  11·0

  1·4

  2·3

  4·8

  3·4

  September 1987

  0·7

  11·9

  1·7

  2·4

  4·4

  3·3

  December 1987

  0·9

  12·1

  1·8

  2·7

  4·2

  3·3

  Mar-88

  1·0

  10·7

  1·8

  3·0

  4·0

  3·4

  Jun-88

  0·5

  7·4

  1·1

  2·3

  3·0

  2·6

  September 1988

  0·5

  4·0

  0·8

  2·7

  2·7

  2·7

  1 Part-time male figures are not seasonally adjusted.

  2 Unavailable.

  Loan Guarantee Scheme
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Leeds, Central of 20 February,Official Report, column 464, if there is any basis by which he is able to estimate the number and location of jobs created by the loan guarantee scheme; and on what basis the net Exchequer cost of £450 per job is estimated.

  Mr. Cope
  The geographical breakdown of guarantees issued under the loan guarantee scheme up to 31 January 1989 is as follows:
  178

  Number of guarantees

  Value £ million

  North East

  977

  30·18

  North West

  2,679

  82·25

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  1,652

  48·33

  West Midlands

  1,794

  56·77

  East Midlands

  1,352

  45·48

  South East

  7,778

  280·55

  South West

  1,990

  62·15

  Scotland

  1,533

  46·79

  Wales

  1,010

  31·56

  Northern Ireland

  278

  10·01

  Total

  21,043

  694·07

  179
  Information is not available that would permit reliable estimates of the number and location of jobs created to be estimated.

  The net Exchequer cost is calculated by taking payments where guarantees are called, less premia received, and any later recoveries of guarantee payments. Deductions are made for savings in benefits and tax and national insurance payments in the first year after the loan is made, which are additional to those that would have occurred in the absence of the loan. The total number of additional jobs is estimated from surveys of loan recipients and banks such as that carried out last year by National Economic Research Associates.

  Maternity Leave
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to review the rules on maternity leave.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to bring British rules on maternity leave into line with European countries; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so. European countries have different arrangements for maternity leave/absence and associated rights according to their own priorities.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  EC Fishing Regulations
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has further to improve the enforcing of European Community fishing regulations; and how he intends to negotiate with other European Community Ministers to ensure a uniform enforcement within the Community.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Enforcement of Community fishing regulations by the United Kingdom is recognised as being of a standard which is one of the highest in the Community. The United Kingdom has also taken the lead in pressing for improvements in the enforcement performance of other member states, and will continue to do so. Largely due to our efforts, there have been real improvements in other member states over recent years, and Community rules in this area have also been strengthened. There is now a real penalty for member states if they overfish; the powers and complement of the Community inspectorate have been increased, and the council agree measures towards the end of last year which will improve enforcement in the case of vessels landing in a member state other than that in which it is registered. More recently the Commission has made a proposal which would provide Community funding to help improve member states' enforcement.

  Sheep Variable Premium
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to resist the imposition of any headage limits as part of any replacement arrangements for the sheep variable premium scheme.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I shall continue to oppose the introduction of headage limits in the EC sheepmeat regime.

  Goat Milk
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if there are any plans for goat milk production to be put under the same legislative control as dairy milk production.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr (Mr. Rooker) on 8 February at column 710.

  Salmonella Enteritidis
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has plans to conduct or fund research into the development of a rapid, sensitive and specific test for salmonella enteritidis phage 4; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ryder
  [holding answer 20 February 1989]: My Department has kept closely in touch with the development of a rapid, sensitive and specific test for salmonella enteritidis in the AFRC institute of food research, Norwich laboratory. The Department of Education and Science is funding the work which forms the basis of this test and my Department is working with the institute on further extensions of the technology.

  Studies are also taking place at the central veterinary laboratory on the application of a whole-blood test in the field as a flock-screening test. This will be followed by work on laboratory tests such as ELISA and antiglobulin tests.

  Lindane and PCP
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the countries in the EEC which(a) ban Lindane and PCP and (b) allow Lindane and PCP to be used as wood preservatives (i) with restrictions and (ii) without restrictions.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I have been asked to reply.

  Though it is not complete, information currently available to the Health and Safety Executive indicates that, in the European Community, wood preservatives containing PCP are banned in Denmark, Greece and the Netherlands and those containing Lindane in Italy and the Netherlands. I regret that full information on restrictions could be obtained only at disproportionate cost, but the HSE knows of only one EC country, France, which is thought to place no restrictions. In the United Kingdom all wood preservatives are subject to the control of pesticides regulations.

  MERCHANT SHIPPING STATISTICS
  MERCHANT SHIPPING STATISTICS
  TAXATION DATA
  TAXATION DATA
  RETIRED CROWN SERVANTS: OUTSIDE APPOINTMENTS
  RETIRED CROWN SERVANTS: OUTSIDE APPOINTMENTS
  VETERINARY EDUCATION: RILEY REPORT
  VETERINARY EDUCATION: RILEY REPORT
  WIDOWS' PENSIONS
  WIDOWS' PENSIONS
  BSE: SOUTHWOOD REPORT
  BSE: SOUTHWOOD REPORT
  BSE: RESEARCH COMMITTEE
  BSE: RESEARCH COMMITTEE
  PRISONS: STAFFING LEVELS
  PRISONS: STAFFING LEVELS