Written Answers of 23 January 1989

PRIME MINISTER

  Food Inspection (Ministerial Responsibilities)
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list the respective responsibilities of the Department of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for food inspection.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Tiverton (Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop) on 7 December 1988 at column 163 concerning the division of responsibility between the Department of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Food inspection under the Food Act 1984 is a local authority responsibility. The district councils, including London boroughs, are responsible for food hygiene and safety inspections. The county councils and the London boroughs are responsible for inspections for the composition and labelling of food.

  Interviews (Transcripts)
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will arrange for transcripts made by the Central Office of Information of interviews she gives to be placed in the Library after publication of the interviews.

  The Prime Minister
  No.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Security Services
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Attorney-General how many of(a) his staff and (b) those in the Crown Prosecution Service are devoted to matters relating to the security services.

  The Attorney-General
  None.

  Director of Public Prosecutions
  Mr. Holt
  To ask the Attorney-General when he next plans to meet the Director of Public Prosecutions; and what will be discussed.

  The Attorney-General
  On Thursday 9 February, 1989. We plan to discuss a variety of matters of departmental interest.

  Irish Attorney-General
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Attorney-General when he last met the Irish Attorney-General; and what subjects were discussed.

  The Attorney-General
  On Thursday 29 September 1988. We had a constructive meeting in regard to matters 368
  of concern to our respective responsibilites, in particular extradition between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.

  Guildford Four
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Attorney-General what representations he has received on the conduct of the Guildford Four case.

  The Attorney-General
  None. As the hon. Member will know, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has now decided to refer the case to the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) under section 17 of the Criminal Appeal Act, 1968.

  Abortion
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Attorney-General how many prosecutions were brought in 1987 by the Crown Prosecution Service under the Infant Life Preservation Act 1929; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Attorney-General how many prosecutions were brought by the Crown Prosecution Service under the Infant Life Preservation Act 1929 in 1987; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Attorney-General how many prosecutions were brought by the Crown Prosecution Service under the Infant Life Preservation Act 1929 in 1987; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  The Crown Prosecution Service brought one prosecution in 1987 under the Infant Life Preservation Act 1929.

  Live Births
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Attorney-General how many prosecutions were brought in 1988 by the Crown Prosecution Service for failure to register live births; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  None.

  Director of Public Prosecutions
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Attorney-General when he last met the Director of Public Prosecutions; and what matters were discussed.

  The Attorney-General
  I refer the hon. and learned Member to the answer I gave today to the hon. Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. Mullin).

  Mr. Brian Clough
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will ask the Crown Prosecution Service to undertake proceedings against Mr. Brian Clough of Nottingham for common assault.

  The Attorney-General
  No. It is for the police to decide whether or not to institute criminal proceedings. If proceedings are instituted, the matter is then passed to the Crown prosecution service for independent consideration. It will employ the criteria set out in the code for Crown prosecutors.

  "The Guardian" (Prosecution)
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Attorney-General pursuant to his written reply to the hon. Member for Birmingharm,
  369
  Erdington on 16 January, Official Report, column 11, whether proceedings are to be instituted against Mr. Richard Norton-Taylor of The Guardian, and its editor Mr. Peter Preston, arising from the publication on 4 January of the name and background of the new head of the Secret Intelligence Service.

  The Attorney-General
  No.

  Justices of the Peace
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Attorney-General how many justices of the peace there are now; how many there were five, 10, 15 and 20 years ago; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  The total numbers of active justices of the peace in England and Wales, in January of the years mentioned and rounded to the nearest hundred, was as follows:

  1989 — 28,200

  1984 — 25,800

  1979 — 24,000

  1974 — 21,500

  1970 — 19,300(the earliest year for the figures are avilable)

  I welcome the opportunity to record the Lord Chancellor's appreciation of the voluntary work done by increasing numbers of justices, drawn from all ages, communities and backgrounds up and down the country. They make an essential and much appreciated contribution to the administration of justice.

  Magistrates (Selection Committees)
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Attorney-General how many advisory panel members for magistrates' selection committees have requested that they remain anonymous.

  The Attorney-General
  Advisory committees have until the end of 1992 to make their membership known. Whether, and if so when, they do so before that time is a matter for each advisory committee to decide.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Food and Agriculture Organisation
  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met officials of the Food and Agriculture Organisation; and what issues were discussed.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  I met the director-general on 13 December 1988. We discussed the locust situation in Africa and the threat to the world's tropical rain forests. I received a report on progress of the review of the Food and Agriculture Organisation's objectives and functions.

  India
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current level of aid given by the Government to India; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Our gross bilateral aid expenditure on India was estimated to be about £90 million in the financial year 1987–88. We are awaiting final confirmation of the figures. At that level, India remains our largest bilateral aid programme.

  Eggs
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any plans to ship eggs to Eritrea, the Sudan and other countries with a food supply problem; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  I have no such plans. Eggs and egg products are not suitable for general distribution as food aid. They can only be used under very strict control.

  Developing Countries (Debt Burden)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he is taking to reduce the debt burden of developing countries.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  We have made the major contribution to the interest subsidy account of the IMF's enhanced structural adjustment facility. We have converted nearly £1 billion of old aid loans into grants. The Paris Club is now implementing the special Toronto terms based on the sub-Saharan African initiative first proposed by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1987. These are all very significant contributions towards lessening the debt burden on the poorest countries—and widely recognised as such.

  World Bank
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects to meet the president of the World bank; and what matters he expects to discuss.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  I understand that the president of the World bank plans to visit London in April, when I would expect to see him to discuss a range of policy issues of mutual interest and concern.

  "State of the World's Children"
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's response to the recent UNICEF report, "State of the World's Children".

  Mr. Chris Patten
  I welcome the publication of this report. It examines the problems faced by women and children in developing countries and is an example of the work of UNICEF in advocacy for children.

  Our contributions to UNICEF increased from £7·64 million in 1985–86 to over £15 million in the last financial year.

  Send a Cow Project
  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of the Send a Cow project.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  The project, with support from our joint funding scheme, is progressing well. About half of the 54 cows sent to Uganda so far have already calved and the remainder are expected to calve within the next few weeks. Those chosen to receive the cows, including widows of the recent conflicts and others with large families and low incomes, both Moslem and Christian, are now starting to benefit from the extra milk yields.

  Aid (Effectiveness)
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about current methods of assessing the effectiveness of overseas aid.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  We have developed well-tried systems both for ensuring and assessing the effectiveness of our aid. These include annual country review and objectives papers; project appraisal and monitoring; project completion reports; and the full evaluation of a sample of projects. A full account will be given in this year's public expenditure White Paper, to be published shortly.

  Caribbean Dependencies
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on British aid to the Caribbean dependencies.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  In the most recent year for which figures are available (1987), British aid disbursements to the four Caribbean dependencies in receipt of aid were £8,767,000, or £214 per head.

  I visited the Turks and Caicos Islands, the largest recipient of our aid, from 5 to 8 January and subsequently chaired in Barbados a meeting of dependent territory governors to review aid policy in the dependencies.

  Vietnam
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign arid Commonwealth Affairs what aid the United Kingdom is currently giving to Vietnam.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  We do not provide bilateral aid to Vietnam. We are, however, contributing our share (about £540,000) of the cost of emergency food aid supplied through the European Community.

  India (Primary Education)
  Mr. Summerson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contribution Britain is making to the development of primary education
  in India.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  We have contributed £1·3 million to a pilot project in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Two hundred classrooms have been built to improved designs which provide a better educational environment; and teachers and teacher educators have been trained in child centred learning techniques. We are now considering a proposal to extend the project throughout the state, at a cost of abou £30 million.

  Lomé Renegotiations
  Mr. Knapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to discuss the Lomé renegotiations with African, Caribbean and Pacific countries.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Negotiations on a successor to the 3rd Lomé convention, which expires in February 1990, were opened formally in October last year.

  The first EC/ACP Ministerial negotiating meeting is in Brazzaville next month. I plan to attend this and
  372
  subsequent Ministerial negotiating meetings. I also intend to continue to raise Lomé issues on my bilateral visits to Africa, Caribbean and Pacific countries.

  Southern Africa Development Co-ordination Conference (Support)
  Sir Fergus Montgomery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on British support for the Southern Africa Development Co-ordination Conference.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  The United Kingdom is a firm supporter of the Southern Africa Development Co-ordination Conference (SADCC). Pledges of British bilateral assistance for SADCC projects now amount to some £60 million. I shall attend the SADCC annual conference in Angola next month.

  Armenian Earthquake
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received regarding British aid in response to the Armenian earthquake.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  I have received a great many representations from organisations, commercial companies and individuals offering donations, cost price relief supplies and personal help. It has been a magnificent and spontaneous response. The Soviet authorities have gone out of their way to express their gratitude for all the help provided from Britain.

  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about Britain's contribution to the earthquake disaster relief operation in Armenia.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Of the £5 million emergency aid which I announced on 9 December 1988, some £1.4 million has been allocated in response to specific requests from the Soviet authorities for assistance with emergency relief and search-and-rescue measures. This phase of the relief operation is now over. The balance of our £5 million will be used for rehabilitation and reconstruction activities which are now under consideration by the Soviet authorities.

  Sudan (Debt)
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will undertake a study of the implications of the debt for development swap in Sudan with UNICEF, whereby Midland bank's debt exposure has been donated to finance development programmes for the Kordofan region, and as to what opportunities this precedent opens up for charitable work in the third world with the support of Her Majesty's Government.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  We warmly welcome the Midland bank's voluntary decision to reduce Sudan's debt obligations and the arrangements under which this will facilitate development work in the Sudan.

  ACP Countries
  Mr. Colin Shepherd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on future aid and trade relations with the African, Caribbean and Pacific group of countries.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Aid and trade relations between the European Community and the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries are governed by the Lomé conventions. Negotiations on a successor to the third Lomé convention, which expires in February 1990, were opened formally in October last year. We will be actively involved throughout the renegotiation.

  Nigeria
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, following the announcement of a grant of ․100 million being made available for Nigeria, he will publish the revised figures for the net aid programme including aid administration costs, for the financial years 1988–89 and 1989–90; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  For the financial years 1988–89 and 1989–90, the net overseas aid budget, which includes aid administration, stands at £1,387 million and £1,430 million respectively. Assuming the conditions are met for the disbursement of the ․100 million aid grant for 1989 pledged as part of our Nigeria initiative, I would at present expect, on the basis of current exchange rates, that some £47 million would be added to the aid programme in 1989–90 for this purpose.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Departmental Staff (Pay)
  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the number of staff in his Department, by grade, in receipt of local pay additions outside London and the south-east economic planning region; what are the different amounts paid to staff by grade; whether this figure varies due to location; what qualifying period of scale-related criteria is used; and whether this varies by location.

  Mrs. Chalker
  All grades currently in receipt of local pay additions are employed in Central London and at Croydon. Details were contained in the answer to the hon. Member for Knowsley South (Mr. Hughes) of 20 October 1988 at column 984.

  Disarmament Policy
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy on the internationally monitored system of on-site inspections following a pre-emptory challenge of the nature of the work, or of materials stored, in relation to verification of chemical and biological disarmament; and what is his policy towards the formation of international inspection teams.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The concept of challenge on-site inspection currently under discussion at the conference on disarmament in Geneva in the negotiations for a374
  comprehensive convention banning chemical weapons is largely drawn from a United Kingdom proposal tabled in 1986. However, much work remains to be done to elaborate the detailed procedures which will be required to make the regime effective.

  It is agreed in the negotiations that on-site inspections will be carried out by international inspection teams drawn from the technical secretariat of the international organisation which will be established to oversee and administer the implementation of the convention.

  The development, production, stockpiling and use of biological weapons is already banned by the 1972 biological weapons convention to which over 100 states (including the United Kingdom) are party. This convention has no specific provision for on-site inspections, either routinely or on challenge.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Taxation
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the level of income at which the following should have a lower overall tax burden in real terms now than in 1979(a) a single man, (b) single woman, (c) married man, (d) married woman, (e) married man with wife not working and with one child, (f) married man with wife not working and with two children, (g) married man with wife not working and with three children and (h) married man with wife not working and with four children.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Available information is contained in the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Hornchurch (Mr. Squire) on 10 January at columns 633–56.

  Foreign Investment
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on current foreign investment and capital flows into the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Major
  Inflows of direct and portfolio investment into the United Kingdom are estimated to have been £6·8 billion in the first three quarters of 1988. Net capital inflows into the United Kingdom are estimated at £2·2 billion.

  Competitive Tendering
  Sir David Price
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will ensure that all public departments in determining the award of contracts under competitive tendering procedures give proper consideration to the maintenance of professional standards.

  Mr. Brooke
  The award of contracts for goods and services is primarily the responsibility of individual Departments. However, the Government's "Guidelines on Public Purchasing Policy", last issued by the Treasury in January 1987, require that such goods and services should be acquired by competition unless there are convincing reasons to the contrary. The guidelines provide that the assessment of value for money should take account of other factors as well as price, including the financial, technical and professional status of tenderers. At the same time, part of the function of the Treasury's central unit on purchasing is to increase the professionalism of
  375
  Government purchasing, by working with Departments to improve their organisation and systems and the training and professional skills of purchasing staff.

  Personal Savings
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the trend in personal savings.

  Mr. Lilley
  The personal sector saving ratio has fallen in recent years. However this has been largely offset by rises in saving by companies and the public sector, leaving total national savings broadly unchanged as a share of gross domestic product. Rises in interest rates in recent months will encourage more saving and less borrowing by households.

  Labour Costs (Manufacturing)
  Mr. Janman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest information on the growth of unit labour costs in manufacturing industry.

  Mr. Major
  In the three months to November 1988, manufacturing unit wage costs increased by 0·5 per cent. on the same period a year earlier.

  Tax Yield
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the expected yield of total taxes in 1988–89; and what were the comparable figures for 1978–79, using 1988–89 prices.

  Mr. Major
  Total taxes on income, expenditure and capital in 1988–89 are expected to yield £143·8 billion, as published in the autumn statement. The comparable figure for 1978–79 is £105·4 billion at 1988–89 prices.

  Inflation
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest forecast for the rate of inflation in 1989.

  Mr. Lilley
  The autumn statement contains the latest published forecast for RPI inflation in 1989.

  Government Expenditure
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the outlook for general Government expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic profit.

  Mr. Major
  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer's autumn statement to the House on 1 November 1988 set out the Government's plans for public spending. It noted that general Government expenditure (excluding privatisation proceeds) in 1988–89 is expected to be below 40 per cent. of GDP for the first time in over 20 years; and that over the next three years it is expected to fall further.

  Economic Growth
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the current level of economic growth.
  376
  Mr. Major
  Gross domestic product is likely to have grown by around 4·5 per cent. in 1988. This would he the fourth consecutive year of growth in excess of three per cent., a performance unmatched since the war.

  Private Shareholders
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the number of private shareholders in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The joint Treasury and Stock Exchange survey carried out in January and February 1988 estimated that approximately 9 million people own shares, 20 per cent. of the adult population. This represents a threefold increase since 1979.

  Taxation Statistics
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the current figure would be if the £8,500 salary threshold after which tax is levied on the value of benefits such as company cars were to be raised to keep it in line with its real value when that £8,500 figure was set.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The earnings threshold at which benefits like a company car provided for private use becomes taxable was raised to £8,500 in 1979–80. If this threshold had been indexed in line with inflation according to the statutory formula for increasing personal allowances and thresholds, the threshold in 1988–89 would be £17,000.

  Taxation Changes
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the average individual cumulative gain to those earning £25,000 a year as a result of changes in taxation since 1979.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The information for individuals with no reliefs other than the main personal allowance is as follows:

  Tax Liability in 1988–89 on earnings of £25,000

  1978–79 tax regime indexed for inflation £

  1988–89 tax regime £

  Reduction in tax liability £

  Single person

  8,012·50

  6,063·00

  1.949·50

  Married man

  7,423·75

  5,467·00

  1,957·00

  Income Tax
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people are currently excluded from payment of income tax.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  In 1988–89, it is estimated that some 11·3 million single people and married couples are not liable to income tax.

  Capital Gains Tax (Residential Property)
  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amounts were collected in capital gains tax on the sale of residential property in each of the last five years; and what numbers of properties were involved.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I regret that no information is available centrally about sales by companies. For
  377
  individuals and trusts, limited information is available about assessments relating to sales in 1985–86. The capital gains tax on sales of properties identified as residential was about £100 million payable by about 40,000 taxpayers. In addition tax may have been paid on other residential property not identified as such.

  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what audit safeguards are currently in place to ensure that all payments of capital gains due on sales of residential property are properly made.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Most such sales are made by owner occupiers and are exempt from tax. Sales by developers and investors are picked up through the ordinary process of examining taxpayers' returns and business accounts, a proportion of which are checked against information supplied by third parties.

  Mortgage Interest Relief
  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many prosecutions in respect of fraudulent mortgage interest relief at source claims have been instituted in each year since the inception of the scheme; and with what result.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  There were three criminal prosecutions by the police in 1987–88, all of which were successful. There have been another 10 so far this year of which eight were successful. Further prosecutions are pending.

  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil servants are currently employed in administering and calculating mortgage interest relief at source entitlements; and what were the numbers in each year since the inception of the scheme.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The estimated current number in terms of full time staff equivalents is 820. The numbers on the same basis in the earlier years were:

  Numbers

  1983–84

  1,000

  1984–85

  1,125

  1985–86

  1,000

  1986–87

  950

  1987–88

  950

  Staff Numbers
  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will tabulate in respect of both numbers employed and civil service grades those engaged in administering and calculating(a) mortgage interest relief at source entitlements and (b) capital gains tax on residential property.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The estimated figures in terms of full time staff equivalents are as follows:

  A: Mortgage interest relief at source

  Grade

  Numbers

  Inspector (P)

  1

  Inspector

  28

  Tax Officer (Higher Grade)

  250

  Tax Officer

  290

  Revenue Assistant

  170

  378

  Grade

  Numbers

  SEO

  1

  HEO

  12

  Executive Officer

  7

  Administrative Officer

  1

  Typists

  60

  Total

  820

  B: Capital gains tax on residential property

  Grade

  Numbers

  Senior Legal Assistant

  1

  Inspector (SP)

  1

  Inspector

  20

  Tax Officer (Higher Grade)

  11

  Tax Officer

  5

  Revenue Assistant

  19

  Principal Valuer

  12

  Senior Valuer

  30

  Valuer

  18

  Valuation Technician

  1

  Valuation Clerk

  4

  Typists

  3

  Total

  125

  Atlantic Salmon Conservation Trust (Scotland)
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will review the charitable status of the Atlantic salmon conservation trust (Scotland) in the light of evidence which was submitted to him by the hon. Member for East Lothian on 6 Septembr 1988.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The question of whether any particular body has charitable status is not one for Treasury Ministers.

  In Scotland, the Inland Revenue is responsible for deciding whether a body or trust which is claiming tax exemption as a charity is established for charitable purposes only. This is a matter of law.

  Responsibility for determining a particular taxpayer's liability lies with the Inland Revenue, subject to his rights of appeal to independent appeal commissioners and to the courts. As I explained in my letter of 26 September to the hon. Member, it is well recognised that Ministers do not seek to influence the Inland Revenue's decisions on particular cases. It would not be right therefore for me to intervene in this case.

  Local Pay Additions
  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what, in respect of the payment of local pay additions in the Central Computer and Telecommunication Agency, is the number of staff by grade, in respect of local pay additions outside London and the south-east economic planning region; what are the different amounts paid to staff, by grade; whether this varies due to location; what qualifying period of scale-related criteria is used; and whether this varies by location.

  Mr. Brooke
  There are no CCTA staff outside London and the south-east economic planning region in receipt of local pay additions.

  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the number of staff in Her Majesty's
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  Stationery Office, by grade, in receipt of local pay additions outside London and the south-east economic planning region; what are the differing amounts paid to staff, by grade; whether this figure varies due to location; what qualifying period of scale-related criteria is used; and whether this varies by location.

  Mr. Lilley
  None.

  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the number of staff of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise, by grade, in receipt of local pay additions outside London and the south-east economic planning region; what are the differing amounts paid to staff by grade; whether this figure varies dues to location; what qualifying period of scale-related criteria is used; and whether this varies by location.

  Mr. Lilley
  None.

  "Using Private Enterprise in Government"
  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any progress has been made in implementing the recommendation in paragraph 34(c) in "Using Private Enterprise in Government", on pooling information about contractors between Departments and inviting certain Departments to take responsibility for compiling data about the performance of contractors in certain industries.

  Mr. Brooke
  The central unit on purchasing maintains a data base of activities subjected to competitive tendering in Departments. This information is distributed annually to all Departments so that those contemplating market testing a particular activity can benefit from the experience of others who have already tested that activity. The CUP has also issued general guidance to Departments, which includes advice on contractor appraisal.

  VAT (Scotland)
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the net value added tax receipts raised from Scotland in 1987–88.

  Mr. Lilley
  Information about value added tax receipts is not available on a regional basis.

  Taxpayers (Scotland)
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the number of individual taxpayers resident in Scotland, and the approximate amount of tax raised from them in 1987–88.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The latest available information covers residents of Scotland liable to tax for 1986–87. Including married women whose earned income exceeded the wife's earned income allowance, as well as their husbands and single people, the total was about 2,070,000 individuals, with income tax liability of about £3,250 million.

  Corporation Tax (Scotland)
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the corporation tax raised from taxpayers having their seat in Scotland.
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  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I regret that information on which to base an estimate is not available centrally.

  Personal Savings
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what studies his Department has carried out into the effect on personal savings of a reduction in the higher rate of capital gains tax to 25 per cent.; and if he will publish the results of such studies.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  We examine a large number of options covering the whole range of the tax system as part. of the Budget process. It is not customary to publish the results of studies into the effects of tax rate changes.

  Private Schools
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the concessions available to private educational establishments in Scotland with charitable status.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I assume that the hon. Member has in mind tax reliefs.

  Private education establishments in Scotland which have charitable status are entitled to the same direct tax reliefs as any other charity in the United Kingdom. Charities are generally exempt from income tax, corporation tax and capital gains tax, provided that their income and gains are applied for charitable purposes only.

  The provision of education in a registered school is exempt from VAT.

  Budget Statement
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about the contents of his forthcoming Budget Statement.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  My right hon. Friend has received a large number of representations covering a variety of proposals.

  Personal Disposable Income
  Mr. Raison
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the percentage change in real personal disposable income broken down into the top 1 per cent., next 9 per cent., next 40 per cent. and bottom 50 per cent. quartiles for every year since 1959.

  Mr. Lawson
  [holding answer 10 January 1989]: I regret that information in the form requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Pensions
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the work force has opted for personal pensions or is in money purchase schemes contracted out.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I have been asked to reply. The latest available figure (June 1988) for the work force* of the United Kingdom is 28,164,000 Over 800,000 people have opted for a personal pension since they were introduced in July 1988. Over 6,500 contracted-out money purchase (COMP) schemes have been set up: no figures are available on the number of individuals involved.
  381
  * Employment Gazette January 1989. Work force in employment plus claimant unemployed.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Student Awards
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the average award received by students from Durham local education authority in their first year at university, polytechnic or other institution of higher education.

  Mr. Jackson
  The average amounts received by students in higher education from Durham local education authority for the 1986–87 academic year were £1,451 per award holder in maintenance and £641 per award holder in fees. Data are not collected separately for first-year students.

  Fees
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has any proposals for introducing changes in the administration of fees in higher education.

  Mr. Jackson
  We are considering the possibility of increasing the impact of student enrolments through some shift in the public funding of higher education from the grant to be disbursed by the Universities Funding Council and the Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council towards students' fees met under the mandatory awards arrangements. When we have a clear proposal, we shall consult the various interests before taking a decision.

  Natural Environment Research Council
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received about staff redundancies in the Natural Environment Research Council.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Department has received 166 representations about staff redundancies in the NERC. Staffing levels are for the council itself to determine. I am informed that areas of high priority science have been safeguarded, and I understand that only about 41 compulsory redundancies are now expected, less than half the number originally announced. The redundancies arise from the council's planning to reflect changing scientific priorities and to keep within its projected budget following a reduction in income for commissioned research.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what research is now undertaken by the Natural Environment Research Council in respect of the greenhouse effect; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  Such research spans many NERC fields of activity. Major relevant projects in the marine sciences directorate include the biogeochemical ocean flux study, the fine Resolution Antarctic model, and the world ocean circulation experiment, while the terrestrial and freshwater directorate's work includes improving global climate model predictions. The British Antarctic Survey does long-term meteorological and climate studies, and the ocean drilling programme improves understanding of past 382
  global climate. NERC also administers four CEGB-funded fellowships relating to greenhouse gases, and supports the United Kingdom universities' global atmospheric modelling project and the tropical ocean and global atmosphere project.

  School of Peace Studies, Bradford University
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much grant was provided for the school of peace studies at Bradford university by the University Grants Committee for each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Jackson
  The public funding of universities is not earmarked in this way. It is for each university to decide how to fund its departments from the UGC block grant and the other income at its disposal.

  Schools (Vandalism)
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to ensure that all local education authorities collect statistics on the incidence of arson and vandalism in schools and colleges on a uniform basis.

  Mr. Butcher
  I am discussing with the local authority associations the best way of collecting these statistics on a uniform basis, as part of an information-gathering exercise to support the efforts of the special action squad in vandalism and arson in schools.

  Edinburgh University
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what response he is making to the representations of Sir David Smith FRS, in relation to the financing of the university of Edinburgh.

  Mr. Jackson
  University lecturers' pay has increased by 24 per cent. since 1986 and negotiations for a 1989–90 settlement are in progress. Government grant to universities is to be increased by about 5 per cent. in 1989–90 and it is for them to assess what pay increase they can afford.

  School Governors
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he intends to take steps to prevent the unreasonable removal of school governors by local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  It is for local authorities to decide who to appoint to the places on school governing bodies reserved for them. But they must exercise their powers reasonably, and we would consider very carefully any complaint that an authority had not done so in a particular instance.

  School Libraries
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on school library provision.

  Mr. Jackson
  It is for individual institutions to decide what library and other provision to make from the total funds at their disposal. However, an additional £9 million
  383
  has been allocated to universities through the University Grants Committee for the period 1987–88 to 1989–90 specifically for the purchase of books and periodicals, together with £2 million provided in 1987–88 and 1988–89 to enable university libraries to link with computer networks to improve access.

  City Technology Colleges
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what prior undertaking on capital expenditure he can give to city technology college promoters planning to establish city technology colleges in the premises of existing maintained schools before proposals are made for those purposes under section 12 of the Education Act 1980 or section 14 of the Education Act 1944.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  My answer of 28 July 1988 to my hon. Friend the Member for Wyre Forest (Mr. Coombs) at column 402 set out the factors I would take into account in deciding proposals which came to me under the provisions of section 12 of the Education Act 1980 and which had as an objective making premises available for the establishment of a city technology college. Should the governors of a voluntary school seek my leave to give notice of their intention to discontinue the school under the provisions of section 14 of the Education Act 1944, for a similar objective, I shall take the same factors into account, in addition to the other requirements laid down in that section.

  I made it clear in that statement that, in considering any such proposals, I should need to satisfy myself specifically that the sponsors' plans were sufficiently clear, considered and developed; and that, subject to my approval of the proposals, I had reached agreement in principle with the promoters on a funding agreement. A key aspect of the latter is the grant I am prepared to make available towards the capital costs involved in the establishment of all CTCs. Clearly promoters will need to have a firm indication from me of the level of that grant in order to prepare plans that are sufficiently well developed to satisfy the LEA or governors that the closure or discontinuance of the existing school is justified.

  In order to be able to give such a firm undertaking I shall need to consider what expenditure on the premises is likely to be required for a CTC established there to meet the basic requirements of the programme, but in giving any such indication I shall make clear that any capital grant is subject to a detailed feasibility study and to my decision on the statutory proposals or applications, which will be treated strictly on their merits.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give details of any revisions to cash limits on his Department's Votes in 1988–89.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, where appropriate, cash limits for the following votes will be revised as follows:384

  Class and Vote

  Current cash limit £1000s

  Increase/ reduction £1000s

  Revised cash limit £1000s

  XII. 1

  481,457

  -547

  480,910

  XII. 3

  1,849,624

  + 40

  1,849,664

  XII. 4

  67,735

  -10

  67,725

  XII. 5

  60,179

  + 979

  61,158

  An increase of £410,000 is being sought on class XII, vote 3 for expenditure originally included in provision on class XII, vote 1 in respect of outstanding liabilities for Goldsmiths' College. The increase on class XII, vote 3 reflects the inclusion of this expenditure following the college's incorporation as part of the University of London. A matching and offsetting reduction on class XII, vote 1 is also sought.

  A reduction of £370,000 to the cash limit for class XII, vote 3 is also sought to reflect the decision not to seek supplementary provision in respect of the carry forward of capital underspend under the end year flexibility scheme as previously announced by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 21 July 1988 at columns 725–728.

  A further reduction of £137,000 is also sought to the cash limit on class XII, vote 1 to reflect the transfer of complete responsibility for trade union education and training to the Department of Employment. A matching increase will be made to the Department of Employment's cash limit on class VII, vote 1.

  A reduction of £10,000 is sought to the cash limit on class XII, vote 4 to reflect the transfer of £4,000 to the Office of Minister for the Civil Service for the cost of recruitment under the direct entry grade 7 competition 1988, and of £6,000 to the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys to reflect increased costs of a commissioned survey. Matching increases will be made to the cash limits on class XX, vote 1 and class X, vote 16 respectively.

  My Department's running cost limit will also decrease by £10,000 from £66,203,000 to £66,193,000.

  The increase on class XII, vote 5 reflects two changes to the vote of the Agricultural and Food Research Council. An increase of £1,760,000 is being sought to assist the AFRC in meeting the costs of restructuring made necessary by the reductions in research commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. This increase is offset by a reduction of £781,000 to reflect the reduction in grant from the AFRC to the Institute of Plant Science Research to take account of receipts from the sale of the assets of the Plant Breeding Institute.

  Any net increase in expenditure on these votes as a result of these changes will be charged to the reserve. The overall planned total of expenditure will therefore remain unchanged.

  School Leavers
  Mr. Saunond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a table showing the proportion of school leavers in(a) England, (b) Wales and (c) Northern Ireland who continued into (i) university education and (ii) other higher education for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Jackson
  The information is as follows. The figures reflect the intended destination of school leavers.
  385

  Proportion of school leavers intending to proceed to university or other higher education

  Academic years

  1978–79

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  England*

  Universities

  6·1

  6·2

  6·1

  5·9

  5·5

  5·5

  5·4

  5·5

  5·5

  Other institutions2

  2·1

  2·1

  2·8

  2·9

  2·7

  2·9

  2·9

  2·8

  2·7

  Wales1

  Universities

  6·2

  6·3

  6·5

  5·4

  6·0

  5·6

  5·7

  6·1

  5·5

  Other institutions2

  2·5

  2·7

  2·7

  3·9

  3·3

  3·5

  3·7

  4·0

  3·3

  Northern Ireland3

  Universities

  —

  9·6

  —

  9·7

  —

  12·2

  —

  12·3

  12·1

  Other institutions

  —

  5·7

  —

  5·9

  —

  3·0

  —

  4·5

  4·6

  1 Based on 10 per cent, sample of pupils in each school.

  2 Including only those courses of higher education which are readily identifiable from the school leavers survey.

  3 Figures available biennially only until 1985–86.

TRANSPORT

  Airport Security
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to put into effect the 21 recommendations made in 1986 by the Select Committee on Transport, particularly the proposals in relation to air security which requested a special security fund to finance airport safety, and the introduction of banding machines for baggage in the wake of the Lockerbie disaster; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The response published in November 1986 made it clear that the Government accepted most of the Select Committee's recommendations, either wholly or in part.

  The response explained what further action would be taken on each recommendation. Work has been carried forward as promised.

  The particular recommendations mentioned by the hon. Member were not amongst those accepted. Banding machines can make a limited contribution to security, because of the high proportion of soft bags, and bags with outside compartments.

  An aviation security fund has already been tried. It was abandoned because it was bureaucratic, complicated and costly to administer. It provided little incentive to efficiency.

  The current arrangements for financing aviation security do not suffer from such problems. They do not inhibit the maintenance of proper security measures.

  Railway Development
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he now expects to announce the main findings of the central London rail study; whether any proposals from Her Majesty's Government will be announced at the same time; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  My right hon. Friend expects to make an announcement on the findings of the central London rail study shortly.

  M40 (Extensions)
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether further extensions to the M40 will be to a three-lane standard.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The M40 extension north of Wendlebury is being built as a dual three-lane motorway.
  386
  Decisions following the inquiry into the final section between Wendlebury and Waterstock will be announced shortly.

  United Kingdom Decca Chain and Loran C (Options)
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to issue a letter of consultation about the available options for the United Kingdom Decca chain and Loran C; if he will list the parties who will be consulted; if he will list the Decca Radio and power supply equipment transmitter sites which need replacing in the next five years; and who will be representing the United Kingdom at the relevant discussions in Dublin in February.

  Mr. Portillo
  My right hon. Friend intends to issue a consultation document in the spring on the options for marine radio navigation systems in United Kingdom waters. He intends to consult bodies with marine and related interests, including those representing users and the general lighthouse authorities. The question of equipment renewals for the existing Decca Navigator system is a matter for Racal Decca Marine Navigation Limited under the company's current contract with the general lighthouse authorities, which runs to 1994. At the Dublin meeting of the international Loran C policy group, which is considering the feasibility of establishing a North West European Loran C system, the United Kingdom will be represented by officials from the Department and the general lighthouse authorities.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Allan Roberts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department will commission a report on the feasibility of the construction of a Liverpool land bridge for traffic moving between north America and the continent when the Channel tunnel opens in 1993.

  Mr. Portillo
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on 16 January to the question by the hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside (Mr. Parry) at column 81

  Motor Cycles
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the criteria for the proposal to limit newly qualified motor cycle drivers to 400 cc machines; whether high brake horsepower output machines will be included; for what period this limitation will apply; and if he will make a statement.
  387
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The EC Commission is expected to propose that, as part of its plans for further harmonisation of driver licence categories, inexperienced riders should be limited to motor bikes below a certain size or power. The limit is likely to be 400 cc or 35 kw. It remains unclear how these would relate to each other. We agree with the Commission's objective. We are still considering the details of the proposals.

  The Commission is also expected to propose a separate test before motor cyclists may ride more powerful machines. We believe that two years riding experience would be a sufficient safeguard. We shall continue to argue for this and against introducing a new special test. Unfortunately, our position has not been made clear in some press reports on this issue.

  East London River Crossing
  Mrs. Rosie Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what value per hectare was given to land lost in Oxleas wood to the construction of the east London river crossing in his Department's cost bearing analysis of that scheme.

  Mr. Channon
  This information is not available.

  For the purpose of the cost benefit analysis, the district valuer provided an overall estimate of the cost to all land and property required for the scheme, including 8·3 hectares in Oxleas wood. The estimate also included the cost of land to be acquired and dedicated as open space in exchange for the land taken for the wood.

  Autoguide
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the introduction of Autoguide in London.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The Government believe that advanced driver information systems such as autoguide can do much to ease congestion and so make better use of our roads. The Road Traffic (Driver Licensing and Information Systems) Bill, now before Parliament, demonstrates our commitment to this exciting new technology.

  The Government have today invited the private sector to make proposals for installing a pilot autoguide scheme in the London area. A copy of the guidelines has been placed in the Library. Subject to a satisfactory proposal being received, and to the Road Traffic Bill becoming law, we hope that a licence can be issued this year.

  We envisage that the pilot scheme will involve around 1,000 vehicles. Its operation will be closely monitored by the Department of Transport working in collaboration with the autoguide operator. We are discussing with local authority associations and the police how they might be involved in monitoring the pilot scheme.

  Provided that the pilot scheme demonstrates the satisfactory performance of autoguide it is our intention that the operator should be authorised to upgrade the scheme to a fully commercial autoguide system, to which the public would be able to subscribe. This would mean that motorists could have autoguide equipment in their cars by the early to mid-1990s.

  London Docklands
  Mr. Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what further steps he is taking to improve transport for London docklands; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Channon
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment and I, together with the private sector, are investing heavily to improve access to docklands.

  London Regional Transport is taking steps, in co-operation with GEC, to ensure that the docklands light railway fully meets its performance specification. The Government are supporting a major programme of upgrading and extension of the docklands light railway. The service to Bank will be open next year and will be fully operational by 1991. The carrying capacity of the railway will then be more than three times its present level. Further enhancement is planned to meet the needs of the full development at Canary wharf. A Bill to authorise extension of the railway to Beckton is currently before Parliament.

  To accommodate the rapid pace of development in docklands, the Government believe that additional rail infrastructure will be required to supplement the docklands light railway. I have therefore established an east London rail study which is examining the best options for improving rail access from central London to docklands and east Thames-side. The study will include Olympia and York's proposal for a new underground railway between Waterloo and Greenwich peninsula via the Isle of Dogs, and the options canvassed in the docklands access consultation document on which LRT and the LDDC are currently seeking views. The work is being carried out by Halcrow Fox and Associates for my Department, the Department of the Environment and LRT. It would take into account the benefits which new rail links will provide to property owners and developers and the contributions which they should be expected to provide. It will also take into account the potential for new housing development in East Thames-side. Subject to the conclusions of the east London rail study and to the negotiation of satisfactory contributions from all developers concerned, the Government would wish to see a new line built and the deposit of a Bill in November this year.

  In parallel with these improvements in the public transport network, a substantial programme of work is in hand to give docklands an effective internal road network and link it to the strategic road system. The LDDC is proceeding, subject to the statutory procedures, with its plans for Limehouse link road to be completed by 1993 and with other new schemes to serve docklands traffic. Within my own programme, I am developing the strategic road network in east London through improvement to the A 13, the Hackney/M11 link, upgrading the north circular road and extending it to the A2 via the east London river crossing.

  In order to carry forward the improvement of transport to and within docklands, I am asking my hon. Friend the Minister of State to take the lead in co-ordinating the activities of the various agencies involved and to ensure an adequate level of service while construction work is being carried out. He will be supported by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment with special responsibility for inner cities.

  Public Service Vehicles (Failures)
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will publish in the Official Report the information his Department now collects on the failure rates of public service vehicles; and if he will specify the levels of disaggregation;

  (2) what information his Department now collects on the pass rates of public service vehicles at the annual Department of Transport tests; and if he will indicate the levels of disaggregation at which he will make this information available.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  [holding replies 18 and 19 January 1989]: The Department's vehicle inspectorate executive agency collects information on the results of all public service vehicles at annual test. National and regional analyses of this information are contained in the inspectorate's annual report and accounts 1987–88, a copy of which is held in the statistical section of the House of Commons library.

  Further analysis of the information on a sub-regional basis is also available and can be sent to the hon. Member if required.

  International Maritime Organisation
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he foresees any potential adverse effects upon safety legislation in the United Kingdom if any deliberations of the International Maritime Organisation are delayed as a result of members' contribution defaults; what steps are being taken to remedy the default situation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding reply 13 January 1989]: No adverse effect on the United Kingdom's safety legislation programme is foreseen, given that the International Maritime Organisation's maritime safety committee is to meet in 1989 as originally planned. At its November meeting, the IMO council requested the secretary general to remind member states of their obligation to pay their assessments on time. This is being reinforced by direct approaches by the secretary general, and individual member states, to those governments currently in default, including Panama which has the largest accumulation of arrears. In addition, the council has established a Working Group to examine and advise on the organisation's longer-term financial solution.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  DNA Tests
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to announce the outcome of his review of the cases of over-age applicants for entry certificates as dependent children who were refused entry before they were 18 years old and have since proved they were wrongly refused by the use of DNA tests.

  Mr. Renton
  I am not yet in a position to announce any conclusion on this matter, but I hope to be able to do so before long.

  Criminal Injuries
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will arrange for statistics on criminal injuries to include information on the number of such injuries sustained by people during their working time.

  Mr. John Patten
  Statistics on criminal injuries are held centrally by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board but only in relation to applications made for compensation. The board publishes figures relating to police officers injuries on duty (paragraph 7.1 of their latest annual report, Cm. 536) but has no plans to collect such information for other occupations.

  Race Relations
  Ms. Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to being about an increase in the numbers of black people applying to join the prison service.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Recent advertising campaigns have specifically highlighted the need for recruits from the ethnic minorities, and recruitment material emphasises the service's commitment to racial equality. In addition, several initiatives have been taken to improve contacts with ethnic minority groups to explain the work of the prison service, and these will continue.

  Ms. Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to ensure that boards of visitors comment on race relations in their annual reports.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Advice on the format and content of annual reports, which specifically lists race relations as an item for comment, was reissued on 21 December to all board chairmen in anticipation of the preparation of reports for 1988.

  Football (Arrests)
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, pursuant to his answer of 19 December 1988 on football statistics,Official Report, columns 56 to 60, he will publish similar tables for the 1987–88 English Football League season showing the number of arrests of home and away supporters on each ground plus the numbers of each team's supporters who were arrested on away grounds.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department

  (1) how many of the 6,147 arrests at Football League matches last season took place within football grounds;

  (2) how many of the 6,147 people arrested at Football League matches during the last season were convicted as a result.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The information collated by the Association of Chief Police Officers on arrests at Football League matches in England and Wales does not distinguish between arrests made inside grounds and arrests directly connected with those matches made outside the grounds. Nor does the information detail the outcome of arrests and distinguish between home and away supporters.

  Viraj Mendis
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what legal expenses have been incurred by his Department in court cases pertaining to Viraj Mendis.

  Mr. Renton
  The estimated costs to date (but not including the costs incurred in the court proceedings on Thursday, 19 January) incurred by Treasury Solicitor's Department and in fees for Counsel in representing Home Office interests before the courts in the case of Viraj Mendis are about £8,000 excluding VAT. Any costs incurred within the Home Office cannot be separately identified from those incurred on other cases.

  Firearms
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many additional appointments are being made of(a) civilian, and (b) police staff to deal with shotgun licence and firearm certificate applications following the enactment of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Firearms (Amendment) Act received Royal Assent on 15 November 1988, but its provisions have not yet come into force. The appointment of civilian and uniformed staff to process applications for certificates is a matter for individual chief officers of police, who are responsible for the administration of the Firearms Acts. Information on the number of such appointments is not kept centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Transmitters
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish a table showing how many transmitters are sited in each ITV region.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand from the IBA that ITV transmitters are situated as follows:

  Main Stations

  Relays

  Anglia

  3

  18

  Border

  2

  58

  Central

  5

  58

  Channel

  1

  6

  Grampian

  7

  74

  Granada

  1

  56

  HTV (Wales)

  6

  157

  HTV (West)

  1

  52

  LWT/Thames

  1

  39

  STV

  4

  76

  TVS

  6

  59

  TSW

  5

  72

  TTT

  3

  35

  UTV

  3

  40

  YTV

  2

  52

  Transmission Costs
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish a table showing the transmission cost per head of the population for each ITV region.

  Mr. Renton
  I understand from the Independent Broadcasting Authority that this information is not at 392
  present available. I hope that information about costs of transmission in different areas will emerge from the study on privatisation of the transmission system which my right hon. Friend announced on 30 December.

  Metropolitan Police
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has for improving the accountability and financial control of the Metropolitan police and the information provided to Parliament.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Home Office and the Metropolitan police seek continually to make improvements in these areas. The steps that have been taken will be set out in a memorandum which will be put to the Committee of Public Accounts shortly.

  Rugby Match (Twickenham)
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many motorists leaving a rugby match at Twickenham on 6 December 1988 were stopped by the Metropolitan police; how many were asked to take a breathalyser test; how many were subsequently re-tested at a police station; and, of those, how many were charged.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Havant (Sir I. Lloyd) on 12 December 1988 at column 463.

  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the estimated cost to police funds of the operation mounted by the Metropolitan police to check motorists leaving the rugby match at Twickenham on 6 December 1988; and how many officers of what rank were involved and for what period.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the operation involved three sergeants and 23 constables for four hours (two hours at the scene). Since the operation took place in normal police time no additional costs were incurred.

  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Home Affairs pursuant to his answer of 17 January to the hon. Member for Stretford (Mr. Lloyd),Official Report, column 139, whether he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis upon when the functioning and efficiency of breath testing instruments used on motorists leaving the rugby match at Twickenham on 6 December 1988 was last tested.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I am advised by the Commissioner that the breath testing instruments used at Twickenham on 6 December 1988 were tested on 30 November 1988.

  Immigration
  Mr. Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Office Department on how many occasions since the Immigration Act 1971 came into force he has used his power under section 21 of that Act, to refer matters for consideration to the appellate authorities; in how many of those instances he accepted the opinion of the adjudicator or tribunal on the matter referred; and if he will identify the cases in which he has used these powers.
  393
  Mr. Renton
  There is no record that the powers under section 21 have ever been used.

  Crime Statistics
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions arose in 1988 from admissions made by prisoners currently serving sentences for other crimes; how many of these were multiple admissions of guilt; and what were the comparable figures for 1978.

  Mr. John Patten
  This information is not available.

  Remand
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to reduce the number of people held on remand.

  Mr. John Patten
  We are taking steps to reduce both the number of people remanded in custody and the time taken to deal with cases. In many areas, the probation service is providing Crown prosecutors with better information on defendants through bail information schemes. This will help prosecutors to decide whether they need oppose bail. Resources are being provided over three financial years for the creation of about 500 new bail places at approved hostels.

  Magistrates and their clerks have been urged to concentrate on reducing delays. A management information system is being introduced to help magistrates' courts monitor their performance. We intend to extend further the operation of custody time limits later this year.

  My noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor has taken steps to tackle delays in the Crown court through the provision of more resources and improved management. Additional judges have been appointed and new court rooms have been opened. The reclassification of certain offences under the Criminal Justice Act 1988 should help to ease pressure on the Crown court.

  Greater Manchester Police
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has met the Chief Constable of the Greater Manchester police authority to discuss the recruitment of extra officers to combat the increasingly high crime rate.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend is aware of the chief constable's wish to have more police officers for the Greater Manchester police and my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister of State met the chief constable on 9 November, when police manpower was discussed. Decisions on applications for increases in force establishments from police authorities, including Greater Manchester police authority, will be announced shortly.

  Broadcasting (Council of Europe Convention)
  Mr. Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made towards a Council of Europe convention on broadcasting.

  Mr. Renton
  Substantial progress towards finalising the convention was made at a conference of Council of Europe Broadcasting Ministers in Stockholm last November, at which I led the United Kingdom delegation. The 394
  remaining work on the draft text is now being undertaken by the Ministers' deputies of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, and we hope that the convention will be opened for signature later this year.

  Dog Fights
  Dr. Glyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for reports from chief constables as to the steps they are taking to discover the sites of organised dog fights.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  No. It is for chief officers to decide what steps to take in their own force area.

  Charity Commissioners
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is in a position to announce the appointment of two part-time Charity Commissioners.

  Mr. Hurd
  I have today appointed Mrs. Diane Yeo and Mr. Michael Webber to act as Charity Commissioners on a part-time basis. The appointments will be for three years initially, with a possibility of extension to a maximum of five years.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Child Care Facilities
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will introduce on-site child care facilities for children of hon. Members and staff of the House.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The Accommodation and Administration Sub-Committee has the possible provision of child-care facilities under consideration and, pending any decision on the principle, has drawn the attention of the New Building Sub-Committee to the possible need to accommodate such a facility in phase II of the new parliamentary buildings.

ENERGY

  Unleaded Petrol
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has set the petroleum retailing companies a date by which unleaded petrol must be available on the forecourts of all filling stations either owned or serviced by them.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  No such date has been set.

  EC Directive 85/210/EEC requires member states
  "to ensure the availability and balanced distribution within their territories of unleaded petrol from 1 October 1989".

  By the end of last year, unleaded petrol was available at more than 3,000 United Kingdom petrol stations, about 15 per cent. of the total. Current conversions of petrol stations to unleaded are continuing at about 60 per week.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Identity Cards
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether his Department has investigated, or is
  395
  currently studying, the usefulness of a national identity card to his departmental responsibilities; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  As I made clear in my reply of 28 July 1988 to my hon. Friend the Member for Stockport (Mr. Favell) at columns 524–525, we keep this matter under review.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many oral parliamentary questions he has answered by written reply because the question was not reached at Question Time, for the most recent year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Tom King
  During 1988, of a total of 323 oral parliamentary questions, 241 were answered as written questions.

  Gleneyre and Burnside Children's Home (Inquiry)
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the re-opened inquiry into alleged sexual assaults at the Gleneyre and Burnside children's home, referred to in his answer to the hon. Member for Brent, East of 23 May,Official Report, columns 35–36, has been completed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  [holding answer 10 January 1989]: The police investigation referred to has been completed. A file was forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions (Northern Ireland), who directed that no prosecutions should be brought.

  Police Stations (Stolen Weapons)
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the written answer of 15 December to the hon. Member for Brent, East, in what form information on weapons stolen from police stations is kept.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  [holding answer 10 January 1989]: This is a matter for the Chief Constable. I understand, however, that centralised records do not differentiate between the actual sources of theft, but cover weapons stolen from (a) members on and off duty; (b) members' homes; (c) official and private vehicles; (d) officers injured and killed; and (e) police stations.

  Grants
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the types of financial assistance by way of grant or otherwise which may be given at the discretion of a Northern Ireland Department, where the moneys required for giving the assistance(a) are payable out of the Consolidated Fund of Northern Ireland, or (b) may be appropriated by Northern Ireland Assembly measure.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  [holding answer 12 January 1989]: All payments by Northern Ireland Departments of grants and other assistances are contained in the various Northern Ireland departmental votes and are funded from the Northern Ireland Consolidated Fund. The Northern
  396
  Ireland Estimates 1988–89", a copy of which is in the Library contains detailed spending plans for Northern Ireland Departments, which include details of such grants and assistance.

  Public Authority Contracts
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in what circumstances a public authority invites the submission of offers before entering into a contract.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  [holding answer 12 January 1989]: Under normal circumstances, all public authorities invite the submission of offers before entering into a contract.

  Firearms and Explosives
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish in the Official Report a table to show how many finds of (a) firearms, (b) explosives and (c) ammunition were made in (i) Londonderry city, and (ii) the Royal Ulster Constabulary, N division, in each of the years from 1984 to 1988.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  [holding answer 17 January 1989]: The information is as follows:

  (i) Weapons, ammunition and explosives1 recovered in areas covered by Londonderry city RUC stations2 (1984–88)

  Year

  Weapons

  Ammunition (rounds)

  Explosives (lbs)

  1984

  31

  889

  1,279·2

  1985

  11

  242

  1,414·1

  1986

  26

  774

  867·2

  1987

  32

  1,868

  487·1

  1988

  29

  2,218

  2,476·5

  (ii) Weapons, ammunition and explosives1 recovered in the Royal Ulster Constabulary N division (1984–88)

  Year

  Weapons

  Ammunition (rounds)

  Explosives (lbs)

  1984

  37

  2,444

  1,499·7

  1985

  21

  2,234

  1,415·2

  1986

  38

  1,660

  1,670·6

  1987

  83

  1,894

  666·8

  1988

  41

  2,837

  3,584·9

  1 Figures for explosives do not include recoveries from neutralised devices.

  2 Londonderry city RUC stations: Strand road, Shantallow, Rosemount and Waterside—include some rural territory.

  Housing Discrimination
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what date he hopes to publish the report carried out by the Policy Studies Institute on housing discrimination; and why this report has hitherto been withheld from publication.

  Mr. Tom King
  The Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights, which is an independent body, stated in its report on fair employment (Cm. 237) that it had commissioned from the Policy Studies Institute some research on housing patterns and policies. I am advised that this research is not yet complete.

SCOTLAND

  Health Service (Grading)
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many nursing and midwifery staff from each of the old grades have been assimilated to each of the new grades in the clinical grading structure by each health board.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave the hon. Member for Strathkelvin and Bearsden (Mr. Galbraith) on 20 January 1989 at column 338.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether he will introduce regulations that oblige charging authorities to inform community charge payers that the extract of the community charge register containing their names and addresses can be inspected and copied by debt collectors, police, Government Departments and mail order companies;

  (2) whether any of his recent publications informing community charge payers about the new financial arrangements for Scotland tells them that the extract of the community charge register containing their names and addresses can be inspected and copied by debt-collectors, police, Government Departments and mail order companies.

  Mr. Lang
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 10 January to his earlier question. I do not consider that any further formal notification or other guidance to individuals of the present position as regards inspection of the register is required.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements his Department has made to allow community charge payers the option of whether they can remove their names from the extract of the community charge register available for public inspection.

  Mr. Lang
  Any registered person in respect of whom there is reasonable cause to believe that he or she is, or may be, at risk of physical violence or threats of physical violence can apply to the appropriate community charges registration officer to have his name excluded from the parts of the register open to public inspection.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will introduce regulations that bring the same arrangements for the inspection of the extract of the community charge register as outlined by his right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for the Environment,Official Report, column 493, 14 November 1988 and Official Report, column 426, 28 November 1988.

  Mr. Lang
  No.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received relating to the collection of the date of birth of every community charge payer; and whether any of those representations object to indiscriminate collection of dates of birth.

  Mr. Lang
  The requirement was included in response to representations made by local authority practitioners 398
  during the passage of the Abolition of Domestic Rates Etc. (Scotland) Act 1987. A number of individuals and organisations have made representations against it.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy to publish a full list of the community charge figures set by each council as soon as the figures are available, setting out the district, regional or island and water community charge for each area and in equivalent terms the forecast of these figures he published on 4 November 1988 and the figures which would have resulted without safety net adjustments to the revenue support grant.

  Mr. Lang
  I intend to publish in due course a full list of personal community charges and to set alongside these details of each authority's planned expenditure increase over the present year. This will allow community charge payers to see in appropriate cases the extent to which their charges are inflated by overspending.

  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what land he has designated under paragraph 11 of schedule 1A to the Abolition of Domestic Rates (Scotland) Act 1987; and how many persons he estimates will be exempt from community charge as a result of any such designation.

  Mr. Lang
  Following discussions with the Ministry of Defence it is proposed to designate Glencorse and Milton Bridge camps near Penicuik as places where the pattern of residence of army personnel is so transient as to make individual registration for the personal community charge impracticable. A contribution equivalent to the personal community charge for the area will be required from service personnel who are solely or mainly resident in the camps in respect of each day of their residence. The Ministry of Defence will then pay the levying authority an amount equal to the total of the personal community charges. It is estimated that at any one time there will be about 100 service men resident in the camps.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will introduce regulations to specify that the date of birth of community charge payers need be collected only when there are two or more people living at the same address with the same name and initials.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 22 December 1988]: Section 13(1)(d) of the Abolition of Domestic Rates Etc. (Scotland) Act 1987, as amended by the Local Government Finance Act 1988, requires that the community charges register must specify the date of birth of each person registered in it. There is no power to remove this requirement by regulations.

  Local Authorities (Staff Increases)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report for each local authority in Scotland the staff increases they have experienced in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is contained in the joint manpower watch quarterly returns which are compiled jointly by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Scottish Office. Copies of these quarterly returns are available in the Library.

  Set-aside
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications and registrations he has received under the set-aside scheme(a) within and (b) outside, less favoured areas; and within each category how many applications he has received for (i) permanent fallow, (ii) rotational fallow, (iii) farm woodland and (iv) non agricultural use.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on 19 December 1988 to the hon. Member for Angus, East (Mr. Welsh) at columns 81–82. Provisional figures indicate that about 31 per cent. of the land in Scotland proposed for set-aside has less-favoured area classification, that is, about 5,000 hectares with the total of 16,183 hectares.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications and registrations he has received under the set-aside scheme on a county by county basis; and if he will make a statement.

  Scotland programme in cash terms, constant 1988–89 prices and as a percentage of the United Kingdom planning total

  (a) Cash

  (b) Constant prices

  (c) (a) as a percentage of the United Kingdom planning total

  (d) Block services as a percentage of comparable services in England

  1979–80

  4,552

  8,492

  5·9

  14·4

  1980–81

  5,383

  8,478

  5·8

  14·4

  1981–82

  5,841

  8,375

  5·6

  14·9

  1982–83

  6,509

  8,710

  5·7

  14·7

  1983–84

  6,842

  8,757

  5·7

  14·5

  1984–85

  7,114

  8,667

  5·5

  14·0

  1985–86

  7,215

  8,340

  5·4

  14·5

  1986–87

  7,732

  8,649

  5·6

  14·7

  1987–88

  8,212

  8,725

  5·6

  14·7

  1988–89

  8,506

  8,506

  5·4

  14·7

  1989–90

  8,970

  8,540

  5·4

  14·3

  1990–91

  9,140

  8,410

  5·1

  14·2

  1991–92

  9,680

  8,650

  5·1

  —

  Higher Education
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the proportion of school leavers in Scotland who continued into(a) university education and (b) other higher education for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information for each year since 1979 is not readily available. The most recent information from the biennial Scottish young people's survey relating to the destination of school leavers was published by the Scottish Education Department in its statistical bulletin "School Leavers' Destinations (No 12/E1/1988)" published in December 1988 which is available in the Library.

  (a) on part-time contracts

  (b) re-employed after receiving PRC

  (c) those in column b re-employed after receiving redundancy compensation

  Craigie

  2

  None

  —

  Jordanhill

  5

  None

  —

  Moray House

  1

  None

  —

  400
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I refer the hon. Member to the two replies which I gave on 19 December 1988 to the hon. Member for Angus, East (Mr. Welsh) at columns 81–82.

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing his Department's actual expenditure since 1979–80 and planned expenditure to 1991–92(a) in cash terms, (b) in constant 1988–89 prices and (c) as a percentage of the United Kingdom planning total.

  Mr. Lang
  The information is given in the table. Column(d) shows the ratio of Scottish "block" services to comparable expenditure in England, and is more meaningful than column (c) as the United Kingdom planning total includes expenditure in Scotland on services, for example defence and social security, which are not included in my right hon. and learned Friend's responsibilities. The figure for 1991–92 in column (d) is not available pending decisions on individual programmes.

  Colleges of Education
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many staff are employed in each of the Scottish colleges of education(a) on part-time contracts, (b) re-employed after taking premature retirement compensation under the appropriate PRC scheme and (c) those in category (b) who were granted PRC on grounds of redundancy.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  According to information provided by the colleges, the numbers of staff currently employed in each of the categories is as follows:
  401

  (a) on part-time contracts

  (b) re-employed after receiving PRC

  (c) those in column b re-employed after receiving redundancy compensation

  Northern

  12

  8

  4

  St. Andrew's

  5

  None

  —

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what changes he proposes to make in the negotiating machinery for salaries and conditions of service of staff in centrally funded colleges of higher education; and what steps will be taken to protect the negotiating rights of staff.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Cumbernauld and Kilsyth (Mr. Hogg) on 24 June 1988 at column 749.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many staff are employed by colleges of education on a freelance basis in the provision of in-service education for Scottish teachers.

  £000

  Scotland

  Borders

  Central

  Dumfries and Galloway

  Fife

  Grampian

  (a)

  (b)

  (a)

  (b)

  (a)

  (b)

  (a)

  (b)

  (a)

  (b)

  (a)

  (b)

  1977–78

  12,000

  27,258

  1

  1

  288

  654

  57

  129

  1

  1

  385

  875

  1978–79

  12,000

  24,623

  1

  1

  418

  858

  61

  125

  1

  1

  858

  1,761

  1979–80

  12,548

  22,031

  1

  1

  479

  841

  80

  140

  77

  135

  920

  1,615

  1980–81

  15,714

  23,294

  1

  1

  640

  949

  102

  151

  233

  345

  1.155

  1.712

  1981–82

  17,806

  24.028

  1

  1

  770

  1,039

  99

  134

  227

  306

  1,222

  1,649

  1982–83

  21,779

  27,430

  182

  229

  885

  1,115

  109

  137

  2,066

  2,602

  1,196

  1,506

  1983–84

  22,343

  26,915

  182

  219

  1,051

  1,266

  118

  142

  1,121

  1,350

  1,325

  1,596

  1984–85

  23,854

  27,351

  192

  220

  1,105

  1,267

  121

  139

  2,525

  2,895

  1,352

  1,550

  1985–86

  25,599

  27,849

  203

  221

  1,242

  1,351

  136

  148

  2,291

  2,492

  1,437

  1,563

  1986–87

  27,201

  28,636

  221

  233

  1,347

  1,418

  151

  159

  2,316

  2,438

  1,522

  1,602

  1987–88

  30,689

  30,689

  250

  250

  1,542

  1,542

  186

  186

  2,131

  2,131

  1,755

  1,755

  1 Not shown separately.

  £'000

  Highland

  Lothian

  Strathclyde

  Tayside

  Orkney

  Shetland

  Western Isles

  (a)

  (b)

  (a)

  (b)

  (a)

  (b)

  (a)

  (b)

  (a)

  (b)

  (a)

  (b)

  (a)

  (b)

  1977–78

  53

  120

  1,860

  4,225

  6,957

  15,803

  522

  1,186

  0·3

  0·7

  1—

  1—

  39

  89

  1978–79

  91

  187

  2,237

  4,590

  5,994

  12,299

  746

  1,531

  0·5

  1

  12

  25

  41

  84

  1979–80

  157

  276

  2,640

  4,635

  7,204

  12,649

  902

  1,584

  2

  4

  34

  60

  53

  93

  1980–81

  187

  277

  3,355

  4,973

  8,831

  13,091

  1,096

  1,625

  3

  4

  45

  67

  67

  99

  1981–82

  213

  287

  3,803

  5,132

  10,105

  13,636

  1,238

  1,671

  2

  3

  43

  58

  84

  113

  1982–83

  322

  406

  4,552

  5,733

  11,046

  13,912

  1,289

  1,623

  11

  14

  47

  59

  74

  93

  1983–84

  328

  395

  4,770

  5,746

  11,839

  14,261

  1,462

  1,761

  14

  17

  45

  54

  88

  106

  1984–85

  310

  355

  4,612

  5,288

  12,133

  13,912

  1,400

  1,605

  15

  17

  45

  52

  44

  50

  1985–86

  316

  344

  4,996

  5,435

  13,371

  14,546

  1,542

  1,678

  15

  16

  50

  54

  1—

  1—

  1986–87

  334

  352

  5,411

  5,697

  14,179

  14,927

  1,650

  1,737

  18

  19

  52

  55

  1—

  1—

  1987–86

  385

  385

  5,871

  5,871

  16,603

  16,603

  1,884

  1,884

  25

  25

  57

  57

  1—

  1—

  1 Not shown separately.

  Source: local financial returns.

  Notes:

  1. Column (a) represents cash outturn, column (b) real terms calculated by applying GDP deflator, base year 1987–88.

  2. Figures cover local authority current expenditure on nursery education. Information on capital expenditure is not broken down by educational sector.

  3. Where figures are not available this is because authorities' returns have not broken down expenditure between the various sectors.

  Pupil Numbers
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the number of pupils attending(a) primary and (b) secondary schools in each of the years 1978–79 to 1987–88 inclusive.
  402
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Department does not collect information about the colleges' use of self-employed individuals.

  Nursery Education
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the total expenditure on nursery education in each of the years 1977–78 to 1987–88 in cash terms and in real terms based on 1987–88 prices using the gross domestic product deflation (i) in Scotland and (ii) for each local education authority area.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The following tables show the available information on nursery expenditure in cash and real terms by education authority for the period requested.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The numbers of pupils (in thousands) in education authority schools at September of each year are set out in the table.

  Primary

  Secondary

  1978

  569·1

  410·4

  1979

  545·2

  410·2

  1980

  518·5

  407·8

  403

  Primary

  Secondary

  1981

  492·6

  404·6

  1982

  468·0

  399·1

  1983

  448·0

  390·4

  1984

  437·5

  376·1

  1985

  435·5

  360·6

  1986

  433·5

  344·4

  1987

  430·9

  327·2

  Pupils aged 16

  Pupils aged 17

  Pupils aged 16 as a percentage of population aged 16

  Pupils aged 17 as a percentage of population aged 17

  1979

  47,080

  16,550

  51·5

  18·4

  1980

  49,810

  17,160

  53·9

  19·0

  1981

  51,560

  19,840

  54·3

  21·3

  1982

  51,080

  20,680

  57·0

  21·9

  1983

  50,550

  20,060

  56·3

  22·6

  1984

  49,970

  19,540

  56·6

  21·9

  1986

  48,550

  19,230

  58·8

  22·6

  1987

  48,890

  19,420

  59·5

  23·7

  Borders

  830

  370

  52·5

  23·3

  Central

  2,630

  1,000

  59·5

  22·5

  Dumfries/Galloway

  1,300

  580

  54·3

  25·0

  Fife

  2,950

  1,350

  54·2

  23·6

  Grampian

  4,920

  1,920

  61·3

  25·3

  Highland

  2,010

  900

  60·7

  28·1

  Lothian

  7,080

  3,140

  64·2

  28·3

  Strathclyde

  22,550

  8,060

  58·8

  20·8

  Tayside

  3,900

  1,770

  62·1

  28·9

  Orkney

  200

  100

  64·0

  34·3

  Shetland

  180

  80

  45·1

  23·5

  Western Isles

  350

  160

  64·2

  28·9

  The ages of the pupils are as at December and of the population as at June of each year.

  Figures for 1985 are not available due to industrial action by teachers.

  School Books
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the total expenditure on text and

  Expenditure on text and library books

  £ million

  Year

  Primary

  Secondary

  Primary

  Secondary

  at outturn prices

  at 1987–88 prices

  1978–79

  2·584

  3·411

  5·302

  6·999

  1979–80

  2·994

  3·944

  5·257

  6·925

  1980–81

  3·026

  3·790

  4·486

  5·618

  1981–82

  3·026

  3·953

  4·548

  5·334

  1982–83

  3·290

  4·004

  4·444

  5·043

  1983–84

  4·027

  5·214

  4·851

  6·281

  1984–85

  4·178

  5·173

  4·791

  5·931

  1985–86

  3·882

  4·857

  4·223

  5·284

  1986–87

  4·734

  5·740

  4·984

  6·043

  1987–88

  5·031

  5·975

  5·031

  5·975

  (provisional)

  Over the same period expenditure per pupil in primary and secondary schools increased in cash and in real terms.

  Pig Farming
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the information he has on the number of pig farmers that have gone into liquidation in Scotland in the past 12 months.
  404
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the total number of pupils in S5 and S6 and as a percentage of all in the age group for each year 1979–80 to 1987–88 inclusive and for each local education authority area.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The figures for pupils aged. 16 and 17 in all schools at September of each of the years for which information is available and the figures for each education authority at September 1987 are set out in the table:

  library books in (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools at the end of each year since 1978–79 in cash terms and in real terms, using 1987–88 prices.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information requested, taken from local authority financial returns, is as follows:

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Information is not available centrally on the number of pig farmers going into liquidation. The number of holdings with at least 500 pigs rose from 199 in June 1987 to 209 in June 1988.

  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of .state for Scotland if he will list the subsidies that Scottish pig farmers currently receive from the Government.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Government pay no subsidies directly to pig farmers. However, there are
  405
  Community measures which assist the industry: export refunds to the USA and Canada were substantially increased in December 1987 and private storage aids were made available from February to July 1988. In addition, we secured in the course of last year's price fixing negotiations a reduction in the pigmeat monetary compensatory amount which, combined with the strengthening of sterling, has had the effect of reducing this to zero as from 1 January 1989.

  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has on the effect of the failure of the United States of America soya bean crop on the Scottish pig industry, and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The price of soya bean meal rose last summer because of the drought in the United States of America and this led to feed compounders increasing their pig ration prices. However, pig prices increased significantly towards the end of the year to stand at their highest level for 30 months in December 1988. This has helped to offset the effect of the increased feed prices.

  Housing support grant payments

  1 1978–79

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  2 1988–89

  3 1989–90

  Edinburgh

  1.1 Actual payments (£ million)

  —

  11·269

  12·518

  7·869

  2·328

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1.2 Percentage increase on previous year

  —

  —

  +11·1

  -37·1

  -70·4

  -100·0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2.1 Percentage adjusted using GDP deflators (£ million)

  —

  22·074

  20·701

  11·847

  3·271

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2.2 Percentage increase on previous year

  —

  —

  -6·2

  -42·8

  -72·4

  -100·0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Scotland

  3.1 Actual payments (£ million)

  —

  213·4

  228·2

  161·9

  104·6

  72·1

  67·2

  64·2

  44·5

  41·9

  54·6

  60·4

  3.2 Percentage increase on previous year

  —

  —

  +6·9

  -29·1

  -35·4

  -31·1

  -6·8

  -4·5

  -30·7

  -5·7

  +30·3

  +10·5

  4.1 Percentage adjusted using GDP deflators (£ million)

  —

  418·0

  377·4

  243·7

  147·0

  96·9

  86·0

  77·9

  52·2

  46·8

  57·4

  60·4

  4.2 Percentage increase on previous year

  —

  —

  -9·7

  -35·4

  -39·7

  -34·1

  -11·3

  -9·4

  -32·9

  -10·5

  +22·7

  +5·3

  1 Information not readily available.

  2 Provisional.

  3 Estimated.

  Tied Housing
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many police officers are residing in tied housing at present.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  As at 31 December 1987, the latest date for which information is readily available, 2,266 police officers in Scotland occupied housing owned or rented by police authorities. This represented 16·8 per cent. of the total police strength.

  Forestry Commission Land (Sales)
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidelines have been issued(a) to the Forestry Commission and (b) from the Forestry

  Housing Support Grant
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is the percentage change in equivalent housing support grant for Edinburgh for each year from 1978 to 1989–90;

  (2) what is the percentage change in equivalent housing support grant for Edinburgh for each year from 1978 to 1989–90 adjusted for inflation;

  (3) what is the percentage change in equivalent housing support grant for Scotland for each year from 1978 to 1989–90;

  (4) what is the equivalent housing support grant figure for Edinburgh for each year from 1978 to 1989–90;

  (5) what is the equivalent housing support grant for Scotland for each year from 1978 to 1989–90;

  (6) what is the equivalent housing support grant for Scotland for each year from 1978 to 1989–90, adjusted for inflation;

  (7) what is the equivalent housing support grant for Edinburgh for each year from 1978 to 1989–90, adjusted for inflation;

  (8) what is the percentage change in equivalent housing support grant for Scotland for each year from 1978 to 1989 –90, adjusted for inflation.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information is shown in the following table:

  Commission to each of its conservancies on procedures to be followed on the sale of Forestry Commission land and plantations.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The then Secretary of State for Scotland, the right hon. Member for Ayr (Mr. Younger), wrote to the chairman of the Forestry Commission on 28 May 1981 stating that the Commissioners would be responsible for selecting areas for disposal and setting out the main considerations which Forestry Ministers would wish them to take into account in the selection process; the letter was reproduced as appendix V to the commission's 1981–82 annual report. On 8 November 1984, the Secretary of State announced changes to the Forestry Commission's disposals objectives
  407
  in a written reply in the House (Official Report, columns 6–7); this announcement was reproduced in the commission's 1984–85 annual report at appendix V.

  Instructions have been given to each of the commission's conservancies which embody the above, as well as a statement on the commission's policy and practice on disposals which was published as appendix VI to its 1984–85 annual report.

  Copies of the Forestry Commission's annual reports are held in the Library of the House.

  Lennox Castle Hospital
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to allocate additional monies to the Greater Glasgow health board in order to fund improvements at Lennox Castle hospital; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I refer the hon. Member to my announcement today giving my approval to plans submitted by Greater Glasgow health board in November 1988 for the redevelopment of Lennox Castle hospital at a cost of £4·56 million. This follows the opening in May 1988 of two upgraded villas and two new 12 bed intensive care units at a cost of £4·4 million.

  US Submarines (Coolant Discharge)
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what effect the discharging of radioactive primary coolant by United States' submarines has had on radioactivity levels in the Holy Loch since 1960.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Holy Loch has been monitored regularly both by the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food since the United States base was established. The results have confirmed that any radioactivity present in the environment arising from the operation of the base has been small and of low significance in radiological terms.

  Further Education
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the total number of 16 to 18 year-olds in non-advanced further education and as a percentage of all in that age group for each year from 1979–80 to 1987–88 inclusive and for each local education authority area.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information requested is not readily available in the form requested.

  Regional Assistance
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give for regional selective assistance the total number of applications(a) received and (b) processed from 1 April 1988 to 31 December 1988; the total amount paid out in that period and the total estimated expenditure for the year 1 April 1988 to 31 March 1989.

  Mr. Ian Lang
  The information requested is shown below for the period 1 April to 31 December 1988.
  408

  Regional Selective Assistance

  Totals £ million

  Number of applications received

  188·0

  Number of applications processed

  171·0

  Payment authorisations made

  23·5

  The provision of the financial year 1988–89 is £60·4 million. Expenditure under this scheme is normally concentrated in the last quarter of the financial year.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total estimated expenditure on regional development grant and regional selective assistance in each of the years 1988–89, 1989–90 and 1990–91.

  Mr. Lang
  The provision for regional development grant and regional selective assistance for the financial year 1988–89 is £60·3 million and £60·4 million respectively. Figures for 1898–90 and 1990–91 will be published in the Scottish Commentary in February 1989.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give for regional development grants(a) the number of applications outstanding on 31 March 1988, (b) the number of those applications processed by 31 December 1988, (c) the number currently outstanding and (d) the total amount of money paid out since 31 March 1988 in regional development grants to those applications.

  Mr. Lang
  The figures requested for applications in Scotland under the revised regional development grant scheme are as follows:

  Totals

  Number of applications outstanding at 31 March:

  5,117

  Number of these processed by 31 December:

  3,297

  Number still outstanding at 19 January:

  1,678

  Payment authorisations made by 19 January on

  these applications:

  £13·1 million

  Glasgow District Court
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the numbers of cases reported to the procurator fiscal for possible prosecution in the Glasgow district court and the percentage which were marked "no proceedings" for the latest period for which such figures are available.

  Mr. Rifkind
  [holding answer 19 January 1989]: A total of 54,819 cases were reported for possible prosecution in Glasgow district court in 1988. No proceedings were instructed in 16,213 cases (30 per cent.).

  Cumbernauld Development Corporation
  Mr. Norman Hogg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report the names of the persons appointed to serve on the board of Cumbernauld development corporation, along with the date of their original appointment and the date their appointment terminates.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 20 January 1989]: The information required is as follows:

  Chairman/Deputy Chairman

  David W. Mitchell CBE

  409

  Appointed Member 1 January 1985–31 December 1986

  Appointed Chairman 1 January 1987–31 December 1990

  Tom M. Barrie JP

  Appointed Deputy Chairman 1 January 1979–31

  December 1982

  Re-Appointed Deputy Chairman 1 January 1983–31

  December 1986

  Re-Appointed Deputy Chairman 1 January 1987–31

  December 1989

  Members

  Professor John A. Dawson BSc PhD

  Appointed 1 January 1987–31 December 1989

  Gerard McElroy Esq

  Appointed 1 January 1987–31 December 1990

  Provost Rosemary McKenna

  Appointed 1 January 1985–31 December 1988

  Re-Appointed 1 January 1989–31 December 1992

  T.Eric Miller Esq MA CA JP

  Appointed 1 January 1985–31 December 1988

  Re-Appointed 1 January 1989–31 December 1990

  John S. Moreland Esq BSc MI MechE

  Appointed 1 February 1976–31 December 1978

  Re-Appointed 1 January 1979–31 December 1982

  1 January 1983–31 December 1986

  1 January 1987–31 December 1989

  Patrick Lockett Esq

  Appointed 1 January 1989–31 December 1991

  John M. Simpson FRICS FCI Arb

  Appointed 1 January 1983–31 December 1986

  Re-Appointed 1 January 1987–31 December 1990

  Development Corporation Houses
  Mr. Norman Hogg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses from development corporation stock have been sold in each of the new towns since vesting day, expressed as a percentage of the total stock.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 20 January 1989]: the information is set out in the table:

  Total slock

  Total sales

  Percentage

  sales

  East Kilbride1

  22,585

  9,794

  43·4

  Glenrothes1

  12,095

  5,216

  43·13

  Cumbernauld1

  21,063

  6,857

  32·6

  Livingston2

  12·120

  2,780

  22·9

  Irvine1

  5,264

  1,016

  19·3

  1 As at 31 December 1988.

  2 As at 30 September 1988.

HEALTH

  Food Poisoning
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on food poisoning attributed to chickens and eggs in the 12 months to December.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  There were over 12,000 isolations of salmonella enteritidis, phage type 4, reported to the public health laboratory service in 1988. This was more than double the number reported in 1987. Other salmonella serotypes did not increase comparably. PT4 is associated predominantly with poultry and eggs and the number of food poisoning outbreaks linked to eggs also showed a marked increase in 1988. Provisional data now available show that up to the end of 1988 there were 60 outbreaks of salmonella food poisoning involving about 1,600 people in England and Wales attributed to the consumption of eggs. These figures probably underestimate the number of people affected.
  410
  I will reply separately on outbreaks of food poisoning associated with chickens.

  Meningitis
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about recent cases of meningitis in the area of the North Derbyshire health authority.

  Mr. Freeman
  The provisional numbers of cases notified to the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys for 1988 are as follows:

  Total

  Rate per 100,000

  population

  England and Wales

  1,309

  2·61

  Trent RHA

  110

  2·37

  Derbyshire County

  (nearest area available

  12

  1·31

  Notifications of meningococcal meningitis normally rise to a peak during the winter months, and the disease also appears in unexplained "clusters" of cases.

  Dental Health
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the Health Education Authority has for an advertising campaign designed to improve the dental health of the nation; and if he will ensure that any campaign takes account of the recommendations shortly to be made by the COMA committee on sugars and diseases.

  Mr. Freeman
  Following publication of the White Paper "Promoting Better Health" the Government have made funds available to the Health Education Authority to run a pilot campaign to promote dental health in the north-west. It is likely that the campaign will be under way before the recommendations of the COMA panel on dietary sugars are published, but they will be taken into account in any further development of the campaign.

  Medical Physicists and Scientists
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has any plans to review policy on pay settlements for medical physicists and scientists; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  Pay of National Health Service scientists, including physicists, is a matter for negotiation between the management side of the scientific and professional staffs council, and the staff side representing these groups.

  Physicists
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has any plans to issue directives to health authorities on the levels of medical physicists required to meet the demands of the number of patients and the amount and type of equipment in use.

  Mr. Mellor
  No. These matters are for individual health authorities.

  Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (Radiotherapy)
  Mr. Feam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps have been taken to ensure that the disciplinary
  411
  procedures taken by the regional health authority after the incident in the radiotherapy department at the Royal Devon and Exeter hospital are adequate, and that all persons culpable have been disciplined.

  Mr. Mellor
  Responsibility for operating disciplinary procedures and determining action in individual cases is for the employing health authority.

  Cook-Chill Food
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he has taken to ensure that the non-statutory controls to which hospital cook-chill catering is subject are sufficient to ensure the proper protection of public health.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Health circular HC(86)14 sets out the requirements for hygiene that we expect health authorities to achieve on their premises. More specific guidance is given in the Health Service catering hygiene manual which requires health authorities to consult appropriate experts before a cook-chill system is introduced. I know of no cases so far reported where those requirements have not been observed and public protection not secured in National Health Service hospitals using cook-chill catering.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what action he is taking to ensure there is a legal requirement for retail cook-chill food to be kept refrigerated at appropriate temperatures throughout the period of its production, distribution, storage and sale;

  (2) if he has any plans to extend the provisions of regulation 27 of the Food Hygiene (General) Regulations to cover other foodstuffs which require to be kept under strict temperature control.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The food hygiene regulations are currently under review as part of the review of the Food Act 1984. We are considering the wider application of the temperature controls in regulation 27 of the regulations as it applies only to catering premises at the moment.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence he has that listeria which is not eliminated by the first cooking of food can recover and multiply under refrigeration and not be destroyed by the final reheating.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Should listeria survive because of inadequate cooking, correct refrigerated storage will prevent any significant growth. Evidence clearly indicates that inadequate temperature control is one of the main contributory factors in outbreaks of food poisoning from any of the causative organisms. It is therefore important that good practice is observed at all stages of food production and distribution.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action his Department have taken comprehensively to assess the significance of listeria in National Health Service cook-chill systems.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  An expert group recently reviewed my Department's guidelines for pre-cooked chilled food catering in use in the NHS and elsewhere. The group concluded that provided the guidelines are closely followed, the meals produced will be safe and microbiologically sound. My Department will continue to assess the results of studies into various aspects of listeriosis.
  412
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the evidence he received between publication of the 1970 guidelines on cook-freeze catering and publication of the subsequent 1980 guidelines which led him to reconsider his policy on the appropriateness of cook-chill food for community catering.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Advances in catering technology in the 1970s indicated that a cook-chill catering system could be safely operated on a large scale. An expert group considered that these technological advances in, for example, blast chilling, allowed such a system to be properly controlled in terms of the times and temperatures required to produce microbiologically sound food. The 1980 guidelines give detailed recommendations to help ensure this.

  General Managers
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if it is normal practice for his Department to be represented on the appointment boards for district health authority general manager posts.

  Mr. Mellor
  No. Normal practice is for the district health authority to convene an appointments board consisting of its chairman, a small number of members, and two independent professional assessors, one of whom is nominated by the regional health authority.

  Post Codes
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many post code areas contain three householders or less; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information is not available. No record is held centrally of the number of households in each unit post code. The number of delivery points in each unit post code is held by the Post Office, but a delivery point may serve more than one household.

  Primary Health Care
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he intends to take to raise standards of primary health care and make services more responsive to the needs of the consumer.

  Mr. Mellor
  The proposals in the White Paper "Promoting Better Health" are designed to do this. For example, in the case of family doctors, changes to the terms of service and remuneration system will encourage doctors to raise standards nearer to those of the best practices and to make services more sensitive to the needs of the consumer. Training and teamwork in primary care will be developed and improved. Health promotion and the prevention of disease will be a priority. We will also strengthen family practitioner committees' management role with the aim of ensuring continued development in the provision of cost-effective family practitioner services which are responsive to patients. More information will be made available to consumers about services and practitioners in their area. The procedures for making complaints against practitioners will be simplified, and existing restrictions on changing doctor will be removed.

  Wagner Report
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action has been taken by his Department in response to the recommendations made in the Wagner report "Residential Care: a Positive Choice".

  Mr. Mellor
  The report of the committee chaired by Lady Wagner brings together a number of issues which affect the well-being and quality of life of people in residential care.

  Some of the recommendations in the report relate to the matters dealt with in Sir Roy Griffiths' report on community care and are being considered in that context. Others are clearly addressed primarily to local agencies, statutory and independent, providing care and we hope they are giving full consideration to the action they can take within the resources available. Finally, there are certain recommendations which might usefully be followed up centrally within the current statutory framework, including such matters as the registration and inspection of homes, complaints procedures, contacts between residents and local communities, the supply of information for users and standards of care. We are considering promoting activity in these fields. The report also draws attention to the importance of training for people working in homes. Those recommendations are being considered in relation to the strategy we are now developing to improve training for all personal social services staff.

  Paracetamol
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will refer to the Committee on Safety of Medicines the matter of risks to vegetarians of the use of paracetamol.

  Mr. Mellor
  We have no evidence to suggest that vegetarians using paracetamol suffer any increased risks provided that they eat a well-balanced diet. It is important that they and other paracetamol users follow the dosage instructions set out on the label.

  Mental Health Review Tribunals
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many mental health review tribunals were held (i) in the five years preceding the enactment of the Mental Health Act 1983 and (ii) in all subsequent years for which he has information(a) in special hospitals and (b) in other mental hospitals and units.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information requested is held centrally but is not readily available in the form requested. I will reply to the hon. Member shortly.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of the mental health review tribunals held in special hospitals, other mental hospitals and units, arose as a result of(a) requests from patients and (b) as a consequence of statutory procedures under the Mental Health Act.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of the mental health review tribunals held since 1983 were(a) under section 2 of the Mental Health Act, (b) under section 3 of the Mental Health Act and (c) under other sections of the Act.
  414
  Mr. Freeman
  The information is not available in the form requested but the table shows, for each year 1983 to 1987, the number of cases determined in respect of (i) patients detained under section 2 of the Mental Health Act 1983; (ii) other non-restricted patients and (iii) restricted patients.

  Mental health review tribunals

  Cases determined (all hospitals)

  Section 2 patients

  Unrestricted patients

  Restricted patients

  1983

  125

  914

  773

  1984

  711

  635

  787

  1985

  890

  800

  713

  1986

  918

  1,178

  733

  1987

  1,061

  1,108

  759

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Pensioners (Nottingham)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners in Nottingham are(a) financially better off and (b) worse off after the social security changes in April.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I regret that statistically reliable estimates for Nottingham cannot be provided.

  Income Growth
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will state the average growth in incomes in each of the last 10 years of(a) households in the bottom decile group and (b) pensioner households in the bottom decile group of pensioner households.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I regret that figures are not available on the requested basis.

  Benefit Claimants (Living Standards)
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what research his Department has commissioned or carried out on or related to the living standards of claimants or the adequacy of the scale rates of supplementary benefit or income support in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  There have been two major surveys on living standards during the period. "The Survey of Living Standards During Unemployment" was commissioned in 1983 and is to be supplemented by a case study, "The Living Standards of Thirty (Unemployed) Families", commissioned in 1987. "The Financial Circumstances of Disabled Households—Report Two of the OPCS Disability Survey" was commissioned in 1985.

  A number of related studies have also been carried out during the period. These are, by date of commissioning: 1978, "For Richer for Poorer", a DHSS cohort study of unemployed men; 1979 (publication date) "Social Security Research—The Definition and Measurement of Poverty", the report of a seminar; 1981, "Study of the 1980 Reform of Supplementary Benefit"; 1986, "Elderly Claimants in Residential Care and Nursing Homes"; 1986, DSS in-house study of the incomes and expenditure of disabled people using data from the family expenditure survey.
  415
  In addition, the Department has had the benefit of several studies on these subjects, commissioned by other organisations.

  Availability for Work Test
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average length of time taken by an appeal from a claimant denied benefit because of the availability for work test; and what proportion of these appeals is successful.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  For the quarter ended 31 March 1988, the average length of time was 22½ weeks. A total of 36·6 per cent. of appeals were found in the appellants' favour.

  Benefits (Lothian Region)
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is the number of claimants in(a) the Edinburgh Leith local office and (b) at each of the other local offices in Lothian region (i) who received a transitional addition at April 1988, (ii) who have lost this since due to a change in circumstances, giving the average amount lost, (iii) who will lose protection at April 1989, and (iv) who will at that stage still be receiving some element of protection, giving average payments, showing in each case those required to register, those not required to register, and pensioners;

  (2) what is the number of 16 and 17-year olds at (a) the Edinburgh, Leith local office and (b) each of the local offices in Lothian region who (i) lost benefit on 12 September 1988 and (ii) had at that time been on benefit since prior to April 1988, broken down by those who had

  Number of claimants in receipt of supplementary benefit or income support

  Year

  Great Britain

  England

  Wales

  Scotland

  1979

  2,855,000

  2,396,000

  172,000

  286,000

  1980

  3,118,000

  2,627,000

  186,000

  304,000

  1981

  3,723,000

  3,131,000

  221,000

  371,000

  1982

  4,267,000

  3,590,000

  253,000

  423,000

  1983

  4,349,000

  3,649,000

  260,000

  440,000

  1984

  4,609,000

  3,866,000

  275,000

  468,000

  1986

  4,938,000

  4,141,000

  291,000

  506,000

  1987

  4,896,000

  4,073,000

  287,000

  535,000

  1988

  4,354,000

  3,596,000

  259,000

  499,000

  Percentage increase between 1979 and 1988

  52·50

  50·08

  50·58

  74·48

  Note: All figures are rounded to the nearest thousand and may not therefore sum.

  Total number of persons dependent upon supplementary benefit or income support since 1979 as a proportion of the total population1

  Year

  Great Britain

  England

  Wales

  Scotland

  1979

  00·8

  00·8

  01·0

  00·9

  1080

  00·9

  00·9

  01·0

  00·9

  1981

  01·l

  01·l

  01·3

  01·2

  1982

  01·3

  01·3

  01·5

  01·4

  1983

  01·3

  01·3

  01·6

  01·4

  1984

  01·4

  01·4

  01·7

  01·5

  1986

  01·5

  01·5

  01·8

  01·6

  1987

  01·5

  01·5

  01·7

  01·7

  1988

  01·3

  01·3

  01·6

  01·6

  1 Includes claimants, their partners and dependent children.

  Source for both tables:

  1979–1987 Annual Statistical Inquiry.

  1988 May Quarterly Statistical Inquiry.
  416
  been classed as (1) householders and (2) non-householders; and how many of these people have (x) not so far been placed on YTS, or (y) have been refused a place on a YTS scheme due to their or its unsuitability.

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

  Local Pay Additions
  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the number of staff, by grade, in receipt of local pay additions outside London and the south-east economic planning region; what were the different amounts paid to staff by grade; whether this sum varies due to location; what qualifying period of scale-related criteria is used; and whether this varies by location.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  There are no Department of Social Security staff in receipt of local pay additions outside London and the south-east economic planning region.

  Income Support
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many people are claiming income support in(a) the United Kingdom, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) England; what are the corresponding figures for each year since 1979; and what was the actual percentage increase between the figures for 1979 and the latest figures;

  (2) what proportion of people living in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) England is dependent upon income support; and what are the corresponding figures for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Scott
  The information for Great Britain is as follows:
  417
  Information for Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in how many cases income support has been paid under regulation 8(3) of the Income Support (General) Regulations to persons not treated as available for employment.

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

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the changes since 1979 and the dates when they occurred (i) in the conditions of entitlement to supplementary benefit and income support of persons aged 19 years in non-advanced education and (ii) in the circumstances in which extra-statutory payments in lieu of benefit can be made to such persons.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 13 January 1989]: The supplementary benefit regulations were amended from 18 October 1982 to extend entitlement to benefit to persons aged 19 years in relevant education who were single parents, severely handicapped, orphans or estranged from their parents.

  In 1985 that amendment was found to be defective and a circular was issued in November 1985 authorising extra-statutory payments to be made until the regulations were amended.

  Amendment regulations corrected the defect from 6 April 1987 and also extended entitlement to certain young people aged 16 to 19 inclusive who were not estranged from their parents but could not be supported by them because their parents were chronically sick, or in prison, or could not enter the country.

  From 11 April 1988 an upper limit of 19 years was set in all the income-related benefits for the payment of benefit to young people in full-time non-advanced education.

  There have been no changes in the circumstances in which extra-statutory payments in lieu of benefit can be paid to 19 year olds in relevant education. Extra-statutory payments can be made only where claimants are deprived of all or part of their entitlement in a way not foreseen or intended when the law was drawn up.

  Barlow Clowes International
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the criteria applied by his Department in dealing with applications from Barlow Clowes International investors for social security on hardship grounds.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: Investments in Barlow Clowes International are treated in the same way as other investments for income support purposes. Where the current market value, less 10 per cent. if there are expenses of sale, together with any other capital exceeds £6,000, no benefit is payable. A crisis loan may be available where the investment cannot be realised immediately and there is serious risk to the health and safety of the applicant or his family.

  Mr. N. Quinn
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when his Department expects to settle the claim 418
  by Mr.N Quinn of Birmingham, in respect of the motor accident of 20 September 1988, when the uninsured Ford Sierra registration number D378 JML belonging to his Department hit Mr. Quinn's car.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: The Department's solicitor has been in correspondence with Mr. Quinn and his insurers since 6 October 1988, following the accident when Mr. Quinn's car collided with a Crown vehicle. The Department does not subscribe to the normal third party cover afforded by insurance companies, because section 143 of the Road Traffic Act 1972 does not apply to the Crown. The Department, therefore, in common with most other Departments of State, carries its own risks and has its own insurance arrangements. I am sure that all concerned want to see the matter resolved as soon as possible.

  Special Needs Hostels
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the organisations(a) which submitted evidence urging the Government to allow special needs hostels to continue being funded on a board and lodgings basis and (b) who proposed different funding arrangements.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 19 December 1988]: A list of the 346 organisations which made individual submissions considered following the issue of the consultative paper "Help With Hostel Charges" has been placed in the Library. Details of individual organisations' submissions are not normally published, but the responses varied between those who agreed that there was a need for change, those who favoured keeping the present system, those who put forward proposals of their own and those who did not have a preferred solution.

EMPLOYMENT

  New Earnings Survey
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what categories of people are likely to be excluded from the coverage of the new earnings survey; and what estimate can be given about the total number of people involved.

  Mr. Lee
  The new earnings survey is a sample survey covering 1 per cent. of employees in Great Britain who are members of pay-as-you-earn schemes.

  The main categories of the work force in employment excluded from its coverage are self-employed persons, Her Majesty's forces, those on work-related Government training programmes, without a contract of employment and those employees, mainly part-time women and young people, who earn below the income tax threshold and are not in a PAYE scheme. Exempted categories include private domestic servants, husband/wife working for spouse, company directors who do not receive a salary and those working abroad. A full description of the survey and its coverage is contained in part B of the annual new earnings survey report.

  It is estimated that 5·4 million of the work force in employment in Great Britain were not covered at the time of the latest survey in April 1988.

  Ethylene Dibromide
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take action to reduce the occupational exposure limit for ethylene dibromide in the light of the recently published British Journal of Industrial Medicine article "Semen quality in papaya workers with long term exposure to ethylene dibromide".

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Health and Safety Commission recently reduced the occupational exposure limit for ethylene dibromide in air from 1 part per million to 0·5 ppm to measured as an eight-hour time-weighted average. That limit came into effect on 1 January 1989.

  The HSC's advisory committee on toxic substances will shortly be considering proposals for translating that limit into a maximum exposure limit under the new Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations. I will ensure that the article referred to by the hon. Member is brought to the attention of the committee.

  Manufacturing Industry
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employmemt if he will publish a table showing employment in manufacturing industry by county and region for each year since 1979 and for each quarter month in 1988.

  Mr. Lee
  Figures for the standard economic regions can be provided but employment statistics for smaller areas are available only for dates when censuses of employment are taken.

  The available information for counties and the Scottish region and island areas, taken from the September 1981 and September 1984 censuses of employment, is given in table 1.

  The information for standard economic regions is given in table 2.

  TABLE 1

  Employees in employment1 in manufacturing industries (Divisions 2 to 4 of the Standard Industrial Classification 1980)

  Counties2

  September 1981 Thousand

  September 1984 Thousand

  South East

  Bedfordshire

  71·5

  67·8

  Berkshire

  85·4

  76·5

  Buckinghamshire

  65·7

  66·8

  East Sussex

  36·4

  32·7

  Essex

  140·4

  119·5

  Hampshire

  153·3

  146·7

  Hertfordshire

  132·4

  118·1

  Isle of Wight

  9·0

  8·8

  Kent

  118·3

  103·5

  Oxfordshire

  47·6

  43·8

  Surrey

  77·4

  74·5

  West Sussex

  61·1

  58·3

  Greater London

  684·6

  569·0

  East Anglia

  Cambridgeshire

  60·7

  68·2

  Norfolk

  63·3

  63·2

  Suffolk

  61·9

  58·3

  420

  Counties2

  September 1981 Thousand

  September 1984 Thousand

  South West

  Avon

  94·9

  89·2

  Cornwall

  23·6

  22·3

  Devon

  68·9

  69·1

  Dorset

  44·3

  41·2

  Gloucestershire

  65·2

  57·6

  Somerset

  46·0

  45·6

  Wiltshire

  52·6

  51·2

  West Midlands

  Hereford and Worcester

  67·9

  64·3

  Shropshire

  32·0

  33·0

  Staffordshire

  144·3

  141·9

  Warwickshire

  61·6

  56·3

  West Midlands

  494·8

  413·7

  East Midlands

  Derbyshire

  133·2

  122·2

  Leicestershire

  150·5

  140·9

  Lincolnshire

  44·3

  40·7

  Northamptonshire

  73·7

  69·5

  Nottinghamshire

  131·5

  115·1

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  Humberside

  92·1

  81·9

  North Yorkshire

  53·5

  49·7

  South Yorkshire

  158·6

  122·4

  West Yorkshire

  274·6

  230·8

  North West

  Cheshire

  116·7

  105·9

  Lancashire

  182·5

  153·6

  Greater Manchester

  345·8

  291·3

  Merseyside

  154·7

  119·8

  North

  Cleveland

  74·9

  53·3

  Cumbria

  56·9

  49·6

  Durham

  62·1

  54·7

  Northumberland

  19·5

  19·3

  Tyne and Wear

  126·0

  99·0

  Wales

  Clwyd

  33·7

  32·5

  Dyfed

  17·1

  15·9

  Gwent

  52·8

  46·1

  Gwynedd

  11·5

  9·3

  Mid-Glamorgan

  52·5

  44·7

  Powys

  7·0

  6·9

  South Glamorgan

  26·6

  25·2

  West Glamorgan

  36·9

  28·8

  Scotland (Region and Islands Areas)

  Borders

  12·9

  12·6

  Central

  31·1

  22·8

  Dumfries and Galloway

  12·2

  11·3

  Fife

  40·0

  35·8

  Grampian

  36·8

  35·2

  Highland

  12·4

  10·2

  Lothian

  66·2

  55·3

  Strathclyde

  249·8

  215·4

  Tayside

  37·1

  32·1

  Orkney Islands

  0·7

  0·5

  Shetland Islands

  1·1

  1·2

  Western Isles

  1·5

  1·2

  1 The figures exclude the self-employed.

  2 The areas are defined in terms of ward boundaries as at 1981.

  421

  Table 2

  Employees in employment1 in Manufacturing Industries (Divisions 2–4 of the Standard Industrial Classification 1980) by region

  Thousand

  Standard Region

  September

  March

  June

  2 September

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1988

  1988

  South East

  1,880

  1,796

  1,677

  1,589

  1,522

  1,486

  1,463

  1,408

  1,374

  1,353

  1,321

  1,328

  Greater London (included in South East)

  n.a.

  n.a.

  681

  637

  598

  569

  556

  526

  514

  506

  477

  487

  East Anglia

  209

  197

  185

  181

  181

  190

  199

  205

  211

  213

  218

  220

  South West

  440

  421

  398

  381

  367

  376

  377

  371

  367

  362

  364

  367

  West Midlands

  983

  901

  800

  747

  714

  709

  709

  698

  696

  689

  697

  702

  East Midlands

  611

  573

  533

  509

  489

  488

  496

  493

  494

  487

  493

  493

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  708

  649

  580

  536

  502

  485

  484

  461

  453

  443

  443

  448

  North West

  970

  894

  803

  740

  692

  671

  655

  628

  609

  600

  600

  601

  North

  411

  374

  340

  314

  287

  276

  279

  266

  262

  261

  261

  262

  Wales

  317

  278

  239

  223

  214

  212

  211

  205

  211

  210

  213

  218

  Scotland

  602

  550

  502

  471

  442

  434

  430

  409

  392

  386

  385

  387

  Great Britain

  7,123

  6,629

  6,058

  5,691

  5,411

  5,327

  5,302

  5,142

  5,069

  5,004

  4,995

  5,025

  1 Excludes the self-employed.

  2 Latest available.

  n.a. = Not available.

  Young Employees (Overtime)
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what arrangements have been made to permit or discourage excessive overtime working by younger employees(a) on employment training schemes and (b) elsewhere; and what steps he has taken to ensure that employees are given adequate advice in regard to this matter.

  Mr. Cope
  Trainees in employment training who are receiving practical experience with an employer are not expected to attend for any period which could normally attract over-time or premium payments in the case of employees. The hours of attendance for the youth training scheme are limited to 40 per week, taking one week with another. In employment generally hours of work are a matter for negotiation between employer and employees or their representatives. Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work Act, etc. 1974 requires every employer to ensure so far as is reasonably practicable the health, safety and welfare of all his employees at work. This does not permit excessive hours likely to lead to fatigue induced accidents or ill health.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what was the level of unemployment, expressed as(a) a percentage and (b) in numbers of claimants for (i) the Hexham constituency, (ii) the
  Newcastle upon Tyne travel to work area, (iii) the Greater London travel to work area and (iv) England and Wales for the most recent month for which figures are available and for February 1985;

  (2) if he will estimate the number of unfilled vacancies expressed as (a) a percentage and (b) in numbers of claimants for (i) the Hexham constituency, (ii) the

  Table B

  Unemployment claimants for December 1988 and February 1985

  February

  1985

  December

  1988

  level

  lrate

  level

  lrate

  Newcastle TTWA

  65,551

  17·5

  45,293

  120

  Greater London TTWA

  370,377

  10·7

  232,323

  6·7

  Hexham TTWA

  1,537

  9·8

  987

  6·0

  Hexham PCA

  2,479

  n/a

  1,562

  n/a

  England and Wales

  2,843,546

  13·0

  1,675,587

  7·7

  1 Unemployed claimants expressed as a percentage of claimants plus employees in employment only.

  The figures are affected by the change in the compilation of the count in March 1986 to reduce
  422
  Newcastle upon Tyne travel to work area, (iii) the Greater London travel to work area and (iv) England and Wales for the most recent month for which figures are available and for February 1985;.

  Mr. Lee
  The following is the available information. Table A gives the total unfilled vacancies notified to jobcentres at December 1988 and February 1985. Table B shows unemployment level and percentage rates for December 1988 and February 1985. It is not meaningful to calculate a ratio of unemployed claimants to unfilled vacancies at jobcentres, since only about a third of all vacancies in the economy are notified to jobcentres.

  Table A

  Unfilled vacancies at jobcentres for December 1988 and February

  1985

  February 1985

  December 1988

  level

  level

  Newcastle TTWA

  1,851

  3,134

  Greater London TTWA

  19,726

  23,712

  Hexham TTWA

  79

  125

  England and Wales

  122,877

  202,614

  over-recording and by the change in the coverage from September 1988 due to the introduction of new benefit regulations for young people aged under 18.

  Qualifications
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give, based on the labour force survey(a) the total number of people of working age and (b) the percentage with (i) A level or equivalent or higher, (ii) o level or equivalent, (iii) below o level and (iv) no

  Regional variations in highest qualification held be persons of working age1-Great Britain, Spring estimates

  Thousands and per cent

  Standard Region

  Total

  of which:percentage possessing highest qualification

  (000's)

  'A' level or

  'O' level or

  Below 'O' level2

  No vocational

  equivalent or

  equivalent

  or educational

  higher

  qualificilion

  1983

  Northern

  1,876

  27

  13

  11

  49

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  2,939

  29

  13

  9

  49

  East Midlands

  2,329

  28

  13

  10

  49

  East Anglia

  1,137

  29

  14

  12

  46

  South East (except Greater London)

  6,143

  35

  17

  11

  37

  Greater London

  4,145

  34

  16

  9

  42

  South West

  2,564

  32

  17

  10

  41

  West Midlands

  3,143

  26

  13

  10

  51

  North West

  3,825

  30

  14

  9

  46

  Wales

  1,659

  25

  15

  10

  50

  Scotland

  3,102

  37

  13

  4

  46

  Great Britain

  32,861

  31

  15

  9

  45

  1984

  Northern

  1,879

  32

  14

  8

  46

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  2,956

  31

  14

  9

  46

  East Midlands

  2,355

  33

  15

  9

  43

  East Anglia

  1,151

  32

  16

  10

  43

  South East (except Greater London)

  6,228

  37

  18

  11

  34

  Greater London

  4,166

  37

  17

  9

  38

  South West

  2,594

  37

  18

  10

  35

  West Midlands

  3,162

  30

  14

  10

  46

  North West

  3,849

  34

  15

  19

  42

  Wales

  1,665

  31

  16

  8

  46

  Scotland

  3,119

  41

  13

  3

  43

  Great Britain

  33,125

  35

  16

  9

  41

  1985

  Northern

  1,879

  32

  13

  10

  45

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  2,964

  33

  15

  10

  42

  East Midlands

  2,377

  34

  15

  10

  42

  East Anglia

  1,170

  32

  16

  11

  40

  South East (except Greater London)

  6,292

  38

  19

  10

  33

  Greater London

  4,170

  39

  17

  10

  35

  South West

  2,629

  37

  18

  11

  35

  West Midlands

  3,175

  30

  14

  9

  46

  North West

  3,846

  35

  16

  9

  40

  Wales

  1,673

  32

  16

  8

  44

  Scotland

  3,127

  41

  14

  3

  42

  Great Britain

  33,301

  36

  16

  9

  39

  1986

  Northern

  1,877

  34

  15

  10

  41

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  2,969

  33

  16

  10

  40

  East Midlands

  2,398

  34

  15

  11

  40

  East Anglia

  1,185

  33

  16

  13

  37

  South East (except Greater London)

  6,344

  38

  20

  12

  31

  Greater London

  4,180

  38

  16

  11

  35

  South West

  2,660

  36

  18

  12

  33

  West Midlands

  3,179

  31

  15

  11

  42

  North West

  3,850

  33

  16

  11

  40

  Wales

  1,681

  32

  17

  9

  42

  Scotland

  3,102

  41

  14

  3

  42

  Great Britain

  33,425

  35

  17

  10

  38

  1987

  Northern

  1,878

  35

  16

  12

  38

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  2,977

  34

  17

  11

  39

  East Midlands

  2,418

  32

  16

  12

  40

  East Anglia

  1,201

  35

  18

  13

  35

  South East (except Greater London)

  6,391

  39

  20

  12

  29

  Greater London

  4,179

  38

  18

  11

  34

  South West

  2,697

  37

  18

  12

  32

  424
  vocational or educational qualification for each standard English region, Wales and Scotland for 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1987.

  Mr. Lee
  [holding answer 19 January 1989]: Estimates from labour force surveys, as requested, are shown in the following table:
  425

  Standard Region

  Total

  of which:percentage possessing highest qualification

  Total (000's)

  'A' level or equivalent or higher

  'O' level or equivalent

  Below 'O' level1

  No vocational or educational

  West Midlands

  3,194

  31

  16

  11

  42

  North West

  3,858

  35

  16

  10

  38

  Wales

  1,694

  31

  17

  10

  42

  Scotland

  3,133

  42

  14

  4

  40

  Great Britain

  33,620

  36

  17

  11

  36

  1 Men aged 16–64, women aged 16–59.

  2 includes those with CSE (below grade 11) or "other" qualifications.

  Graduates
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will give, based on the labour force survey the total number of graduates in employment as a percentage of all in employment in each of the standard English regions, Scotland and Wales and for each of the years 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1987.

  Regional variations in graduate employment of persons of working Age l Great Britain, Spring estimates.

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  Graduates of working in employment (000)'s

  Graduate share 2

  Graduates of working age in employment (000)'s

  Graduate share 2 per cent.

  Graduates of working age in employment (000)'s

  Graduate share 2 per cent.

  Graduates of working age in employment (000)'s

  Graduate share 2 per cent.

  Graduates of working age in employment (000)'s

  Graduate share 2 per cent.

  Region

  South East

  671

  9·2

  682

  9

  743

  9·7

  777

  10·1

  774

  9·8

  of which

  London

  326

  11·3

  331

  11·2

  379

  12·7

  367

  12·5

  387

  13·0

  Rest of South East

  345

  7·8

  352

  7·6

  363

  7·8

  409

  8·6

  386

  7·9

  East Anglia

  43

  5·3

  45

  5·4

  47

  5·7

  54

  6·3

  59

  6·7

  South West

  95

  5·3

  115

  6·3

  114

  5·9

  116

  6 1

  125

  6·3

  West Midlands

  94

  4·6

  104

  5·0

  106

  5·0

  115

  5·3

  122

  5·6

  East Midlands

  76

  4·7

  86

  5·2

  91

  5·5

  98

  5·7

  90

  5·3

  Yorkshire and Humberstde

  99

  5·0

  96

  4·8

  90

  4·5

  111

  5·5

  116

  5·7

  North West

  147

  5·9

  132

  5·2

  145

  5·6

  137

  5·3

  174

  6·6

  Northern

  57

  4·8

  58

  4·9

  49

  4·2

  63

  5·3

  73

  5·8

  Wales

  50

  5·0

  5·6

  5·4

  55

  5·3

  73

  7·0

  60

  5·6

  Scotland

  144

  7·1

  124

  6·2

  136

  6·6

  132

  6·6

  120

  5·9

  Great Britain

  1,474

  6·6

  1,498

  6·6

  1,576

  68

  1,675

  7·2

  1,711

  7·3

  1 Men aged 16·64. Women aged 16·59.

  2 Graduates as a percentage of all persons of all working age in employment.

  Source: Labour Force Surveys.

  High Moor Colliery (Accident)
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give details of the last section 123, and other inspections of 91s heading at High Moor colliery prior to the 30 m fall of roof on 13 January.

  Mr. Nicholls
  [holding answer 19 January 1989]: The last report of an inspection under section 123 on 91s heading at High Moor colliery was made on 9 January 1989. A copy of this report would have been required to be displayed at the mine.

  The details of other statutory inspections made at the heading are still being gathered in the process of the investigation of the incident.

  YTS Training Centre, Cyprus
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the cost of the YTS training centre in Cyprus; who is eligible to attend the centre; and how many trainees have made use of the centre for the most recent period for which figures are available.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I have been asked to reply by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment. The current staff cost of running the centre is £32·5K per annum, and all dependants of armed forces and Civil
  426
  (2) if he will give based on the labour force survey, the total number of graduates in employment in each of the standard English regions, Wales and Scotland and for each of the years 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, and 1987.

  Mr. Lee
  [holding answer 19 January 1989]: Estimates from labour force surveys as requested, are shown in following table:

  Service personnel in Cyprus between the ages of 16 and 19½ years of age are eligible to attend. Since February 1987, 150 trainees have used the centre.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Set-aside
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many applications and registrations he has received under the set-aside scheme on a county-by-county basis; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) how many applications and registrations he has received under the set-aside scheme (a) within and (b) outside, less-favoured areas; and within each category how many applications he has received for (i) permanent fallow, (ii) rotational fallow, (iii) farm woodland and (iv) non agricultural use;

  (3) how many set-aside agreements his Department has finalised by county in England and Wales; what is the total hectareage for each county taken out of production by such means; and what is his estimate by county of the total cost of this scheme.

  Mr. Ryder
  I shall shortly be announcing further details of the first year's uptake of the scheme.

  Departmental Committees
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list all his departmental committees onto which he appoints outside representatives.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Public bodies, including advisory committees, sponsored by my Department, are listed in "Public Bodies 1988" of which a copy is in the Library. l also appoint representatives from outside the Government service to the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service and regional management board.

  Pigmeat Imports
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the effect of the monetary compensatory amounts system on Dutch and Danish pigmeat imports into the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  United Kingdom, Dutch and Danish pigmeat monetary compensatory amounts are currently all zero; so that their effect on Dutch and Danish pigmeat imports into the United Kingdom is neutral.

  Fish Foods
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he intends the code of practice on the production of animal feeding stuffs containing processed animal products to apply to the production of fish foods.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  It is my intention that the code of practice on the production of animal feedingstuffs will apply to feedingstuffs and their ingredients, including animal protein, intended for feeding to food animals and poultry but not to fish.

  Salmonella
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the locations of reports of salmonella under the Zoonoses Order 1975 during 1988; and if he will indicate in each case who reported it and what was the method by which it was identified.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The reporting of isolations of salmonella in food producing animals is required under the Zoonoses Order 1975. 2,167 reports have been submitted so far for 1988 for Great Britain. As there is a delay between finding an isolate and submitting a report, this figure must be regarded as provisional. Of these reported isolations, 1,559 were in England, 269 in Scotland and 339 in Wales.

  Under the Zoonoses Order, any person who knows or has reason to believe that an animal or bird is or was a carrier of a salmonella organism is required to make a report. Those making reports include owners of animals, private veterinary surgeons; or reports can be made as a result of the isolation of a salmonella organism in a laboratory. It is not possible to give details of who reported the incidents, the methods by which they were identified or precise locations except at disproportionate cost.
  428
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what procedures exist for the monitoring of the code of practice for poultry health scheme members for the control of salmonella.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Since the poultry health scheme code was introduced, veterinary officers of my Department have been assessing compliance with it in the course of visits which they make to the premises. Further checks are carried out if visits are made following the reporting of isolations under the Zoonoses Order 1975.

  As part of the recently announced further measures the majority of the requirements at present in the code of practice will be made statutory.

  Chicken Food
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Caerphilly of 13 January,Official Report, column 795, (1) how many (a) feed processing plants and (b) feed processing plants producing chicken food there were in each of the years from 1984 to 1988;

  (2) if he will give (a) the number of inspections per feed processing plant and (b) the number of cases, by plant and by sample, where resampling revealed salmonella contamination in each of the years from 1984 to 1988.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The number of plants in Great Britain can vary from year to year as new ones opened and others closed down. Furthermore, not all operate on a continual basis.

  The total numbers of protein processing plants producing animal protein for incorporation into animal feedingstuffs, known to have been operational in each year from 1984 to 1988 were:

  Number

  1984

  109

  1985

  112

  1986

  102

  1987

  86

  11988

  85

  1 Provisional.

  The numbers visited and sampled during the year, and the numbers of batches inspected each year were:

  Number of plants visited

  Number of batches inspected

  1984

  107

  251

  1985

  106

  224

  1986

  99

  212

  1987

  84

  185

  11988

  74

  157

  1 Provisional.

  The number of cases where re-sampling revealed salmonella contamination in each of the years from 1984 to 1988 were:

  1st sample

  2nd sample

  1984

  10

  2

  1985

  13

  3

  1986

  13

  5

  1987

  6

  1

  11988

  4

  0

  1 Provisional.

  429
  Notes:

  1. 1988 figures are provisional and may understate the final level because there is a delay between inspection and the final recording of results.

  2. In continuous production plants a batch comprises a series of samples collected over a five days production. The number of samples taken each day is proportional to the output.

  Sub-standard Beef
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when his Department was first notified of imports of sub-standard beef arriving at Mid Cornwall Meatpackers.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  On 24 November, Carrick district council's environmental health service sent a report to the Ministry's office at Truro. As soon as this was received, further details were requested in order that the matter could be raised with the authorities of the Republic of Ireland. These details were received on 19 December 1988.

  Contaminated Meat
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has any evidence that recent consignments of meat originating from Ireland which have been condemned in this country as unfit for human consumption had previously been the subject of cross-border trading between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland for the purpose of fraudulently obtaining EEC export subsidies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  This is a matter for the Irish authorities, and we have asked them to investigate it.

  Deer (Tuberculosis)
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps are taken by his Department when an outbreak of tuberculosis is confirmed in farmed deer herds.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  When an outbreak of tuberculosis is confirmed in farmed deer herds a notice is served under article 15 of the Tuberculosis (England and Wales) Order 1984 or the Tuberculosis (Scotland) Order 1984 preventing movement of deer on or off the premises. These restrictions are maintained until the herd has undergone two consecutive comparative tuberculin tests, at least 120 days apart, with negative results at severe interpretation. The first of these tests is carried out at least 120 days after removal of reactors or infected animals.

  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consideration he has given to the introduction of a tuberculocis eradication scheme for farmed deer; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I announced my proposals for the control of tuberculosis in farmed deer on 15 december 1988 at columns 674–75. A consultation letter on the proposals was sent to interested organisations on 21 December 1988. Consideration is now being given to the comments they have made.

  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cases of tuberculosis have been confirmed in deer herds in the past 12 months in England and Wales, and in each of the preceding three years.
  430
  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The numbers of deer herds in which tuberculosis has been confirmed are as follows:

  Number

  1985

  3

  1986

  —

  1987

  —

  1988

  6

WALES

  Hospital Waiting lists
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his latest estimate of(a) in-patient and (b) out-patient waiting lists in the Mid-Glamorgan health authority area and in Wales as a whole; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  At 31 March 1988, the number of people waiting for in-patient treatment was 7,112 in Mid Glamorgan and 41,648 in Wales as a whole. The numbers waiting for a first out-patient appointment were 16,842 and 82,319 respectively.

  Translation Costs
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the income and expenditure involved for the commemoration of the translation of the Bible into Welsh and the "Travels of Gerald of Wales"; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The Welsh Office contributed £25,000, over a three-year period, to support the work of the committee which co-ordinated arrangements for the numerous events to mark the 400th anniversary of the Welsh translation of the Bible. Celebration of the 800th anniversary of the travels of Gerald of Wales involved a number of events, including a major exhibition at the national museum of Wales. The final income and expenditure figures will take some time to establish.

  M4
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales in which month tenders will be invited for the four sections of the unfinished part of the M4; and when a decision on the successful tenderers will be announced.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  I hope shortly to be in a position to advertise my intention to invite tenders for the first phase of the Baglan-Lonlas section of the M4. Work on this is planned to start towards the end of 1989–90.

  Gresford to Pulford Bypass
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the cost of the Gresford to Pulford bypass.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The total cost of this joint Welsh Office-Department of Transport scheme, including all works and land costs, is estimated to be £25 million. The Welsh Office share will be about £20 million.

  Severn Bridge
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the implications for the travel costs for officials to be borne by his Department of the location of the inquiry into the proposed increase in tolls on the Severn bridge.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  Varying the location of the inquiry would have only marginal implications for such travel costs.

  Eggs
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has had from farming unions in Wales on the recent statement on compensation for egg producers.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  None.

  Sir Raymond Gower
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his latest information regarding the level of egg production in Wales; and what variations have occurred in the past two months.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  315 million eggs were produced in Wales for human consumption in 1987. Prior to the recent disruption of the market, it was expected that 1988 production would be about 339 million. No information is yet available concerning recent fluctuations.

  Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to increase the headquarters grant to Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin to a level sufficient to enable it to purchase an appropriate headquarters building.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  A core grant is made to Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin each year, under section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 as a contribution to its headquarters expenditure. Careful consideration will be given to the application which Mudiad Ysgolian Meithrin has submitted for grant aid next year in the light of its needs, including its need for a new headquarters, the resources available and the demands from other organisations for grant assistance.

  Phurnacite Plant, Cynon Valley
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a further statement on the proposed mild heat treatment process at the phurnacite plant in the Cynon Valley.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  I have nothing to add to the reply I gave the hon. Lady on this matter in the House on 5 December.

  Welsh Language Teaching
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received in recent months on the compulsory teaching of Welsh as a foundation subject in the national curriculum.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  Since the Education Reform Act received Royal Assent last July, I have received a small number of letters about the teaching of Welsh. The 432
  majority have been supportive of the place of Welsh in the national curriculum, although several have had reservations about resource implications or about the impact on the teaching of other subjects, particularly in the later years of secondary school.

  Economic Prospects
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give an assessment on the prospects for the Welsh economy for 1989.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  There is every reason to suppose that the current year, like 1988, will be extremely successful for Wales and the Welsh economy.

  NHS Land
  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the total proceeds from the sale of National Health Service land and property in(a) Wales and (b) West Glamorgan since 1979.

  Mr. Grist
  Proceeds from the sale of surplus NHS land and property in Wales from 1979–80 to 1987–88 have amounted to £10.722 million, of which £0·722 million arose from sales by West Glamorgan Health Authority.

  Government policy encourages district health authorities in Wales to dispose of surplus land and property; I he receipts from which may be reinvested to the benefit of patient care.

  Housing Need
  Mr. Foot
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of present housing need in Blaenau Gwent and in Wales as a whole; and what impact the valleys initiative will have in meeting those needs.

  Mr. Grist
  Local authorities have the statutory responsibility for assessing the housing needs of their area. Blaenau Gwent will benefit substantially from the Programme for the Valleys which in total ought to provide 10,000 new homes with a further 32,000 homes improved.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Raffan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the establishment of the proposed training and enterprise councils in Wales.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The Government will shortly be inviting local groups, led by employers, to submit proposals for the establishment of training and enterprise councils in England and Wales. A national training task force will advise on the establishment of TECs in England and Wales, and my right hon. Friend will be appointing a separate body to advise him on training and related enterprise and education matters, including the establishment of TECs, in the Principality.

  Interest Rates
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the likely effect on Welsh industry of the recent rises in interest rates.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The impact of high interest rates in other parts of the United Kingdom may well make firms
  433
  carefully consider their overhead costs and take advantage of the very positive regional policies that are being pursued in Wales. I am much encouraged that the regional assistance offers made in 1988 provide the promise of 31,500 new jobs, and inward investment in 1988 has been at an all-time high, promising 13,600 jobs.

  Potato Marketing Board
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he is satisfied with the operations of the Potato Marketing Board in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The Government are considering the industry's response to the recent consultation paper about the future of the Potato Marketing Board. Welsh interests will be fully taken into account.

  Water Privatisation
  Sir Anthony Meyer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what arrangements he has made for the privatisation of water so as to ensure the protection of the environment of Wales and the interests of Welsh consumers.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Ogmore (Mr. Powell), earlier today.

  Hormone Replacement Therapy
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he proposes to make available hormone replacement therapy on a Wales-wide basis; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  Hormone replacement therapy is already prescribable through the NHS by registered medical practitioners in circumstances which in the exercise of clinical judgment they consider appropriate.

  Cervical Cancer Screening
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he is taking to extend facilities for screening for cervical cancer; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  Computerised call and recall for cervical screening is now operational in all parts of Wales. The Welsh Office has allocated over £800,000 a year of recurring funds to district health authorities in support of the screening programme. Subject to parliamentary approval, we shall be announcing the allocation of further significant funding later this year.

  Lamb
  Sir Raymond Gower
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what success has attended the measures taken to improve the marketing of Welsh lamb; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  In an expanding United Kingdom market for lamb over recent years, Welsh lamb has increased its market share and quality Welsh lamb continues to command a price premium.
  434
  Welsh lamb producers are also taking advantage of the export opportunities which have arisen through improved marketing.

  Set-aside
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many applications and registrations he has received under the set-aside scheme(a) within and (b) outside, less favoured areas; and within each category how many applications he has received for (i) permanent fallow, (ii) rotational fallow, (iii) farm woodland and (iv) non agricultural use.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The number of applications and registrations received under the set-aside scheme in Wales are as follows:

  Within LFA

  Outside the LFA

  Total

  Number of applications

  9

  26

  135

  Number of registrations

  132

  201

  333

  For each category the number of applications received is:

  (i) Permanent Fallow

  8

  17

  25

  (ii) Rotational Fallow

  2

  7

  9

  (iii) Woodland

  —

  1

  1

  (iv) Non-agricultural use

  —

  6

  6

  141

  1 Some applications include more than 1 category.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many applications and registrations he has received under the set-aside scheme on a county by county basis; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The number of applications and registrations received under the set-aside scheme in Wales on a county by county basis is as follows:

  Applications

  Registrations

  Clwyd

  1

  14

  Dyfed

  l8

  111

  Gwynedd

  6

  46

  Powys

  2

  51

  South Glamorgan

  1

  12

  Mid Glamorgan

  —

  12

  West Glamorgan

  1

  7

  Gwent

  6

  50

  Agriculture (Divisional Offices)
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to reduce the number of Welsh Office Agriculture Department and the Agricultural Development Advisory Service divisional offices in Wales.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  No.

  Regional Grants
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total number of applications(a) received and (b) approved for innovation grants from 1 April 1988 to 31 December 1988 and the total estimated expenditure planned for that period.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Under the regional enterprise grant scheme, 84 applications for innovation projects were received by my Department and 21 offers of grant made in the period 1 April 1988 to 31 December 1988. The total provision for the 1988–89 financial year is £600,000.
  435
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total number of applications(a) received and (b) approved for investment grants from 1 April 1988 and 31 December 1988 and the total estimated expenditure planned for that period.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Under the regional enterprise grant scheme 186 applications for investment projects were received by my Department and 78 offers of grant made in the period 1 April 1988 to 31 December 1988. The total provision for the 1988–89 financial year is £1·8 million.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total estimated expenditure on regional development grant and regional selective assistance in each of the years 1988–89, 1989–90 and 1990–91.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Total provision in 1988–89 for expenditure on regional development grants and regional selective assistance in Wales is £109·4 million. Expenditure plans for 1989–90 and 1990–91 will be shown in the 1989 public expenditure White Paper and details of the regional selective assistance and regional development grants provision for 1989–90 in the Supply Estimates published in March.

  Note:

  (1) The figures given for 1988–89 are net of recoveries and domestic receipts, but gross of EC receipts.

  (2) RSA includes industrial and training grants, and expenditure under the business improvement services and exchange risk guarantee scheme.

  (a) Rate Support Grants in cash terms (£000s)

  Local authority

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  Counties:

  Clwyd

  76,600

  84,833

  84,772

  85,581

  89,887

  92,747

  99,993

  106,781

  Dyfed

  67,940

  75,714

  79,272

  79,625

  81,719

  88,529

  97,665

  106,385

  Gwent

  87,682

  99,536

  101,052

  102,740

  102,098

  111,319

  116,782

  123,768

  Gwynedd

  49,040

  53,398

  55,662

  54,334

  54,557

  59,546

  62,731

  68,580

  Mid Glamorgan

  131,173

  141,148

  142,405

  144,489

  152,107

  159,068

  173,220

  188,728

  Powys

  30,790

  35,945

  36,700

  35,966

  36,587

  38,390

  41,389

  43,773

  South Glamorgan

  61,364

  71,332

  70,776

  69,536

  69,354

  71,153

  76,781

  81,281

  West Glamorgan

  68,467

  79,659

  78,868

  81,220

  85,767

  88,647

  94.437

  98,416

  Districts:

  Alyn and Deeside

  3,621

  3,222

  3,220

  3,297

  3,217

  3,404

  3,464

  3,460

  Colwyn

  3,062

  2,724

  2,765

  2,604

  2,549

  2,611

  2.525

  2,839

  Delyn

  4,491

  3,915

  3,930

  4,010

  3,933

  4,156

  4,285

  4,384

  Glyndwr

  2,340

  2,010

  2,149

  2,000

  2,013

  2,187

  2,165

  2,185

  Rhuddlan

  3,469

  2,944

  3,310

  3,246

  3,239

  3,342

  3,806

  4,270

  Wrexham Maelor

  6,664

  5,397

  5,671

  5,751

  6,080

  6,182

  6,044

  6,f13

  Carmarthen

  3,106

  2,569

  2,769

  2,700

  2,820

  3,049

  3,221

  3,268

  Ceredigion

  3,381

  3,035

  3,154

  3,020

  3,193

  3,401

  3,710

  3,747

  Dinefwr

  1,922

  1,840

  1,767

  1,781

  1,801

  1,852

  1,979

  1,987

  Llanelli

  5,053

  4,429

  4,724

  4,686

  4,814

  4,932

  4,984

  5,018

  Preseli

  3,157

  2,809

  3,184

  3,194

  3,268

  3,492

  3,821

  4,045

  South Pembrokeshire

  1,398

  1,361

  1,305

  1,040

  1,446

  1,478

  1,936

  1,742

  Blaenau Gwent

  6,098

  6,012

  6,240

  6,359

  7,271

  7,193

  7,304

  7,591

  Islwyn

  4,443

  3,929

  4,294

  4,238

  4,495

  5,293

  5,457

  5,734

  Monmouth

  3,739

  3,236

  3,375

  3,226

  3,123

  3,251

  3,129

  3,038

  Newport

  7,125

  6,237

  6,755

  7,017

  6,435

  7,473

  6,999

  7,073

  Torfaen

  5,841

  4,875

  5,015

  5,325

  5,250

  5,230

  4,692

  4,970

  Aberconwy

  3,459

  2,841

  2,990

  2,963

  2,849

  2,779

  2,723

  2,767

  Arfon

  3,545

  3,406

  3,436

  3,016

  2,781

  2,966

  2,810

  2,617

  Dwyfor

  1,674

  1,681

  1,859

  1,789

  1,847

  1,933

  2,006

  2,184

  Meirionydd

  1,691

  1,754

  1,956

  1,780

  1,907

  2,027

  2,062

  2,094

  Ynys Mon

  3,797

  3,399

  3,820

  3,528

  3,447

  3,487

  3,629

  3,746

  Cynon Valley

  4,861

  4,853

  4,743

  4,696

  4,837

  5,127

  5,345

  5,839

  Merthyr Tydfil

  4,967

  4,710

  4,665

  5,014

  5,197

  5,397

  5,440

  5,564

  Ogwr

  8,152

  7,312

  6,779

  7,590

  7,559

  7,574

  7,983

  8,158

  Rhondda

  6,664

  7,596

  7,939

  7,352

  8,231

  8,703

  9,028

  9,045

  Rhymney Valley

  7,991

  6,967

  6,810

  7,306

  6,866

  6,971

  7,096

  7,425

  Taff Ely

  5,446

  5,234

  4,989

  4,823

  4,580

  4,699

  4,522

  4,835

  Brecknock

  2,324

  1,881

  1,935

  1,983

  1,965

  2,099

  2,085

  2,258

  Montgomeryshire

  2,377

  2,197

  2,517

  2,384

  2,325

  2,535

  2,590

  2,525

  Radnor

  1,158

  1,008

  1,062

  999

  966

  992

  1,172

  1,078

  Rate Support Grant
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will show for each local authority in Wales the rate support grant paid in each year since 1978–79, expressed in(a) cash terms and (b) real terms at 1988–89 prices; and what percentage of each council's total expenditure in each year this represented.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The information requested is given in the following tables for all years from 1981–82 to 1988–89. It is not possible to provide meaningful figures for 1978–79 to 1980–81 on a comparable basis as the arrangements for paying rate support grant to each tier of local authorities in Wales were different and these grants were not directly linked to the expenditure of individual councils. Rate support grant comprises a block grant paid to individual county and district councils, and domestic rate relief grant, which is a direct subsidy to ratepayers, paid to district councils in order to reduce total domestic rate poundages, including county precepts, by 36p in 1981–82 and 18·5p from 1982–83 onwards. Domestic rate relief grant cannot sensibly be compared with districts' total expenditure. Block grant entitlements are compared with individual district expenditure figures in table(c) and rate support grant entitlements are compared with expenditure for county areas in table (d).
  437

  Local authority

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  Cardiff

  16,903

  15,677

  16,702

  16,356

  16,545

  17,982

  18,916

  19,453

  Vale of Glamorgan

  5,745

  4,889

  4,778

  4,464

  4,357

  5,036

  5,778

  6,154

  Port Talbot

  2,360

  2,391

  2,173

  2,922

  2,572

  2,782

  2,863

  3,257

  Lliw Valley

  3,274

  3,187

  3,316

  3,274

  3,309

  3,451

  3,508

  3,697

  Neath

  3,652

  3,145

  3,210

  3,131

  3,076

  2,874

  3,403

  4,125

  Swansea

  12,814

  11,076

  12,755

  12,905

  14,128

  14,184

  14,525

  14,918

  Wales

  744,820

  797,313

  811,568

  814,360

  836,369

  881,524

  940,004

  1,000,915

  (b) Rate Support Grants in real terms at 1988–89 prices (£000s)

  Local authority

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  Counties:

  Clwyd

  109,829

  113,524

  108,500

  104,263

  103,900

  103,747

  106,242

  106,781

  Dyfed

  97,412

  101,320

  101,460

  97,007

  94,459

  99,028

  103,769

  106,385

  Gwent

  125,718

  133,199

  129,336

  125,168

  118,015

  124,521

  124,081

  123,768

  Gwynedd

  70,314

  71,457

  71,142

  66,196

  63,036

  66,609

  66,652

  68,580

  Md Glamorgan

  188,076

  188,884

  182,264

  176,031

  175,821

  177,933

  184,047

  188,728

  Powys

  44,147

  48,102

  46,972

  43,817

  42,291

  42,943

  43,976

  43,773

  South Glamorgan

  87,984

  95,456

  90,586

  84,716

  80,166

  79,592

  81,580

  81,281

  West Glamorgan

  98,168

  106,600

  100,943

  98,950

  99,138

  99,160

  100,339

  98,416

  Districts:

  Alyn and Deeside

  5,192

  4,312

  4,122

  4,017

  3,719

  3,808

  3,681

  3,460

  Colwyn

  4,390

  3,645

  3,539

  3,173

  2,946

  2,920

  2,682

  2,839

  Delyn

  6,439

  5,239

  5,030

  4,885

  4,546

  4,649

  4,553

  4,384

  Glyndwr

  3,355

  2,690

  2,750

  2,437

  2,327

  2,447

  2,300

  2,185

  Rhuddlan

  4,974

  3,940

  4,236

  3,954

  3,744

  3,738

  4.044

  4,270

  Wrexham Maelor

  9,555

  7,222

  7,258

  7,006

  7,027

  6,915

  6,421

  6,113

  Carmarthen

  4,453

  3,438

  3,544

  3,290

  3,260

  3,410

  3,423

  3,268

  Ceredigion

  4,848

  4,061

  4,037

  3,679

  3,691

  3,804

  3,942

  3,747

  Dinefwr

  2,756

  2,462

  2,262

  2,169

  2,082

  2,072

  2,103

  1,987

  Llanelli

  7,245

  5,972

  6,047

  5,710

  5,565

  5,517

  5,295

  5,018

  Preseli

  4,527

  3,759

  4,075

  3,891

  3,778

  3,907

  4,059

  4,045

  South Pembrokeshire

  2,004

  1,821

  1,670

  1,267

  1,671

  1,654

  2,057

  1,742

  Blaenau Gwent

  8,743

  8045

  7,987

  7,748

  8,404

  8,046

  7,761

  7,591

  Islwyn

  6,370

  5,258

  5,496

  5,163

  5,196

  5,921

  5,799

  5,734

  Monmouth

  5,361

  4,330

  4,320

  3,930

  3,610

  3,636

  3,324

  3,038

  Newport

  10,216

  8,346

  8,646

  8,549

  7,438

  8,359

  7,437

  7,073

  Torfaen

  8,375

  6,524

  6,418

  6,487

  6,069

  5,850

  4,986

  4,970

  Aberconwy

  4,960

  3,802

  3,826

  3,609

  3,293

  3,109

  2,893

  2,767

  Arfon

  5,083

  4,558

  4,397

  3,674

  3,214

  3,318

  2,986

  2,617

  Dwyfor

  2,400

  2,250

  2,379

  2179

  2,135

  2,162

  2,132

  2,184

  Meirionydd

  2,425

  2,347

  2,503

  2,169

  2,204

  2,268

  2,191

  2,094

  Ynys Mon

  5,444

  4,549

  4,889

  4,298

  3,984

  3,901

  3,856

  3,746

  Cynon Valley

  6,970

  6,494

  6,070

  5,721

  5,591

  5,735

  5,679

  5,839

  Merthyr Tydfil

  7,122

  6,303

  5,971

  6,109

  6,007

  6,037

  5,780

  5,564

  Ogwr

  11,688

  9,785

  8,677

  9,247

  8,738

  8,472

  8,482

  8,158

  Rhondda

  9,555

  10,165

  10,161

  8,957

  9,514

  9,735

  9,592

  9,045

  Rhymney Valley

  11,457

  9,323

  8,716

  8,536

  7,936

  7,798

  7,540

  7,425

  Taff Ely

  7,808

  7,004

  6,386

  5,876

  5,294

  5,256

  4,805

  4,835

  Becknock

  3,332

  2,517

  2,477

  2,416

  2,271

  2,348

  2,215

  2,258

  Montgomeryshire

  3,408

  2,940

  3,221

  2,905

  2,688

  2,835

  2,752

  2,525

  Radnor

  1,660

  1,349

  1,359

  1,217

  1,116

  1,109

  1,245

  1,078

  Cardiff

  24,236

  20,979

  21,377

  19,926

  19,124

  20,115

  20,098

  19453

  Vale of Glamorgan

  8,237

  6,542

  6,115

  5,438

  5,037

  5,634

  6,139

  6,154

  Port Talbot

  3,384

  3,200

  2,782

  3,560

  2,973

  3,112

  3,042

  3,257

  Lliw Valley

  4,694

  4,265

  4,244

  3,989

  3,825

  3,860

  3,727

  3,697

  Neath

  5,236

  4,209

  4,108

  3,815

  3,555

  3,215

  3,616

  4,125

  Swansea

  18,373

  14,822

  16,325

  15,722

  16,331

  15,866

  15,433

  14,918

  Wales

  1,067,923

  1,066,964

  1,038,726

  992,865

  966,759

  986,072

  998,754

  1,000,915

  (c) Block Grant expressed as a percentage of total expenditure1

  Local authority

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  Counties:

  Clwyd

  59

  61

  58

  57

  57

  55

  56

  55

  Dyfed

  63

  67

  66

  63

  63

  60

  61

  60

  Gwent

  59

  65

  63

  62

  59

  60

  58

  56

  Gwynedd

  64

  65

  64

  60

  58

  59

  57

  57

  Mid Glamorgan

  72

  72

  69

  66

  70

  67

  67

  67

  Powys

  74

  77

  74

  70

  69

  68

  70

  67

  South Glamorgan

  51

  55

  51

  49

  47

  44

  44

  42

  West Glamorgan

  54

  58

  56

  56

  57

  54

  54

  51

  438 439

  Local authority

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  Districts:

  Alyn and Deeside

  55

  58

  61

  58

  52

  53

  50

  47

  Colwyn

  57

  60

  56

  54

  51

  49

  43

  47

  Delyn

  63

  65

  63

  67

  64

  64

  63

  60

  Glyndwr

  61

  66

  67

  62

  61

  65

  61

  56

  Rhuddlan

  57

  55

  61

  60

  56

  56

  60

  62

  Wrexham Maelor

  59

  57

  58

  60

  62

  57

  50

  47

  Carmarthen

  70

  67

  75

  70

  68

  70

  70

  66

  Ceredigion

  70

  75

  76

  70

  68

  69

  75

  66

  Dinefwr

  75

  74

  84

  80

  78

  73

  75

  69

  Llanelli

  66

  70

  69

  67

  63

  64

  61

  58

  Preseti

  58

  63

  66

  63

  62

  64

  68

  69

  South Pembrokeshire

  29

  43

  37

  28

  39

  36

  47

  39

  Blaenau Gwent

  69

  68

  68

  73

  70

  73

  75

  73

  Islwyn

  72

  76

  77

  77

  75

  73

  74

  70

  Monmouth

  60

  61

  59

  57

  48

  49

  44

  38

  Newport

  42

  49

  50

  52

  40

  53

  44

  41

  Torfaen

  60

  48

  55

  61

  60

  58

  46

  47

  Aberconwy

  57

  57

  60

  58

  53

  49

  46

  43

  Arfon

  66

  71

  68

  59

  52

  56

  49

  40

  Dwyfor

  63

  66

  70

  65

  63

  61

  60

  61

  Meirionydd

  47

  58

  62

  54

  56

  54

  51

  48

  Ynys Mon

  60

  58

  62

  59

  54

  48

  48

  47

  Cynon Valley

  75

  74

  79

  78

  77

  76

  76

  76

  Merthyr Tydfil

  72

  75

  73

  76

  73

  70

  67

  68

  Ogwr

  65

  69

  58

  68

  65

  60

  61

  58

  Rhondda

  83

  84

  85

  80

  84

  84

  84

  84

  Rhymney Valley

  72

  66

  75

  74

  72

  71

  65

  64

  Taff Ely

  60

  59

  57

  57

  53

  55

  48

  49

  Brecknock

  72

  69

  78

  64

  65

  62

  56

  56

  Montgomeryshire

  78

  75

  76

  69

  64

  78

  71

  62

  Radnor

  59

  67

  65

  59

  54

  58

  72

  57

  Cardiff

  56

  63

  63

  61

  60

  66

  65

  64

  Vale of Glamorgan

  48

  55

  52

  46

  43

  49

  56

  57

  Port Talbot

  29

  38

  32

  46

  38

  44

  43

  49

  Lliw Valley

  70

  63

  68

  67

  66

  67

  65

  65

  Neath

  59

  68

  69

  67

  65

  47

  62

  79

  Swansea

  58

  52

  62

  64

  64

  60

  60

  59

  Wales

  61

  64

  62

  61

  60

  58

  58

  57

  1 Total expenditure figures for 1986–87, 1987–88 and 1988–89 are calculated in accordance with the rules set out in schedule 1 to the Rate Support Grants Act 1988.

  (d) Rate Support Grants as a percentage of Total Expenditure by county area1

  County area

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  Clwyd

  64

  63

  61

  60

  60

  57

  57

  57

  Dyfed

  67

  69

  68

  65

  64

  62

  63

  62

  Gwent

  63

  66

  64

  64

  60

  62

  59

  57

  Gwynedd

  67

  67

  66

  61

  59

  60

  57

  57

  Mid Glamorgan

  75

  74

  70

  69

  71

  68

  69

  68

  Powys

  77

  78

  76

  72

  70

  70

  71

  68

  South Glamorgan

  57

  59

  55

  53

  51

  49

  49

  48

  West Glamorgan

  58

  59

  58

  59

  59

  56

  56

  54

  Wales

  65

  66

  64

  62

  62

  60

  60

  59

  1 Percentages are based on totals for the county council and all district councils within the relevant county boundaries.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Justices of die Peace
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the number of justices of the peace in Stockport and Tameside by electoral ward and sex.

  Mr. Newton
  [pursuant to his answer, 22 December 1988 c. 390–91]: Following is the information for Tameside:

  Male

  Female

  South Tameside PSD

  Dukinfield

  2

  2

  Dukinfield Stalybridge

  4

  1

  Hyde Godley

  —

  1

  Hyde Newton

  4

  1

  Hyde Werneth

  7

  1

  Longdendale

  11

  6

  440

  Male

  Female

  Stalybridge North

  2

  1

  Stalybridge South

  2

  7

  Within North Tameside PSD

  Aston Hurst

  —

  2

  Denton West

  1

  -

  Mossley

  —

  2

  Outside both PSDs

  9

  9

  42

  33

  North Tameside (Ashton-Under-Lyne PSD)

  Ashton St. Michael's

  4

  1

  Ashton St. Peter's

  4

  I

  Ashton Waterloo

  2

  2

  Ashton Hurst

  7

  7

  Audenshaw

  3

  —

  Denton South

  ]

  2

  Denton West

  4

  3

  441

  Male

  Female

  Denton West

  4

  3

  Denton North East

  4

  1

  Droylsden West

  5

  1

  Droylsden East

  1

  1

  Mossley

  4

  2

  Within South Tameside PSD

  Dukinfield

  1

  1

  Dukinfield Stalybridge

  —

  1

  Hyde Werneth

  —

  1

  Longdendale

  2

  2

  Stalybridge South

  7

  7

  Outside both PSDs

  11

  10

  60

  43

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  GATT
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will set out details of the agreement on tropical agricultural products reached at the recent GATT mid-term review in Montreal; and if he will specify decisions taken about the treatment of processed agricultural products from less-developed countries.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Provisional agreement was reached among 32 developed and developing countries* to contribute to an initial package of measures liberalising trade in tropical products. This, like the other provisional agreements reached in Montreal, is subject to confirmation by the trade negotiations committee of the GATT meeting in Geneva early in April. In the meantime some importing countries are implementing parts of the tropical products package unilaterally.

  The European Communities' contribution to the package covers the reduction of elimination of duty in 153 product categories including cut flowers, tropical fruits and nuts, tea, coffee, spices, vegetable oils for industrial purposes, fruit juices, essential oils, tropical woods, ropes and cordage and jute products. Elimination of import duties is proposed for certain raw materials, and reductions of up to 50 per cent. are proposed for others and for processed and semi-processed products. Import quotas will also be ended for woven fabrics of jute and other bast fibres. These concessions will apply equally to all GATT member countries. The EC offer also included reductions in import duty on tobacco products from developing countries. Those reductions, together with reductions in duty on fresh pineapples and mixtures of tropical fruits and nuts from the least developed countries, were implemented on 1 January 1989 through the Community's generalised scheme of preferences for developing countries.
  * Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, the Central American Countries (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua), Colombia, the members of the European Communities, Finland, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand.

  Malta
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on current trading relations with Malta.
  442
  Mr. Alan Clark
  United Kingdom-Malta trade relations are very good. Provisional trade figures for January-November 1988 show United Kingdom exports of £110 million and imports of just over £37 million.

  Takeovers
  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will set out in the form of a table for the most recent available 12-month period, the information he has on the value and number of companies acquired(a) in the United Kingdom by European companies, (b) in Europe by United Kingdom companies, (c) in the United States of America by United Kingdom companies and (d) in the United Kingdom by United States companies.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The information required in respect of United Kingdom cross-border acquisitions and mergers for the latest available 12 month period is as follows:

  Quarter 4 1987 Value £ million

  Quarter 3 1988 Number

  (a) European acquisitions in the United Kingdom

  4,111

  30

  (b) United Kingdom acquisitions in Europe

  1,587

  184

  (c) United Kingdom acquisitions in the United States

  9,046

  260

  (d) United States acquisitions in the United Kingdom

  649

  17

  An article on cross-border acquisitions and mergers in the third quarter of 1988 was published in British Business on 9 December 198.

  Motor Vehicles
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish a table showing the number and value of motor vehicles imported into the United Kingdom by country of origin and manufacturing company in respect of manufacturers importing over 1,000 motor cars into the United Kingdom for each of the last 15 years' and the overall total for all those manufacturers importing fewer than 1,000 motor cars.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The information is not available.

  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is his estimate of (i) the proportion of United Kingdom imports, (ii) the trade deficit represented by such imports, and (iii) the deficit in the trade, of motor vehicles and accessories in the current year; and what are the comparable figures for the previous 15 years.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The required information is given in the following tables:

  United Kingdom imports of motor vehicles and accessories 1973 to November 1988

  Table 1

  Division 78 as percentage of total imports

  per cent.

  1973

  4·2

  1974

  2·9

  1975

  3·8

  1976

  4·6

  443

  per cent.

  1977

  5·9

  1978

  7·1

  1979

  8·4

  1980

  6·7

  1981

  6·7

  1982

  7·9

  1983

  8·7

  Table 2

  Value in £ millions

  Exports

  Imports

  Total trade

  Division 78

  Total trade

  Division 78

  Crude balance of trade

  Crude balance of trade for division 78

  1973

  12,087·0

  1,168·7

  15,723·6

  668·1

  -3,636·6

  +500·6

  1974

  16,309·2

  1,397·6

  23,138·9

  668·7

  -6,829·7

  +728·9

  1975

  19,606·9

  1,854·0

  24,046·4

  909·8

  -4,439·5

  +944·2

  1976

  25,276·6

  2,376·9

  31,084·1

  1,43·16

  -5,807·5

  +945·3

  1977

  31,990·1

  2,871·9

  36,219·1

  2,133·5

  -4,229·0

  +7384

  1978

  35,380·3

  3,070·3

  39,533·0

  2,796·9

  -4,152·7

  +2734

  1979

  40,637·0

  3,148·1

  46,924·9

  3,943·2

  -6,287·9

  -795·1

  1980

  47,357·1

  3,158·0

  49,772·9

  3,351·6

  -2,415·8

  -193·6

  1981

  50,998·1

  3,170·5

  51,168·6

  3,408·1

  -170·5

  -237·6

  1982

  55,557·8

  3,109·0

  56,978·2

  4,489·6

  -1,420·4

  -1,380·6

  1983

  60,684·3

  3,092·2

  66,101·1

  5,753·8

  -5,416·8

  -2,661·6

  1984

  70,488·3

  3,318·8

  78,967·4

  5,957·6

  -8,479·1

  -2,638·8

  1985

  78,391·8

  3,910·6

  85,027·0

  6,800·6

  -6,635·2

  -2,890·0

  1986

  72,987·7

  3,953·5

  86,175·5

  7,938·8

  -13,187·8

  -3,985·3

  1987

  79,851·4

  4,876·8

  94,015·7

  8,807·2

  -14,164·3

  -3,930·4

  19881

  74,029·1

  4,457·1

  97,874·4

  10,328·0

  -23,845·3

  -5,870·9

  1 January to November.

  Source: Overseas Trade Statistics.

  Notes:

  (1) Motor vehicles and accessories defined as Division 78 of the Standard International Trade Statistics.

  (2) Imports cif, exports fob.

  (3) 1987 and 1988 data are provisional.

  Sarin (Sales to Iraq)
  Mr. Peter Hardy
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many kilos of Sarin methyl phosphonyl difluoride were sold(a) to Iran and (b) to Iraq; whether this substance is known to be a nerve gas of lethal character; and what controls there are on such sales.

  Mr. Atkins
  Methyl phosphonyl difluoride is not itself a nerve gas of lethal character: it can however be used in the preparation of the nerve gas Sarin.

  Following the first confirmation in March 1984 of the use of chemical weapons in the Gulf conflict, controls were imposed on exports of methyl phosphonyl difluoride from the United Kingdom to all destinations under the Export of Goods (Control) Order. No licences have been issued for the export of this substance to Iran or Iraq since the imposition of controls in 1984.

  Betting
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if, in the light of the recent takeover in the off-course betting market, the Director General of the Office of Fair Trading will look again at the monopoly position of the big three bookmakers.

  Mr. Maude
  I understand that the Director General of Fair Trading is continuing to monitor developments in the off-course bookmaking market under the competition legislation for which he is responsible.
  444

  per cent.

  1984

  7·5

  1985

  8·0

  1986

  9·2

  1987

  9·4

  1 1988

  10·6

  1 January to November.

  Libya
  Mr. Ron Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the value of British goods and services exported to Libya in 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  For the 11 months January to November 1988 the United Kingdom exported goods to the value of £209·3 million. Information on the value of services is not available.

  House of Fraser plc
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he now expects to hear from the serious fraud office about the inquiries which it has initiated into the implications of the report on the acquisition of House of Fraser plc; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  I cannot say.

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the last day on which he can refer the House of Fraser acquisition report to the Monopolies and Merger Commission; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  Sunday 22 January 1989.

  Innovation and Investment Grants
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what is the total estimated expenditure on(a) innovation grants and (b) investment grants for each of the years 1988–89, 1989–90 and 1990–91;
  445
  (2) if he will give for innovation grants and investment grants the total number of applications (a) received and (b) approved from 1 April 1988 to 31 December 1988, and the total estimated expenditure for that period.

  Mr. Atkins
  Between 1 April 1988 and 31 December 1988 my Department received 1,054 applications, and made 509 offers of regional enterprise grants. The offers are valued at £4·1 million, and payments of £331,217 have been made.

  Current Estimates provision for regional enterprise grants is £12·3 million in 1988–89. This figure is gross of any receipts, or expected receipts, from the European regional development fund. Information about planned expenditure on regional assistance in 1989–90 and 1990–91 will shortly be published in the Public Expenditure White Paper.

  Business Development Consultancy Initiative
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the total estimated expenditure on the business development consultancy initiative in each of the years 1988–89, 1989–90 and 1990–1991 for England, Scotland and Wales.

  DTI Region1/Country

  (a) No. of applications received

  (b) No. of applications approved for consultancy

  (c) DTI Expenditure on completed consultancies (£ '000)

  (d) Estimated expenditure on outstanding consultancies (£ '000)

  North East

  659

  529

  282

  1,125

  North West

  2,093

  1,783

  1,159

  4,115

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  1,351

  990

  671

  2,234

  West Midlands

  1,399

  993

  672

  2,497

  East Midlands

  785

  657

  400

  1,594

  South West

  1,337

  852

  353

  1,498

  South East:

  Cambridge

  943

  688

  247

  1,147

  London

  1,432

  1,124

  582

  1,918

  Reading

  772

  631

  224

  1,322

  Reigate

  724

  580

  282

  983

  Scotland

  1,105

  903

  724

  1,770

  Wales

  861

  622

  288

  1,110

  TOTAL

  13,461

  10,352

  5,884

  21,313

  1 Data is collected for DTI regions and for Scotland and Wales. DTI regions are similar to standard economic regions except that DTI north west includes Cumbria and the High Peak district which are in the north and east midlands standard economic regions respectively, and DTI south east includes the East Anglia standard economic region.

  Regional Assistance
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the total estimated expenditure on regional development grant and regional selective assistance in England for each of the years 1988–89, 1989–90 and 1990–91.

  Mr. Atkins
  Department of Trade and Industry current Supply Estimates provision for expenditure on regional development grant (RDG) and regional selective assistance (RSA) in England in 1988–89 is £157·9 million and £154·2 million, respectively. The RDG figure covers both the original and revised schemes. The RSA figure incorporates expenditure on industrial and training grants, as well as assistance under the business improvement services and exchange risk guarantee schemes. Both figures are net of domestic receipts but gross of expected receipts from the European regional development fund.
  446
  Mr. Newton
  The current Estimates provision for 1988–89 for the consultancy initiatives in England, Scotland and Wales is £74 million. Details of estimated expenditure for 1989–90 and 1990–91 will shortly be published in the Public Expenditure White Paper.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the total number of applications(a) received and (b) approved for business development consultancy initiatives from 1 April 1988 to 31 December 1988, the total amount of expenditure involved and the total estimated expenditure for that period for Scotland, Wales and and each of the standard regions.

  Mr. Newton
  In the period from 1 April to 31 December 1988 a total of 13,461 applications was received for the six business development consultancy initiatives. In the same period 10,352 applications were approved for consultancy. The Department's contribution to the cost of completed consultancies totalled £5·9 million. It is estimated that those consultancies not completed by 31 December 1988 will cost the Department £21·3 million. A breakdown of numbers and cost for each DTI region* and for Scotland and Wales is as follows:

  Information about planned expenditure on regional assistance in 1989–90 and 1990–91 will shortly be published in the Public Expenditure White Paper.

  Asian Community Radio
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what action has been taken by his Department over the last 12 months against the radio station broadcasting in south London called Asian Community Radio.

  Mr. Atkins
  No action has been taken by my Department's radio investigation services (RIS) in the last 12 months against an unlicensed broadcasting station in south London calling itself Asian Community Radio. However, on 16 January a station of that name broadcasting in north London was raided and the transmitter seized.

DEFENCE

  Emergencies (Food Distribution)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence under what circumstances military personnel are used to distribute food to the civil population during disasters or emergencies.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Under the military aid to the community scheme, the use of military personnel to distribute food to the civil population during a disaster or civil emergency would be considered where there is a danger to life and no alternative means of food distribution are available. An example might be the use of service helicopters to reach a community cut off by flooding or a heavy snowfall.

  Emergencies (Liaison)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what liaison is undertaken by military personnel with the police, fire service, health authorities and local government in the event of civil emergencies.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The precise form of liaison would depend on the circumstances, but when service assistance is provided, a liaison officer from the operational headquarters which is co-ordinating the service response would be sent as soon as possible to the incident centre set up by the civil emergency services. Advice on the initial point of contact for any request for service assistance is contained in a pamphlet issued for the guidance of civil authorities; I shall place a copy of this pamphlet in the Library of the House.

  Lockerbie Air Disaster
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated cost to date of the use of military personnel in the Pan Am Lockerbie air disaster.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We are not yet able to calculate the additional costs of providing military assistance to the police and the air accident investigation branch in the Lockerbie air disaster as returns from many participating units and establishments are not yet complete.

  Disaster and Emergency Training
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of training for service men is devoted to training for disasters or emergencies.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Apart from specialist search and rescue units, service men do not train specifically for civil disaster relief or non-military emergencies, as responsibility for dealing with these lies with the civil authorities. On occasions, however, the particular skills and equipment which the services possess can be of assistance, and established procedures exist for the civil authorities to call upon such assistance in certain circumstances.

  Quality Assurance
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he received the results of the investment appraisal on the future location of the directorate general of defence quality assurance; and when he expects to be able to announce a decision.
  448
  Mr. Sainsbury
  My right hon. Friend received the results of the investment appraisal on the future location of the directorate general of defence quality assurance in October last year, and we are continuing to have discussions with interested parties.

  Procurement Expenditure
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will indicate for each year since 1974 the annual expenditure on defence procurement at(a) cash and (b) constant 1988–89 prices; and if he will express these figures as a proportion of the total defence budget for each year since 1974.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Defence equipment expenditure is shown each year in volume 2 (table 2.2) of the "Statement of Defence Estimates" and, since 1981, it has also been shown as a percentage of total defence expenditure. Figures are not yet available at 1988–89 prices and the figures in column(c) of the table are given at Estimates 1988–89 prices. These figures have been calculated using a measure of inflation based on movements in the price of defence equipment.

  (a) Financial year

  (b) Equipment expenditure at cash £ million

  (c) Column at Estimates 1988–89 prices £ million

  (d) Column as a percentage of defence expenditure

  1974–75

  1,030

  5,754

  31·3

  1975–76

  1,792

  6,418

  33·5

  1976–77

  2,138

  6,306

  34·7

  1977–78

  2,565

  6,448

  37·8

  1978–79

  2,984

  6,695

  40·0

  1979–80

  3,640

  7,003

  39·7

  1980–81

  4,885

  7,924

  43·7

  1981–82

  5,638

  8,078

  44·7

  1982–83

  6,297

  8,575

  43·7

  1983–84

  6,939

  8,901

  44·8

  1984–85

  7,838

  9,441

  45·8

  1985–86

  8,193

  9,336

  45·7

  1986–87

  7,885

  8,474

  43·4

  1987–88

  8,270

  8,555

  43·9

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is his policy on authorising foreign air force units to fly at less than 250 ft over the United Kingdom;

  (2) if any foreign air forces have been authorised to fly at less than 250 ft over the United Kingdom at any time since 1979.

  Mr. Neubert
  There are no records of foreign military aircraft having been authorised to carry out low-flying training in the United Kingdom at less than 250 ft. Any such requests to operate in a tactical training area would be considered on a case-by-case basis on their merits.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what types of flying at less than 250 ft other than work-up training for Flag exercises in the United States of America and Canada take place in the Borders tactical training area.

  Mr. Neubert
  Training in the Borders tactical training area consists mainly of work-up training for operational low-flying exercises in the United States and Canada. Occasional continuation training may also be carried out to maintain aircrew skills between such exercises, thereby reducing the quantity of work-up training required.
  449
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list the proportions of flying at less than 250 ft over the United Kingdom since 1979 which have taken place(a) between 7 am and 7 pm, (b) between 7 pm and 11 pm and (c) between 11 pm and 7 am; and what plans exist to increase the amount of such flying in the evenings and at night;

  (2) if he will ban low flying at less than 250 ft between the hours of 7 pm and 7 am.

  Mr. Neubert
  Activity within the three tactical training areas has been confined to the hours between 7 am and 7 pm although the vast majority takes place from mid-morning to mid-afternoon. We do not at present envisage any change in this practice or any significant increase in the requirement for low-flying training below 250 ft as a whole.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) on what date sorties at less than 250 ft took place for the first time in low flying area 20 (T) west;

  (2) on what date the ministerial decision was made to extend the Borders tactical training area by the creation of low flying area 20 (T) west;

  (3) on what date the westward extension of the Borders tactical training area, known as low flying area 20 (T) west, was first marked on the low flying chart covering southern Scotland.

  Mr. Neubert
  Ministerial approval to extend the Borders tactical training area was given in March 1988. Following that, the extension was first marked on the low flying chart which became current on 27 May 1988, and the first sorties at less than 250 ft in the new extended area took place on 29 June 1988.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the military low flying management group first discussed proposals to create a new 100 ft low flying area in south-west Scotland.

  Mr. Neubert
  The records currently available indicate that such proposals were first discussed on 27 September 1985.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the locational requirements for the training of fighter pilots in terms of the ground facilities needed and the terrain necessary for low-flying practice.

  Mr. Neubert
  I will write to the hon. and learned Member.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the occasions on which flights at less than 250 ft took place over the western portion of the Borders tactical training area in 1988, giving the dates, number of sorties on each date, and types of aircraft and units involved.

  Mr. Neubert
  The information requested cannot be provided without disproportionate effort.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research is being conducted by his Department on the medical effects of exposure to the noise levels from military jet aircraft flying at 100 ft above ground level.

  Mr. Neubert
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my predecessor on 27 July 1988 at column 350. The NATO working group on noise is expected to report on its proposals toward the end of 1989.

  Artillery
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the numbers of artillery, mortars and multiple rocket launchers currently possessed by the British Army and the number of these that are currently held in storage.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  On 1 January 1988, a total of 394 pieces of equipment of these types were in use, excluding mortars of a calibre less than 100 mm. Since the number held in storage is directly related to reserve stocks, it is not our practice to disclose this figure.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many anti-aircraft artillery and fixed and mobile surface-to-air missile launchers are currently possessed by Her Majesty's Forces; how many are presently in storage; and what percentage are currently located in Great Britain.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  On 1 January 1988, a total of 350 pieces of equipment of these types were in use. Since the number of equipments held in storage is directly related to reserve stocks, it is not our practice to disclose this figure. I refer the hon. Member to Annexes B and C of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1988" (Cm 344-I) for the proportion of our air defence forces which are located in Great Britain.

  Military Carriers
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the numbers of(a) armoured personnel carriers and (b) military support carriers presently in use by the British Army.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The term "military support carriers" is not a term used within the British Army, but on 1 January 1988 the Army had a total of 5,048 armoured vehicles in service which were not main battle tanks, armoured vehicle bridge layers, armoured infantry fighting vehicles, artillery pieces or air defence launchers.

  Search and Rescue
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many search and rescue operations were carried out during the hours of darkness and from which defence establishments in the last five years for which information is available.

  Mr. Neubert
  Central records are held in a form which distinguishes between search and rescue missions which begin in daylight and those which begin in darkness. For the latter, the figures are:

  Number of callouts commencing in darkness

  Station

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  RAF Helicopters1

  Boulmer

  6

  7

  12

  4

  6

  Brawdy

  12

  5

  12

  9

  14

  Chivenor

  3

  1

  —

  1

  2

  Coltishall

  7

  —

  6

  5

  6

  Leconfield

  5

  4

  —

  —

  5

  Leuchars

  12

  7

  4

  6

  9

  Lossiemouth

  12

  11

  12

  11

  17

  Manston

  8

  2

  5

  6

  2

  Valley

  11

  7

  6

  5

  11

  451

  Number of callouts commencing in darkness

  Station

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  RN Helicopters

  Culdrose

  5

  2

  8

  5

  9

  Lee on Solent2

  1

  2

  1

  2

  —

  Portland

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  Prestwick

  1

  3

  1

  —

  1

  Fixed Wing Aircraft

  St. Mawgan

  6

  8

  6

  14

  7

  Kinloss

  7

  6

  5

  3

  12

  Mountain Rescue Teams

  Leuchars

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Kinloss

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Valley

  4

  3

  —

  1

  —

  St. Atan

  —

  —

  1

  1

  1

  Stafford

  —

  —

  2

  —

  1

  Linton on Ouse

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Notes:

  1 The figures exclude a small number of callouts undertaken by units which are not assigned to the search and rescue (SAR) role.

  2 The statistics for Lee on Solent cover the period up to 15 May 1988, when the military SAR service was withdrawn. A temporary RAF flight operated from Lee between 31 March (when the RN flight was withdrawn) and 15 May.

  Armoured Vehicles
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to purchasing armoured infantry fighting vehicles for the British Army; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The new warrior vehicle currently being purchased is an armoured infantry fighting vehicle, sometimes also known as a mechanised infantry combat vehicle. The first battalion's worth of vehicles entered service in 1988 and, on current plans, a total of 13 battalions will eventually be equipped with Warrior.

  Defence Communications Centre
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any plans to move the defence communications centre from its present position under his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  There are no plans to move the defence communications centre from its present position.

  Monetary Rewards
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the maximum monetary reward currently allowed as a payment to soldiers for actions beyond the normal call of duty; and when this amount was last reviewed;

  (2) what regulations officers in the British Army must follow in order to obtain a monetary reward for their men in return for actions beyond the normal call of duty; and when these regulations were last reviewed.

  Type

  Grade 1

  Grade 2

  Grade 3

  Grade 4

  Married Quarters

  Other ranks

  A

  810

  (243)

  730

  (219)

  558

  (168)

  369

  (111)

  B

  1,212

  (442)

  1,085

  (401)

  840

  (307)

  551

  (202)

  C

  1,354

  (513)

  1,226

  (464)

  945

  (358)

  621

  (235)

  D

  1,518

  (591)

  1,372

  (534)

  1,066

  (415)

  690

  (268)

  Officers

  452
  Mr. Neubert
  My reply to the hon. and learned Member on 16 January 1989 at column 28 explained the justification for paying the x factor to service men. Articles 228 and 485 of the Army pay warrant provide for officers and soldiers to receive an extra 90p a day whilst engaged in work of an objectionable nature. Under the regulations, Ministry of Defence approval has to be sought before payment is made. This payment is reviewed annually by the armed forces pay review body, and was last increased from 1 April 1988. In addition the armed forces pay review body reviews the case for this type of payment periodically—normally every five years. The last such review was in 1986.

  United States Submarines (Discharges)
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has regarding the discharging of radioactive primary coolant by United States submarines into Scottish waters since 1960.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Her Majesty's Government are satisfied that any releases of radioactivity have not breached established national and international standards.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when United States Polaris submarines were ordered not to discharge radioactive primary coolant into Scottish waters; and on whose initiative this action was taken.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I cannot comment about specific orders given to United States Navy Polaris submarines, which are a matter for the United States Government.

  Accommodation Charges
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will publish in the Official Report the annual charges for married and single quarters made to service men and women in respect of quarters in (a) Scotland in 1988–89 and 1989–90 and (b) England, in 1988–89 and 1989–90;

  (2) what amount of charges made for married and single quarters for service men and women reflects the Treasury calculations in lieu of rates on Crown property.

  Mr. Neubert
  Accommodation charges for 1988–89 in Scotland and England are as in the table; the figures in brackets are a composite element within these charges, covering rates and water rates. Charges for 1989–90 will be set in the light of recommendations from the armed forces pay review body, and have yet to be determined. In Scotland they will not include elements for rates.

  The rates and water rates elements of married and single accommodation charges are recommended by the armed forces pay review body on the basis of the total amounts payable as contributions in lieu of rates and the estimated cost of water supplies. No further breakdown i.s available.
  453

  Type

  Grade 1

  Grade 2

  Grade 3

  Grade 4

  V

  1,924

  (751)

  1,745

  (681)

  1,329

  (519)

  891

  (348)

  IV

  2,219

  (867)

  2,008

  (784)

  1,555

  (608)

  1,011

  (395)

  III

  2,566

  (1,039)

  2,321

  (940)

  1,778

  (720)

  1,172

  (474)

  II

  2,894

  (1,138)

  2,613

  (1,028)

  2,000

  (786)

  1,318

  (518)

  I

  3,223

  (1,267)

  2,916

  (1,147)

  2,230

  (877)

  1,471

  (578)

  Single Accommodation

  Rank

  Young servicemen

  299

  (96)

  266

  (85)

  204

  (67)

  139

  (44)

  Cpl and below

  398

  (128)

  361

  (116)

  274

  (90)

  183

  (58)

  WO/SNCO

  745

  (256)

  675

  (232)

  515

  (179)

  339

  (117)

  Capt and below

  1,040

  (376)

  938

  (342)

  719

  (259)

  485

  (174)

  Major and above

  1,256

  (434)

  1,135

  (392)

  869

  (304)

  573

  (198)

  (Annual charges rounded to the nearest £)

  Rating Reform
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guidance has been issued in respect of liability for community charge as to whether a service men has his sole or main residence in Scotland if he is stationed in Scotland but has married quarters in England.

  Mr. Neubert
  Decisions on sole or main residence in Scotland will be made by community charge registration officers, and subject to the right of appeal to the sheriff. Service personnel who have a married quarter in England but are stationed in Scotland for more than six months are expected to be regarded as solely or mainly resident in Scotland for that time, and guidance has been issued to this effect.

  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what instructions he has issued to commanding officers in relation to registering service personnel, their dependants and others living in military accommodation for community charges in(a) Scotland and (b) England and Wales.

  Mr. Neubert
  Commanding officers in Scotland have been instructed to nominate a responsible person or persons to provide community charge registration officers with the information required by the Abolition of Domestic Rates Etc. (Scotland) Act 1987, to enable them to compile and maintain the community charges register. Similar instructions will be issued in due course for England and Wales.

  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has made arrangements in Scotland for the liability for community charge for service personnel and their dependants to be paid by way of direct deductions from service pay.

  Mr. Neubert
  Army personnel who so elect to pay their personal community charge, and that of their dependants by direct deduction from service pay under standard allotment procedures. Because Royal Navy and Royal Air Force personnel are normally paid by direct credit transfer to their bank or other accounts, they will be expected to make their own arrangements for paying their personal community charge direct to the relevant local authority.

  Challenger Tank
  Mr. Conway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to place the demonstration phase contract with Vickers Defence Systems for the Challenger II mark 2 tank.
  454
  Mr. Sainsbury
  Contractual negotiations have been successfully concluded between MOD and Vickers Defence Systems and a contract for the demonstration phase of the Challenger II mark 2 tank was placed on Friday 20 January, in accordance with the procurement strategy set out by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence in his statement on 20 December 1988 columns 283–84 and with the precise criteria as set out in the answer given by my right hon. Friend to the hon. Member on 20 December at column 259.

  Grooms
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the rate charged for military personnel employed as grooms when tending privately owned horses.

  Mr. Neubert
  Since service men are not permitted to tend privately owned horses as part of their military duties, any reimbursement which they may receive for doing so in their own time is by private arrangement.

ENVIRONMENT

  Heritage (Protection)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what legislation he intends to introduce to protect Britain's archaeological sites from destruction by developers in the light of forthcoming directives from the EEC; if he will be providing for archaeological surveys to be made before developers commence work; and what further protection he will give to save Britain's heritage.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The regulations which brought the EC directive on environmental assessment on 15 July 1988, require environmental statements to be prepared.

  Water Authorities
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he will take against water authorities which do not meet the legal requirements he has set out by the year 1992; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I understand that the question relates to consents for discharges from sewage treatment works. The Water Bill proposes that the National Rivers Authority will have the responsibility for ensuring compliance with
  455
  these and other discharge consents. It will be for the authority to set out its policy on enforcement of consent conditions when it is established.

  Rivers (Classification)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by rivers the classification grades of rivers in Yorkshire; what are the comparable grades for rivers(a) in southern England and (b) nationally; what the classifications represent; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The 1985 river quality survey for England and Wales reported the water quality classification of river lengths in each water authority area. The classification of river lengths in the Yorkshire, Southern and Thames water authority areas, together with overall results, are as follows:

  Percentage

  Class 1 Good

  Class 2 Fair quality

  Class 3 Poor quality

  Class 4 Bad quality

  Yorkshire Water Authority

  77

  12

  8

  3

  Southern Water Authority

  75

  22

  2

  0·2

  Thames Water Authority

  65

  28

  7

  0·1

  England and Wales

  68

  22

  9

  2

  The classifications of different rivers are best illustrated in the map which formed part of the report on the 1985 survey and I am sending the hon. Member a copy of this, together with details of the river classification scheme on which the 1985 survey was based. Further details are contained in the survey report, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Radon Radiation
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment ( 1 ) in what form records are kept of public buildings in England and Wales that are affected by radon radiation; and if he will state their locations;

  (2) in what form records are kept of the action readings of public buildings affected by radon radiation; and if he will state the action readings and the location of buildings so affected.

  Mr. Chope
  Occupational exposure to Radon in public buildings, in common with other workplaces, is subject to the provisions of the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1985, which are administered by the Health and Safety Executive. The obligation to measure Radon levels in public buildings and maintain records rests with employers, including Government Departments. There is no centrally held records of public buildings affected by Radon radiation.

  Water Act 1973
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on how many occasions his Department has made any orders under section 23 of the Water Act 1945 or section 67 of the Water Resources Act 1963 in connection with the construction or operation of a reservoir in England, giving the date of any such order and the location to which it applied.
  456
  Mr. Moynihan
  A large number of orders have been made under both provisions. The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Football Clubs (Membership Scheme)
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he has received to date about Government proposals for a scheme of identification cards for football supporters.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I have received over 1,800 representations relating to the idea of a scheme. In addition I have received a large number of proposals to implement the scheme from computer companies and others.

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide details of the membership scheme operated by Torquay United and give details of hi s Department's contacts with the club to examine the operation of its scheme.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I am aware that Torquay United introduced a 100 per cent. home only membership scheme in November 1986 and that the club considers that this has played an effective part in curbing hooliganism. I congratulate the club on introducing the scheme.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment with which football authorities in other countries the Under-Secretary of State with responsibility for sport has discussed his proposals for a national membership scheme for attendance at football matches; what their response has been; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  [holding answer 19 January 1989]: The British Government is a member of the Council of Europe standing committee on spectator violence. Through this committee, we have kept other European Governments in close touch with developments on a national membership scheme in England and Wales. A number of other Governments have expressed an interest in our proposals.

  We have also kept the European Union of Football Associations (UEFA) informed of developments.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the computer firms with whom the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the Minister for Sport, has discussed his proposals for the introduction of a national membership scheme for attendance at football league matches.

  Mr. Moynihan
  [holding answer 19 January 1989]: I have received proposals from a number of computer and other companies concerning the implementation of a national membership scheme. I have discussed the proposals with some of them. It would not be appropriate for me to list individual companies by name without their consent.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he has received from Halifax about Government proposals for a scheme of identification cards for football supporters.

  Mr. Moynihan
  [holding answer 19 January 1989]: The hon. Member wrote to me on 16 November about the

  457
  proposed membership scheme for football supporters. I have also received a letter from the chairman of Halifax Town football club and one from a resident of Halifax about the idea of a scheme.

  County Hall
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in deciding the distribution of the proceeds from the sale of County hall, he will make it his policy to take into account the fact that Inner London ratepayers have met the full debt charges and running costs of that part of the building used for educational administration.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  No. The Greater London council's general debt liabilities were distributed pro rata to population at abolition.

  The Department is at present consulting all London authorities about London residuary capital money matters including the distribution of the County hall receipt. I am sending a copy of the consultation letter to the hon. Member.

  Local Authorities (Wages)
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discretion is allowed to local authorities in determining wage rates for local authority employees.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Subject to certain statutory exceptions, a local authority is free to employ staff on such reasonable terms and conditions as the authority thinks fit. In practice the pay rates of approximately 75 per cent. of local authority employees are determined in national negotiations between the local government employers and the appropriate unions. The Government will continue to urge individual local authorities to take greater control of their own payroll costs by moving away from national agreements and adopting local pay bargaining.

  Docklands
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many firms or businesses have moved out of the London Docklands Development Corporation area since 1981; and how many firms or businesses operating in the urban development area in 1981 have subsequently ceased to trade.

  Mr. Trippier
  Information on firms which move out of the urban development area is not collected (other than for firms which relocate with LDDC assistance). A total of 41 firms employing 10 or more people closed between 1981 and 31 March 1988.

  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will give an estimate of the proportion of construction jobs in the London Docklands Development Corporation area in 1988 that are held by residents of Tower Hamlets, Southwark, Newham, Lewisham and Greenwich;

  (2) how many of the newly created jobs in the London Docklands Development Corporation area since 1981 have been taken by (i) women, (ii) people from ethnic minority groups and (iii) people who were previously unemployed; and how many are part-time jobs;
  458
  (3) how many of the jobs lost in Docklands since 1981 were held by residents of Tower Hamlets, Southwark, Newham, Lewisham and Greenwich.

  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the business establishments in the London Docklands urban development area that have been relocated by the London Docklands Development Corporation; and for each of these establishments what is(a) the date of relocation, (b) the employment level at relocation, (c) the location prior to relocation, (d) the reason for relocation, (e) the predicted costs to the London Docklands Development Corporation of relocation, (f) the actual costs to the London Docklands Development Corporation of relocation,(g) the level of compensation paid, (h) the location after relocation and (j) the current level of employment if still operating.

  Mr. Trippier
  This information is not collected, or could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) from which economic sectors jobs have been lost in the London Docklands Development Corporation area since 1981;

  (2) how many of the jobs newly created in the London Docklands Development Corporation area since 1981 have been taken by the residents of Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Newham, Lewisham and Greenwich;

  (3) what is the breakdown of newly created jobs in the London Docklands Development Corporation area since 1981, by economic sector;

  (4) what is the breakdown of transferred jobs in the London Docklands Development Corporation area since 1981, by economic sector;

  (5) if he will give a breakdown by type of industry of new jobs in London Docklands since 1981;

  (6) how many new jobs in London Docklands since 1981 have been in the construction sector;

  (7) how many of the jobs created in Docklands since 1981 are located in the Isle of Dogs enterprise zone.

  Mr. Trippier
  Most of this information will be available shortly, when the corporation completes work on a survey of employment in docklands. I shall write to the hon. Member when details are available.

  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many jobs have been lost in the London Docklands Development Corporation area since 1981;

  (2) what is the latest estimate of net job creation in the London Docklands Development Corporation area since 1981;

  (3) how many jobs have been created in the London Docklands Development Corporation area since 1981; how many are transfers from outside the urban development area; and how many are newly created.

  Mr. Trippier
  The information requested is as follows:

  London Docklands Urban Development Area

  1981–87

  Number

  Jobs lost to the area

  11,145

  Jobs created and attracted

  20,315

  Net increase in jobs

  9,172

  Details of the breakdown between jobs created and those transferred will be available shortly. I shall write to the hon. Member.
  459
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many business establishments, with what levels of employment, the London Docklands Development Corporation is currently attempting to relocate; and how many it proposes to relocate by the end of 1992.

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

  Isle of Dogs
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total amount of rate allowance claimed so far in the Isle of Dogs enterprise zone.

  Mr. Trippier
  Schedule 32 of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 provides that my right hon. Friend shall make grants to rating authorities who lose revenue from properties within enterprise zones that are exempt from the payment of rates. To date, the rating authorities affected by the Isle of Dogs enterprise zone have claimed £37,764,136.

  Amusement Arcades
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent discussions he has had with London borough councils as to granting such local authorities greater control over the operation of amusement arcades in their borough; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  I have not discussed this subject with any London borough council. Powers to regulate the operation of amusement arcades are primarily the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.

  Nuclear Waste
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to when the Nuclear Industry Radioactive Waste Executive will publish its report on sites for the storage of radioactive waste; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State expects to receive a report from Nirex shortly. No decision has yet been taken on publication.

  Rating Reform
  Sir Eldon Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what indications he has to date of local authorities increasing or decreasing the number of staff they employ to collect community charge as compared with the number they employed to collect rates;

  (2) how he intends to monitor the progress of implementation by local authorities of their arrangements for the collection of community charge; and if the timetable and checklists to be sent to all authorities following receipt of part II of the Price Waterhouse report on this matter are the basis for this monitoring.

  Mr. Gummer
  We are monitoring progress through visits and other contacts with charging authorities, and have asked for a short summary of progress so far from each community charges registration officer. This will be followed up with a more detailed questionnaire in the spring. The timetable and checklist in the Price 460
  Waterhouse report will be of assistance in the monitoring process. It is hoped that the summaries of progress which have been requested will give a preliminary indication of charging authorities' proposals for the use of staff in comparison with the numbers of staff now working on rating.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what a typical ward sister would pay(a) in rates, (b) in community charge and (c) in a system of capital value rates plus local income tax paid in the proportions of 80–20, respectively, if she lived in a typical one bedroom flat in Streatham.

  Mr. Gummer
  A ward sister earning £15,000, living in a flat in Streatham worth £60,000 with a rateable value of £250, would pay a rates bill of £648, a community charge of£490 (disregarding the transitional safety net), and £1,325 under a system of capital value rates plus local income tax.

  Dr. John Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what response he has had to his Department's letter of December 1988 to chief finance officers of metropolitan and non-metropolitan districts and London boroughs asking for a progress report on the implementation of the community charge; and whether he will(a) publish the results of his survey and (b) place copies of the individual responses in the Library.

  Mr. Ridley
  We have so far received responses from around half of the 366 charging authorities. When a more complete set of responses has been analysed, I shall place a summary in the Library. Authorities were not informed that the responses themselves would be made public and it will be necessary to ask them, at the next suitable opportunity, whether they are content for them to be placed in the Library.

  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he took into account from Scotland's poll tax registration process undertaken during April-May 1988 when deciding to defer the commencement date of the community charges regulations to 22 May 1989.

  Mr. Ridley
  [holding answer 20 January 1989]: The equivalent Scottish regulations came into force on 1 April 1988, and Scottish registers had to be compiled by 1 October, a period of exactly six months. Registers in England and Wales have to be compiled by 1 December 1989. Bringing the regulations into force on 22 May will therefore allow a slightly longer period for registration than in Scotland. I have no doubt that the registration process can be carried out as successfully in England and Wales as it has been in Scotland.

  Housing
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by year for the last 15 years for which figures are available the annual number of completions, within North East Derbyshire district council area of(a) private sector houses and flats, (b) council houses and flats and (c) housing association housing and flats.

  Mr. Trippier
  Housebuilding completions, as reported by North East Derbyshire district council, for years as
  461
  from 1980 appear in table 1 of "Housebuilding in England by Local Authority Areas: 1980 to 1987". For earlier years figures appear in the following issues of "Local Housing Statistics":

  Issue number

  Table

  1974

  33

  5

  1975

  37

  5

  1976

  41

  5

  1977

  45

  5

  1978

  49

  5

  1979

  59

  4(a)

  Copies of these publications are available in the Library.

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

  Planning Permission
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to seek to make it an offence to start building works prior to obtaining planning permission.

  Mr. Chope
  This is one of the issues being considered by Mr. Robert Carnwath QC in his current review of local planning authorities' planning enforcement powers. My right hon. Friend will consider whether any amendment should be made in the light of Mr. Carnwath's recommendation on this issue.

  Caravan Sites Act 1968
  Mr. Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations he has received about the Caravan Sites Act 1968; and if he has any plans to seek to repeal the Act.

  Mr. Trippier
  I receive occasional correspondence on the subject. I have no plans to repeal the Act. A review of policy was completed only two years ago and the conclusions were announced by my right hon. Friend in a reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Sir H. Rossi) on 6 February 1987.

  Nuclear Waste (Liverpool Bay)
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the Nuclear Industry Radioactive Waste Executive proposal to site a dump for nuclear waste in Liverpool bay; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment is not aware of any proposal by Nirex to site a radioactive waste repository in Liverpool bay. Until Nirex's proposals have been received and a decision is made, no part of the country can be ruled out.

  Dogs
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will bring forward proposals to achieve a reduction in the numbers of dogs that are at present destroyed annually in the United Kingdom.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  There are no plans to do so.
  462
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to exercise the powers granted to him under the Local Government Act 1988 to introduce a national dog registration scheme.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We have no plans to do so.

  "Deadline"
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has received a copy of the RSPCA film entitled, "Deadline"; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  No copy has been received.

  Football Spectators Bill
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to exempt Wales from the Football Spectators Bill; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales on 17 January to my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, North (Mr. Jones) at column 146.

  Spectator Control
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department has made any study examining methods used for spectator control at large sporting events in the United States of America, or any other foreign country; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  No. We have studied the final
  report of the committee of inquiry into crowd safety and control at sports grounds, chaired by Mr. Justice Popplewell. I commend it to the hon. Member.

  Water
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the cost and proportion of annual expenditure spent on advertising and publicity by each water authority for the last five years.

  Mr. Ridley
  [holding answer 19 January 1989]: This information is not held centrally. I suggest that the hon. Gentleman writes to each water authority.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment in the light of his policy for comparative competition within the water industry, if he will indicate the main financial indicators of cost comparison he has already applied to regional water authorities, and if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing their respective performance for the latest convenient financial year, in pence per thousand gallons.

  Mr. Moynihan
  [holding answer 19 January 1989]: The Government have set performance aims for the water authorities' real terms operating costs for three consecutive three year periods, the last ending in 1989–90. Performance against the aims is reported in the authorities' annual reports and accounts which are laid before Parliament. In setting the Performance aims the Government make use of a series of performance indicators which standardise operating cost measures in terms of equivalent population in each water authority.
  463
  The performance indicators are published as a five-year rolling series in the water authorities' annual reports and in Waterfacts which is also available in the Library. Performance indicators in terms of pence per thousand gallons are not available.

  Ms. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he intends to take to reduce the aluminium content in the water supplied to consumers in Halifax.

  Mr. Moynihan
  [holding answer 19 January 1989]: Last year three of the water supplies to Halifax exceeded the aluminium standard in the EC drinking water directive. One of these supplies now complies and the other two should comply by 1990. Current aluminium concentrations are not considered to be a health risk.

  Housing (London)
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the relative efficiency in terms of price and build time of the private sector and direct labour organisations building houses in inner London.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 19 January 1989]: This information is not available in the form requested. Under the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 direct labour organisations are required to make a rate of return of 5 per cent. on capital employed, my right hon. Friend has given directions to Lambeth and Hackney borough councils to cease from undertaking works of new construction in the light of their failure to achieve this rate of return.

  Protection of Birds
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply of 10 January,Official Report, column 510, if he will report on the progress made by the RSPCA and RSPB in rescuing birds affected by the recent oil pollution in the Channel; and what is his latest estimate of damage caused to seabird populations.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 19 January 1989]: I understand that so far this month the RSPCA, assisted by local volunteer members of the RSPB, have in the course of sea and beach patrols responded to five separate incidents involving a total of about 500 birds affected by oil. Many of the affected birds have been taken for cleaning at RSPCA and private centres. It is estimated that while up to 1,000 birds may have died, a further 1,000 affected birds will survive.

  Domestic (Water Supplies Disconnections)
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will meet the chairmen of the water authorities to discuss improvements to a code of conduct relating to the disconnection of domestic water supplies.

  Mr. Moynihan
  [holding answer 17 January 1989]: My right hon. Friend regularly meets the chairmen of the water authorities to discuss a number of issues. His officials are at present discussing with the water industry additional customer safeguards that might be inserted into the code of practice relating to the disconnection of domestic water supplies.

  Football Statistics
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if, pursuant to his answer on football statistics,Official Report, 19 December 1988, columns 55 to 60, he will show in similar tables the average arrests per match by division in conjunction with the average arrest figures for football clubs in the Professional Footballers Association community programme scheme.

  Mr. Moynihan
  [holding answer 13 January 1989]: The following information relates to Football League matches played in the 1987–88 season. The clubs listed are those which operated the PFA community programme scheme throughout that season.

  Average arrests per match

  Division 1

  Everton

  1·20

  Liverpool

  1·65

  For Division

  5·3

  Division 2

  Blackburn Rovers

  3·6

  Manchester City

  1·59

  Oldham Athletic

  0·86

  For Division

  4·2

  Division 3

  Blackpool

  1·6

  Bury

  0·2

  Chester City

  0·96

  Preston North End

  0·9

  Wigan Athletic

  0·17

  For Division

  1·5

  Division 4

  Bolton Wanderers

  0·9

  Burnley

  3·9

  Crewe Alexandra

  1·9

  Rochdale

  1·4

  For Division

  1·7

  Football Matches (Arrests)
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will obtain details from the Association of Chief Police Officers of the categories of offences under which people were arrested at football league matches in England during the 1987–88 season, and the numbers in each category.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 10 January 1989]: I have been asked to reply.

  This information is not collected from individual police forces by the Association of Chief Police Officers.

  Pollution
  Mr. Malcohn Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what figures he has for the volume of waste deposits dumped in internal waters behind the Oslo convention baselines in each of the last five years in the North sea.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I have been asked to reply.

  The amount of material dumped in internal waters behind the Oslo convention baselines in the North sea by the United Kingdom in the last five years for which figures are available, are as follows:

  465

  000 's tonnes

  Dredged spoil

  Colliery minestone

  1983

  7,391

  3,830

  1984

  10,371

  564

  1985

  16,791

  2,262

  1986

  12,429

  2,264

  1987

  13,029

  2,037

  466
  Comparable figures are not available for other North sea states as the Oslo convention does not yet include dumping in internal waters and there is therefore no common control and reporting procedure for such dumpings.

  The United Kingdom has been actively supporting proposals to extend the coverage of the Oslo convention to include internal waters and we hope that agreement on this will be reached soon.

  CHARITY COMMISSION: PART-TIME APPOINTMENTS
  CHARITY COMMISSION: PART-TIME APPOINTMENTS
  GREENHOUSE EFFECT: ELECTRICITY FROM COAL
  GREENHOUSE EFFECT: ELECTRICITY FROM COAL
  NUCLEAR FUSION: RESEARCH PROSPECTS
  NUCLEAR FUSION: RESEARCH PROSPECTS
  NUCLEAR FUSION: RESEARCH EXPENDITURE
  NUCLEAR FUSION: RESEARCH EXPENDITURE
  TRANSPORT SUBSIDIES: REGIONAL COMPARISONS
  TRANSPORT SUBSIDIES: REGIONAL COMPARISONS