Written Answers of 27 January 1989

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Higher Education
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many 18-year-old students have progressed into higher education in each of the last three academic years, giving figures in numerical and percentage terms and for each standard planning region.

  Mr. Jackson
  The information is not readily available in the form requested. The figures in the tables relate to all school leavers who intended to proceed to first degree study or teacher training.

  Table 1

  Numbers of school leavers intending to proceed to first degree study or teacher training

  Thousands

  Academic years

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  North

  3·6

  3·4

  3·5

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  6·1

  5·9

  5·8

  North West

  8·3

  8·4

  8·6

  East Midlands

  4·7

  4·3

  4·6

  West Midlands

  6·3

  6·4

  6·2

  East Anglia

  1·8

  1·9

  1·8

  Greater London

  6·8

  6·9

  5·8

  Other South East

  15·1

  13·9

  14·0

  South West

  5·2

  5·3

  5·1

  England

  57·7

  56·3

  55·4

  Table 2

  Numbers of school leavers intending to proceed to first degree study or teacher training as a percentage of all school leavers

  Percentages

  Academic years

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  North

  7·1

  7·1

  7·2

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  7·6

  7·3

  7·3

  North West

  7·9

  8·1

  8·3

  East Midlands

  7·3

  7·0

  7·5

  West Midlands

  7·2

  7·4

  7·2

  East Anglia

  6·1

  6·5

  6·3

  Greater London

  7·5

  7·9

  7·0

  Other South East

  9·4

  8·9

  8·9

  South West

  7·5

  8·0

  7·5

  England

  7·8

  7·8

  7·7

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

  Mr. Jackson
  The information is not available in the form requested. The figures in the tables relate to school leavers, irrespective of their year-group, who intended to proceed to a course of further or higher education.
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  Table 1

  Numbers of school leavers intending to proceed to a course of further or higher education

  Thousands

  Academic years

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  North

  10·9

  10·3

  11·2

  Yorks and Humberside

  18·8

  18·9

  18·5

  North West

  29·7

  29·7

  31·0

  East Midlands

  16·8

  16·7

  17·2

  West Midlands

  24·3

  24·5

  24·4

  East Anglia

  8·3

  8·0

  8·1

  Greater London

  25·8

  26·6

  25·6

  Other South East

  51·2

  49·6

  50·1

  South West

  22·9

  23·3

  23·0

  England

  208·7

  207·5

  209·1

  Table 2

  Numbers of school leavers intending to proceed to a course of further or higher education as a percentage of all school leavers

  Percentages

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  North

  21·7

  21·4

  23·1

  Yorks and Humberside

  23·4

  23·7

  23·3

  North West

  28·3

  28·5

  29·8

  East Midlands

  26·2

  27·3

  27·9

  West Midlands

  27·9

  28·3

  28·4

  East Anglia

  28·2

  27·5

  28·0

  Greater London

  28·4

  30·6

  30·7

  Other South East

  31·9

  31·8

  32·0

  South West

  33·4

  35·0

  34·1

  England

  28·3

  28·9

  29·2

  Teachers
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what has been done to rectify the shortcomings outlined by the interim advisory committee on teachers' pay and conditions of(a) statistical information on teachers numbers,(b) the numbers required in particular sectors, (c) areas of specialism and (d) teaching group sizes.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  On the provision of statistical information, the Department has commissioned the management consultants Logica to carry out a study of information requirements relating to teachers. My Department's evidence to the Education, Science and Arts Committee sets out tentative projections of future teacher demand by sector and specialism. It is for local education authorities and schools to decide on appropriate group sizes.

  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if the elements on which the desired numbers in service are calculated, which is quoted in annex E(V) of his Department's evidence presented to the Select Committee on Education, Science and Arts are the subject of any discussions with representatives of teaching unions.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  No.

  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans there are to provide guidance to local education authorities on class sizes and maximum class contact time for both primary and secondary teachers.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  None. These are matters for decision by schools and local education authorities themselves.

  Departmental Staff(Child Care)
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what child care provision his Department provides for pre-school age children of his Department's employees; what child care provision, for school holiday or after school care, is provided for employees' children aged five years and over; and what plans there are for increasing provision in the next five years; and how these are to be funded.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  My Department has no child care provision for pre-school age children belonging to its employees or after school care provision for children aged five years and over. The Westminster holiday play scheme, supported by this and other Departments, is available during each of the school holiday periods to employees' children aged between five and 12.

  The provision of creche facilities is currently under consideration in both the central London and Darlington offices. In London a questionnaire has been sent to all members of staff and the replies are being analysed. In Darlington similar demand investigations are taking place. If there is evidence that creche facilities would be used, they would be established on the basis that after the initial setting-up costs they should be generally self-financing.

  Inspectors' Annual Report
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he intends to publish the 1988 annual report by Her Majesty's inspectors on LEA provision for education and the quality of response in schools and colleges in England, 1987.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The report is to be an annual report on the education service in England from the senior chief inspector to me, based on a full year's work by HMI. The extent to which it deals with LEA provision is for the SCI to determine, on the basis of HMI findings. I understand that the report is being prepared and that it is well on the way to completion. I should, therefore, receive it from the SCI in the very near future and, when I do so, I will publish it.

TRANSPORT

  Ferries (Safety)
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Pembroke on 17 January, what action is taken by his Department to ensure that masters of ferries between Ireland and Great Britain do not permit the maximum number of passengers allowed for any voyage to be exceeded.

  Mr. Portillo
  For passenger ferries on routes between Great Britain and both Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic there is a statutory duty on owners to operate a boarding card system. The purpose of the cards is to ensure that the master has an accurate count of the total number of passengers on board for any voyage, and above all that the number does not exceed that on the passenger ship certificate. The operation of these arrangements is regularly checked on the spot by the Department's marine surveyors. It is an offence to breach the requirements of the boarding card regulations.

  Severn Bridge
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement concerning the accidents on and near the Severn bridge on 9 January and 18 January.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The prime reason for all the accidents on 18 January was that drivers were travelling too fast and too close to the vehicle in front, while paying scant regard to either the weather conditions (thick fog in the Severn valley with visibility down to 10 m) or the 30 mph advisory speed limit.

  The accidents clearly demonstrate the need for better driver behaviour in such conditions.

  On 19 January a car went through an emergency crossing point in the central reserve into the path of an oncoming heavy goods vehicle. The car driver was killed.

  There was severe congestion on the M4 on both ways. The motorway was closed between Almondsbury and Newhouse for several hours on 18 January.

  Malaysia and Singapore Air Carriers
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what steps he is taking to ensure that the Singapore and Malaysian Governments give fair treatment to British air carriers;

  (2) what steps he has taken to ensure that British air carriers do not face unfair competition from Malaysian and Singapore national air carriers;

  (3) when his Department last received a request from Singapore Airlines or Malaysian Airline System for greater access to British airports.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Requests from Singapore Airlines to operate additional frequencies to the United Kingdom were last discussed between United Kingdom and Singapore civil aviation officials at air services consultations held in London earlier this month. These consultations are expected to resume in March. Similar requests have been received from Malaysian Airline System in recent months and these requests are the subject of discussions between the airlines.

  In the current discussions with Singapore, and at such time as the Malaysian requests may be the subject of consultations at the Government level, I hope that it will be possible to agree on a broadly balanced expansion of the opportunities for the provision of air services by all the airlines concerned.

  Seat Belts
  Mr. Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ensure that the European Community directives on seat belts and seat belt anchorages make provision for seat belts in minibuses; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We have already secured amendment of the relevant directives to require seat belt fitment on all front seats and those not directly behind another seat. Our regulations implementing this apply to all minibuses and coaches registered on or after 1 October 1988.

  We are negotiating to extend the European Community directives to all other seats in minibuses and coaches with a view to this being adopted by 1992.
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  We strongly advise anyone buying a new minibus to specify fitment of good easy-to-use seat belts.

  Dartford Tunnel
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the total amount collected since the new method of coin collection was introduced for the Dartford tunnel.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  There has been no recent changes in the method of collecting tolls at the Dartfod tunnel. Toll income for the financial year 1987–88 was £21·133 million.

  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of the amount collected at the Dartford tunnel is attributed to administrative costs; and what are the comparable figures for other collection arrangements.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The annual accounts for the Dartford tunnel for the financial year 1987–88 show that toll collection costs were £1·073 million (5·1 per cent. of toll income). Comparable figures for other collection arrangements are not available.

  Channel Tunnel (London Terminal)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the implications for the central London rail study of a decision to locate the second London terminal for the Channel tunnel in(a) Stratford and (b) King's Cross.

  Mr. Portillo
  (holding answer 16 January 1989]: The study team has taken account in its work of major developments in London, including those associated with the Channel tunnel. British Rail has also considered the possible effect of the east-west crossrail proposal on the choice between King's Cross and Stratford.

  Further work will be done in the detailed studies of the options that my right hon. Friend announced on 26 January.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Judicial Appointments
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Attorney-General what steps are being taken by the Lord Chancellor to remedy the imbalance between the number of men and women appointed to judicial offices as disclosed in his answer to the hon. Member for Norwood,Official Report 22 December, columns 418–19.

  The Attorney-General
  The Lord Chancellor would like to appoint more women to judicial office and intends to do so as the opportunity offers. However, since his overriding policy is to appoint the best candidate to all available posts, the proportion of women judges will reflect broadly the proportion of women in the legal profession in the relevant age groups. Many more women have joined the legal profession in recent years, and, as they progress, the proportion of women judges is likely to increase.

  Women Barristers
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will estimate what percentage of women who have qualified as barristers have remained in the profession for more than four years in each of the years between 1978 and 1984.
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  The Attorney-General
  I understand from the general council of the Bar that this information is not available.

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will estimate what percentage of those qualifying as barristers in each of the years 1978 to 1988 were women.

  The Attorney-General
  I understand from the general council of the Bar that the percentage of those qualifying as barristers in each of the years 1978 to 1988 who were women is as follows:

  per cent.

  1977–78

  24

  1978–79

  23

  1979–80

  28

  1980–81

  27

  1981–82

  31

  1982–83

  30

  1983–84

  32

  1984–85

  30

  1985–86

  32

  1986–87

  37

  1987–88

  37

  Women Solicitors
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will estimate what percentage of women who have qualified as solicitors have remained in the profession for more than four years in each of the years 1978 to 1984.

  The Attorney-General
  I regret that I am unable to provide the information that is requested. However, I understand from the Law Society that a career structure survey conducted in 1987 indicated that 56 per cent. of those women who qualified as solicitors in 1977 remained in the profession full-time; 75 per cent. of women who qualified as solicitors in 1982 remained in the profession full-time.

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will estimate what percentage of those qualifying as solicitors in each of the years 1978 to 1988 were women.

  The Attorney-General
  I understand from the Law Society that the percentage of those qualifying as solicitors in each of the years 1978 to 1988 who were women is as follows:

  per cent.

  1978

  26

  1979

  27

  1980

  29

  1981

  31

  1982

  35

  1983

  37

  1984

  39

  1985

  41

  1986

  44

  1987

  45

  1988

  45

  Crown Prosecution Service
  Mr. Curry
  To ask the Attorney-General whether any changes will be made to the Crown Prosecution Service's cash limit and running costs limit for the year 1988–89.

  The Attorney-General
  Yes. The cash limit on class XI vote 10 (The Crown Prosecution Service: administration)
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  will be reduced by £18,373,000 from £111,873,000 to £93,500,000 and the running costs limit by £16,982,000 from £107,873,000 to £90,891,000. This is mainly due to a shortfall in the recruitment of staff.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Export Promotion Levy
  Mr. Steel
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the future of the export promotion levy, following representations from the woollen industry.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  I refer to the answer given to the hon. Member for Bradford, West (Mr. Madden) on 8 December 1988 at columns 262–63. I am still receiving representations about the future of the wool textile industry (export promotion) levy under the consultation process which is due to end on 31 January. I shall ensure that all views received will be taken carefully into account before a decision is taken on the future of this statutory levy.

  Remote Sensing Systems
  Mr. Warren
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he is taking to further the understanding of Her Majesty's Government of the value of space-based remote sensing systems.

  Mr. Atkins
  There is growing awareness within the United Kingdom (and within other European Governments) of the potential value, for a variety of public uses, of satellite-derived data. The Government are supporting the creation of the earth observation data centre at Farnborough which will play a significant role in processing such data for subsequent use in commercial and public sector applications.

  Car Mileage Meters
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what has been the number of prosecutions in each of the last three years for selling cars on which the car mileage meter has been altered.

  Mr. Forth
  The number of prosecutions under the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 for offences involving the alteration of car odometers, as notified to the Office of Fair Trading, are as follows:

  Year

  Number of prosecutions

  1986

  369

  1987

  401

  1988

  431

  Departmental Staff (Child Care)
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what child care provision his Department provides for pre-school age children of the Department's employees: what child care provision, for school holiday or after-school care, is provided for employees' children aged five years and over; and what plans there are for increasing provision in the next five years; and how these are to be funded.
  766
  Mr. Forth
  The Department of Trade and Industry is considering arrangements for workplace child care for pre-school age children.

  With other Departments, DTI is contributing pump-priming funds to a pilot play scheme in London for employees' children aged five to 12 years. Future provision will depend on the outcome of the London pilot scheme and on the other discussions. The expectation is that play schemes for children aged over five should become self-financing; nursery schemes might need a continuing subsidy from departmental funds.

  Renault
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the French Government's overriding of the European Commission's objections to the subsidies being given to Renault.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Commission is examining the issue and we shall be watching developments closely.

  National Engineering Laboratory (East Kilbride)
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has received a bid from the institute of technology, Cranfield, for the national engineering laboratory at East Kilbride.

  Mr. Forth
  A bid for the laboratory was submitted by Cranfield institute of technology to the Department on 21 July 1988.

  Security Interests
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if his Department has received the report on security interests in property other than land commissioned from Professor Al Diamond in December 1985.

  Mr. Maude
  Yes. The report is published today by Her Majesty's Stationery Office. I would like to record my Department's thanks for Professor Diamond's work.

  The terms of reference given to Professor Diamond were:

  (a) to examine the need to reform the law relating to mortgages and other interests in property other than land, including those arising from hire-purchase and sale with retention of title and in Scotland securities over moveables;

  (b) to consider the case for a single scheme of registration for such interests and in particular to consider the position of the registration of charges created by companies in the context of such a scheme.

  (c) to make recommendations as to the nature of any reforms required and as to how work in this area might best be carried forward.

  The report covers two separate issues. In parts I and II, it proposes a radical revision of the current law affecting security interests. The recommendations are numerous and cover complex issues where change would have significant implications for the raising of business finance. They need careful consideration in the light of views from those in business whose interests would be affected. I am therefore inviting comments on the proposals detailed in part II of the report by 1 September 1989.

  Part III of the report looks at the current system of registration of company charges and proposes a number of changes. Professor Diamond was able to make his

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  proposals in this area available to my Department on an interim basis. The proposal in the Companies Bill relating to the registration of company charges reflect a number of his recommendations.

  Copies of the report have been made available in both Houses.

  North Peckham Task Force
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will state the total Government expenditure required to secure the 4,000 jobs he specified in his answer to the hon. Member for Lancashire, West (Mr. Hind) 26 October,Official Report, column 289–90 and the basis upon which the figures given were calculated; and how many of the jobs were in the north Peckham task force area.

  Mr. Forth
  [holding answer 26 January 1989]: The information referred to was produced by consultants from

  Period of appointment

  Type of employment

  Duty undertaken

  D. I. Young (now Lord Young)

  19 May 1980 to 14 April 1982

  Part-time unpaid

  Special Adviser

  J. Sterling (now Sir Jeffrey Sterling)

  7 April 1982 to date

  Part-time unpaid

  Special Adviser

  S. Sherbourne

  5 July 1982 to 15 May 1983

  Full-time

  Political Adviser

  M. D. X. Portillo

  1 July 1983 to 14 October 1983

  Full-time

  Political Adviser

  M.J. Dobbs

  28 October 1983 to 3 September 1985

  Part-time secondee

  Political Adviser

  J.F.L. Whittingdale

  15 October 1984 to 20 May 1987

  Full-time

  Political Adviser

  H. James

  15 June 1987 to 25 September 1987

  Full-time secondee

  Political Adviser

  J. H. Hill

  15 June 1987 to 26 July 1988

  Full-time

  Political Adviser

  P. J. Luff

  28 September 1987 to date

  Full-time secondee

  Political Adviser

  C. Hendry

  1 September 1988 to date

  Full-time

  Political Adviser

  It is not appropriate to reveal the salaries of individual advisers as they are negotiated in relation to previous outside earnings and conditions and are therefore confidential. Duties are individually defined to provide support for DTI Ministers to carry out their policies.

  Uruguay Round
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will ask the EEC Council to discuss the Cairns group proposals for agriculture in the Uruguay round negotiations; and if he will list the main differences between these proposals and those put forward by the EEC.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I have been asked to reply.

  In preparation for and during the mid-term meeting of the Uruguay round in December, the Council discussed agriculture at length, taking account of all negotiating proposals, including those of the Cairns group. Both the EC and Cairns group proposals include long and short-term measures. For the long term, the Cairns group has proposed the elimination of trade-distorting policies. For the short term, it has proposed a freeze on, followed by reductions in, overall agricultural support and protection, with specific action on administered support prices, export subsidies and import barriers. The EC has proposed for the long term a significant reduction in (but
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  a survey aggregating all task force expenditure arid outputs. The breakdown requested is not available except at disproportionate cost.

  Ministerial Advisers
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the ministerial advisers appointed in his Department for each year since 1979, the salary each person received, whether paid directly or to another employer, and the duties undertaken, whether solely in his Department or in conjunction with other Departments; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  [pursuant to his reply, 16 January 1989, c. 16]: I am now able to reply to the hon. Member's question about the appointment of ministerial advisers to the Department of Trade and Industry since 1979.

  not elimination of) overall support and protection. For the short term it proposes a freeze and reductions, expressed in terms of an aggregate measure of support and protection, leaving Governments free to choose their own combination of policies to achieve an agreed reduction in aggregate support.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the cash limits for Northern Ireland departmental services and for the Northern Ireland Office for 1988–89.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The cash limit for Northern Ireland departmental services (NIDI) is being increased by £19·6 million for £2,479·3 million to £2,498·9 million. This incorporates the increases to provision announced previously (totaling £29·1 million) in respect of the 1988 Health Service pay review body awards. The cash limit increase is partly offset by savings elsewhere of £9£5 million. This increase will be charged to the reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.
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  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the 1988–89, cash limit for the Northern Ireland office-class XVIII, vote I-will be increased by £2,969,000 from £579,199,000 to £582,168,000 to cover increased requirements for expenditure on law, order, protective and miscellaneous services. Major components of the net increase are an additional provision of £3 million for the RUC, and an increased requirement to cover criminal damage and criminal injury compensation claims. These increases are partly offset by the NIO and Northern Ireland departmental expenditures, and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  The net effect of these changes on the NI public expenditure total (including NIDI, NIO and non cash limited NI departmental services) is an increase from the reserve of £29.1 million.

DEFENCE

  Territorial Army
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what checks are made upon those who subsequently join fascist organisations after enlistment to the Territorial Army; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neubert
  Whilst not wishing to generalise, any case of a volunteer admitting to membership (or being revealed as a member) of a fascist organisation would need to be investigated on its individual merits. I can assure the hon. Member that any such investigation would be carried out in the most thorough manner possible. Should it eventually be decided that the volunteer in question may continue in service, his, or her, performance will be subjected to the strictest scrutiny and supervision.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how frequently medical examinations are carried out on all Territorial Army members with access to weapons; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neubert
  In addition to undergoing pre-enlistment medical examinations, all members of the Territorial Army are subjected to further examinations within eight weeks of the following birthdays: 30, 35, 40, 43, 46, 48 and 50. Those volunteers continuing in service beyond age 50 must undergo annual checks.

  Armed Forces (Liability Exemption)
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is his policy with regard to immunity exemption from liability in respect of any injury suffered by a member of the armed forces while on duty or on land or premises being used for the purposes of the Crown;

  (2) when he last made use of powers given to him by section 10 of the Crown Proceedings Act 1947.

  Mr. Neubert
  Since the repeal of section 10 of the Crown Proceedings Act 1947 on 15 May 1987, it has been open to a member of the armed forces or his-her dependants to pursue a claim for damages in respect of injury, illness or death arising from incidents on or after 15 May 1987 which are believed to have been caused by the negligence of other members of the armed forces whilst on duty, or of the Ministry of Defence or the Crown. Claims in respect of death, injury or illness suffered before 15 May 770
  1987 remain barred by section 10 and the Secretary of State has no discretion to waive these provisions. Exceptionally, however, valid claims arising in respect of incidents between the date of announcement on 8 December 1986 of the intention to repeal section 10 and the actual date of repeal, are considered on an ex-gratia basis.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (I) if pilots of jet aircraft, other than Royal Air Force Jaguars, using the United Kingdom low flying system, are required to report to their commanding officers any use of reheat at heights below 1,000 ft;

  (2) if he will list the number of reported occasions on which military jet aircraft have used reheat in the United Kingdom low flying system at heights less than recommended in the United Kingdom military low flying handbook;

  (3) if pilots of Royal Air Force Jaguars using the United Kingdom low flying system are required to report to their commanding officers any use of reheat at heights below 500 ft.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 23 January 1989]: It is standard procedure for aircrew to debrief, normally to their authorising officer, on all aspects of a training sortie in order to confirm that the requirements of a sortie have been met. The debrief provides the opportunity for the aircrew to report any difficulties encountered during the sortie. Central records of occasions on which military jet aircraft have used reheat in the United Kingdom low flying system are not held.

  Low-flying Aircraft (Air Traffic Zones)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the conditions under which low-flying military aircraft may penetrate military air traffic zones during low-level training sorties.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 16 December 1988]: Low flying military aircraft are permitted to penetrate a military air traffic zone only with clearance from the controlling authority.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Firearms
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications by(a) established registered firearms dealers and (b) the holders of section one firearms' certificates have been refunded since 1 August 1987 to 31 December 1988 or to the latest available date; and how many in each of the categories were granted.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The latest information is published in tables 5 and I of Home Office statistical bulletin 33/88 "Statistics on the operation of the Firearms Act 1968, England and Wales 1987", a copy of which is in the Library.

  Rule 43
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were held under
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  rule 43 on the last date for which figures are available; and what change has there been in numbers since the introductions of fresh start.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Fresh start was implemented at most prison service establishments during the second half of 1987. On 30 June 1988 (the latest date for which figures are readily available) 2,011 adult male prisoners were segregated under prison rule 43 for their own protection. The number so segregated on 31 December 1987 was 1,814.

  Football Hooligans
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had with chief constables about football hooligans; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Home Office is in regular contact with the Association of Chief Police Officers about this matter. The association was represented on the Minister for Sport's working party and will continue to be involved in discussions on the implementation of the Football Spectators Bill.

  Football Clubs (Membership Scheme)
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his Department will maintain, or have access to, lists of football supporters after the introduction of the proposed identity card scheme.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The details of the national football membership scheme will be drawn up by the proposed football membership authority, which will be responsible for holding membership records. I do not envisage any need for my Department to have access or to replicate these records.

  Police Surgeons
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will order an inquiry into delays in the attendance of general practitioners employed as part-time police surgeons attending to victims of rape and violent crime.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  No. Police surgeons are appointed by police authorities and it is for each police authority and chief constable to ensure that suitable arrangements are made to secure the necessary coverage by police surgeons within the force area. If the hon. Member has a particular problem in mind, he should in the first instance take it up with the chief constable.

  Prison Kitchens
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South,Official Report, 15 November 1988, column 551, how his Department monitors the standard of prison kitchen inspections; whose advice is sought on whether or not they are at a standard equivalent to those carried out by local authority environmental health officers; who carries out the inspections of prison kitchens; what are their qualifications, experience and expertise in food hygiene; how frequent are inspections; in what circumstances the advice
  772
  of local authority officers is sought; how often advice has been sought; and in how many cases it was to take preventive action rather than to cope with a food poisoning or other problem.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Home Office health and safety officers and supply and transport branch headquarters catering managers carry out formal hygiene inspections of prison catering facilities. Each establishment receives at least an annual inspection by one of these officers. Some are inspected more regularly. All the inspecting officers have received appropriate training and hold the diploma in food hygiene of the Royal Institute of Public Health and Hygiene. All the inspecting catering managers have extensive knowledge and experience of the food hygiene problems associated with large-scale catering operations. The health and safety officers are specialist full-time personnel who have wide-ranging background training and experience in health and safety matters. Inspections are carried out to a predetermined format which ensures that all aspects of hygiene are checked and assessed.

  A number of random validation inspections are carried out by an environmental health officer from the Department of Health. These inspections assist in monitoring the efficacy of the main inspection arrangements. Local authority environmental health officers are called in to provide assistance and expertise in tracing the source of an outbreak of food poisoning. This recognises the need for additional special skills and experience under these circumstances. Prison medical officers are also authorised to seek their advice when it is considered to be appropriate.

  More generally, guidance has recently been issued to governors and medical officers encouraging them to establish a working relationship with local authority environmental health officers. This may include visits to prisons in an informal advisory capacity. Records of the number of visits by local authority officers to prisons, and the purposes of those visits, are not held centrally.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South,Official Report, 15 November 1988, column 551, what progress has been made regarding an improvement in the standards of the 13 of the 21 prison kitchens inspected by the Institution of Environmental Health Officers which had standards of hygiene so low as to warrant prosecution were it riot for Crown immunity.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  A further exchange of letters has taken place between the prison department and the Institution of Environmental Health Officers. Relevant background details of the institution's survey have not yet been released to the prison department. A considered response to the institution's survey will be made as soon as relevant background material is made available.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether food prepared in the normal prison kitchen is served in prison hospitals.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Yes.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current budget for maintaining and improving hygiene in prison kitchens; and what has been the budget in each of the last five years.
  773
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The cost of maintaining and improving hygiene in prison kitchens is subsumed within the total running costs of the prison service. It is not practicable to extract information on the level of funding dedicated specifically to hygiene in prison kitchens.

  Mr. Raoul Wallenberg
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report the letter and enclosure of 7 November 1988, sent by the hon. Member for Basildon to his Department regarding Mr. Raoul Wallenberg; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  I have placed a copy of the letter and enclosure by Professor Elie Wiesel in the Library, with a copy of my reply to which I have nothing to add.

  Food Poisoning (Prisons)
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many outbreaks of food poisoning in prisons have there been in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Six confirmed outbreaks of salmonella food poisoning have been reported and investigated since 1984. There have been no known cases of other outbreaks of food poisoning.

  Prison Hospitals
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are currently in prison hospitals; what proportion this is of the prison population; and how many suffer from(a) AIDS, (b) tuberculosis and (c) other serious long-term illnesses.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The number of prisoners in hospital is not known centrally. In the year ended 31 March 1988 the average daily number of patients in prison hospitals was 1,923 representing 3.9 per cent. of the average population for that year. The available information about the incidence of physical diseases of special interest in that yar is contained in appendix 5 to the report on the work of the prison service April 1987-March 1988 (Cm. 516). The only current figures available centrally relate to cases of HIV infection including AIDS. On 26 January 1989 the number of reported HIV antibody positive prisoners was 58. There was no reported case of AIDS.

  Prisons (Safety and Hygiene)
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information is required by his Department from prison governors regarding safety and hygiene in prisons.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Prison governors must provide a health and safety policy statement covering the entire establishment. This statement will be reviewed annually. Governors are also required to report the completion of an annual safety audit.

  In addition, action plans must be submitted in response to recommendations made following hygiene inspections of catering facilities and full health and safety inspections.

  Medical officers are required to submit six-monthly reports on health and hygiene standards throughout their establishment.

  Wormwood Scrubs
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make it his policy to commend the relevant staff of Wormwood Scrubs prison on their decision to invite the environmental health officer to inspect the prison hospital and on the decision to close it pending improvement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The decision to close a temporary in-patient facility at the prison was taken by the principal medical officer on 12 January, following environmental deterioration caused by defective sanitary installations in adjacent areas of the building. An environmental health officer visited the prison later that day at the request of the principal medical officer to see and advise on conditions in the affected accommodation. Both the closure action and the subsequent decision to seek the environmental health officer's advice are fully supported by the director of prison medical services. I gladly endorse his commendation of the principal medical officer for her prompt response to a situation which in her professional judgment had become unacceptable.

  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make funds available to ensure Wormwood Scrubs prison hospital is brought up to the standard necessary to reopen it.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Repairs have already been made to enable the hospital to reopen for out-patient use and contracts previously let for refurbishment at the prison incorporate upgrading of the hospital. The proposed longer-term redevelopment of Wormwood Scrubs includes the construction of a new hospital.

  Health Officers (Prisons)
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will advise all prison governors to invite an environmental health officer to inspect their premises.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Advice has recently been issued to all prison governors and medical officers encouraging them to liaise with local authority environmental health officers. The liaison may include informal visits to prisons by environmental health officers.

  HIV
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration has been given to making it a criminal offence for a person who knows that they are HIV positive to act in such a way that makes it possible that they will infect another.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given yesterday to my hon. Friend the Member for Warrington, South (Mr. Butler).

  Terrorist Organisations
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many citizens of other countries have each year since 1979 been denied entry into the United Kingdom or deported from the United Kingdom because of their suspected connection with terrorist organisations of other countries;
  775
  (2) if he will name those citizens of other countries who have been denied entry into the United Kingdom or deported from the United Kingdom because of their suspected connection with terrorist organisations of other countries.

  Mr. Renton
  The available information refers to the total number of exclusions under section 13(5) of the Immigration Act 1971 and to deportations under section 15(3) of the Act.

  Exclusion

  Deportation

  1979–83

  n/a

  Nil

  1984

  27

  21

  1985

  40

  17

  1986

  47

  25

  1987

  14

  5

  1988

  27

  1

  It is not our practice to give names of persons against whom action is taken under the Immigration Act or in matters of a security nature, although we are ready to confirm details of decisions which are already in the public domain.

  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy towards members of terrorists organisations or self-proclaimed liberation movements meeting and conspiring in the United Kingdom to further their objectives in their own countries.

  Mr. Hurd
  Any person legitimately in this country may engage in activities which are within the law. If there was clear evidence of a crime having been committed here by such a person either in the form of a substantive offence or a conspiracy to commit an offence elsewhere which gave rise to an offence under United Kingdom law, it would be a matter for the police to take action.

  In addition and when appropriate I would not hesitate to use my powers under the Immigration Act to exclude or deport from this country such a person whose presence here was considered to be not conducive to the public good.

  Terrorism
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (I) what definition of terrorism he uses in formulating his policy in response to terrorism;

  (2) what definition of the term international terrorism he uses in formulating his policy in response to terrorism.

  Mr. Hurd
  There is no internationally agreed definition of terrorism. For practical purposes we rest on the definition in the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1984 and in the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Bill currently before the House.

  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list those countries with which the United Kingdom has signed a formal agreement with regard to combating terrorism;

  (2) if he will list those countries with which the United Kingdom has come to an informal understanding with regard to combating terrorism;

  (3) if he will make a statement on the measures taken by the Government since 1979 to combat international terrorism; and what assessment he has made of the success of these measures;
  776
  (4) what further measures he proposes to take to combat international terrorism.

  Mr. Hurd
  We are totally committed to the fight against terrorism and to the need for international co-operation to prevent and combat it. We have taken, and will continue to take, an active role in the relevant international bodies, such as Trevi, to secure a common, firm policy about international terrorism and practical measures to deter and defeat the terrorist.

  The first aim of Governments must be to prevent acts of terrorism; if prevention fails, the aim must be to resolve incidents with the minimum loss of life and to bring terrorists to justice. Underlying this policy is the fundamental principle that there should be no substantive concessions to terrorists demands.

  We will continue to pursue this policy vigorously in multilateral fora and in our bilateral links with our Community partners and with other like-minded third countries who share our resolve and commitment on tills topic. In addition to multilateral agreements and co-operation, some countries like to have more formalised bilateral agreements to give additional political impetus to co-operation on the topic. I have signed such agreements with Morocco, Egypt and Italy.

  Vigilantes (Underground)
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has had any discussions with the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis on the independent establishment of vigilante groups on the London Underground; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  No. Policing the London Underground is the responsibility of the British Transport police. About 80 police officers from the Metropolitan and City of London police forces are to be loaned to the British Transport police L Division for the next 12 months. If the Guardian Angels or any other group act unlawfully or engage in conduct likely to provoke a breach of the peace, they cannot expect to be exempt from the ordinary processes of the law. But these would be operational issues for the police to consider.

  Emergency 88 Conference
  Mr. Gerald Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Institute of Civil Defence Emergency 88 conference held in London last November; and whether some financial support will be given towards the cost of this initiative.

  Mr. John Patten
  "Emergency 88" was a privately organised occasion, and it was made clear at the outset that support from official funds would not be available. That remains the position, but officials will continue to offer the organisers advice on how they might meet their costs.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intends to make any changes to the 1988–89 cash limits within his responsibilities and to his Department's running costs limit.

  Mr. Hurd
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the cash limit on class
  777
  XI, vote 2, prisons, England and Wales, will be increased by £109,100,000 from £801,578,000 to £910,678,000. This increase will be charged to the reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  The additional provision is necessary because of the rise in the prison population. The elements of the extra costs are the emergency package of measures which I announced in March last, the costs of additional prison staff recruited for extra accommodation coming into use in 1988–89, and the cost, in the meantime, of accommodating prisoners in police cells.

  The Home Office running cost limit will be increased by £21,296,000 from £807,799,000 to £829,095,000. This takes account of changes in provision on both class I, votes 2 and 3. The running cost provision in class XI, vote 2 will be increased by £23,300,000 from £594,658,000 to £617,958,000 which takes account of the surrender of £433,000 as a consequence of the overspend of the running cost limit for 1987–88. The running cost provision on class XI vote 3, central administration, miscellaneous and community services and civil defence, England and Wales will be reduced by:

  (a) £2,000,000 to offset partly the increase on class XI, vote 2.

  (b) £4,000 to reflect the Home Office's share of the costs of the recruitment under the direct entry Grade 7 competition for 1988 which will result in a corresponding increase in the running cost limit for the office of the Minister of the Civil Service, class XX, vote 1,

  from £213,141,000 to £211,137,000.

  On class XI, vote 3 on which token provision of £1,000 is being sought, there will be an overall reduction of £4,000 in the cash limit from £410,168,000 to £410,164,000 to reflect the transfer of costs for the direct entry grade 7 competition.

SCOTLAND

  Health Board Chairmen
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how he proposes to respond to the representations by health board chairmen on making their remuneration more equitable compared with that of the chairmen of health authorities in England.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. and learned Friend accepts that the remuneration of health board chairmen should be amended to reflect more adequately the extent of their responsibilities, particularly in comparison with the chairmen of health authorities in England. He has therefore decided on the following levels of remuneration for chairmen with effect from 1 April 1989.

  Health Board

  Remuneration

  Greater Glasgow

  17,709

  Lothian

  15,928

  Grampian

  14,148

  Tayside

  Lanarkshire

  12,368

  Argyll and Clyde

  Ayrshire and Arran

  10,310

  Fife

  Forth Valley

  Highland

  778

  Health Board

  Remuneration

  Borders

  Dumfries and

  8,243

  Galloway

  Orkney

  5,047

  Shetland

  Western Isles

  Common Services

  Agency

  9,810

  State Hospital

  9,494

WALES

  Floods
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table indicating the total expenditure by his Department on(a) flood prevention and (b) compensation or ex-gratia payments to persons or corporate bodies in Wales who have suffered the effects of floods.

  Mr. Grist
  The Department's expenditure, which is in the form of grant aid, is given in the table:

  Year

  Expenditure £

  1978–79

  1,158,266

  1979–80

  1,017,848

  1980–81

  3,099,315

  1981–82

  2,198,016

  1982–83

  2,870,039

  1983–84

  2,988,827

  1984–85

  2,109,302

  1985–86

  1,457,807

  1986–87

  833,782

  1987–88

  951,811

  With regard to compensation or ex-gratia payments for those affected by flooding, the answer is none.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the expenditure on flood prevention work for each district council area in Wales in each year since 1975.

  Mr. Grist
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  Hospital and Community Health
  Mr. Raffan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has now reached decisions about the allocation of resources for hospital and community health services in Wales for 1989–90; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  I announced on 21 December that,
  subject to parliamentary approval, I propose to provide
  £953 million in 1989–90 for the hospital and community health services in Wales. However, following a further review of other programme requirements, I am now pleased to amend the figure to £954.7 million. Excluding the costs of the artificial limb and appliance service (which is administered on my behalf by the Welsh health common services authority) £880.1 million will be provided for
  current purposes and £69.1 million for capital spending.
  779
  For current spending this represents a net cash increase of £44 million. With the estimated saving of £16.3 million from the reduction in the rate of employers' superannuation contribution from 7.5 to 4 per cent. and £10.5 million from new cost improvement programmes and increased receipts from income generation schemes, the total increase in resources over 1988–89 is 8.6 per cent. This is on top of the additional funding which has been provided for the recurrent effect of this year's review bodies awards.

  A total of £49.9 million will be available to health authorities for their discretionary use which represents a cash increase of 6.1 per cent. over this year's enhanced provision. £10.4 million will be allocated to centrally funded developments. These developments, which are as follows will considerably assist authorities in meeting future service requirements.

  £million

  Regional Services and Centrally Funded Developments

  2·8

  Psychiatric development, joint financing with local authorities and schemes to combat the misuse of drugs

  1·6

  Consultant Expansion Programme

  0·3

  Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening

  0·6

  AIDS

  0·4

  Revenue consequences of new capital development

  1·0

  Developments in information technology etc·

  0·8

  Waiting List Initiative

  0·9

  Project 2000

  0·4

  Other

  1·6

  10·4

  Of the capital provision, £39 million will be made available to health authorities for their discretionary use. This amounts to an increase of almost 32 per cent. over last year's capital allocations. The balance is required for the all-Wales capital programme, details of which will be announced in due course.

  Authorities will be able to retain the cash released through their cost improvement programmes and from income-generation schemes, and they will be able to retain the income raised from charges for private treatment. Authorities will also benefit from the retention of receipts from the sale of surplus land and buildings and this is expected to generate a further £3–9 million in 1989–90. In total, I will expect Welsh authorities to achieve additional savings, income and receipts amounting to at least 1.3 per cent. of their recurrent revenue allocations.

  The current and capital allocations to individual authorities will be as shown in the table. These allocations do not take into account further sums which will be made available following decisions to be made on centrally funded developments for the coming year. The capital allocations to health authorities are additional to the sums which I announced on 21 December as being available under my programme for the valleys initiative.

  Allocation (£ million)

  Current element

  Capital element

  Clwyd

  107·130

  6·915

  East Dyfed

  67·871

  1·967

  Pembrokeshire

  25·454

  1·963

  780

  Current element

  Capital element

  Gwent

  127·392

  7·308

  Gwynedd

  64·002

  11·741

  Mid Glamorgan

  149·704

  7·168

  Powys

  30·527

  1·589

  South Glamorgan

  172·722

  3·572

  West Glamorgan

  110·212

  6·732

  1 In addition Gwynedd health authority will receive a further sum of around £1 million (to be funded from the repayment of brokerage loans entered into by authorities in 1988–89) in recognition of the effect of the Ysbyty Gwynedd litigation settlement upon capital formula calculations. The precise amount will be determined in due course following discussions with the authority.

  These current and capital allocations provide for real increase in spending by health authorities after taking account of the level of inflation forecast by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Autumn Statement. They more than fulfil the resource planning assumptions which were issued to authorities last year.

  The current allocations, as in previous years, have been weighted in favour of those authorities which are shown by the latest revenue formula assessment to be furthest below their target shares of available revenue resources (which are based on the catchment populations for the services which they provide). As a result, eight of the nine district health authorities in Wales will be brought to within plus or minus 1 per cent. of their formula targets; and the range of difference between the best and least well provided authorities will be reduced to less than 4 per cent. by comparison with over 13 per cent. only three years ago. This demonstrates the progress which the Government have made in recent years in achieving greater equality of revenue provision between health authorities in Wales.

  The capital allocations have been determined in accordance with the first revise of the original capital formula assessment which includes an allowance for the progressive equalisation of capital stock between authorities. Copies of the revenue and capital formula assessments which have been used in determining these allocations will be placed in the Library of the House. Both formulae are currently under review by the joint Welsh Office/NHS resources allocation working group; and I look forward to receiving the working group's report, together with health authorities' comments on the group's recommendation during the course of the next few months.

  Welsh Language Teaching
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list by local education authority arid parliamentary constituency, the number and percentage of(a) primary and (b) secondary schools in Wales which currently provide Welsh tuition for some of their pupils;

  (2) if he will list by local education authority and parliamentary constituency, the number and percentage of (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in Wales which currently provide Welsh tuition for all their pupils.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  [holding answer 20 January 1989]: The information for each local education authority as at September 1987 is as follows:
  781

  The number and percentage of schools providing Welsh tuition

  Primary

  Secondary

  All pupils

  Some pupils

  All pupils1

  Some pupils

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Clwyd

  181

  71·8

  70

  27·8

  4

  12·1

  29

  87·9

  Dyfed

  262

  81·1

  31

  9·6

  10

  30·3

  21

  63·6

  Gwent

  —

  —

  6

  2·6

  —

  —

  10

  30·3

  Gwynedd

  197

  99·5

  —

  —

  21

  87·5

  3

  12·5

  Mid Glamorgan

  194

  62·2

  104

  33·3

  3

  7·1

  37

  88·1

  Powys

  72

  63·2

  39

  34·2

  1

  7·7

  12

  92·3

  South Glamorgan

  34

  21·9

  64

  41·3

  1

  3·6

  26

  92·9

  West Glamorgan

  77

  45·8

  80

  47·6

  3

  11·1

  24

  88·9

  1 Based on forms i-v only.

  The information by parliamentary constituency could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of(a) primary and (b) secondary schools in each Welsh local education authority provided Welsh tuition for (a) all their pupils and (b) some of their pupils in 1965, 1970, 1974, 1979 and 1985, respectively.

  The percentage of schools providing Welsh tuition

  Percentage

  1979

  1985

  Primary

  Secondary1

  Primary

  Secondary1

  All pupils

  Some pupils

  All pupils

  Some pupils

  All pupils

  Some pupils

  All pupils

  Some pupils

  Clwyd

  87·5

  12·5

  14·7

  82·4

  88·8

  10·4

  6·1

  87·9

  Dyfed

  8·23

  7·3

  20·0

  77·1

  83·9

  6·1

  29·4

  64·7

  Gwent

  —

  1·1

  —

  25·0

  —

  2·5

  —

  25·7

  Gwynedd

  99·0

  1·0

  57·1

  42·9

  99·0

  1·0

  87·5

  12·5

  Mid Glamorgan

  61·6

  28·1

  4·9

  90·2

  72·1

  19·2

  7·1

  88·1

  Powys

  46·6

  35·9

  —

  91·7

  65·0

  29·1

  —

  92·3

  South Glamorgan

  30·9

  36·5

  3·3

  86·7

  21·3

  40·0

  3·4

  86·2

  West Glamorgan

  40·9

  31·8

  3·8

  92·3

  46·5

  33·7

  11·1

  88·9

  1 Based on forms i-v only.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what estimates he has as to the number of teachers employed in each Welsh local education authority who are,(a) qualified to teach Welsh and (b) teach Welsh.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts [holding answer 20 January 1989]
  The information for each local education authority is as follows:

  Qualifications in Welsh held by teachers1

  Primary Schools

  2Secondary Schools3

  Clwyd

  484

  220

  Dyfed

  605

  258

  Gwent

  39

  34

  Gwynedd

  626

  331

  Mid Glamorgan

  N/A

  246

  Powys

  104

  60

  South Glamorgan

  138

  113

  West Glamorgan

  342

  170

  1 Any post A level qualification with Welsh as the main or subsidiary subject of study.

  2 As at Spring term, 1987.

  3 As at Spring term, 1984.

  Secondary School teachers teaching Welsh1

  Numbers

  Clwyd

  180

  Dyfed

  232

  Gwent

  25

  Gwynedd

  289

  Mid Glamorgan

  167

  Powys

  71

  South Glamorgan

  81

  West Glamorgan

  117

  Mr. Wyn Roberts [holding answer 20 January 19891
  Information in respect of 1965, 1970 and 1974 is not available centrally. The information in respect of 1979 and 1985 is as follows:

  1 As at spring term, 1984.

  Information on teachers teaching Welsh in primary schools is not available in the form requested.

  National Museum of Wales
  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will publish in the Official Report the attendance figures for 1988 reported by the National Museum of Wales, including its outstations, with the percentage change on the attendance figures for 1987.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  [pursuant to his reply, 21 December 1988, c. 294]: A total of 838,820 people visited the National Museum of Wales during 1988–19 per cent. less than in 1987-but this reflected the immense success of the dinosaur exhibition in 1987. The 1988 figures show an 18 per cent. increase on 1986.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Mortgage Interest Tax Relief
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated full-year revenue effect of applying mortgage interest tax relief to the residence rather than the individual; and what is the estimated effect on the mortgage interest tax relief ceiling if the change is revenue neutral in 1988–89 and 1989–90.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  For loans taken out from 1 August 1988, mortgage interest tax relief is limited to the interest on £30,000 per residence regardless of the number 782

  783
  of borrowers. Estimates of the yield arising from this measure were given in table 4.1 of the 1988–89 Financial Statement and Budget Report. The direct revenue cost of an increase of £1,000 in the ceiling for mortgage interest relief would exceed the yield from this measure.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing by range of income estimates for 1988–89 and 1989–90 the number of tax units receiving mortgage interest tax relief, the average value per mortgagor and the total cost of the relief.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Latest estimates for 1988–89 are given in the table. These are based on projections to 1988–89 of information in the 1986–87 survey of personal incomes and the 1986 family expenditure survey and are provisional. The estimates include mortgages formerly under the option mortgage sheme which are now subsumed within MIRAS. The estimate of the cost of mortgage interest relief in 1988–89 takes account of the recently announced increases in the mortgage interest rate. It would be premature to provide estimates for 1989–90, since the cost of the relief will depend on the amounts of mortgage lending, interest rates and the 1989–90 income tax rates arid bands.

  Tax units1 receiving mortgage interest relief by range of total income 1988–89

  Range of total income

  Numbers receiving mortgage interest relief (Thousands)

  Average value of relief to mortgagor (£)

  Total cost of relief (£ million)

  Under £5,000

  690

  400

  270

  £ 5,000 to £10,000

  1,830

  510

  930

  £10,000 to £15,000

  2,530

  560

  1,410

  £15,000 to £20,000

  1,740

  590

  1,020

  £20,000 to £25,000

  1,040

  650

  670

  £25,000 to £30,000

  480

  810

  390

  Over £30,000

  790

  1,020

  810

  Total

  9,100

  600

  5,500

  1 Single persons and married couples.

  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases of multiple mortgage interest relief at source claims have been detected in each year since the inception of the scheme; and what amounts of money were involved.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  It is tentatively estimated that about 500,000 single people are involved in multiple borrower mortgages. Figures on the total size of these loans are not available.

  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amounts of money on(a) a national and (b) a regional basis have been paid in mortgage interest relief at source in each of the last five years and in respect of what number of properties and persons.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the annual cost to the Treasury of mortgage interest tax relief; and if he will publish a table breaking down this figure by county and by region.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 23 January 1989]: The table shows the latest estimates of the cost of mortgage interest relief in the United Kingdom—
  784
  including relief given outside the MIRAS system-and the number of tax units benefiting from this relief in each of the years 1984–85 to 1988–89. It is tentatively estimated that about 500,000 single people are involved in multiple borrower mortgages in respect of around 250,000 properties.

  Cost of mortgage interest relief(£ million)

  Number of tax1 units with mortgage interest relief(thousands)

  1984–85

  3,580

  7,800

  1985–86

  4,750

  8,100

  1986–87

  4,670

  8,450

  1987–88

  24,800

  28,750

  1988–89

  15,500

  29,100

  1 Singles and married couples.

  2 Provisional.

  Following the introduction of MIRAS in April 1983, regional information on the cost of mortgage interest relief cannot be extracted from Inland Revenue records. The regional distribution can be estimated from the family expenditure survey (FES) but, as the sample size for the FES is relatively small, it is not possible to provide robust estimates of regional trends for the period after 1982–83. Accordingly the table provides an estimate of the regional distribution of mortgage interest relief based on FES data from 1984 to 1986. Information on the distribution of relief by county is not available.

  Regional share of mortgage interest relief based on FES data for 1984 to 1986

  Percentage

  Northern

  3·8

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  7·2

  North West

  9·3

  East Midlands

  6·3

  West Midlands

  7·8

  East Anglia

  3·5

  Greater London

  14·1

  Other South East

  26·6

  South West

  8·5

  Wales

  4·2

  Scotland

  7·4

  Northern Ireland

  1·3

  United Kingdom

  100·0

  Taxation
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which categories of individuals and families are paying a higher real level of total taxation now than in 1979.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  People with the same level of real income as in 1978–79 will pay a lower proportion of their income in tax than in 1978–79 at all levels of income arid for all household types for which estimates can be made.

  Tax Collection Costs
  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost of administering the tax collection system in 1978–79 and 1987–88, in 1978–79 prices.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The current expenditure costs incurred by Inland Revenue and Her Majesty's Customs and Excise on administering taxes were £524 million in 1978–79 and £566 million in 1987–88 (in 1978–79 prices, deflated by the GDP deflator).
  785
  The figure for 1978–79 includes a high degree of estimation because part of the comparable expenditure was at that time borne on the votes of the PSA and the HMSO. In addition, both figures have been adjusted to exclude the estimated costs of activities which had no direct impact on the taxes collected during the two years; for example, the costs of the Inland Revenue's valuation office, except in so far as it provides valuations for tax purposes, and non-revenue work undertaken by Customs and Excise such as prevention of drugs smuggling.

  Composite Tax Rate
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of composite rate tax revenue comes from non-taxpayers who are(a) male, aged above 65 years and (b) female, aged above 60 years.

  Inland Revenue receipts (current prices)

  (£ billion)

  Five year average

  Total revenue

  Income tax

  Corporation tax

  Capital gains tax

  Capital transfer tax (Inheritance tax)

  Stamp duties

  Petroleum revenue tax

  Other receipts

  1963–64 to 1967–68

  4·6

  3·3

  0·5

  0·0

  —

  0·0

  —

  0·4

  1968–69 to 1972–73

  8·1

  5·6

  1·5

  0·1

  —

  0·1

  —

  0·7

  1973–74 to 1977–78

  17·1

  13·4

  2·6

  0·4

  0·1

  0·3

  —

  0·4

  1978–79 to 1982–83

  33·9

  24·5

  4·8

  0·5

  0·4

  0·7

  1·9

  0·6

  1983–84 to 1987–88

  54·6

  35·8

  10·9

  1·0

  0·8

  1·5

  4·6

  0·0

  Customs and Excise receipts (current prices1)

  ( £ billion)

  Five year average

  Total revenue

  VAT (Purchase tax)

  Car tax

  Hydro-carbon oil

  Tobacco

  Alcohol duties

  Other receipts

  1963–64 to 1967–68

  3·5

  0·6

  —

  0·8

  1·0

  0·6

  0·4

  1968–69 to 1972–73

  5·1

  1·2

  —

  1·4

  1·1

  0·9

  0·5

  1973–74 to 1977–78

  9·2

  3·2

  0·1

  1·8

  1·6

  1·6

  0·9

  1978–79 to 1982–83

  21·4

  9·9

  0·5

  3·8

  2·9

  3·0

  1·6

  1983–84 to 1987–88

  38·0

  19·7

  0·9

  6·7

  4·4

  4·6

  2·2

  1 Prices prevailing at the time.

  Other tax receipts (current prices1)

  (£ billion)

  Five year average

  Vehicle Excise duty

  National Insurance contributions

  1963–64 to 1967–68

  0·2

  1·7

  1968–69 to 1972–73

  0·4

  2·7

  1973–74 to 1977–78

  0·8

  7·1

  1978–79 to 1982–83

  1·4

  14·4

  1983–84 to 1987–88

  2·4

  24·9

  1 Prices prevailing at the time.

  Inland Revenue receipts as a percentage of gross domestic product

  (Percentage of gross domestic product)

  Five year average

  Total revenue

  Income tax

  Corporation tax

  Capital gains tax

  Capital transfer tax (Inheritance tax)

  Stamp duties

  Petroleum revenue tax

  Other receipts

  1963–64 to 1967–68

  12·7

  10·6

  1·2

  0·0

  —

  0·0

  —

  1·2

  1968–69 to 1972–73

  15·0

  10·2

  2·8

  0·0

  —

  0·0

  —

  1·2

  1973–74 to 1977–78

  15·4

  12·1

  2·4

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  —

  0·4

  1978–79 to 1982–83

  14·6

  10·6

  2·1

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·1

  0·2

  1983–84 to 1987–88

  15·1

  9·9

  3·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  1·3

  0·0

  786
  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I regret that information is not available in the form requested. Provisional results of a survey carried out in respect of 1986–87 provide some information related to age. It is estimated that between 8 and 9 per cent. of the composite rate tax then accounted for by savings institutions was due in respect of interest credited to recipients of age allowance (available where claimant or spouse is over 65) who would not have been liable to tax in the absence of a composite rate system.

  Tax Revenue
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the total revenue from all types of taxation in cash terms, nominal terms, and as a percentage of gross domestic product for each period of five years since 1959.

  Mr. Major
  The available information is as follows:
  787

  Customs and Excise receipts as a percentage of gross domestic product

  (Percentage of gross domestic product)

  Five year average

  Total revenue

  VAT (Purchase tax)

  Car tax

  Hydro-carbon oil

  Tobacco

  Alcohol duties

  Other receipts

  1963–64 to 1967–68

  9·7

  1·8

  —

  2·1

  2·7

  1·7

  1·0

  1968–69 to 1972–73

  9·3

  2·3

  —

  2·5

  2·1

  1·7

  0·9

  1973–74 to 1977–78

  8·3

  2·8

  0·1

  1·7

  1·4

  1·4

  0·8

  1978–79 to 1983–84

  9·2

  4·3

  0·2

  1·6

  1·3

  1·3

  0·7

  1983–84 to 1987–88

  10·5

  5·4

  0·2

  1·8

  1·2

  1·3

  0·6

  Other tax receipts as a percentage of gross domestic product

  (Percentage of gross domestic product)

  Five year average

  Vehicle Excise duty

  National Insurance contributions

  1963–64 to 1967–68

  0·6

  4·5

  1968–69 to 1972–73

  0·8

  5·0

  1973–74 to 1977–78

  0·7

  6·3

  1978–79 to 1983–84

  0·6

  6·2

  1983–84 to 1987–88

  0·7

  6·9

  Inland Revenue receipts in real terms (1987–88 prices)

  (£ billion 1987–88 prices)

  Five year average

  Total revenue

  Income tax

  Corporation tax

  Capital gains tax

  Capital transfer tax (Inheritance tax)

  Stamp duties

  Petroleum revenue tax

  Other receipts

  1963–64 to 1967–68

  33·2

  25·7

  3·2

  0·0

  —

  0·6

  —

  3·1

  1968–69 to 1972–73

  44·3

  30·5

  8·4

  0·7

  —

  0·8

  —

  3·7

  1973–74 to 1977–78

  51·3

  40·1

  7·9

  1·1

  0·3

  0·8

  —

  1·1

  1978–79 to 1982–83

  51·8

  37·6

  7·3

  0·8

  0·7

  1·0

  2·9

  0·8

  1983–84 to 1987–88

  60·0

  39·1

  11·9

  1·0

  0·9

  1·7

  5·0

  0·0

  Customs and Excise receipts in real terms (1987–88 prices)

  (£ billion 1987–88 prices)

  Five year average

  Total revenue

  VAT (Purchase tax)

  Car tax

  Hydro-carbon oil

  Tobacco

  Alcohol duties

  Other receipts

  1963–64 to 1967–68

  25·1

  4·7

  —

  5·6

  7·1

  4·5

  2·6

  1968–69 to 1972–73

  27·7

  6·7

  —

  7·4

  6·2

  5·1

  2·6

  1973–74 to 1977–78

  27·6

  9·5

  0·5

  5·5

  4·8

  4·7

  2·7

  1978–79 to 1982–83

  32·8

  15·2

  0·8

  5·8

  4·5

  4·6

  2·4

  1983–84 to 1987–88

  41·6

  21·6

  0·9

  7·3

  4·8

  5·1

  2·4

  Other tax receipts in real terms (1987–88 prices)

  (£ billion 1987–88 prices)

  Five year average

  Vehicle Excise duty

  National Insurance contributions

  1963–64 to 1967–68

  1·6

  12·0

  1968–69 to 1972–73

  2·4

  14·9

  1973–74 to 1977–78

  2·3

  21·1

  1978–79 to 1982–83

  2·2

  22·0

  1983–84 to 1987–88

  2·6

  27·2

  Source: CSO, Financial Statistics, Economic Trends.

  Tax and National Insurance Revenue
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the overall revenue from

  Total revenue from taxation plus national insurance contributions in current prices, real terms and as a percentage of GDP

  Five year averages £ billion

  Total taxes and NICs (current prices1)

  Total taxes and NICs in real terms (1987–88 prices)

  Total taxes and NICs as a per cent. of GDP

  1963–64 to 1967–68

  11·4

  81·1

  31·1

  1968–69 to 1972–73

  19·0

  103·9

  34·9

  1973–74 to 1977–78

  39·1

  117·1

  35·2

  788
  taxation plus national insurance contribution in cash terms, real terms, and as a percentage of gross domestic product for each period of five years since 1959.

  Mr. Major
  The available information is as follows:
  789

  Five year averages £billion

  Total taxes and NICs (current prices1)

  Total taxes and NICs in real terms (1987–88 prices)

  Total taxes and NICs as a per cent. of GDP

  1978–79 to 1982–83

  86·0

  131·7

  37·0

  1983–84 to 1987–88

  139·2

  152·2

  38·4

  1 prices prevailing at the time.

  Source: CSO, Financial Statistics Economic Trends.

  Government Investment
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been general Government investment in cash terms, real terms and as a percentage of gross domestic product for each period of five years since 1959.

  Mr. Major
  Information, as available, based on national accounts data, is as follows. Figures are given on

  General Government

  £million

  General Government

  Expenditure on fixed assets(1)

  GDFCF(2)

  GDFCF at 1985 prices (3)

  'investment' as a percentage of GDP (A)

  1(4)

  1(5)

  1959–63

  4,763

  4,763

  2—

  3·5

  3·5

  1964–68

  8,742

  8,742

  51,201

  4·6

  4·6

  1969–73

  13,928

  13,695

  59,320

  4·7

  4·6

  1974–78

  25,211

  24,272

  49,216

  4–0

  3·9

  1979–83

  33,654

  25,244

  28,485

  2·7

  2·0

  1984–873

  37,167

  26,940

  26,885

  2·5

  1·8

  1 Col (4) is col (1) as percentage of GDP (A) at market prices
  Col (5) is col (2) as percentage of GDP (A) at market prices

  2 Not available

  3 Four-year period

  PAYE (Computerisation)
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes have been made by the Inland Revenue in the proposed method of computerising pay-as-you-earn following recent changes in taxation or related matters; whether the original plans are still expected to achieve the cost/benefits anticipated; and what is the expenditure of public funds involved.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 25 January 1989]: The Inland Revenue's computer system for PAYE was designed in such a way as to be able to handle changes of the kind that have been made in the personal tax system with the minimum of adaptation. The computer system will, in particular, make it possible to introduce independent taxation in 1990 after some necessary systems and re-progamming work. The existing PAYE and schedule D computerisation project is still expected to produce staff savings of some 6,800, of which some 5,800 will have been secured by April 1989 and the bulk of the remainder by April 1990. The estimated total cost of developing and installing the system is about £340 million in 1987 prices. The system is already producing estimated savings of over £15 million in the current financial year and this figure is expected to be more than doubled in 1989–90.

  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made on the computerisation of pay-as-you-earn by the Inland Revenue; what is the starting date for phase two relating to schedule D and corporation tax; what delays have been experienced; and what has been the cost in relation to staff time and consultants' fees.
  790
  two bases—expenditure on fixed assets, and the conventional national accounts measure of gross domestic fixed capital information (GDFCF). GDFCF is defined as expenditure on fixed assets minus sales of fixed assets. Constant price estimates of expenditure on fixed assets are not readily available.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 25 January 1989]The computerisation of PAYE was completed as planned in October 1988 with the conversion of centre I at East Kilbride to the new on-line system. The computerisation of schedule D assessing is already operating over most of the country and is on schedule for completion in Scotland by April 1989. The precise timetable for introducing the new system for corporation tax is dependent on the new computerised collection and accounting system, phased implementation of which is planned to begin in 1990. Staff time associated with system development and implementation of the PAYE and schedule D projects amounted to some 6,000 man years and around £24 million at 1987 prices in consultants fees.

  Capital Gains Tax
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has about the rate of capital gains tax levied on unquoted investments in each of the Group of Seven countries.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 24 January 1989]: The information requested is given in the table, which is supplemented by notes. The rates quoted relate to capital gains on the sale of investments in general since there is no evidence available to suggest that the countries listed distinguish between gains on quoted and unquoted investments.

  Country

  Nominal rates of tax on gains of

  Individuals

  Companies

  Canada1 2 3

  17–29 per cent.plus provincial tax

  28 per cent.plus provincial tax

  France4 5

  16 per cent.or 5–56·8 per cent.

  15 per cent.or 42 per cent.

  Germany6

  22–56 per cent.

  56 per cent.

  791

  Country

  Nominal rates of tax on gains of

  Individuals

  Companies

  Italy7 8 9

  12–62 per cent.plus 16·2 per cent.local tax

  36 per cent.plus 16.2 per cent.local tax

  Japan10

  10·5–60 per cent.plus inhabitants tax (5–16 per cent.)

  42 per cent.plus inhabitants tax (17·3–20·7 per cent.)

  United Kingdom11

  25 and 40 per cent.

  25 and 35 per cent.

  USA12

  15 and 28 per cent.plus state tax

  15–34 per cent.plus state tax

  1In Canada, two thirds (three-quarters from 1990) of the post-1971 gains are included in the individual's or company's income and taxed at the appropriate income tax rates.

  2 Provincial rates of tax vary. The rate in Ontario (the most populous province) is 52 per cent. of federal tax for individuals and 10–15·5 per cent. of gains for corporations.

  3An individual may claim a deduction equal to taxable capital gains up to a cumulative life-time maximum of $250,000 (£117,370 at latest available purchasing power parities (ppp) rate).

  4In France the reduced rate of 16 per cent. applies if sale takes place more than two years after acquisition and if the shares constitute a substantial interest in a resident or non-resident company (ie where the shareholder has held more than 25 per cent. of the company's share capital at any time during the preceding five years).

  5The reduced rate of 15 per cent. applies to long-term gains of companies, provided the net balance is allocated to a "special long-term gain reserve".

  6In Germany the gains of individuals are subject to income tax if the securities were held as business assets or if they are sold less than six months after acquisition. Gains amounting to less than DM 1,000 (£274 at latest ppp rate) are not taxable.

  7In Italy gains of individuals are subject to tax only if the shares were held as business assets or are sold within five years of acquisition and, in the case of unquoted companies, exceed 10 per cent. of the company's capital.

  8In Italy corporate gains are not taxed if they are allocated to a special reserve and are re-invested within two years.

  9In Italy local tax is deductible when calculating national income tax. The effective rates, including the local tax, are 46·4 per cent. for corporations and 26·2–68 per cent. for individuals.

  10In Japan gains by individuals are only taxable if deemed business transactions They are subject to a deduction of 500,000 yen (£1,423).

  11In the United Kingdom the charge is confined to post-1982 indexed gains. Individuals are exempt from tax on gains not exceeding £5,000.

  12 In the USA most states impose a state tax on both individuals and corporations. For example in California (the most populous state) the maximum state tax of 9·3 per cent. produces an effective maximum rate of approximately 34 per cent. for individuals and 40 per cent. for companies.

  Mr. Viraj Mendis
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has as to any income tax payments made by Mr. Viraj Mendis since 1973.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 24 January 1989]: Such information is confidential.

  Corporation Tax
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the cost of abolishing mainstream corporation tax in 1989–90 and 1990–91, and of maintaining the rate of corporation tax at the rate of advanced corporation tax.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 23 January 1989]: The revenue cost of reducing the main rate of corporation tax to 25 per cent. would depend on the level of taxable profits earned in future years and on companies' behavioural response to the change. The rate of
  792
  corporation tax applicable to company incomes in the year from 1 April 1988 was set at 35 per cent. in the 1988 Finance Act. Had the rate been set at 25 per cent. and taking the level of income in the year as given, it is estimated that receipts would be about £4¼ billion lower in 1989–90 and £6½ billion lower in 1990–91. The revenue cost of abolishing mainstream corporation tax so that tax would be charged only on company distributions by way of advance corporation tax would be considerably more than this.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Turkey (Torture)
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise with the Turkish Government the Amnesty International reports on torture in that country; and if he will press the Turkish authorities to grant all prisoners immediate access to lawyers, doctors and relatives.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My right hon. Friend the Minister of State raised Amnesty International's allegations of human rights abuse with the Turkish ambassador on 12 December. We continue to urge the Turkish Government to maintain the recent improvements in human rights, and to live up to internationally accepted standards concerning the treatment of prisoners.

  Departmental Staff (Child Care)
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what child care provision his Department provides for pre-school age children of his Department's employees; what child care provision for school holiday or after school care, is provided for employees' children aged five years and over; and what plans there are for increasing provision in the next five years; and how these are to be funded.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Children of school age of employees in the diplomatic and aid wings of the FCO have been registered to take part in play schemes to be run in Westminster during school holidays in 1989 beginning in February. Both wings will contribute to the setting up fund for the scheme.

  A study will shortly be made into the demand for and feasibility of providing permanent creche facilities for younger children of FCO-ODA staff in the Whitehall area. This study will include options for funding.

  Child care provision at other locations is also being considered.

  US Senate (Reports)
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will seek to obtain the hearings and reports from the United States Senate on Senate Bill 158 of the 97th Congress, session one; if he will place any such hearings and reports in the Library; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will seek to obtain the hearings and reports from the United States Senate on Senate joint resolution 110 of the 97th Congress, session one; if he will place any such hearings and reports in the Library; and if he will make a statement.
  793
  Mr. Waldegrave
  Her Majesty's embassy in Washington is looking into the possibility of obtaining these documents, and I shall write to my hon. Friend in due course.

  Helsinki Final Act
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress in the implementation by the Soviet and Eastern European countries on the provision of the Helsinki final act during the last six months.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We have recently prepared a report on Soviet and East European implementation of their CSCE commitments for the period July to December 1988. Copies will be deposited in the Library of the House.

  Caribbean (Drug Trafficking)
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress Her Majesty's Government are making in assisting dependent territories to combat drug trafficking in the Caribbean.

  Mr. Eggar
  Following the review, which HMG conducted in 1986 in the British dependent territories of the Caribbean a number of steps have been taken to help the local Governments combat drugs and narcotics trafficking. We have provided a police launch for the British Virgin Islands and a drugs surveillance aircraft between the Turks and Caicos Islands and British Virgin Islands, built safe repositories for seized drugs, and supplied sniffer dogs for local police and customs forces. Local drugs squads have been established and strengthened with United Kingdom personnel, and advisers have been appointed to carry out drug awareness customs training courses. Drugs intelligence gathering systems are being set up throughout the territories.

  Particular emphasis has been placed on the introduction or strengthening of appropriate legislation. All the Caribbean dependent territories are in the process of passing legislation akin to the United Kingdom's Drugs Trafficking Offences Act.

  The total value of this assistance to date is over £¾million. Further aid in the pipeline will provide more launches and rummage equipment for the customs services.

  These efforts have already yielded success. On 9 January the BVI drugs squad, in a joint operation with the United States Drugs Enforcement Agency seized 150 kg of cocaine, $60,000, three boats and arrested 18 persons on drugs trafficking charges. Earlier last year the same squad acting independently seized 470 kg, one aircraft and arrested two persons in one operation.

  Drugs trafficking is an international problem which requires an international effort, and HMG are determined to ensure that none of their dependent territories become the weak link in the chain.

ENVIRONMENT

  Water Purification
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent regulations or recommendations have been made in respect of the nature of soaps and 794
  detergents and their effects on the efficacy of water purification works; what current investigations are being made into this topic; and if he is contemplating further advice or regulation.

  Mr. Moynihan
  There have been no recent regulations or recommendations in respect of the nature of soaps and detergents and their effects on the efficacy of waste purification works, and my Department is not currently contemplating any action in this area.

  Water Pollution
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will inquire into the cause of the escape into public waters of a considerable quantity of uranyl nitrate, suspension of uranium, from the Springfields plant of British Nuclear Fuels plc; and if he will make a statement as to its possible effects and remedies.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The circumstances surrounding this occurence are currently under investigation by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution of my Department and the nuclear installations inspectorate of the Health and Safety Executive. Initial investigations have shown that a relatively small amount of uranium was released to the site foul drain which discharges to the local sewage works. Results from on-site monitoring and analysis of samples from the sewage sludge have shown levels of radioactivity to be below normal background levels and radiologically insignificant.

  Local Authorities (Company Interests)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many organisations commented on the Government's consultation paper on local authorities' interests in companies, published in June 1988; whether he will list the names of the organisations that submitted comments; when the Government expect to publish their response to these comments; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Over 200 responses have been received to the consultation paper. We propose to publish a summary of the points made in the responses shortly, with the Government's comments on them. We shall include a list of those who submitted responses.

  Inner London Education Authority
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will direct the chair of the London residuary body to provide adequate, heated accommodation for the county hall-based employees of the Inner London education authority prior to that body's wind-up.

  Mr. Virginia Bottomley
  No. The day-to-day running of county hall is a matter for the London residuary body.

  Water Authorities (Chairmen)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what remuneration is made to the chairs of water authorities.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The annual salaries of the chairmen of the regional water authorities in England are as follows:
  795

  Authority

  Remunerations

  £

  Anglian

  40,800

  Northumbrian

  28,500

  North West

  45,600

  Severn-Trent

  45,600

  Southern

  40,800

  South West

  47,500

  Thames

  45,600

  Wessex

  38,000

  Yorkshire

  51,000

  These salaries reflect the chairmen's differing time inputs as well as other factors.

  Chairmen and executive members are also eligible for annual bonuses if their authorities achieve or exceed the performance targets set out for them by the Government. Details of the bonuses paid to chairmen in respect of the financial year 1987–88 were given by my right hon. Friend, in reply to a question from the hon. Member for Copeland (Dr. Cunningham) on 12 January at column 742.

  Planning (London)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to respond to the advice on strategic planning guidance in London submitted to him by the London planning advisory committee; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  My right hon. Friend is preparing strategic planning guidance for London which will be published in draft for consultation in the near future. The draft guidance will take into account the advice submitted to my right hon. Friend by the London planning advisory committee.

  Greater London Council
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the bodies now carrying out the functions previously carried out by the Greater London council.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The destinations of functions formerly carried out by the GLC were set out in my Department's circular 8/86. A copy is available in the Library. Of these functions which passed from the GLC to the London residuary body, Thamesmead has been sold to Thamesmead Town, and Seaside and Country Homes to the North British housing association.

  County Hall, London
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the reasons for the delay in announcing the completion of the contract between the London residuary body and the county hall developement group consortium; when an announcement will be made; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The timing of an announcement is for the parties concerned.

  Plant and Machinery (Rating)
  Mr. Forman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how he intends to use powers under the Local Government Finance Act 1988 to prescribe what items of plant and machinery should be rated; and if he will make a statement.
  796
  Mr. Gummer
  For the 1990 revaluation we propose to re-enact the provisions contained in the Plant and Machinery (Rating) Order 1960 (SI 1960 No. 122). as amended, together with the relevant provisions contained in the General Rate Act 1967. My right hon. Friends, the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales, and I recognise that in the longer term there is a need to consider ways of securing a fuller harmonisation of the valuation treatment of plant and machinery in the different parts of Great Britain. Consideration will also be given to the need to review the provisions of the 1960 order more generally.

  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
  [pursuant to her reply, 23 January 1989, c. 454]: The regulations which brought the EC directive on environmental assessment on 15 July 1988, require environmental statements to be prepared by developers and considered by the relevant public bodies before planning permission may be given for certain major projects.

  The effects of proposals on the cultural heritage are one of many items which must be covered by an environmental statement. The regulations relate only to developments which are likely to have significant environmental effects. If an ancient monument is scheduled any works which would affect it need scheduled monument consent from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. In appropriate cases, consent may be given subject to conditions relating to archaeological investigation or recording. In other cases the provision for archaeological investigation or recording is a matter between developers, local planning authorities and archaeologists.

  It has always been open to local planning authorities to consider the archaeological implications of development and impose conditions that are both appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances of the case on any planning permission that may be granted. It is my right hon. Friend's policy to encourage close links between developers, archaeologists and local planning authorities as a means of ensuring appropriate protection for non-scheduled sites.

HEALTH

  In-patient Treatment
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the lowest and the highest average cost of in-patient treatment in a district health authority in the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Freeman
  Information within hospitals costing returns for health authority managed hospitals is published in aggregated tables of average treatment costs by type of hospital for health regions and England in the Department's annual publication "Health Services Costing Returns" (the latest being for 1986–87), copies of which are held in the Library.
  797
  All hospitals are classified for costing purposes into one of a series of standard types which reflect the principal use to which their beds are allocated. Although in-patient treatment costs may vary between hospitals of the same type, those categorised "pre-convalescent", "convalescent" or "mental handicap" generally have lower average costs, while higher average costs are usually incurred at hospitals within such categories as "acute", "childrens acute" and "eye".

  The published regional summary tables for 1986–87 show that an average cost per in-patient day of £17·45 was incurred by a convalescent hospital, whilst among the highest individual hospital average costs recorded was £238·68 per inpatient day for Papworth hospital, Cambridgeshire.

  General Practitioners
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average list size of general medical practitioners in the Northern health authority at 1 October 1988; what was this figure as a percentage of the United Kingdom average; and what proportion of general practitioners in the Durham area health authority had lists longer than the United Kingdom average.

  Mr. Mellor
  The information requested is collected from family practitioner committees, which are not necessarily conterminous with health authority boundaries, and aggregated by region. As at 1 October 1987 (the latest date for which figures are available) the average list size for northern region was 2,002 patients per

  Title abstract of project

  Period of support

  Costs£

  (a)Completed

  1.Decision making in the protection of children A study of the decision making process and interagency working in cases of children at risk of abuse (mainly physical but includes sexual abuse)

  1978–81—Dr. R. Dingwall

  29,300

  2.Child abuse in an English local authority A study of the characteristics identification, social work management and treatment of children at risk (concerned with physical, but includes sexual abuse)

  1979–82—Dr. R. Banon

  96,300

  3.A study to modify parent child interaction in abusive families A controlled trial of a focussed casework approach to the treatment of child abuse (physical and sexual) comparing two contrasting therapies

  1983–86—Prof.A.R. Nicol

  32,400

  4.Professional intervention in child abuse The aims of this study were to examine and evaluate literature on intervention strategies in cases of child abuse (physical and sexual) and to provide a sythesis of present knowledge of value to those working in the field

  1985–87—Dr. F.Boddy, Dr. D. Gough

  23,800

  (b)Current

  1.Intervention in child sexual abuse This study will look at characteristics and outcome of a treatment programme provided to the victims of child sexual abuse and their families

  1987–89—Dr. A. Bentovin, Prof. P. Graham

  225,000

  2.Normal sexual knowledge in children The aim is to collect systemation and reliable information on:(i)sexual knowledge in children(ii)normal behaviour in families A second aim of the study is to see whether children in the community can be distinguished from children who have been sexually abused on the basis of their sexual knowledge and behaviour

  Dr.M.Smith

  3.A study of co-ordination in child abuse A study which aims to look at the policies and practice of interagency co-ordination in child abuse (physical-sexual)

  1988–92—Dr. C. Hallet

  130,000

  4.Decision making intervention and outcomes in respect to children at risk of abuse

  1988–93—Ms. E. Farmer

  155,000

  798
  unrestricted general medical practitioner. This is 99 per cent. of the average list size for England (2020). A total of 54 per cent. of unrestricted general medical practitioners in the area covered by the Durham family practitioner committee (which includes Durham district health authority) had lists greater than the England average. The average list size for the United Kingdom was 1965 and the corresponding percentages were 102 per cent. and 60 per cent. respectively.

  Pre-cooked Chilled Food
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has any plans to extend the new guidelines with regard to pre-cooked chilled foods to make reference to chilled food sold in supermarkets.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  No. These guidelines are specific to catering operations. However we are preparing separately guidelines for retailed chilled foods which will be issued as soon as possible.

  Child Sexual Abuse (Research)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the research on child sexual abuse undertaken by his Department(a) since 1979, (b) currently undergoing, and (c) planned for the future together with the amount of money spent or allocated in each instance; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  The information is as follows:
  799

  Title abstract of project

  Period of support

  Costs£

  The aims of this study are to explore the process of decision making and intervention in relation to a group of children at risk of abuse in two local authorities and to relate these outcomes

  (c) Projects under consideration

  1.Parental perceptions in child abuse The aims of this study are to gain a greater understanding of the perceptions of parents of the process in cases of suspected child abuse

  2½years

  140,000

  2.Feasibility of a prevalence study This will examine the feasibility of a study to provide reliable estimates of the scale of sexual abuse of children in England and Wales

  2 years

  30,000

  3.Parental participation in child protection case conferences This project would evaluate the object of parental participation in child protection case conferences both in terms of the impact on the children and the parents and in terms of the decision making process

  3 years

  100,000

  4.A study of the patterns of use of child protection registers This study would examine how registers are used—their use by practitioners

  3 years

  120,000

  5.Computer based techniques in diagnosis This project would aim to develop computer based techniques to assist in obtaining case histories from the victims of child sexual abuse and to facilitate interaction between them and counselling in a therapeutic context

  4 years

  200,000

  6.Evaluation of interdisciplinary training
  Following a recommendation of the Cleveland Enquiry this study would develop methods of interdisciplinary training

  2 years

  50,000

  7.Perpetrators of child sexual abuse
  This project would identify the social characteristics of abusers; their personal history (eg victims of abuse as a child); and the numbers and relationship of their victims

  3 years

  60,000

  Aluminium
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what information he has on research into the levels of aluminium in medical products such as antacids; by whom the research was conducted; and whether the levels found were considered to be harmful or not;

  (2) what information he has as to about which illnesses or complaints there have been reports of a possible association with aluminium, for which the ingestion of aluminium is not recommended;

  (3) if he will make a statement on the known risks of ingesting aluminium; and if he will list the foods, drinks and other products which are suspected of containing an undesirable high level of the element.

  Mr. Freeman
  Aluminium and its salts are of low toxicity and have various approved uses in medical practice and in the food and water industries.

  Aluminium hydroxide and other aluminium salts are widely used in medicinal products as antacids in the treatment of gastro-intestinal disease. I am not aware of any recent research in this area since their effects are widely known and they are regarded as extremely safe. However, in a very few patients with pre-existing depletion of body phosphate, this condition can be worsened, leading to osteomalacia (softening of the bone); advice to doctors on antacids is that they should not be used for these patients.

  In-patients with renal failure, who have high body phosphate. aluminium hydroxide is used as a binding agent to limit uptake of phosphate from the intestine. In severe cases, very large doses are used and it is recognised that this may contribute toward encephalopathy and osteomalacia, and that very careful monitoring is required.
  800
  Renal dialysis with fluid high in aluminium is liable to cause encephalopathy and osteomalacia because the aluminium readily enters the bloodstream, unlike ingested aluminium. Levels of aluminium in licensed dialysis products (such as peritoneal dialysis solutions) are controlled to below the limits defined in EC resolution 86/C184/04 of 16 June 1986. These limits are applied by the United Kingdom licensing authority when approving product licence applications. For other categories of licensed medicines, the monitoring and control of aluminium and other metals is kept under review by the licensing authority and the Committee on Safety of Medicines.

  No disease is known to be caused either by natural presence of aluminium or as a result of the approved use, in food or drinking water. No food or drink, including tap water, normally contains an undesirably high level of this element. However, rare incidents of gross contamination of water with certain salts of aluminium have caused acute outbreaks of diarrhoea and vomiting.

  A hypothesis that aluminium may have a role in the causation of Alzheimer's disease is currently being studied. Recent evidence of a geographical association between levels of aluminium in drinking water and the disease is assessed by the Department's independent expert advisers, in agreement with the authors of the study, as too tentative to justify changes in usage; further research along several lines is in hand.

  Reports of a number of persistent ill effects following a recent incident of gross contamination of water by aluminium sulphate are now to be considered by an advisory group of independent medical and scientific experts.
  801
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has on research into the levels of aluminium in(a) tea, (b) soft drinks (c) acid foods cooked in aluminium pans and (d) food wrapped or packed in aluminium foil or containers; who conducted the research in each case; and if the levels found were considered harmful or not.

  Mr. Freeman
  In a recent study conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, tea infused in a pyrex container using distilled water was found to contain between 2·2 and 5·5 milligrams of aluminium per litre.

  The Camden Food Preservation Research Association has measured aluminium in a variety of soft drinks, where levels ranged from ·3 to 1·3 mg per kg.

  I understand that an independent study has shown that cooking in aluminium pans makes only a small contribution to the dietary intake of aluminium. Further details of dietary aluminium levels are given in food surveillance paper No. 15, "Survey of Aluminium, Antimony, Chromium, Cobalt, Indium, Nickel, Thallium and Tin in Food", a copy of which I have placed in the Library.

  There is no evidence that aluminium in food is harmful.

  Broadmoor Hospital
  Ms. Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department will review the practices of Broadmoor hospital in relation to the administering of injections to violent patients, in the light of the death of Mr. Joseph Watts.

  Mr. Freeman
  I wish to extend to the relatives of Mr. Watts my deepest sympathy over his most unfortunate death. I have asked the Broadmoor hospital management team to report to me quickly on the action they propose to take in response to the coroner's findings following the inquest. I shall give the hospital's proposals my urgent consideration.

  Basingstoke and North Hampshire Health Authority
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have lived in the Basingstoke and North Hampshire health authority district in each year since the formation of that health authority; and what has been the percentage change each year.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information requested is as follows:

  Basingstoke and North Hampshire district health authority area

  Year

  Mid year estimate of usually resident population

  Change from preceding year

  (Thousands)

  (per cent.)

  1982

  203·2

  +0·7

  1983

  206·8

  +1·8

  1984

  210·9

  +2·0

  11985

  214·4

  +1·7

  1986

  215·0

  +0·3

  1987

  217·2

  +1·0

  1Number of armed forces dependants reassessed.

  Source:OPCS monitors in PP1 series.

  Health Authorities
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what remuneration is made to chairs of regional and district health authorities.

  Mr. Mellor
  They are entitled to remuneration which currently stands at £11,868 a year. They may as an alternative choose to claim financial loss allowance. Chairmen are also entitled to claim travelling and subsistence allowances.

  Otosporin
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he intends to make representations to Burroughs Wellcome to reduce the cost of the drug Otosporin from the £409 currently charged to the National Health Service to a figure nearer the 94p charged for the same quantity of the drug in Spain; and whether he intends to make spot checks on the cost of other drugs in Europe that are on the National Health Service limited list.

  Mr. Mellor
  The prices of medicines purchased by the National Health Service are not set by individual comparison with prices charged in other countries. Prices in different countries vary for a wide range of reasons, including varying levels of consumption and different pricing arrangement adopted by Governments. In the United Kingdom, the pharmaceutical price regulation scheme regulates the overall profit obtained by pharmaceutical companies on their business supplying the National Health Service, and medicine costs are in the middle band among European states.

  AIDS
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health why AIDS is not a notifiable disease.

  Mr. Mellor
  We do not consider that there are any strong public health grounds for making AIDS a notifiable disease. To do so would he unlikely to improve the present reporting system or to assist health professionals in their work. Notification might also deter people from seeking help, and so drive the infection underground.

  Lowermoor Incident Health Advisory Group
  Mr. Neale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will give further details on the work proposed for the Lowermoor incident health advisory group; and when he will be able to report on the progress of its inquiry.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Lowermoor incident health advisory group has been asked to advise comprehensively on the health of the people living in the Camelford area following the contamination of their drinking water at Lowermoor in July 1988. They will give the fullest possible consideration to the question whether there may be any long-term effects on the local population's health and will consider fully the feasibility of any forms of research or monitoring which might help in considering those questions.

  The advisory group will visit the Camelford area during the course of its inquiry. I will write to my hon. Friend by the end of March to inform him of the progress made by the advisory group.

  Meningitis
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer to the lion. Member for Derbyshire, North-East in the Official Report, 23 January on meningitis in the North Derbyshire health authority, if he will make a statement on the 11 notified cases of meningococcal meningitis in the North Derbyshire area since October 1988.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 26 January 1989]: I understand that there is no obvious connection between the cases of meningococcal meningitis identified recently in north Derbyshire. They have affected different ages and have come from widely separated places within the district.

  Where meningococcal infection has been suspected, close contacts of the patient have been given antibiotic treatment in accordance with the DNA's control of infection procedures. All general practitioners and school doctors in the district have been advised of the situation, which is being closely monitored.

  Cook-Chill Foods
  Mr Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what regulations exist concerning good practice in the manufacture of cook-chill foods; if he has any plans to introduce further measures to ensure safe manufacturing procedures; and if lie will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  [holding answer 23 January 1989]: The Food Hygiene (General) Regulations 1970 apply to the manufacture of such foods. My Department's guidelines on pre-cooked chilled food in, catering provide detailed guidance to ensure the safety of food produced by this system. We are preparing guidelines on good practice in the manufacture, distribution and storage of cooked-chilled food sold in retail outlets.

ENERGY

  Mining Subsidence
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what assistance his Department offers to people who suffer from problems caused by mining subsidence.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The day-to-day management of the subsidence repair and compensation system is a matter for British Coal. However, the Department publishes a widely available leaflet, "Coal Mining Subsidence Damage: A Guide to Claimants' Rights" which advises claimants on how to pursue their claims.

  Deep-mined Coal
  Mrs. Golding
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what information he has available of the likely contraction of manpower on the deep-mined coal industry in the current year; and if he will indicate the areas affected.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Kilmarnock and Loudoun (Mr. McKelvey) on 12 December 1988 at column 477.

  Departmental Staff (Child Care)
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what child care provision his Department provides 804
  for pre-school age children of his Department's employees; what child care provision, for school holiday or after-school care, is provided for employees' children aged five and over; what plans there are for increasing provision in the next five years; and how these are to be funded.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  My Department does not provide child care facilities and has no present plans for doing so.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Dental Charges
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a list for each month during which the new centralised system of claiming payments for dental charges on form AGI has been in operation, showing the average time taken to process the claim in that month, together with a list of the average time of processing similar claims for the last six months of the previous locally based system.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The only available information about average clearance times of claims dealt with by the agency benefits unit was given in my replies to the hon. Members for Edinburgh, South (Mr. Griffiths) and for Angus, East (Mr. Welsh) on 18 July 1988 and 13 January 1989 at column 489 and columns 246–48 respectively. No information is available about the clearance times of claims dealt with under the previous system.

  Family Income Supplement
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many families were receiving family income supplement in November 1986, December 1986, November 1987 and December 1987.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  A total of 221,000 families received payments of family income supplement for November 1986, and 218,000 for December 1986. These figures include all families who received payments for the months shown even though they may not have received them until later. They are therefore not strictly comparable with family credit figures which are based on the number of awards actually in payment at the end of the relevant month. Reliable information is not available for 1987.

  Social Security Changes
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what progress has been made in his Department's research on the impact of the April 1988 social security changes; and when the results will be published

  Mr. Scott
  Monitoring and evaluation of the impact of the April 1988 social security changes is a continuing process based on a wide range of detailed statistical information. Much of this is routinely published in the annual statistical inquiry, social security statistics and the monthly statistics on the social fund. The first annual statistical survey on the reformed housing benefit scheme will be published later this year.

  In addition, detailed research projects are being commissioned on some subjects such as the effects of the

  805
  income support earnings rules and the extent to which the social fund is meeting its objectives. Decisions on publication will be made at the appropriate time.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects to respond to the Social Security Advisory Committee's report on the disabled.

  Mr. Nicholas Scott
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Carmarthen (Mr. Williams) on 19 December 1988 at columns 114–15.

  Community Care
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether his Department is continuing to monitor the level of underspending on community care grants; and if he will make a statement on this matter before the end of the financial year.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  We are continuing to monitor closely all aspects of the social fund. Expenditure on community care grants has increased significantly over recent months and is currently running at 77 per cent. of national monthly profile.

  I outlined in my reply to the hon. Member for Don Valley (Mr. Redmond) on 17 January at columns 118–19 the steps we were taking further to improve awareness of the help that can be provided through community care grants. Monthly statistics on the operation of the social fund for every local office and a national summary are placed in the Library.

  Help with Hostel Charges
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received on the consultation paper "Help with Hostel Charges"; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Halifax (Mrs. Mahon) on 23 January at columns 417–18.

  Durham Office (Staff)
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average length of service of the staff now working at his Department's office in Durham.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The average length of service is 13·78 years. This covers all grades of staff.

  Pensioners
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he proposes to implement legislation to phase out the earnings rule for pensioners.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  We have no plans to implement legislation to phase out the earnings rule for pensioners. We shall continue to carry out our statutory duty to review annually the level of permitted earnings.

  Costs Limits
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether there have been any changes in the running costs limits of his Department for 1988–89.
  806
  Mr. Scott
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the running cost limit for class XV vote 7 (administration and miscellaneous services) will be increased by £12·139 million. This is the net effect of a reapportionment between non-running cost and running cost expenditure (£4·437 million), additional receipts of £7·563 million from the national insurance fund, a transfer of £143,000 from Inland Revenue and a decrease of £5,000 as a contribution towards the direct entry grade 7 competition 1988, which is offset by a corresponding increase in vote XX.1.

  As a result of these changes and those announced by my hon. and learned Friend the Minister for Health, which add a further £4·856 million to the running costs of vote XIV.3, the running cost limit of the Departments of Social Security and Health is increased by £16·995 million from £1,785·189 million to £1,802·184 million. These increases do not add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  Family Credit
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the total number of claims for family credit; and what proportion of those claims has been assessed as eligible for payment.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  By 20 January 1989, 539,000 claims had been received of which 489,000 had been cleared. Of these, 28,000 were duplicate claims or were subsequently withdrawn. Of the remaining 461,000 claims, 336,000 (72·9 per cent.) were successful. In addition, 206,000 family income supplement beneficiaries were awarded family credit without a claim being required. As awards of family credit are for a limited period (normally six months) many of the 542,000 awards will have expired. At the end of December approximately 255,400 families were receiving family credit.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Pig Farmers
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the subsidies that pig farmers in Derbyshire currently receive from the Government.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  United Kingdom pig farmers do not currently receive any direct Government subsidies.

  Aluminium (Babies)
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has on research regarding(a) the ability of babies to absorb aluminium that is ingested, (b) the amount of aluminium that a baby's normal diet is likely to provide and, (c) the level of aluminium in water and in baby milk that is safe for babies; who conducted the research in each case; and what were the conclusions.

  Mr. Ryder
  There is no information at present on the extent to which babies are able to absorb ingested aluminium. However, it is known that the greater part of aluminium ingested by adults is excreted. A survey of aluminium in infant milks has recently been carried out by this Ministry. Estimates of aluminium intakes by infants up to age four months show that potential intakes from
  807
  infant milks are well within the internationally agreed acceptable level specified by the joint FAO/WHO expert committee on food additives.

  New Zealand Butter and Sheepmeat
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the implications for the agricultural trade negotiations of the Uruguay round of the general agreement on tariffs and trade of EEC proposals to impose more restrictions on access for New Zealand butter and sheepmeat.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The proposals would continue arrangements for specified quantities of New Zealand butter and sheepmeat to enter the Community at concessionary rates of levy, with reductions in both the quantities and the level of import charge. They take account of the Community's commitments in the Uruguay round under the Punta del Este declaration and represent a fair balance between the many interests involved. The New Zealand Government have acknowledged this. Negotiations on the round are continuing with the aim of securing greater liberalisation of trade in agriculture.

  Baby Food (Ingredients)
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any evidence that animal offal, brain, bowels, feet and testicles are present in any baby foods; and what would be their effects on the health of babies.

  Mr. Ryder
  The Ministry has no evidence that brain, bowels, feet, testicles or any animal offal other than liver or kidney are present in any baby foods. Liver and kidney are used in the preparation of some baby foods because of the high nutritional value they bestow.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to require all baby foods to have on their labels the quantity, quality and nature of their ingredients.

  Mr. Ryder
  The EC food labelling directive and the Food Labelling Regulations 1984 require prepacked foods to be marked or labelled with a list of ingredients in descending order of weight. The Food Act 1984 makes it an offence to sell food which is not of the nature, substance or quality demanded by the consumer and also an offence to provide labelling which is misleading as to nature, substance or quality of the food.

  The proposed EC directive on foods for particular nutritional uses would provide for specific directives which may control the description, composition, labelling, advertising and presentation of certain categories of foods, including baby foods. It could be therefore that the European Community will develop specific rules for the labelling of baby foods.

  Research Funding
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what funding has been made available(a) to the central veterinary laboratory for its research into the development of an Elisa test., and (b) to the Moredun research institute for its work with the lymphacyte transformation test.
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  Mr. Donald Thompson
  At least £46,000 will be allocated in 1989–90 for expenditure on research at the central veterinary laboratory into the development of an Elisa test for tuberculosis in deer. Work on the lymphoates transformation test at the Moredun research institute is being privately funded.

  Animal Feedstuffs
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those plants using animal by products in the preparation of animal feedstuffs.

  Mr. Ryder
  [holding answer 16 January 1989]: The use of small quantities of animal protein materials in some poultry feed have for many years been a normal trade practice. Such materials are produced in processing plants, all of which are subject to the controls contained in the Protein Processing Order 1981. The heat or other treatment used in such plants will destroy all salmonella. The animal protein is then supplied to the manufacturers of animal feedstuffs, of which there are many throughout the country, both on farms and elsewhere. Detailed information on all manufacturers is not available in my Department.

  Eggs
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he proposes to take to prevent the sale of eggs which are a risk to human health.

  Mr. Ryder
  Notices will be issued under the Zoonoses Order 1975 to egg producers with flocks known or suspected of infection with salmonella enteritidis or other similar types of Salmonella. These notices will prevent producers from selling eggs in a raw state for direct consumption. The first such notices will be issued today.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the brand names of chicken feeds which contain processed animal byproducts.

  Mr. Ryder
  [holding answer 13 January 1989]: The use of small quantities of animal protein materials in some poultry feed have for many years been a normal trade practice. Such materials are produced in processing plants, all of which are subject to the controls contained in the Protein Processing Order 1981. The heat or other treatment used in such plants will destroy all salmonella. Detailed information on the brand names involved is not available from my Department.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many producers of chicken food using animal byproducts are known to his Ministry.

  Mr. Ryder
  [holding answer 13 January 1989]: The use of small quantities of animal protein materials in some poultry feed have for many years been a normal trade practice. Such materials are produced in processing plants, all of which are subject to the controls contained in the Protein Processing Order, 1981. The heat or other treatment used in such plants will destroy all salmonella.

  The animal protein is then supplied to the manufacturers of animal feedstuffs, of which there are many throughout the country both on farms and elsewhere. Detailed information on all such manufactures who produce poultry feedstuffs is not available in my Department.

EMPLOYMENT

  Press Officers
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many press officers and staff his Department has employed or used in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Cope
  The number of designated press officers in the Employment Department London HQ for each year since 1979 is as follows:

  Number

  1979

  7

  1980

  8

  1981

  8

  1982

  8

  1983

  8

  1984

  8

  1985

  8

  1986

  8

  1987

  11

  1988

  11

  1989

  11

  Training and Enterprise Council
  Mr. Clelland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total budget proposed for training and enterprise councils; and how many training and enterprise councils will receive more than the
  minimum £15 million stated in the White Paper "Employment for the 1990s".

  Mr. Cope
  On the basis of current expenditure plans the total budget for TECs, when they are fully established throughout the country, would be in excess of £2,500 million. It is too early to say at this stage how many training and enterprise councils will receive more than £15 million a year.

  Training Schemes (Women)
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what were the main conclusions and recommendations of the recent Training Commission study of women's participation in training schemes.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Training Agency's internal review of women's participation in its education and training programmes is not yet complete.

  Departmental Advertising
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the expenditure on media and advertising by his Department in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Cope
  The amount spent by the Department of Employment on advertising in each financial year since 1979 was as follows:

  Year

  Amount

  (£million)

  1979–80

  0.7

  1980–81

  0·3

  1981–82

  0·4

  1982–83

  0·5

  1983–84

  0·5

  1984–85

  0·3

  810

  Year

  Amount

  (£ million)

  1985–86

  0·1

  1986–87

  12·7

  1987–88

  6·1

  These figures include production costs and VAT.

  Employment Training
  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many places on his Department's employment training programme had been filled by 31 December 1988 by region and by sector.

  Mr. Nicholls
  At 31 December 1988 there were 108,000 trainees on employment training in Great Britain. A breakdown by region is given in the following table. Information by industrial sector is not available.

  Employment Training

  In training at 31 December 1988

  Number

  South East

  7,100

  London

  10,500

  South West

  6,900

  West Midlands

  12,100

  East Midlands and Eastern

  9,000

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  16,000

  North West

  15,500

  Northern

  11,800

  Wales

  7,400

  Scotland

  11,700

  Great Britain

  108,000

  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many employers were by 31 December 1988, providing work experience places for employment training by region and by sector.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information is not available. However, information on the number of trainees in employer-based training will be available from the end of the month.

  YTS
  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many fatal, major and minor reportable accidents occurred on YTS for each quarter of each year since 1984, by sector and by region.

  Mr. Lee: I will write to the hon. Member with the information requested and will place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the average number in training on the YTS during the years(a) 1 April 1985 to 31 March 1986, (b) 1 April 1986 to 31 March 1987 and (c) 1 April 1987 to 31 March 1988.

  Mr. Cope
  The information is as follows:

  Year

  Average number in training on YTS

  Number

  1 April 1985–31 March 1986

  264,000

  1 April 1986–31 March 1987

  296,000

  1 April 1987–31 March 1988

  376,000

  Wages Councils
  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report the statistics on wages councils' employment and compliance with wage council rates in 1988, in the same format as used in the reply on 4 March 1988, Official Report, columns 733–38.

  Mr. Lee
  The information is not yet available.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Burt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether any changes will be made to his Department's cash limits or running costs limits for 1988–89.

  Mr. Fowler
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary spring Supplementary Estimates, the following changes will be made:

  The cash limit for class VII, vote I (employment programmes) will be reduced by £3 million from £1,293,618,000 to £1,290,618,000. The reduction offsets the £3 million increased provision sought by the Training Agency (class VII, vote 7) (training programmes) towards further marketing of the employment training programme and promotion of training and enterprise councils (TECs).

  The cash limit or class VII, vote 2 (administration) will be reduced by £3,300,000 from £265,170,000 to £261,870,000. The reduction partly offsets the cash limit increase on class VII, vote 7 resulting from the increase in provision sought to cover additional running costs for the skills training agency (STA).

  There will be a token £1,000 increase on the cash limit on class VII, vote 5 (Training Commission) from £1,936,179,000 to £1,936,180,000. This token increase is necessary to adjust the provision transferred to the Department of Employment (class VII, vote 7) in the winter Supplementary Estimates, to reflect actual expenditure by the Training Commission up to 1 December 1988, when responsibility for most of the commission's activities transferred to the Department of Employment.

  The cash limit on class VII, vote 7 (Department of Employment: training programmes) will be increased by £6,300,000 from £559,000 to £6,859,000. This is the net effect of the increased provision of £3 million sought to allow for further marketing of employment training and promoting the new training and enterprise councils (which is offset by the £3 million decrease on class VII, vote 1) and £3,300,000 increased provision for STA running costs (which is offset by the £3,300,000 decreases on class VII, vote 2). As a result of these changes there will be no addition to the planned total of public expenditure.

  The class VII, vote 2, Employment Department's administration running costs limit will be reduced by £3,254,000 from £606,842,000 to £603,58.8,000. This is the net result of a £3,300,000 reduction in order to offset the £3,300,000 increased provision sought for the STA on class VII, vote 7, £106,000 increased provision sought for a special employment service initiative in Sunderland at the request of the Department of Trade and Industry (which is offset by a £106,000 decrease in the running costs provision on class V, vote 3) and the transfer of £61,000 to the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (class XX, vote 16).
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  The class VII, vote 5, Training Commission's running costs limit will be increased by £12,264,000 from £145,754,000 to £158,018,000 (which is partly offset by reductions totalling £8,238,000 on votes 2 and 7).

  The class VII, vote 7, Department of Employment: training programmes running costs limit will be reduced by £4,984,000 from £74,265,000 to £69,281,000. This reduction is the net result of the transfer of £12,264,000 back to the Training Commission (class VII, vote 5) as too much was transferred at the winter Supplementary stage; reclassification of £120,000 worth of central services marketing expenditure out of running costs to programme expenditure; and increased running costs provision of £3,300,000 (which is offset by a £3,300,000 reduction in running costs provision on class VII, vote 2) and a transfer of £4,100,000 youth training scheme programme expenditure to running costs, both of which contribute towards the additional running costs expenditure on the STA.

  The class VII, vote 4, Health and Safety Commission's running costs limit will be reduced by £24,000 from £93,713,000 to £93,689,000. This small reduction, for which a spring Supplementary Estimate is not required, reflects the transfer of labour force survey costs to the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (class XX, vote 16).

  There is an overall increase in the Employment Department group's running costs of £4,002,000 from £936,432,000 to £940,434,000.

  Job Clubs
  Mr. Burt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has for developing the job club programme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Fowler
  I have reviewed the job club network in the light of the fall in unemployment in the last 12 months of 530,000. The job club programme will continue to have a key role in helping longer-term unemployed people to obtain jobs. It will complement and be co-ordinated with the employment training programme, and people who have not found a job on completing employment training will be able to make full use of a job club to do so. Action to ensure that people with special needs, including people with disabilities and people in inner cities, are effectively helped through job clubs will be continued and reinforced.

  I have therefore set the employment service a target of 175,000 participants in job clubs in 1989–90. To improve the services that they can offer it is intended to build on best practice and develop the expertise of those running job clubs by concentrating resources in the areas of most need.

  An ambitious expansion for job clubs was set in 1987 when the level of unemployment was much higher. The unemployment picture today is far different and some job clubs are underutilised. The job club network is best served, therefore, by rationalising particularly those where alternative job club facilities are available in the same locality. This means that we will be able to streamline the network from around 1,200 in the country to 1,000 nationwide.

  To ensure that long-term unemployed people fully appreciate the benefits that job clubs can offer in helping find jobs and the success that participants achieve, a national publicity drive will commence on 30 January.

  Trainees
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, if he will publish the most recent 100 per cent. YTS leavers survey for each Training Agency area and region in the north-west, showing the destinations of trainees by ethnic origin, sex and disability and by scheme type.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 25 January 1989]: Most of the information requested is provided monthly in the two-year YTS 100 per cent. follow-up survey results, copies of which are available in the Library. I regret that
  814
  detailed information showing distinction of trainee by scheme type for each Training Agency area could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish the most recent 100 per cent. leavers survey for each training agency area in the north-west, showing the reasons why trainees left their schemes.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 25 January 1989]: The information requested is published monthly in the two-year YTS 100 per cent. follow-up survey results and copies are available in the Library.