Written Answers of 18 July 1989

DEFENCE

  Armilla Patrol
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he proposes to make any changes in the Armilla patrol in the light of the continuing ceasefire in the Gulf.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Armilla patrol will remain in the Gulf area for as long as there is a task to perform. Although there has been little progress towards a permanent peace settlement, there has been a considerable reduction in tension in the area over a period of some months. So long as this continues, we would in future expect normally to deploy only two frigates or destroyers to the region, although a third ship will continue to be suitably equipped and trained so that it can be deployed if there is any increase in threat. This will produce a welcome improvement in the availability of ships for other tasks.

ENERGY

  Uranium
  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy at what facilities the uranium imported from Namibia since 1979 for commercial purposes is currently located.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  I understand that uranium imported from Namibia since 1979 for use in the British civil nuclear programme is currently located either at BNFL's processing facilities, or at the generating boards' power stations. All this uranium is subject to Euratom safeguards.

  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what estimates are available to him of the volume of radioactive tailings created and volume of radon gas released for the mining of each tonne of uranium used in the United Kingdom civil nuclear programme.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  I have no such information. I am advised by the British civil uranium procurement directorate that all the countries from which we import uranium for civil use in the United Kingdom meet the internationally agreed guidelines established by the International Commission on Radiological Protection.

  Magnox Reactors
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will provide published data in the Official Report, giving (a) the total in kilogrammes of that amount of plutonium in all wastes on the Sellafield site resulting from the reprocessing of all Central Electricity Generating Board and South of Scotland electricity board Magnox spent fuel from 1979, (b) whether that figure is an actual or
  80
  estimated one and (c) how much of the figure in (a) is included in the table giving the allocation of plutonium produced in Central Electricity Generating Board and South of Scotland electricity board Magnox reactors on 31 March 1987, Official Report, 24 July 1987, columns 517–18.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 20 June 1989 at columns 92–93. None of this plutonium is included in the table which refers to plutonium in irradiated fuel and separated plutonium.

WALES

  Anthrax
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will meet the tenant of Singrett farm, Llay, to discuss with him the impact of the outbreak of anthrax upon his farm operations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  As officials of my Department and the state veterinary service are in constant touch with events at the farm, such a meeting would serve no useful purpose.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much money(a) has been made available and (b) has been given to the local authority to date to deal with the problem of anthrax in Clwyd; whether cash limits are imposed on money made available to the local authority for this purpose; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Government support to local authorities is provided principally through rate support grants, which are unhypothecated and are intended to support local authorities in providing services in general. The Anthrax Order 1938 places a clear duty on local authorities to dispose of potentially infected slurry at their expense. Prudent authorities will make provision for such contingencies within their budgets and should therefore be in a position to meet the costs of the anthrax outbreak to which the hon. Gentleman refers.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Sunday Trading
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he has issued to local authorities in connection with the enforcement of the law relating to Sunday trading.

  Mr. Renton
  My right hon. Friend has not issued guidance to local authorities on this matter as there is no reason to suppose that they are not aware of their responsibilities under section 71 of the Shops Act 1950.

  As my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General made clear in answer to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Orpington (Mr. Stanbrook) on 17 April at column 26, the fact that some cases have been referred to the European Court under article 177 of the treaty of Rome does not affect the duty of the local authorities to enforce the law. The court has yet to give its judgement on the first of these cases, but the Advocate General published his opinion on 29 June. This opinion, which is not binding on the court, indicated that the provisions of the Shops Act 1950 were not in breach of the treaty of Rome.

  Cycling Offences
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions took place in 1988 of people found cycling on footpaths.

  Mr. John Patten
  Information for 1988 is not yet available. In 1987 there were 540 persons prosecuted in England and Wales for cycling on a footpath.

  Prisoners (Food Allowance)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the present weekly food allowance per inmate in prisons in England and Wales; and how the allowance is made up.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The weekly food allowance is determined by a range of dietary scales, which vary according to age and sex and also take into account religious and other beliefs. The weekly scales can be summarised as follows:

  Food group

  Weekly allowance

  Milk

  2,610–3,050 ml

  Cheese

  110 g

  Margarine

  350–450 g

  Vegetable oils

  150–250 g

  Eggs

  3 no

  Meat and meat products

  11,420 g

  Fish

  1185 g

  Fresh potatoes

  3,150–3,920 g

  Fresh green vegetables

  680 g

  Other fresh vegetables

  540–830 g

  Processed vegetables

  210–270 g

  Fresh fruit

  1200 g

  Processed fruit

  100 g

  Sugars and preserves

  540–590 g

  Bread

  1,425–2,300 g

  Flour and other cereals

  840–1,155 g

  Beverages:

  Tea

  60 g

  Instant coffee

  5 g

  1 Weekly cash allowances are provided for purchase of fresh meat, fish and fruit, to be spent at the discretion of the establishment; the weights quoted are therefore average figures. There is also a weekly cash allowance of 23p to 29p per inmate used at local discretion to extend the variety and palatability of meals.

  Bail (Foreigners)
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to introduce the withholding of passports of foreigners who are the subject of police bail pending further inquiries; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend has no such plans at present. Only the courts can impose conditions on the grant of bail.

  Bradford (Riots)
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of West Yorkshire as to the estimated cost of the police operations during the Muslim riots in Bradford over the weekend of 8–9 July; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand from the chief constable of West Yorkshire that the estimated additional 82
  cost of policing the disturbances in Bradford on 9 July is £6,870. This covers police overtime, subsistence and transport.

  Satellite Television
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he intends to make with regard to the ability of local authorities or bodies of a primarily political or religious nature to own a dominant holding in satellite television channels uplinked from the United Kingdom, primarily directed at the United Kingdom or intended for carriage on United Kingdom cable systems.

  Mr. Renton
  Paragraph 6.49 of the broadcasting White Paper (Cm. 517) proposed that local authorities and bodies whose objects are wholly or mainly of a religious or political nature should be disqualified from holding any ITC licence: this would include United Kingdom-based satellite channels licensable by the ITC.

  Construction Industry
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has had any meetings with the Building Employers Confederation to discuss the possible impact upon the construction industry of proposed changes to British summer time arrangements.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  No, but responses are invited by 29 September to the Green Paper Cm. 722 published on 27 June.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the economic impact upon the construction industry of the proposed changes to British summer time arrangements.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I refer the hon. Member to paragraphs 78 to 80 of the Green Paper "Summer Time—A Consultation Document" Cm. 722.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received any representations from the construction industry concerning proposed changes to British summer time arrangements; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Written observations were received from a number of organisations concerned with the construction industry as part of the consultation, through Departments, on summer time and we have subsequently received a further representation from the president of the Building Employers' Confederation. The views submitted have been taken into account in the Green Paper "Summer Time—A Consultation Document" Cm. 722.

  Prisons (Physical Education)
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he accepts the recommendations of the Central Council of Physical Recreation in their review of physical education in Her Majesty's prison service; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  In September 1988 the CCPR undertook to examine the provision of physical education in five prison service establishments. It visited prisons at
  83
  Featherstone, Birmingham and Stafford and young offender institutions at Swinfen Hall and Hewell Grange. Its terms of reference were:
  "To determine the extent to which physical education programmes in the five selected establishments meet the perceived needs of their inmate population by taking into consideration:

  1.1 The scale of physical education programmes currently provided for young and adult offenders in the five establishments in the agreed pilot scheme.

  1.2 The problems encountered in programme delivery.

  1.3 The integration of physical education programmes with other elements of each establishment's regime.

  1.4 The quality of these physical education programmes compared with those in educational establishments, other institutions and in society at large.

  1.5 To make recommendations."

  The CCPR uses the experience gained from these five establishments as background to a very wide-ranging report with recommendations which affect not only the prison service but many other bodies and organisations with an interest in physical education and sporting and leisure activities. I am sure that the report will provide a stimulating basis for discussion between the many interests involved.

  I share the CCPR's view that the physical education branch of the prison service makes an under-recognised contribution to sport and recreation in this country as well as providing a very valuable service to inmates. I welcome the specific proposals the CCPR has for improving this service and its recommendations will be taken into account as part of the ongoing commitment to improve the general standard of prison regimes.

  Carlisle Report
  Mr. Stanbrook
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will propose immediately an amendment to the existing law whereby persons convicted of crimes of violence who are released from imprisonment after serving a full sentence with remission are made subject to supervision as recommended in the Carlisle report.

  Mr. John Patten
  [holding answer 10 July 1989]: We are actively considering the far-reaching changes in the arrangements for parole and remission in England and Wales recommended by the Carlisle committee, The committee's proposals include supervising on their release all prisoners with sentences of more than a year.

  We are sympathetic to this part of the proposals which accord with Government policies, and, as part of our work on the Carlisle committee's report, we are thoroughly reviewing the way in which prisoners released on licence would be supervised. High and consistent standards of supervision would be essential but supervision cannot give an absolute guarantee that an offender will be prevented from committing further crime.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Value Added Tax
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what basis Customs and Excise assess liability for value added tax on the whole of an advertisement placed by a commercial company on behalf 84
  of a charitable organisation rather than on the value of that part of it that might be deemed to be promoting the company.

  Mr. Lilley
  Liability for VAT is based on the nature of the agreement between the person making the supply and the person receiving it. If the person receiving the supply of advertising services is not a charity then there is no entitlement to VAT relief under the existing law.

  Earnings
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the Isle of Wight is omitted from "Regional Trends", No. 24 1989 edition in table 2.6 (i) average gross weekly earnings, male and female and (ii) gross domestic product 1984.

  Mr. Major
  Regional figures for both average earnings and gross domestic product are based on estimates from sample surveys. For the Isle of Wight and for some other areas in the United Kingdom the sample size is too small for the publication of reliable estimates.

  Northern Region (GDP)
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the gross domestic product per head for the northern region of the United Kingdom; and in which EEC regions the gross domestic product per head is lower than this figure.

  Mr. Major
  Gross domestic product per head at factor cost in the north is provisionally estimated to have been £5,389 in 1987. International comparisons of regional GDP per head by the statistical office of the European Communities are published on page 156 of "Regional Trends 24"; 1989 Edition. This shows the following regions to have had lower GDP per head than the north in 1986 (in descending order):

  Region

  Country

  Wales

  United Kingdom

  Noreste

  Spain

  Oost-Nederland

  Netherlands

  Region wallonne/Waals gewest

  Belgium

  Abruzzi-Molise

  Italy

  Madrid

  Spain

  Northern Ireland

  United Kingdom

  Este

  Spain

  Sardegna

  Italy

  Campania

  Italy

  Sicilia

  Italy

  Sud

  Italy

  Noroeste

  Spain

  Canarias

  Spain

  Ireland

  Ireland

  Centro

  Spain

  Kentriki Ellada

  Greece

  Sur

  Spain

  Voreia Ellada

  Greece

  Portugal

  Portugal

  Anatolika Kai notia nisia

  Greece

  Capital Goods Industries
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report the return on capital employed and on trading assets of the

  85
  capital goods industries less building materials, contracting and construction in 1959, 1968, 1973, 1978 1980 and his estimate for 1988 together with his forecast for 1989 and 1990.

  Mr. Major
  No official statistics exist in the form required. Neither is a forecast made of these numbers. The Bank of England has published data taken from large companies' accounts which shows the historic cost rate of return for a number of different industrial classifications. The latest data can be found on pages 548–49 of the "Bank of England Quarterly Bulletin" November 1988, volume 28 No. 4. A copy is available in the Library.

  Private Currencies
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he has any plans to discuss with the chairmen of the clearing banks the introduction of private currencies in the United Kingdom;
  86
  (2) if he will issue a consultation paper asking for comments on the introduction of private currencies in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Lilley
  My right hon. Friend has no such plans.

  Abbey National Shares
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate how many widows have been disqualified from the right to the allocation of free Abbey National shares as a consequence of the terms of section 116 of the Building Societies Act 1962; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 17 July 1989]The building societies legislation does not lay down those to whom shares will be allocated or sold on a change to plc status. These are commercial decisions properly taken by the board of the organisation and the information sought is not currently available.

TRANSPORT

  Dock Labour Scheme
  Mr. Summerson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many dockers have applied for redundancy following the abolition of the dock labour scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  At 14 July, 1,678 former registered dock workers had been made redundant following the abolition of the dock labour scheme. That is about 18·5 per cent. of the number on the register when the scheme ended. Almost all of these redundancies were either voluntary or in respect of companies which had gone into liquidation or otherwise ceased trading.

  Authorities

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  Street lighting £'000

  Per cent. of road spend that is street lighting

  Street lighting £'000

  Per cent. of road spend that is street lighting

  Street lighting £'000

  Per cent. of road spend that is street lighting

  Street lighting £'000

  Per cent. of road spend that is street lighting

  Street lighting £'000

  Per cent. of road spend that is street lighting

  Greater London

  5,098

  13

  5,124

  11

  5,581

  14

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Barking

  381

  25

  413

  22

  475

  26

  691

  21

  566

  —

  Barnet

  503

  13

  655

  11

  523

  14

  647

  10

  701

  —

  Bexley

  424

  15

  420

  14

  430

  14

  622

  12

  584

  —

  Brent

  448

  14

  482

  16

  494

  16

  629

  15

  393

  —

  Bromley

  522

  11

  537

  11

  657

  13

  905

  11

  712

  —

  Camden

  652

  21

  890

  17

  538

  17

  705

  16

  746

  —

  City of London

  424

  16

  409

  13

  418

  13

  360

  11

  381

  —

  Croydon

  616

  17

  668

  15

  658

  12

  895

  11

  889

  —

  Ealing

  519

  14

  468

  12

  670

  14

  792

  13

  559

  —

  Enfield

  513

  21

  525

  23

  448

  19

  686

  16

  616

  —

  Greenwich

  795

  21

  830

  21

  729

  18

  955

  16

  1,010

  —

  Hackney

  512

  20

  981

  24

  827

  18

  958

  13

  705

  —

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  437

  12

  716

  12

  443

  13

  599

  12

  529

  —

  Haringey

  347

  18

  391

  15

  404

  16

  488

  15

  517

  —

  Harrow

  521

  15

  510

  20

  591

  19

  474

  22

  673

  —

  Havering

  466

  15

  481

  15

  472

  14

  566

  12

  513

  —

  Hillingdon

  415

  18

  432

  17

  471

  19

  637

  11

  674

  —

  Hounslow

  311

  16

  338

  17

  379

  18

  493

  17

  521

  —

  Islington

  357

  23

  374

  24

  338

  9

  449

  9

  544

  —

  Kensington

  441

  21

  494

  22

  494

  18

  800

  19

  1,091

  —

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  316

  20

  250

  14

  301

  17

  412

  15

  393

  —

  Lambeth

  630

  25

  504

  17

  660

  23

  882

  22

  934

  —

  Lewisham

  552

  12

  604

  16

  652

  15

  803

  16

  762

  —

  Merton

  349

  19

  449

  20

  167

  14

  61S

  22

  660

  —

  Newham

  559

  17

  604

  17

  603

  17

  981

  20

  1,038

  —

  Redbridge

  572

  17

  569

  16

  649

  16

  785

  17

  831

  —

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  400

  16

  412

  16

  425

  18

  543

  14

  574

  —

  South wark

  562

  17

  563

  15

  591

  13

  807

  11

  726

  —

  Sutton

  346

  16

  359

  14

  371

  13

  444

  11

  344

  —

  Tower Hamlets

  392

  10

  433

  7

  466

  14

  639

  13

  474

  —

  Waltham Forest

  433

  14

  446

  14

  442

  15

  632

  15

  571

  —

  Wandsworth

  611

  15

  371

  13

  370

  12

  502

  11

  515

  —

  Westminster

  706

  16

  832

  18

  747

  17

  760

  12

  886

  —

  London total

  21,134

  16

  22,534

  14

  22,486

  15

  22,160

  14

  21,631

  —

  Metropolitan counties

  Greater Manchester

  9,147

  23

  9,522

  27

  7,970

  21

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Merseyside

  6,494

  24

  6,866

  24

  4,181

  23

  —

  —

  —

  —

  South Yorkshire

  4,742

  16

  4,889

  17

  5,323

  18

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Tyne and Wear

  5,442

  26

  5,701

  24

  5,542

  19

  —

  —

  —

  —

  West Midlands

  7,998

  17

  8,304

  18

  8,143

  17

  —

  —

  —

  —

  West Yorkshire

  6,499

  18

  6,770

  18

  7,136

  17

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total metropolitan counties

  40,322

  20

  42,051

  21

  38,295

  19

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Shire counties

  Avon

  2,765

  18

  2,759

  18

  2,770

  17

  2,944

  17

  3,125

  —

  Bedfordshire

  990

  12

  1,047

  10

  1,043

  10

  1,204

  12

  1,273

  —

  Street Lighting
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give, for the last five years for which figures are available, the amount of money spent by each county highways authority and highways authority on street lighting; and if he will state the percentage that money is of the total amount spent on roads, authority by authority.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Figures for capital spending by individual local authorities on street lighting could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Figures for current spending on street lighting by highways authorities in England (including the Department of Transport) are as follows:
  89

  Authorities

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  Street lighting £'000

  Per cent. of road spend that is street lighting

  Street lighting £'000

  Per cent. of road spend that is street lighting

  Street lighting £'000

  Per cent. of road spend that is street lighting

  Street lighting £'000

  Per cent. of road spend that is street lighting

  Street lighting £'000

  Per cent. of road spend that is street lighting

  Berkshire

  1,532

  18

  1,429

  12

  1,474

  12

  1,647

  11

  1,622

  —

  Buckinghamshire

  1,153

  11

  1,278

  11

  1,427

  12

  1,564

  12

  1,731

  —

  Cambridgeshire

  1,170

  10

  1,128

  10

  1,226

  10

  1,372

  10

  1,484

  —

  Cheshire

  2,538

  16

  2,695

  17

  2,837

  17

  2,903

  17

  3,138

  —

  Cleveland

  1,618

  16

  1,935

  18

  1,950

  16

  1,996

  16

  2,399

  —

  Cornwall

  978

  8

  999

  8

  1,152

  8

  997

  7

  1,054

  —

  Cumbria

  1,015

  8

  1,108

  9

  764

  7

  1,286

  8

  1,258

  —

  Derbyshire

  2,512

  15

  2,749

  16

  2,706

  15

  2,761

  15

  2,822

  —

  Devon

  2,550

  11

  2,553

  10

  2,726

  9

  2,878

  10

  3,220

  —

  Dorset

  2,131

  18

  2,131

  18

  1,893

  14

  1,937

  14

  2,189

  —

  Durham

  2,081

  16

  2,196

  17

  2,420

  18

  2,512

  18

  2,658

  —

  East Sussex

  1,416

  14

  1,562

  14

  1,530

  12

  1,542

  12

  1,492

  —

  Essex

  3,155

  13

  3,391

  14

  3,576

  13

  3,791

  13

  4,003

  —

  Gloucestershire

  716

  8

  797

  8

  1,274

  11

  1,280

  9

  1,054

  —

  Hampshire

  2,925

  13

  3,299

  15

  3,287

  13

  2,967

  12

  3,166

  —

  Hereford and Worcestershire

  1,095

  10

  1,175

  10

  1,280

  10

  1,354

  10

  1,462

  —

  Hertfordshire

  2,390

  15

  893

  17

  2,474

  15

  2,638

  14

  2,536

  —

  Humberside

  2,345

  13

  2,367

  12

  2,676

  14

  2,812

  13

  2,753

  —

  Isle of Wight

  332

  11

  334

  11

  347

  12

  355

  12

  355

  —

  Kent

  3,019

  12

  3,083

  11

  3,268

  11

  3,287

  10

  3,478

  —

  Lancashire

  5,674

  20

  5,689

  20

  5,928

  20

  6,099

  18

  6,353

  —

  Leicestershire

  2,061

  13

  2,074

  12

  2,200

  13

  2,185

  12

  2,312

  —

  Lincolnshire

  1,001

  6

  1,194

  8

  1,186

  7

  1,233

  7

  1,255

  —

  Norfolk

  1,227

  9

  1,344

  10

  1,311

  9

  1,342

  9

  1,563

  —

  North Yorkshire

  1,262

  6

  1,315

  7

  1,328

  6

  1,319

  6

  1,355

  —

  Northamptonshire

  1,174

  14

  1,228

  14

  1,272

  15

  1,504

  15

  1,474

  —

  Northumberland

  969

  11

  1,047

  11

  994

  11

  1,017

  11

  1,141

  —

  Nottinghamshire

  3,220

  20

  3,325

  20

  3,384

  19

  3,431

  19

  3,630

  —

  Oxfordshire

  1,053

  12

  1,061

  12

  1,110

  12

  1,039

  11

  1,100

  —

  Shropshire

  561

  6

  591

  7

  520

  6

  681

  7

  721

  —

  Somerset

  748

  7

  721

  6

  758

  6

  830

  6

  883

  —

  Staffordshire

  2,503

  16

  2,574

  16

  2,370

  14

  2,500

  13

  2,696

  —

  Suffolk

  1,017

  8

  1,017

  8

  1,115

  8

  1,260

  9

  1,333

  —

  Surrey

  2,311

  14

  2,424

  13

  2,528

  13

  2,746

  15

  2,984

  —

  Warwickshire

  1,115

  11

  1,078

  11

  1,152

  11

  1,334

  12

  1,412

  —

  West Sussex

  1,549

  13

  1,409

  11

  1,797

  13

  1,802

  13

  1,906

  —

  Wiltshire

  962

  10

  1,028

  10

  1,028

  9

  1,095

  8

  1,158

  —

  Total Shires

  68,832

  13

  70,026

  13

  74,083

  12

  77,444

  12

  81,548

  —

  Total England

  130,288

  15

  134,611

  15

  134,865

  14

  145,178

  14

  150,582

  —

  Department of Transport spending on national roads

  9,749

  5

  10,815

  5

  11,135

  5

  13,273

  4

  14,076

  4

  Notes: Local authority current expenditure on roads includes both structural and routine maintenance. Structural maintenance on national roads is classed as capital expenditure but for comparative purposes has been included in the figures for roads spending from which the above percentages have been calculated.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list each authority which has submitted a bid for an allocation for improved street lighting in residential areas.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Of the 108 local highway authorities in England, 71 included bids for street lighting expenditure in their transport policies and programme submission for 1989–90. Although some of the planned work is likely to have been for the benefit of residential areas, very few authorities specified this.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a further statement on the measures which are being taken to ensure that the essential infrastructure 90
  needed for the United Kingdom to take advantage of the commercial benefits arising from the Channel tunnel is in place when the tunnel opens in 1993.

  Mr. Portillo
  Plans for the necessary road and rail infrastructure are well advanced. The Government have given approval in principle for expenditure of over £600 million by British Rail. There are a number of major schemes in the road programme to provide good access to the tunnel and Channel ports.

  Polymer Modified Bitumens
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those county councils which specify polymer modified bitumens.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The information requested is not collected by the Department.
  91
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the inability of United Kingdom contractors to compete after 1992 with the EEC through lack of expertise in polymer modified bitumens.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Major road building contractors in the United Kingdom have experience of working with modified bitumens of various types, including polymer modified bitumens similar to those used in other EEC countries. We have no reason to believe that these contractors will be unable to compete after 1992 through lack of expertise in the roadbuilding application of these materials.

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies he has carried out on polymer modified bitumens for United Kingdom roadbuilding.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Since 1973 a considerable number of studies have been carried out by the transport and road research laboratory into various types and aspects of the use of polymer modified bitumens for roadbuilding. The main results have been published in the following reports:

  Laboratory Report 963 describes the use of sulphurs.

  Laboratory Report 989, and Research Reports 92 and 122 describe the use of ethylene/vinyl acetate.

  Laboratory Report 989 also describes the use of styrena/butadiene/styrene.

  Laboratory Report 1101 describes the use of polyethylene. Research Report 54 describes the use of a manganese modifier.

  Research Report 57 describes the use of estylene/vinyl acetate, styrene/butadiene/styrene, and a number of proprietary materials.

  Road Schemes
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his replies to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Mossley Hill of 10 July, how much money has been allocated to Liverpool city council for road schemes in each of the last five years; and what information he has on how that money has been spent.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Liverpool city council became a highway authority in 1986. Transport supplementary grant paid in support of its accepted programme of highway improvements in the four years since then has been as follows:

  £ million

  1986–87

  2·702

  1987–88

  2·267

  1988–89

  1·235

  1989–90

  1·762

  Expenditure details from Liverpool's 1988 transport policies and programme document are as follows:

  £ thousand

  Scheme

  1986–87 actual outturn

  1987–88 estimated outturn

  1988–89 budgeted outturn

  A59 Hunter Street improvement

  3,230

  2,443

  1,634

  A580 Everton Valley improvement

  738

  434

  628

  Liverpool inner ring road

  523

  9

  167

  A561 Garston bypass

  122

  0

  416

  Access to Lime Street Station

  27

  33

  124

  A561 Park Road relief road

  0

  0

  300

  Minor works

  156

  366

  870

  Eastleigh Railway Workshop
  Mr. Bidwell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will direct the BR board to end unfair discrimination against Eastleigh railway workshop in the matter of bidding for contract work with British Rail;

  (2) if he will direct the BR board to ensure that Eastleigh works is given the opportunity of bidding for contracts in order to maintain its work force, its range of skills and capital equipment;

  (3) if, in the light of prices for white metal bearings work carried out by private companies, he will direct the BR board to transfer such work and other related work to the Eastleigh railway workshop.

  Mr. Portillo
  These are commercial and managerial matters for the Railways Board and British Rail Maintenance Limited, and it would not be appropriate for me to intervene.

  Mr. Bidwell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the savings that could be made for British Rail as the final customer if t he Eastleigh works was allowed to bid on the open market for work.

  Mr. Portillo
  None. This is a commercial matter for the railways board.

  Mr. Bidwell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from the work force at British Rail Eastleigh railway workshop concerning bidding for certain lines of railway engineering and maintenance work which it carried out before the privatisation of BREL.

  Mr. Portillo
  I have received no such representations.

  Rail Passengers (Accidents)
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many accidents were caused to rail passengers leaning out of carriage windows, in the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Portillo
  In 1988, for which provisional figures are available, there were 18 such accidents, 14 of which involved only minor injuries, two serious injuries and two fatalities.

  Drink-driving
  Mr. Bright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road accident deaths in(a) England and (b) Bedfordshire have been associated with excess alcohol consumption since 1 January 1985.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The table shows the total number of fatalities in Bedfordshire and in England from 1 January 1985 to 31 December 1987 and for each of those years in accidents where at least one driver or rider failed a breath test. This is the most common measure of drink-related accidents. It is not possible to produce precise statistics of drink-related accidents because some drivers will have been too severely injured to be breath tested. The blood alcohol level of drivers who die within 12 hours of an accident are provided from coroner's reports. These are not always complete. They exclude those drivers who die after this period but within the 30-day rule for a road accident fatality. Such fatalities are not included in this table.
  93

  Road fatalities in accidents where a driver or rider failed a breath test: 1985–87

  1985

  1986

  1987

  Total

  Bedfordshire

  6

  4

  3

  13

  England

  290

  261

  262

  813

  Railways (Subsidy)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list in rank order information available to him for each country within the European Economic Community on the percentage of Government subsidy to their national railway system.

  Mr. Portillo
  The most recent information available to the Department is given in the table, which is derived from the ninth Commission report on the transposed annual accounts of railway undertakings for 1985 [COM (88)739 final], a copy of which is in the Library of the House. There are substantial variations between countries in financial arrangements, including the writing off of debt and the systems for financial support.

  Subsidy1

  United Kingdom

  29

  West Germany

  31

  France

  32

  Irish Republic

  33

  Denmark

  36

  Netherlands

  46

  Belgium

  52

  Italy

  57

  Greece

  66

  Luxembourg

  73

  1 As percentage of operating costs.

  Note: Figures for the United Kingdom are an amalgamation of subsidy paid to the British Railways Board and Northern Ireland Railways.

  Railways (Wages)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list in rank order information available to him for each country within the European Economic Community on(a) the basic wage, (b) working hours and (c) overtime rates for workers employed on the national railway system.

  Mr. Portillo
  No firm figures for other EC countries are available to the Department.

  Railways (Investment)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has made an assessment of the commercial consequences for the German, French, Italian, and Spanish economies, relative to Britain's in 1992, due to the present investment in rail transport in those countries.

  Mr. Portillo
  No.

  Nuclear Fuel Transport
  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what volumes of spent nuclear fuel have been transported through cities with populations greater than 300,000 in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The Department does not collect data of the kind requested. The movement of spent fuel is 94
  made in compliance with national and international regulations which require safety for both normal and accident conditions to be built into the container used for transport. Safety does not depend on the choice of route used, which is a matter for British Rail.

  Air Traffic
  Mr. Franks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, when he next meets the chairman of BAA, he will discuss the delays caused to domestic travellers at Heathrow terminal one (departures) resulting from unmanned security clearance points.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  No. How many such channels are provided, and how many of them are staffed at any given time, are entirely matters for the airport management.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has received advice from the Civil Aviation Authority in response to the commissions that he gave it last summer on airport capacity and air traffic distribution.

  Mr. Channon
  I have now received the authority's advice on air traffic distribution policy for airports serving the London area, and this has been published today as CAP 559. Copies have been placed in the Library. I shall now consider the authority's advice, and will make a statement in due course. The authority proposes to undertake further work before offering advice on long-term strategic issues.

  Tachograph Calibration Fees
  Mr. Brandon-Bravo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the fees chargeable by tachograph calibration centres will change in the current year.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  From 24 July 1989 the maximum fees for calibration will decrease from £32·21 to £28·11 (plus VAT). The fee for two-yearly inspections will increase from £13·82 to £17·93 (plus VAT). The changes follow a joint review of the time needed to calibrate a tachograph or carry out a two-yearly inspection.

  Street Works
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make available further financial assistance to Bradford council to enable private street works to be carried out where the procedure was not properly undertaken by the West Yorkshire metropolitan county council and where as a consequence works are outstanding; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  No. The cost of private street works is usually apportioned between the owner of properties fronting the street involved.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the progress that has been made with the new legislation to replace the Public Street Works Act 1950, including the various codes of practice he is considering introducing under regulations; and what is the timetable for legislation.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Good progress has been made with proposals for primary legislation. Responses to our recent consultation paper were overwhelmingly in support
  95
  of the majority of proposals. Good progress is also being made with the various codes of practice required to support new legislation through the hard work and co-operation of the highway authority associations and the utilities. A paper giving a fuller report on progress has been placed in the Library. A Bill will be introduced as soon as a suitable opportunity can be found.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate how many cattle infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy have been slaughtered for human consumption during the past year.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  None.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, further to his answer of 12 July, what assessment his Department has made of a statement by H. C. Grant, MD, FRCP, a neuropathologist writing in a recent London Food Commission magazine, a copy of which has been sent to him, stating that bovine spongiform encephalopathy can be transmitted to chimpanzees.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The reference probably relates to the transmission of other spongiform encephalopathies to chimpanzees, since bovine spongiform encephalopathy has not been transmitted to them.

  Forestry
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the most recent figures available for new forestry planting in the private and public sectors in England and Wales.

  Mr. Ryder
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland gave to the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Davies) on 22 June 1989 at columns 205–6.

  Agricultural Land and Investment
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what was(a) the total agricultural investment and (b) the total amount of agricultural land in the south-eastern and northern-regions, in the last year for which figures were available.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The information for 1987 is as follows:

  Total agricultural investment £ million

  Total agricultural area1 '000 hectares

  South Eastern region

  95

  1,727

  Northern region

  63

  1,050

  1 At June

  Irradiated Food
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what methods other than irradiation of improving food hygiene his Department has investigated; and if he will make a statement.
  96
  Mr. Ryder
  My Department has considered every stage in the food production chain from the farm to the table and has introduced a comprehensive range of measures to protect all aspects of the safety of food. The bulk of these were listed by my hon. Friend the Member for Calder Valley (Mr. Thompson) in a reply to the hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark) on 3 March 1989 at columns 373–74.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has received any representations from the British Poultry Federation concerning the irradiation of foodstuffs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ryder
  The British Poultry Federation has put forward a number of points about irradiation in the poultry sector, but these do not relate to the effectiveness of the process in killing salmonella, campylobacter and listeria in poultry products.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consultations he has had with representatives of the poultry industry concerning the irradiation of foodstuffs.

  Mr. Ryder
  Consultations are not appropriate with representatives of any particular product sector at this stage, but will take place when detailed proposals are being considered.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list all those sectors of the food industry which have made recent representations to him opposing the irradiation of foodstuffs.

  Mr. Ryder
  The only sector of the food industry from which I have recently received representations opposing the irradiation of foodstuffs are the interests covered by the British Poultry Federation. Other organisations have commented on aspects of this matter at an earlier stage.

  Nuvan
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for South Shields of 28 November,Official Report, column 99, if he is now in a position to publish information on the human and environmental effects of Nuvan.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark) on 11 July at column 455.

  Co-responsibility Levy
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state(a) the total amount paid by each member state of the EEC in cereals co-responsibility levy for each year since the co-responsibility levy has been operative and (b) the total tonnage of cereals produced in each member state of the EEC, showing in each case how much per tonne the co-responsibility levy represents.

  Mr. Ryder
  Information provided by the Commission. of the European Communities on cereals co-responsibility
  97
  levy payments and cereals production by member states is set out in the table. This information covers the first two years of the levy's operation. Details of payments for 1988–89 are not yet available. The following points should be noted:

  1. The Commission's figures for levy payments in 1987–88 cover 13 months from 1 July 1987 to 31 July 1988 whereas those for 1986–87 cover 12 months. Both sets of production figures are for 12 months.

  2. Small cereals farmers in Spain and Italy were exempt from paying the co-responsibility levy during the period to which the figures relate.

  3. Levy collection in all member states in 1986–87 and all, except Italy and France, in 1987–88 was at the point of processing, sale into intervention or export from the Community. This meant that the levy was not necessarily collected in the country of origin of the grain.

  4. In the 1987–88 season collection of the levy in Italy and France was changed to the point of first sale. This affected the amount of levy collected in a number of member states.

  5. In a number of cases levy collected in 1986–87 does not appear in the Commission figures until 1987–88. Changes in the green rates further increase the levy payments recorded for 1987–88 in relation to 1986–87.

  6. Under its accession arrangements Portugal does not yet collect cereals co-responsibility levy.

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  Amount of co-responsibility levy collected in member states' national currency (million)

  Production (million tonnes)

  Levy in national currency per tonne (a) ÷ (b)

  1986–87

  Belgium

  816·6 BF

  2·3

  355·0

  Denmark

  77·3 KR

  8·0

  9·7

  Germany

  148·2 DM

  25·6

  5·8

  Greece

  580·7 DRA

  5·3

  109·6

  France

  565·0 FF

  50·1

  11·3

  Ireland

  3·7 I£

  1·8

  2·1

  Italy

  52,467·3 LIT

  17·8

  2,947·6

  Luxembourg

  14·3 LF

  0·05

  286·0

  Netherlands

  38·9 FL

  1·3

  29·9

  Spain

  3,548·8 PTA

  16·0

  221·8

  United Kingdom

  39·4 £

  24·5

  1·6

  1987–88

  Belgium

  791 ·0 BF

  1·9

  —

  Denmark

  117·8 KR

  7·3

  —

  Germany

  171·0 DM

  23·8

  —

  Greece

  1,705·9 DRA

  5·1

  —

  France

  1,791·9 FF

  52·2

  —

  Ireland

  5·1 I£

  2·0

  —

  Italy

  65,784·1 LIT

  17·4

  —

  Luxembourg

  16·3 LF

  0·06

  —

  Netherlands

  54·5 FL

  1·1

  —

  Spain

  5,620·1 PTA

  19·8

  —

  United Kingdom

  56·2 £

  21·7

  —

  Grain Stores
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give such details as are available to him of the stocks of grain in store at 30 June(a) in Britain, (b) in the European Community and (c) in the world, expressed in tonnes and days' supply.
  98
  Mr. Ryder
  Current estimates of cereals in store in the United Kingdom and the European Community as a whole at the end of the 1988–89 marketing year on 30 June 1989 are as follows:

  Million tonnes

  Days' supply

  United Kingdom

  3–5

  65

  EC

  26–7

  66

  These figures are based on the Commission of the European Communities' balance sheet for cereals.

  The International Wheat Council's estimate of world stocks of grain is an aggregate of national figures based on different definitions of marketing years and therefore dose not relate to a particular date. However, the Council's latest estimate for world stocks for the end of the 1988–89 crop year is 248 million tonnes or around 71 days' supply.

  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many days' supply of grain are currently in store in the United Kingdom(a) in intervention storage and (b) in all storage.

  Mr. Ryder
  United Kingdom intervention stocks of wheat and barley at 30 June represented about 15 days' supply of grain. The end season stock of grain in all storage is estimated to represent about 65 days' supply which, with the 1989 harvest in progress, is likely to be more than sufficient to meet industry's short-term requirements.

  Intervention Stocks
  Sir Geoffrey Johnson Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by how much intervention stocks of butter, skimmed milk powder, beef, olive oil and cereals, have fallen in recent years(a) in the United Kingdom and (b) in the European Community.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The tables show current and peak levels of intervention stocks of butter, skimmed milk powder, beef, olive oil, and cereals,(a) in the United Kingdom, (b) in the European Community, and the percentage by which those stocks have fallen.

  Commodity

  Peak level

  Current level

  Per cent. reduction

  (a) United Kingdom Stocks (thousand tonnes)

  Butter

  269

  12

  96

  August 1986

  May 1989

  SMP

  220

  0

  100

  October 1983

  May 1989

  Beef

  86

  18

  79

  December 1985

  May 1989

  Olive oil

  0

  0

  —

  Total cereals

  6,013

  639

  89

  November 1985

  June 1989

  Durum

  0

  0

  —

  Wheat

  3,926

  25

  99

  November 1985

  June 1989

  Barley

  2,087

  614

  71

  November 1985

  June 1989

  Rye

  0

  0

  —

  (b) EC Stocks (thousand tonnes)

  Butter

  1,398

  45

  97

  August 1986

  May 1989

  99

  Commodity

  Peak level

  Current level

  Per cent. reduction

  SMP

  1,063

  7

  99

  September 1986

  May 1989

  Beef

  711

  331

  53

  September 1985

  April 1989

  Olive oil

  417

  241

  42

  September 1988

  June 1989

  Total cereals

  18,193

  7,330

  60

  October 1985

  June 1989

  Durum

  2,348

  1,161

  51

  July/August 1988

  June 1989

  Wheat

  11,843

  2,253

  81

  October 1985

  June 1989

  Barley

  5,226

  2,857

  45

  July 1986

  June 1989

  Rye

  1,164

  1,059

  9

  June/July 1987

  June 1989

  Anthrax
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what controls he has over the importation of anthrax vaccine; whether he has prevented anthrax vaccine being imported into the United Kingdom during the current year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  In order to maintain the safety, quality and efficacy of veterinary medicines, including vaccines, imports are subject to a product licence under the Medicines Act. No product licences have been sought or issued for imported anthrax vaccine.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he proposes to amend the Anthrax Order 1938 to permit compensation on slaughtering; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Davies) on 14 July 1989 at column 667.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the monitoring procedures for animals on farms when an outbreak of anthrax occurs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Anthrax is an acute disease typified by sudden death. Monitoring of live animals present on a premises where anthrax has occurred and where restrictions are in force is generally carried out by the owner, who is advised by his private veterinary surgeon. The Anthrax Order of 1938 makes provision for non-suspect animals to be sent direct to a slaughterhouse provided the movement is made with the written permission of the local authority.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will give the quantities of anthrax vaccine he has had available for use in each of the last 12 months;

  (2) if he will list the circumstances in which he will use anthrax vaccine; what controls he will impose on its production and use; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) on what date his Department started to produce anthrax vaccine; when it will be ready for use; and if he will make a statement;
  100
  (4) what stocks of anthrax vaccine other than the stock produced by the Ministry are available; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Anthrax vaccine is generally used by farmers to protect cattle that graze land contaminated in the past with anthrax spores. In rare circumstances it can be used to control an outbreak. The Government do not hold and have not held stocks of vaccine. Commercial production was discontinued in 1986, and commercial supplies of anthrax vaccine for animals have been unavailable since October 1988 when existing stocks became exhausted. We are investigating the possibility of alternative sources.

  To deal with the outbreak of anthrax in Wales we are, as an extraordinary measure, making arrangements for an emergency supply of vaccine to be produced at my Department's veterinary laboratory. Production began on 10 July 1989 and it should be ready for use before the end of August, provided that no unexpected problems are encountered.

  The production and supply of any medicinal product must satisfy the requirements of the Medicines Act 1968.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many(a) cows, (b) pigs and (c) sheep died in each year since 1982; and how many he expects will die in 1989.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The information requested in respect of anthrax is as follows:

  (a) Cattle

  (b) Pigs

  (c) Sheep

  1982

  17

  1

  —

  1983

  13

  1

  —

  1984

  9

  —

  —

  1985

  6

  —

  —

  1986

  12

  —

  2

  1987

  6

  —

  —

  1988

  3

  —

  —

  19891

  1

  14

  —

  1 To date.

  It is not possible to predict how many more animals will die of anthrax during the rest of 1989.

  Seals
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what instructions he has given to the state veterinary service about monitoring the death of seals in the North sea; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  None. The Department of the Environment has primary responsibility for matters concerning the recent epidemic of disease in seals.

  Pollution
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking to reduce the flow of nitrates and phosphates into the Thames, Humber, Tyne and Forth estuaries; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ryder
  As part of the Ministry's promotion of the code of good agricultural practice, ADAS advises farmers to follow practices designed to reduce the leaching of fertilisers, including nitrates and phosphates, into rivers and water sources.

  Post Mortems
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many(a) cows, (b) pigs and (c) sheep received post mortem inspections for each year since 1982; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Because of the risk of spreading disease, suspected cases of anthrax are not subject to full post-mortem examination. Initial diagnosis is carried out by microscopic examination of stained smears of blood or other tissue fluids. The numbers of animals investigated as suspect cases are set out in the table. These cannot be separately identified by species but the majority will have been for cattle.

  Number

  1982

  10,656

  1983

  13,215

  1984

  12,149

  1985

  15,101

  1986

  12,435

  1987

  12,122

  1988

  11,150

  1989 (to date)

  3,813

  Sheep Variable Premium
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the highest amount payable under the sheep variable premiums scheme for an individual lamb, of maximum eligible weight, in the week of highest subsidy, during the marketing year 1988.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  A sum of £32·25154 would have been payable on a carcase of maximum eligible weight in the week commencing 22 February, which was the week of highest subsidy in 1988.

ENVIRONMENT

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many(a) admission and (b) denial response notices were issued on the right to buy by local authorities by each region in England and England as a whole during (a) 1980–81, (b) 1981–82, (c) 1982–83, (d) 1983–84, (e) 1984–85, (f) 1985–86, (g) 1986–87, (h) 1987–88 and (j) 1988–89, for (i) full ownership and (ii) shared ownership;

  (2) how many right-to-buy claims were received for full ownership of (a) houses and (b) flats by each region in England and England as a whole during (i) 1980–81, (ii) 1981–82, (iii) 1982–83, (iv) 1983–84, (v) 1984–85, (vi) 1985–86, (vii) 1986–87, (viii) 1987–88 and (ix) 1988–89;

  (3) what was the number of completed disposals for refurbishment and resale, including those to be demolished, of local authority dwellings to private developers and housing associations by each region in England and for England as a whole during (a) 1980–81, (b) 1981–82, (c) 1982–83, (d) 1983–84, (e) 1984–85, (f) 1985–86, (g) 1986–87, (h) 1987–88 and (i) 1988–89;

  (4) what was the number of completed disposals of council dwellings for shared ownership (a) built for sale, (b) improved for sale, (c) sold unimproved for improvement by purchaser, (d) to sitting tenants and (e)
  102
  other sales, in each region in England and for England as a whole during (i) 1980–81, (ii) 1981–82, (iii) 1982–83, (iv) 1983–84, (v) 1984–85, (vi) 1985–86, (vii) 1986–87, (viii) 1987–88 and (ix) 1988–89;

  (5) what was the number of completed disposals of council dwellings for full ownership (a) built for sale, (b) improved for sale, (c) sold unimproved for improvement by purchaser, (d) to sitting tenants and (e) other sales, in each region in England and for England as a whole during (i) 1980–81, (ii) 1981–82, (iii) 1982–83, (iv) 1983–84, (v) 1984–85, (vi) 1985–86, (vii) 1986–87, (viii) 1987–88 and (ix) 1988–89;

  (6) what was the number of completed right-to-buy sales where the authority does not own the freehold of (a) houses and (b) flats by each region in England and for England as a whole during (i) 1980–81, (ii) 1981–82, (iii) 1982–83, (iv) 1983–84, (v) 1984–85, (vi) 1985–86, (vii) 1986–87, (viii) 1987–88 and (ix) 1988–89;

  (7) what was the number of local authority mortgages on completed disposals of (a) full ownership and (b) shared ownership by each region in England and for England as a whole during (i) 1980–81, (ii) 1981–82, (iii) 1982–83, (iv) 1983–84, (v) 1984–85, (vi) 1985–86, (vii) 1986–87, (viii) 1987–88 and (ix) 1988–89;

  (8) what was the selling price net of discounts of completed disposals (a) built for sale, (b) improved for sale, (c) sold unimproved for improvement by purchaser, (d) to sitting tenants and (e) other sales, for each region in England and for England as a whole during (i) 1980–81, (ii) 1981–82, (iii) 1982–83, (iv) 1983–84, (v) 1984–85, (vi) 1985–86, (vii) 1986–87, (viii) 1987–88 and (ix) 1988–89, for full ownership and shared ownership;

  (9) what was the selling price of disposals net of discounts completed for each region in England and for England as a whole, during (a) 1980–81, (b) 1981–82, (c) 1982–83, (d) 1983–84, (e) 1984–85, (f) 1985–86, (g) 1986–87, (h) 1987–88 and (i) 1988–89;

  (10) what was the total number of completed disposals for full ownership of (a) council houses and (b) flats by each region in England and for England as a whole during (i) 1980–81, (ii) 1981–82, (iii) 1982–83, (iv) 1983–84, (v) 1984–85, (vi) 1985–86, (vii) 1986–87, (viii) 1987–88 and (ix) 1988–89;

  (11) what was the total value of discounts allowed on completed disposals by each region in England and for England as a whole during (a) 1980–81, (b) 1981–82, (c) 1982–83, (d) 1983–84, (e) 1984–85, (f) 1985–86, (g) 1986–87, (h) 1987–88 and (i) 1988–89;

  (12) what was the value of mortgages for each region in England and for England as a whole during (a) 1980–81, (b) 1981–82, (c) 1982–83, (d) 1983–84, (e) 1984–85, (f) 1985–86, (g) 1986–87, (h) 1987–88 and (i) 1988–89.

  Mr. Trippier
  The available information has been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what was the number of admitted claims withdrawn under(a) right to full ownership and (b) right to shared ownership by each region in England and in England as a whole during each year from 1980–81 to 1988–89;

  (2) what was the number of completed disposals of local authority dwellings built and financed by private developers on local authority land by each region in

  103
  England and for England as a whole during each year from 1980–81 to 1988–89, for (i) full ownership and (ii) shared ownership;

  (3) what was the value of the capital receipts from (a) the sale or lease of land, (b) other assets except dwellings, (c) initial payments from sale of dwellings, (d) repayment of discount and (e) repayment of sums left outstanding, by each region in England and for England as a whole during each year from 1980–81 to 1988–89;

  (4) what were the gross payments by local authorities on (a) the aquisition and (b) improvement of dwellings for sale entering the improvement for sale scheme by each region in England and for England as a whole during each year from 1980–81 to 1988–89;

  (5) what were the gross payments by local authorities on (a) the aquisition of dwellings for sale and improvement by the purchaser, (b) other aquisitions and (c) improvement/conversion of other dwellings for sale, for each region in England and for England as a whole during each year from 1980–81 to 1988–89.

  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 10 July 1989]: The available information has been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the number of completions of(a) house and (b) flat sales by local authorities, by each region in England and in England as a whole during each year from 1980–81 to 1988–89, for (1) full ownership and (2) shared ownership.

  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 10 July 1989]: The information requested has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Dredgings Dump Sites
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultation procedure is carried out for the licensing of dredgings dump sites in intertidal areas; which statutory and non-statutory authorities are consulted; whether licences are registered with the relevant local authorities; and at which stage landowners are likely to be affected by spoil disposal and are consulted.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I have been asked to reply.

  The disposal of dredgings at sea, including sites in intertidal areas, is regulated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food under part II of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985.

  In considering whether to establish a new marine disposal site the Ministry consults bodies understood to have an interest. These would include landowners, local authorities, the Crown Estates Commission, conservation bodies, including where relevant the Nature Conservancy Council, fisheries organisations, the Department of Transport, recreational and other local interests.

  Where an application is made to use an existing disposal site in an area designated as a site of special scientific Interest, the Ministry also consults the Nature Conservancy Council.

  Licences under part II of the Act are not registered with local authorities, but are available for inspection on a public register kept by the Ministry.

  New House Building
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the gross payments on new house building construction by each region in England and for England as a whole during(a) 1980–81, (b) 1981–82, (c) 1982–83, (d) 1983–84, (e) 1984–85, (f) 1985–86, (g) 1986–87, (h) 1987–88 and (i) 1988–89, for (i) housing revenue accounts rent and (ii) sales.

  Mr. Trippier
  The England figures are given in the table. Regional figures on a consistent basis with final adjusted England are not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Gross payments on new housebuilding England £ million

  For HRA rent

  For sale

  1980–81

  1965·2

  1981–82

  1719·8

  1982–83

  685·2

  14·6

  1983–84

  682·4

  15·7

  1984–85

  729·5

  22·4

  1985–86

  578·8

  14·7

  1986–87

  257·5

  24·0

  1987–88

  2456·8

  23·2

  31988–89

  505·0

  23·0

  1 Separate figures of build for sale not available for 1980–81 and 1981–82.

  2 Include LA demolition of dwellings.

  Provisional

  Council Properties, Northamptonshire
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report the number of council-owned properties in unlicensed occupation for each local authority in Northamptonshire at the latest convenient date.

  Mr. Trippier
  According to local authorities' housing investment programme returns (HIP1) there were no council dwellings in unlicensed occupation in Northamptonshire at April 1988. Returns for April 1989 are not yet available.

  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report the number of local authority-owned properties vacant at the most recent date for each local authority in Northamptonshire together with the number, by local authority vacant for (a) six months or more, (b) 12 months or more, (c) 24 months and (d) 36 months.

  Mr. Trippier
  Information for April 1988 was reported by local authorities in their annual housing investment programme returns (HIP1) and appears in columns A108, A118 and Al28 of "HIP1 Items Print (1988)". A copy of this document is in the Library.

  Environmental Protection
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received arising from the meeting of African Environment Ministers, held in Nairobi between 11 and 13 May in the current year,
  105
  concerning (a) United Kingdom developed environmental protection technologies and (b) proposals to dispose of United Kingdom toxic waste in Africa; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  No representations have been received by the Department of the Environment arising from this meeting of African Environment Ministers. Aid for the provision of environmental protection technologies is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Overseas Development. Any export of United Kingdom hazardous waste to Africa would be subject to the prior approval of the Secretary of State for the Environment under the Transfrontier Shipment of Hazardous Waste Regulations 1988. No such approvals have been granted.

  Building Research Establishment
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last visited the Building Research Establishment; and what was discussed.

  Mr. Trippier
  My right hon. Friend last visited the Building Research Establishment on 5 August 1987. On that occasion, he saw several of the establishment's research projects, and discussed progress in implementing the recommendations of the report by Lord Chilver and Sir Peter Harrop on the future role and operations of the BRE. Since then, he has announced that it is a candidate for executive agency status within his Department.

  Building Research Establishment
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to visit the Building Research Establishment in the near future to discuss research on low-energy housing and advanced insulation techniques; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  My right hon. Friend has no plans at present to visit the Building Research Establishment. The Building Research Establishment's research into the thermal performance of buildings and other aspects of thermal insulation contributed substantially to the proposed changes in building regulations which were announced on 11 July. The Building Research Establishment will be publishing guidance to assist designers and builders to meet the new regulations.

  Uranium
  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what volumes of depleted uranium and uranium scrap have been monitored and licensed by(a) Her Majesty's pollution inspectorate and (b) the nuclear installations inspectorate at the British Nuclear Fuels sites at (i) Springfields, (ii) Capenhurst, (iii) Sellafield and (iv) Chapel Cross.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy on 27 June 1989 to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn),Official Report, column 387, which refers to civil depleted uranium and civil uranium to be recycled within the production process.

  Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution is responsible jointly with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and
  106
  Food for the authorisation of radioactive waste disposals, including uranium waste products, from nuclear sites under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960. Responsibility for the licensing of nuclear sites lies with the nuclear installations inspectorate under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965.

  Cowboy Builders
  Mr. McCrindle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what progress has been made on overcoming problems associated with cowboy builders following the publication of the Department's special working party report in 1987;

  (2) whether he is considering legislation to deal with cowboy builders.

  Mr. Trippier
  There are no plans for legislation. The Government made clear in their response to the report of the "Beat the Cowboys" working party that the industry must take the lead in setting up an assessment and approval scheme for insurance-backed guarantees which will increase customer recognition of the reputable builder. The industry has not yet decided which body should undertake this task. Criteria for the assessment of guarantee schemes and a model "fair deal" contract for use in small building works are being developed by the Office of Fair Trading.

  Housing Action Trust (Southwark)
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how the tenancies of tenants of Southwark council in Gloucester grove and north Peckham estates will change in the event of a housing action trust being created in Southwark;

  (2) whether the terms of the new tenancy agreements in any housing action trust established in Southwark will be subject to change by the housing action trust.

  Mr. Trippier
  If secure tenants of Southwark council transferred to a housing action trust, their existing tenancy agreements with the council would also be transferred without change to the trust and their status as secure tenants under the Housing Act 1985 would be unaffected. A trust, like the council, could vary only any non-statutory terms included in tenancy agreements. To do this, the trust would be required to follow the procedures in sections 102 and 103 of the Housing Act 1985.

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the options of postal and personal voting will be available to all tenants in any ballot on the proposed creation of a housing action trust in Southwark.

  Mr. Trippier
  The Electoral Reform Society has agreed to conduct housing action trust ballots. Under the terms of section 61(3)(a) of the Housing Act 1988 the society will be responsible for making the detailed ballot arrangements "in such manner as seems best to them".

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment in the event of a housing action trust being established in Southwark, what proportion of current rent arrears will be left(a) to Southwark council to recover and (b) made the responsibility of the housing action trust.

  Mr. Trippier
  We shall decide in due course how to treat outstanding rent arrears on property transferred to
  107
  housing action trusts. In the meantime, the local authorities concerned remain responsible for the proper and efficient collection of rents that are due, for the benefit of all their tenants and rate or community charge payers. My right hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government announced proposals on 26 June, Official Report, column 345, for the financial management by local authorities of their rent arrears from 1 April 1990.

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the minimum interval he will set between any votes to establish a housing action trust in Southwark in the event of a negative vote;

  (2) what will be the outcome of conflicting results in any ballot on the establishment of a housing action trust in (a) the North Peckham estate and (b) the Gloucester Grove estate.

  Mr. Trippier
  It is premature to speculate on the outcome of any housing action trust ballots.

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what powers any housing action trust created in Southwark will have to evict tenants.

  Mr. Trippier
  Any housing action trust set up in Southwark would have exactly the same powers as Southwark council to secure possession of dwellings occupied by tenants. The grounds for possession of dwellings let under secure tenancies are in schedule 2 to the Housing Act 1985.

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps will he taken to ensure that the register of tenants eligible to vote in any ballot on the proposed creation of a housing action trust in Southwark has been compiled correctly.

  Mr. Trippier
  Section 61(2) of the Housing Act 1988 requires the Secretary of State to use his best endeavours to secure that notice of any proposal he is considering to designate an area as a housing action trust area is given to all tenants of houses in the area who are secure tenants or who are tenants of such description as may be prescribed by regulations. We shall seek the assistance of the local authority, using the powers available under section 90 as necessary, in carrying out our duty under section 61. I am sure that local authorities will want to co-operate in providing the necessary information so that all eligible tenants have a proper opportunity to express their views in a ballot.

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what will be the relationship between any housing action trust and those tenants who had exercised their right to buy in the event of a housing action trust being created in Southwark.

  Mr. Trippier
  If a housing action trust were set up in Southwark the ownership of the freehold of properties whose owners had bought a long lease from the council would pass to the trust. The position of any owners who have bought the freehold of their homes would not change.

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether rent levels will be set beneath the level of maximum housing benefit in any housing action trust established in Southwark.

  Mr. Trippier
  Housing benefit will meet in full the housing costs of qualifying tenants; and local authorities 108
  will receive subsidy on housing benefit paid up to the level of market rents. Rents charged by housing action trusts will be linked, after improvements have been carried out, to council rents for similar properties in the area. Since we are not proposing that council rents should be set at market levels, the rents charged by any trust set up in Southwark should not be above the level at which housing benefit would be paid.

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the tenancies of residents of Gloucester grove and north Peckham estates will he statutorily secure(a) during the duration of any housing action trust and (b) after the winding-up of any housing action trust.

  Mr. Trippier
  Secure tenants of Southwark council who transferred to a trust would become secure tenants of the trust. Once the trust had carried out improvements tenants might transfer back to the council and become secure tenants again. Alternatively they might opt to become assured tenants of a landlord, such as a housing association or co-operative, that is approved by the Housing Corporation and, therefore, subscribes to the principles in the tenants' guarantee.

  Travellers' Sites
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will use powers under the Caravan Sites Act 1968 to require Calderdale local authority to provide travellers' sites; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  I have no plans at present to direct the metropolitan borough of Calderdale to provide travellers' sites. I am aware of the need for gipsy accommodation in the area and my Department is encouraging the local authority to define the level of need and to implement an appropriate programme of provision.

  Ministerial Drivers (Earnings)
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report the annual average earnings of ministerial drivers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ridley
  The average earnings of Government car service ministerial drivers in the year to 31 March 1989 was £15,500 inclusive of London weighting and overtime. The highest earnings were £25,000.

  Redundant Churches
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is now in a position to announce details of the proposed review of the arrangements for preserving redundant Church of England churches.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The redundant churches fund has now been in existence for 20 years. During that time it has done an excellent job in preserving and caring for some 250 historic churches no longer in pastoral use. The fund is jointly financed by the Church Commissioners and the Department of the Environment. Over the years the costs, to Church and state, have increased steadily, with the state meeting an increasing proportion (now standing at 70 per cent.) of those costs.

  In moving the consideration in Standing Committee on 8 February last of the draft Grants to the Redundant

  109
  Churches Fund Order 1988, I announced that we had decided, in consultation with the Church Commissioners, to review the fund's current arrangements and to consider whether they were still appropriate for present and likely future needs.

  I am pleased to announce that Mr. Richard Wilding, former head of the Office of Arts and Libraries, has agreed to carry out a review of the current arrangements for the operation and financing of the redundant churches fund.

  The review will be carried out for the Department and the Church Commissioners. Mr. Wilding will start work in September this year and aims to report to the Secretary of State and to the Church Commissioners by April 1990. He would welcome views and comments, which should be sent to him at the offices of the Church Commissioners, 1 Millbank, London SW1.

  Improvement for Sale Scheme
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how much was loaned to housing associations by local authorities for new house building(a) for shared ownership and (b) for others in each region in England and for England as a whole during each year from 1980–81 to 1988–89;

  (2) what was the value of the loans to housing associations by local authorities for the purchase of existing dwellings (a) under the improvement for sale scheme and (b) other sales schemes, by each region in England and for England as a whole during each year from 1980–81 to 1988–89.

  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 10 July 1989]The available information has been placed in the Library.

  Dwellings (Transfers)
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what was the number of dwellings transferred from existing stock under the improvement for sale scheme by each region in England and for England as a whole during each year from 1980–81 to 1988–89;

  (2) what was the value of the outstanding loan debt on local authority dwellings transferred from existing stock by each region in England and for England as a whole during each year from 1980–81 to 1988–89.

  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 10 July 1989]: The available information is listed in the table. Regional and national estimates of outstanding loan debt on dwellings transferred under improvement for sale schemes are not available.

  Transfers under the improvement sale scheme: Dwellings transferred from existing stock

  Department of the Environment region

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  Northern

  43

  44

  149

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  12

  —

  39

  East Midlands

  777

  85

  50

  Eastern

  15

  —

  25

  London

  —

  —

  —

  South East

  —

  —

  —

  South West

  30

  —

  886

  West Midlands

  74

  —

  —

  North West1

  4

  7

  39

  ENGLAND

  955

  136

  1,188

  1 Includes Cumbria.

  Water Quality
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he has replied to the European Commission's request for clarification on the compatibility of the Government's plans for the privatisation of the water authorities and European Community directive on water quality, with particular regard to bodies responsible for monitoring compliance of drinking water;

  (2) if he has replied to the European Commission's request for clarification on the compatibility of the Government's plans for the privatisation of the water authorities and European Community directive on water quality, with particular regard as to whether there will be an independent body monitoring the disposal of sewage sludge to agricultural land in accordance with directive 86/278/EEC;

  (3) if he has replied to the European Commission's request for clarification on the compatibility of the Government's plans for the privatisation of the water authorities and European Community directive on water quality, with particular regard to those circumstances in which water undertakings may be permitted to continue to supply drinking water which does not conform with the parameters laid down in directive 80/778/EEC;

  (4) if he has replied to the European Commission's request for clarification on the compatibility of the Government's plans for privatisation of the water authorities and European Community directive on water quality, with particular regard as to which pollution control functions of the National Rivers Authority are considered by the Government to be suitable for contracting out;

  (5) if he has replied to the European Commission's request for clarification on the compatibility of the Government's plans for the privatisation of the water authorities and European Community directives on water quality with particular regard to whether the Government's relaxation of sewage works discharge consents prior to privatisation is consistent with article 2 of directive 76/464/EEC on dangerous substances.

  Mr. Ridley
  [holding answer 13 July 1989]Discussions have taken place with the European Commission on the drinking water quality provisions which are now incorporated in the Water Act 1989. I am not aware of any outstanding points on these provisions to be clarified with the Commission. A reply was sent to the Commission on 11 January 1989 clarifying the other points raised.

  Discharge Consents
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all those sewage works for which a relaxation of discharge consent has been granted at the latest available date for each water authority region.

  Mr. Ridley
  [holding answer 13 July 1989]: A list of the sewage treatment works for which applications have been made by water authorities for time-limited discharge consents has been placed in the Library. These applications are being advertised. Representations received by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution in response to these advertisements will be fully considered in determining the applications. No time-limited consents have so far been issued.

  European Regional Development Fund
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment under what criteria the privatised water undertakers will be eligible for grants from the European regional development fund.

  Mr. Ridley
  [holding answer 13 July 1989]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply which my hon. and learned Friend the Minister for Water and Planning gave to the hon. Member for Dewsbury (Mrs. Taylor) on 2 May, Official Report, column 57. The European Commission has agreed to continue to consider applications for aid from the European regional development fund in respect of investments in infrastructure by privatised water undertakers. We are in discussion with the Commission over its detailed requirements.

  Recycling
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will detail all the Government initiatives aimed at encouraging the recycling of glass and paper since 1981.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 17 July 1989]: I have been asked to reply.

  Since 1981 the Government have been involved in a number of initiatives aimed at encouraging the recycling of glass and paper, from both the collection and processing aspects.

  In July 1986 a commitment conference was held at DTI on glass recycling at which central and local government, retailers and the glass industry made a commitment to double the number of bottle banks in the five years up to 1991. Good progress is being made towards reaching this target. Following the conference, the Department of Environment held a series of seminars in each region at which local authorities discussed the benefits of glass recycling. Ministers and officials from both DTI and DOE have attended several events to promote glass recycling, including the launch of bottle bank schemes.

  In January 1987, my Department organised a waste paper recycling commitment conference (printings and writings) which led to the creation of a working group to consider the formulation of specifications which would lead to increased use of recycled fibre in the printings and writings sector, particularly continuous stationery, educational wove and photocopying paper. Specifications have been formulated in these first two areas; work is continuing in the latter.

  Between May and August 1989, my Department is organising a series of seminars, "Wastepaper Into Newsprint—The Case for a National Wastepaper Collection Drive", aimed at averting a perceived future shortfall in the supply of waste newspapers used as a raw material in the production of newsprint in the United Kingdom.

  The DTI is taking a lead in Government in trying to encourage other Departments to use recycled paper and has recently introduced a recycled letterhead for Ministers. The DTI is also encouraging the recycling of materials including glass and paper through the educational literature it has produced for schools. These actions are part of an integrated Government approach to encourage the recycling of all materials wherever it is economically viable to do so.

SCOTLAND

  Employment Training
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he collects as a result of participation on employment training schemes; and if he will give a breakdown for Scotland.

  Mr. Lang
  The latest available information for Scotland collected in respect of employment training is shown in the tables.

  Table 1

  Employment training—Scotland Programme statistics

  Category

  Latest information

  Numbers

  Filled places at training managers

  30 June

  23,200

  Starts at training managers

  30 June

  41,600

  Referrals from Employment Service to training agents

  30 June

  127,200

  Action plans completed at training agents

  30 June

  59,800

  Contracted places as at

  May

  34,900

  Estimated project placements as at

  30 June

  14,500

  Estimated employer placements as at

  30 June

  4,800

  Child care allowances during April

  28 April

  349

  Table 2

  Employment training—Scotland Trainee characteristics

  Category

  Latest information

  Percentage

  Sex

  30 April

  Male

  72·0

  Female

  28·0

  Duration of unemployment

  30 April

  0–5 months

  13·0

  6–12 months

  35·0

  13·23 months

  15·0

  24 months

  37·0

  Ethnic origin1

  30 April

  1

  95·0

  2

  <0·5

  3

  <0·5

  4

  <0·5

  5

  3·0

  People with disabilities2

  31 March

  11·0

  1 Ethnic origin:

  1 White.

  2 Black/African/Caribbean.

  3 Indian/Pakistan/Bangladeshi/Sri Lankan.

  4 None of these.

  5 I prefer not to say.

  2 Those trainees answering whether they had a long-term health problem or disability which affected the type of work they could do.

  Percentages may not sum to 100 because of rounding.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Dr. Reid
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the progress his Department is making for the development of TECs in Scotland.

  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to ensure that existing training schemes in Scotland will not be prejudiced by the proposed training and enterprise councils system.
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  Mr. Lang
  Our proposals for Scotland were set out in the Scottish enterprise White Paper. We will announce our final decisions shortly.

  Less Favoured Areas
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the reply of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to the hon. Member for Gloucestershire, West (Mr. Marland) on 21 June,Official Report, column 129, about proposed extensions to the less favoured areas in the United Kingdom, when he expects to place the relevant maps for Scotland in the Library.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The maps showing the areas in Scotland proposed for inclusion in the less-favoured areas are now in the Library.

  Medical and Dental Practitioners
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce measures to name general medical and dental practitioners who have been found to be in breach of their terms of service.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  We are examining the extent to which current practice in relation to publicising the outcome of service committee proceedings might be changed.

  Trees
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will instruct the Forestry Commission to ensure that the current reviews of pinewoods and broadleaves' policies are fully compatible; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  We shall continue to ensure that all aspects of our forestry policy, including those relating to broadleaves and pinewoods, are fully compatible.

  AIDS
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met representatives of the Prison Officers' Association to discuss the incidence of AIDS amongst the Scottish prison population; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. and learned Friend last met the trade union side of the Scottish prison service, including representatives of the Scottish Prison Officers' Association, in December 1988. The incidence of AIDS amongst the Scottish prison population was not discussed. AIDS-related issues have been discussed regularly by officials with the trade union side, most recently at the annual meeting of the Whitley Council in May.

  As regards figures for the incidence of AIDS amongst the Scottish prison population I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 5 July at column 206.

  Speech Therapy
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to obtain and record centrally the schools in Scotland which are provided with speech therapy services.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Speech therapy may be provided in any school where there is need of it.

  Community Charge
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he intends to issue a guidance note to Scottish local authorities on the matter of joint and several liability as it relates to the poll tax in Scotland; and whether he has any plans to seek to amend the legislation to bring it into line with the situation in England and Wales as set out in practice note No. 16.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The statutory provisions which are relevant to joint and several liability in Scotland, contained in the Abolition of Domestic Rates Etc. (Scotland) Act 1987, as amended, have broadly the same effect as those which will apply in England and Wales under the Local Government Finance Act 1988. My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans to issue a guidance note on this subject.

  Mr. Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he intends to grant to local authorities in Scotland the discretion allowed to local authorities in England and Wales of setting different levels of multiplier on different classes of properties where the standard community charge applies.

  Mr. Rifkind
  I am currently considering a number of aspects of the standard community charge arrangements.

  Lay Observer for Scotland
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has any proposals to increase the resources available to the Lay Observer for Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The resources available to the Lay Observer for Scotland fall within my right hon. and learned Friend's current consideration of the responses he has received to the proposals in his consultation paper "The Legal Profession in Scotland", published on 13 March 1989, that the office of the Lay Observer for Scotland might be enhanced.

  Food Poisoning
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what research projects on botulism, salmonella enteriditis, typhimurium and other food poisoning are at present carried out in Scotland; and where.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 3 July 1989]: Research projects, of which I am aware, include the following:
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  Location

  Nature

  MAFF, Torry Research Station, Aberdeen

  Investigate the incidence and survival of clostridium bolulinum, listeria monocytogenes and other types of food bacteria and the survival of microbial toxins during cooking.

  To develop assays for the micro-biological examination of fish and shellfish products including clostridium botulinum, salmonella and listeria and to develop safety parameters.

  To identify the most effective ways of eliminating salmonella and other contamination from fish meal products.

  To detect and quantify toxins including scrombotoxin and devise means of increasing safety of processed fish products.

  Communicable Diseases Unit, Ruchill Hospital, Glasgow

  Case control study to test whether the consumption or handling of certain foods are risk factors in acquiring listeriosis.

  Scottish Food Research Consortium, Hannah Research Institute, Ayr

  Research into listeria monocytogenes and bacillus cereus in powdered milk.

  Aberdeen University

  Establish tests for listeria monocytogenes.

  Glasgow Veterinary School

  Development of salmonella typhimurium and salmonella enteritidis vaccines for hens and their unborn chickens. Also development of a test for identifying the presence of these infections in eggs.

  Investigation into the penetration of salmonella enteritidis through egg shells and its effect on egg quality.

  Glasgow University

  Investigation of the pathogenic mechanism, toxin production and serology of campylobacter species.

  North of Scotland College of Agriculture, Aberdeen

  Investigate sources of listeria in clamp and bale silage as a source of infection in the food chain.

  Improve detection of causative agent and for vaccine development identify, isolate and characterise antigens of listeria monocytogenes and to assess their effect on the virulence of the organism for sheep and mice.

  West of Scotland College of

  Investigate factors affecting the bacteriological quality of milk.

  Agriculture, Ayr

  Devise rapid method of detection of contamination in milk from major organisms causing mastitis.

  Investigate the microbiological contamination of poultry meat.

  Investigate lactic fermentation for preparation of sausage type products with poultry meat including the effect on salmonella species and other bacteria.

  Study experimental infection of birds with salmonella enteritidis phage type 4 with particular reference to egg infection.

  Investigate the factors affecting bacterial contamination of egg surfaces and bacterial penetration of the egg.

  Undertake pilot studies into novel methods of bacterial investigation of salmonella in eggs and improved methods of detecting antibodies in eggs.

  Moredun Research Institute, Edinburgh

  Undertake immunochemical analysis of listerial species cell surface antigens for detection purposes.

  Investigate the means by which listeria gains entry to the host and causes disease in sheep.

  Crofting
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to complete his review into the crofter housing grant and loans scheme; and in what form his findings will be made public.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 11 July 1989]: My right hon. and learned Friend hopes to complete the review of the size and nature of grants and loans for new croft houses and existing croft houses under the current scheme in time for revised rates to be introduced in 1990–91 and announced when the new rates come into force. A wider review of assistance to crofter housing within the context of the Government's overall
  116
  housing policy is in hand. Work on this is, however, at an early stage and has not as yet progressed sufficiently to enable a view to be taken on the nature and timing of any announcement of the outcome of the review.

  Electoral Registers
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the numbers of electors on the electoral register for each constituency in Scotland for the latest three years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Rifkind
  I refer the hon. Member to table 1.4 in the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys "Series EL No
  117
  16" for the numbers in 1989 and to table 1.4 in "Series EL No. 15" for those in 1988 and 1987. Copies of these publications are in the Library.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Liquor Sales
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on his proposals to extend the permitted hours for off-licences and reduce the permitted hours for off sales at other licensed premises and hotels.

  Mr. Needham
  The Government have no proposals to extend the permitted hours for off-licences, but have published proposals to ban all off-sales from any type of licensed premises after 9 pm. These proposals are aimed at putting all off-licences on a more even trading basis, as well as reducing the problems of late night drinking in public which have been the cause of widespread concern.

  Police National Computer
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many accesses were made to each category of the stolen and suspect vehicle index of the police national computer over the last year; and what has been the percentage growth in use of these categories over the year;

  (2) how many accesses were made to each category of the wanted and missing persons index of the police national computer over the last year; and what has been the percentage growth in use of these categories over the year;

  (3) how many accesses were made to each index of the police national computer over the last year; and whether he will include in these statistics an indication of the number of access requests that could search more than one index.

  Mr. Cope
  The Royal Ulster Constabulary does not have direct access to the police national computer but can indirectly obtain information from the computer by arrangement with police forces in Great Britain. Statistics are not maintained by the RUC on the numbers of enquiries made each year, but I understand from the Chief Constable that usage of this facility is infrequent.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Members' Allowances
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will announce the proposed increase in hon. Members' office cost allowance for 1989–90 to enable hon. Members to award their staff their annual increase in pay.

  Mr. Wakeham
  Negotiations over London weighting, which affect the pay of a senior personal secretary in the home Civil Service (to which the office cost allowance is linked) have recently been concluded. I hope that I shall shortly be in a position to promulgate the new rate of office cost allowance.

CIVIL SERVICE

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service what recent progress has been made in the Civil Service to achieve further equality of opportunity for women staff.

  Mr. Luce
  The proportion of women at middle and senior management levels in the Civil Service is increasing. At the beginning of 1988, women represented 5 per cent. of staff in the top three grades of the service compared with 4 per cent. at the beginning of 1987, 9 per cent. of staff at grade five level compared with 8 per cent. in 1987 and 37 per cent. at executive officer level compared with 34 per cent. in 1987. The Civil Service has also increased opportunities for part-time working and job sharing at all grade levels; is increasing the availability of childcare facilities; and improving career break provision. A report detailing progress during 1987–88 on the implementation of equal opportunity policies for women in the Civil Service is being published today. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of Parliament.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Immigration
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many husbands are awaiting interview for entry clearance in Islamabad; and what is the longest waiting time of those presently in the queue.

  Mr. Eggar
  As at 31 May, 1,400 husbands were awaiting interview in Islamabad either as first-time applicants or re-applicants. On present estimates, first-time applicants who applied in May can expect to wait 10 months for interview, re-applicants 22 months.

  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the average waiting time for interview in Islamabad, for entry clearance to the United Kingdom as(a) a husband, (b) a fiancé, (c) a wife and (d) a fiancée.

  Mr. Eggar
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Vaz) on 17 July.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will state for each immigration post abroad(a) the current average time and (b) the current longest outstanding case time, for an appeal against refusal to enter and stay in the United Kingdom from (i) the appeal being submitted and (ii) the date of the hearing being notified to the appellant, to the appeal hearing taking place.

  Mr. Eggar
  Neither the immigration appellate authorities nor the Foreign and Commonwealth Office records information of this nature for each immigration post overseas. The length of time taken for an appeal to be listed for hearing varies, depending on a number of factors including the time taken by the parties to indicate their readiness to proceed. Once parties have so indicated, cases are set down for hearing between six to eight weeks in advance, unless either party requests an adjournment. The great majority of appeals received overseas are forwarded
  119
  to the appellate authorities, with the accompanying explanatory statement, well within 90 days which we regard as an acceptable time scale for the preparation and despatch of explanatory statements. Individual cases may, however, take longer to process depending on what further inquiries the entry clearance officer needs to make in the light of the grounds for appeal.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Local Management of Schools
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what financial support he proposes for local education authorities for Government training for local management of schools in the 1989–90 and 1990–91 years; by what date he expects training for chairman and deputy chairman of training bodies in schools for local management of schools to be completed; when such training for governors should be completed; whether he plans to issue further advice to local education authorities as to the form such training should take; and what advice he proposes to issue in those cases where local education authorities fail either to produce adequate training for governors or at a sensible timetable for achieving this.

  Mr. Butcher
  In 1989–90 the Government are supporting under the education support grant programme expenditure of £4·9 million on governor training and £3 million on training support staff in schools, and, through the local education authority training grants programme, £10 million to provide management training for heads and senior staff in schools. For the year 1990–91 the expenditure supported is £5·1 million for governor training, £2 million for support staff training, and £8 million for headteacher training. Further support will be available in 1991–92. Local education authorities have a statutory duty to provide governors with such training as the local education authority considers necessary. It is for local education authorities to determine the nature and timetable of their training programmes. Local education authorities are required to state in their schemes for the local management of schools what arrangements they have made for support and training; the Department will be monitoring the use of education support grant funds and the level and quality of training provided.

  Graduates
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will state the number of graduates living in(a) Tyne and Wear, (b) County Durham, (c) Essex, (d) Greater London and (e) Berkshire as (i) a percentage of that county's population and (ii) a percentage of the total number of United Kingdom graduates.

  Mr. Jackson
  The information is shown in the table. The figures for graduates are based on a 10 per cent. sample and could therefore be subject to sampling errors.

  Graduates: 1981

  County

  Graduates

  Per cent.1

  Per cent.2

  Tyne and Wear

  31,320

  2·8

  1·5

  County Durham

  16,080

  2·7

  0·8

  Essex

  50,330

  8·0

  2·4

  120

  County

  Graduates

  Per cent.1

  Per cent.2

  Greater London

  361,220

  5·5

  17·1

  Berkshire

  36,430

  5·4

  1·7

  1 As a percentage of county populations.

  2 As a percentage of total number of United Kingdom graduates.

  Source: 1981 Census.

  Hair Preparations (Fire Hazard)
  Mr. Roger King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will issue guidance on the fire hazard in school science laboratories to pupils who use flammable hair preparations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butcher
  Advice on this question has been issued in the Department's booklet "Safety in Science Laboratories" since 1973; this includes a recommendation that long hair should be restrained, especially when lacquered, because of the risk of its catching fire.

  Teacher Recruitment
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his estimate of how many qualified teachers the state education system presently has vacancies for.

  Mr. Butcher
  The Department collects data for vacant posts each January. Data for January 1989 showed vacancies in England for 5,540 teachers out of 363,200 posts: a little over 1·5 per cent.

  Physical Education
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what initiatives his Department has taken to increase the level of participation in school sports; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Education and Science and for the Environment commissioned jointly a report by the Sports Council to examine the provision of sport for young people, including school sport. This was published in August 1988 and the Government's response to the report's recommendations will be issued shortly. In addition, PE, which includes sport, is a foundation subject in the national curriculum. It will therefore form part of the curriculum for every pupil aged five to 16 in a maintained school.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of unfilled physical education posts in schools as a percentage of the total number of physical education posts.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  In January 1989 the number of vacancies for full-time permanent teachers of physical education in maintained secondary schools in England represented 1·2 per cent. of physical education teachers in post. Many of these vacancies will have been filled on a temporary basis pending a permanent appointment.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to establish a physical education working party for the national curriculum; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  My right hon. Friend announced in January 1989 that arrangements for considering the
  121
  content of guidelines for physical education in the national curriculum would be set up in June 1990. It is hoped to bring the guidelines into effect from the autumn term 1992.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether his Department is now able to provide figures for those taking a GCSE in physical education.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  In the summer session of 1988, there were 19,000 candidates in England for the GCSE examination in physical education.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Joblink 1000
  Mrs. Maureen Hicks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many Joblink 1000 programmes have been established by his Department.

  Mr. Forth
  One Joblink 1000 project has been established in the Wolverhampton task force area, but there are similar pilot projects in other task force areas, including Spitalfields and Middlesbrough. Task forces tailor projects to meet local needs; these pilot projects can be incorporated into main Government programmes, but are not programmes themselves.

  Single Market
  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps the Government are taking to help employers prepare for the single market; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  My Department's "Europe Open for Business" campaign provides a comprehensive range of information to help employers prepare for the single market, including detailed factsheets on the single market programme, a series of booklets on standards, a guide to influencing decisions in Brussels, and an action checklist for business. This information is regularly updated and extended. For example, on 20 June, my right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry launched "an action guide for smaller firms" which has been distributed to over 200,000 smaller businesses. Further copies (as for all our material) can be obtained free of charge through our 24 hour telephone hotline 01–200 1992. In addition, practical help and advice for employers preparing for the single market is available through our enterprise initiative and the small firms service operated by the Employment Department's Training Agency, which also provides a range of help for employers on their training needs.

  Restrictive Trade Practices
  Mr. Heddle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he anticipates announcing his conclusions of the review into restrictive trade practices policy.

  Mr. Maude
  The Government's conclusions on the review of restrictive trade practices (RTP) policy are being published today in a White Paper "Opening Markets: New Policy on Restrictive Trade Practices" (Cm. 727).

  The Government strongly believe that open markets are the best guarantee of efficiency in the economy. By
  122
  reducing interference in markets and strengthening competition between businesses, we have unlocked enterprise and effort, so clearing the way towards increased economic growth.

  We are keen to ensure that competition is maintained and enhanced, and have therefore confirmed proposals to introduce significant new legislation to replace the RTP Act 1976. The planned legislation is also expected to incorporate the provisions of the Resale Prices Act 1976. It will focus on the economic effects of an agreement rather than the form which it takes and will also ensure that a substantial number of agreements, which are caught by the present law but which have no effect on competition in the relevant market, will no longer need to be scrutinised by the authorities.

  These proposals, which were first put forward in a Green Paper in March 1988 ("Review of Restrictive Trade Practices Policy"; Cm. 331) have received strong support from a substantial majority of those who responded. They agree that the current Act is too formalistic and does too little to deter the formation of illegal cartels. The proposals will be incorporated into new legislation as soon as the parliamentary timetable permits.

  The proposed legislation will incorporate a prohibition on agreements which prevent, restrict or distort competition. It will, however, be possible for businesses to gain exemption from the prohibition for agreements with economic or technical benefits which are shared with consumers. Guidance will be issued on the type of restriction which would not by itself bring an agreement within the prohibition. Some categories which would qualify individually for exemption will be exempted by means of a statutory instrument known as a block exemption to reduce both the costs of administering the law and its regulatory impact on firms. In this and other ways, the legislation will be closely aligned with the competition regime which operates under article 85 of the EEC treaty, with which many large and medium-sized businesses will already be familiar.

  The Government consider that very few sectors of the economy should escape the new legislation. We believe firmly in the benefits of professional self-regulation and recognise the key role professional bodies have played and will continue to play in maintaining professional standards. This does not, however, mean that the professions should not need to comply with competition legislation. We have, therefore, decided that those rules of the professions which are not required by statute, or subject to the approval of a Minister, will be subject to the new RTP legislation in the normal way. The professional bodies will be free to determine their own rules, but will have to justify any anti-competitive effects of these under the new legislation. The relationship between professional rules in the legal profession in England and Wales, possible legislation in that area and the proposed RTP legislation will be clarified further in an announcement on legal services to be made by the Lord Chancellor shortly.

  Applications for exemption from the prohibition will be considered by the Director General of Fair Trading (DGFT) whose conclusions will, if uncontested, become binding decisions. Where an objection is raised, the Government have decided that a final decision on the case should be made by an independent RTP tribunal to be established within the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. There will be rights of appeal beyond the tribunal to the High Court (Court of Session in Scotland).
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  The DGFT will have increased powers to investigate suspected agreements, similar to those which are currently exercised in the United Kingdom by the European Commission's competition staff with the assistance of the DGFT. Restrictive agreements that infringe the prohibition and have not received exemption will he void, and the parties to the agreement would be liable to civil penalties of up to 10 per cent. of their annual turnover or £250,000, whichever is the greater. These penalties would be imposed by the tribunal, or by the High Court if the proposed penalty exceeded £1 million. The court would also be able to impose penalties of up to £100,000 on directors and managers of companies who negotiate or operate prohibited agreements. In deciding to separate the powers in investigation and the imposition of fines in this way, the Government have taken account of concerns expressed by a number of those who responded to the RTP Green Paper.

  Agreements between small firms will be covered by the legislation and could be investigated and found to be anti-competitive. But if the parties have a combined turnover of less than £5 million, they will not be subject to penalties. even though they have not applied for an exemption. This concession will not apply in the case of price-fixing agreements, including those involving resale price maintenance.

  In addition to publishing the White Paper giving full details of the proposals, my Department has produced a simplified guide which is being distributed widely to the business community. Further copies of this will be available on request.

  The Government believe that these proposals will ensure that blatant cartels. which in the past have gone undetected and unpunished, will be substantially eradicated. The resulting increase in competition will benefit the economy as a whole and consumers in particular.

  Film Industry
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the total extent of Government support for the film industry in Britain, in the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Atkins
  During 1988–89 direct Government support for the United Kingdom film industry amounted to £3·6 million, of which £2 million went to British Screen Finance Ltd. and £1·6 million to the National Film and Television school. In addition the Government provided more general support for training and for the British Film Institute and the Scottish Film Council.

  Media Ownership
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he has received on the concentration of media ownership.

  Mr. Maude
  We receive many representations on the concentration of media ownership both where it concerns ownership of a single medium and where cross-media ownership is the issue.

  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what discussions his Department has had at a European Community level regarding media ownership in the Community becoming concentrated in the hands of
  124
  few individuals; and if he will take an initiative to establish a framework to control cross-media ownership on a European level.

  Mr. Newton
  Cross-media ownership at a European level is currently being considered in discussions on the proposed EC merger control regulation and by the Council of Europe.

  Estate Agents
  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has any plans to introduce a requirement for estate agencies to maintain at least one partner or employee who has obtained relevant professional qualifications.

  Mr. Forth
  I have no plans to introduce such a requirement. The concern of the public with respect to estate agency is overwhelmingly about standards of ethics rather than competence. In my view the proposals for a code of practice with statutory support which I announced to the House on 21 June are the best way to raise standards.

  Eastbourne Water Company
  Mr. Gow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether following information given to the Under-Secretary of State for the Environment by the hon. Member for Eastbourne in the House on 26 May,Official Report, columns 1291 and 1292, and to the Under-Secretary of State for Corporate Affairs in a letter dated 6 July, there will be an investigation into the affairs of the Eastbourne Water Company under the provisions of the Financial Services Act 1986.

  Mr. Forth
  The information, which related to the Eastbourne water employees' share club, has been considered, but it is not sufficient to establish that the powers of investigation in section 105 of the Financial Services Act 1986 would be available in this case, or that adequate grounds exist for mounting an investigation.

  Beer
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he has any plans for introducing a technical definition for low alcohol and non-alcohol beers.

  Mr. Ryder
  I have been asked to reply.

  Proposals to amend the Food Labelling Regulations 1984 by restricting the use of the term "low alcohol" to alcoholic drinks not exceeding 1·2 per cent. alcohol by volume (abv) were circulated to interested organisations for comment on 19 April 1989. Schedule 7 of the Food Labelling Regulations 1984 already restricts the use of the terms "alcohol free", "non-alcoholic" and "dealcoholised". The term "alcohol-free" is restricted to drinks with an alcoholic strength of not more than 0·05 per cent. abv; the term "non alcoholic" to non-alcoholic wine intended for communion or sacramental purposes and the term "dealcoholised" is restricted to drinks from which the alcohol has been extracted and which have an alcoholic strength of not more than 0·5 per cent. abv.

  Road Building (EEC)
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he will be making on behalf of United Kingdom contractors as a result of
  125
  United Kingdom county surveyors' refusal to take up polymer modified bitumens in marked contrast to other European Economic Community member states.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Department will continue to liaise with both county surveyors and contractors on developments in the roadbuilding applications of polymer modified bitumens. We are keen to introduce into the Department's specification for highway works any relevant new material as quickly as it can be demonstrated that it gives both value for money and adequate long term performance. For example, we have undertaken to introduce manganes modified bitumens in rolled asphalt surfacing in mid-1990, subject to continuing satisfactory trials.

  Many counties are already using some polymer modified bitumens. The degree of acceptance and use of these materials depends upon the ability of the supplier to assure the customer of their technical and cost effectiveness.

  Computers
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he is taking to ensure open system standards allowing communication and common software between makes of computer.

  Mr. Newton
  The United Kingdom Government have long promoted the benefits of adopting international open systems standards. The Department currently has a three-year £17 million programme of support for development of open systems standards and to assist development of conformance test facilities in this country. A certification regime to facilitate implementation of those standards is also being pursued.

  On 11 May, I launched a further three-year, £12 million programme for open systems technology transfer. This will increase awarenes of the benefits of using products which conform to open systems standards and stimulate the introduction of new products. Demonstrator projects will show the benefits of such products in real applications.

  Textiles
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will take action to ensure that the Textile Products (Indication of Fibre Content) Regulations are drawn to the attention of all carpet manufacturers in the United Kingdom to encourage conformity and avoidance of false labelling of carpets; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  In the light of the information currently available to me I do not consider any new initiative needs to be taken with United Kingdom manufacturers of carpets. The current principal regulations—the Textile Products (Indications of Fibre Content) Regulations 1986—were introduced in March 1986 and became legally binding on 29 May 1987. Wide publicity was given to these regulations, and to the explanatory guidelines "Fibre Content Labelling of Textiles", during 1986 by the British Carpet Manufacturers Association and by my Department. In enforcing these regulations, which apply to textile products generally, local authority trading standards departments undertake routine inspections and advisory visits at the point of manufacture. I have noted a recent report of the West Yorkshire trading standards 126
  service stating that none of the United Kingdom-manufactured carpet samples tested were found to have their wool content labelled incorrectly.

  Inspections
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list(a) all those agencies with powers delegated to them to carry out inspections and (b) the number of inspections carried out under those delegated powers for the years 1 April 1986 to 31 March 1987 and 1 April 1988 to 31 March 1989.

  Mr. Maude
  The only agency with powers delegated to it to carry out statutory investigations under legislation for which my Department is responsible is the Securities and Investments Board, which has powers to carry out investigations under sections 94 and 105 of the Financial Services Act. Both powers are exercisable concurrently with my Department. Delegation of the section 105 power came into effect on 19 May 1987 and delegation of section 94 power came into effect on 6 May 1988. The board's annual report for 1988–89, laid before Parliament on 6 June, records that 25 section 105 investigations were commenced in the period 1 April 1988 to 31 March 1989.

  Shipbuilding
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will place in the Library the documents relating to the understanding between his Department and the European Economic Community concerning the future of shipbuilding in Sunderland.

  Mr. Newton
  My Department has remained in touch with the European Commission since the notification of aid to British Shipbuilders was made last December. A paper covering those exchanges relevant to NESL is being prepared and will be placed in the Library as soon as possible.

  "British Business"
  Mr. Burt
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has any plans for the future of his Department's weekly magazine,British Business.

  Mr. Newton
  My right hon. and noble Friend has decided that British Business magazine should cease publication in the autumn. Alternative arrangements are being made for the publication of essential regulatory information and similar announcements from the Department. Responsibility for all the economic statistical series for which the Department is at present responsible will shortly transfer to the Central Statistical Office, and I understand that the CSO is considering how to deal with the series which currently appear in British Business.

  Invest in Britain Bureau
  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects to publish the annual report of the Invest in Britain bureau; and whether he has any plans further to improve the arrangements for attracting inward investment to the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Newton
  The Department's Invest in Britain bureau records in its annual report, published today, that foreign owned companies announced 330 direct investment projects into the United Kingdom during 1988.
  127
  Based on information provided by the companies themselves, it is estimated that these projects will create or safeguard over 44,000 jobs—a 21 per cent. increase over 1987. This was the fourth successive year in which the bureau recorded over 300 investment decisions. Once again the United Kingdom received over one third of all United States of America and Japanese investment into the EC. I am arranging for a copy of the report to be placed in the House of Commons Library.

  This excellent performance reflects the strength of the United Kingdom economy and our success in creating a climate that encourages enterprise and initiative. But we must build on our success, and in particular take full advantage of the inward investment potential arising from the creation of the single European market.

  The Invest in Britain bureau is the Government's principal inward investment agency and represents the United Kingdom as a whole. The bureau undertakes publicity abroad and responds to enquiries from potential inward investors in collaboration with the three territorial agencies representing Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and the various regional organisations and local representative bodies in England. The territorial agencies and English regional organisations also undertake publicity abroad for their own areas and these arrangements will continue.

  We have, however, decided to improve the promotion of England as a location for inward investment by setting up within my Department a new unit to co-ordinate publicity for England and to encourage greater co-operation between English regional organisations, in particular by organising collaborative market research and marketing initiatives. We have also decided to increase the resources of the Invest in Britain bureau to enable it to respond to increasing demand. The costs will be met in the current financial year from within existing provision.

  Palatine Graphic Arts Co. Ltd.
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) if he will publish in the Official Report the date, grant or assistance, and purpose of each application for financial assistance made by Palatine Graphic Arts Company Limited, Liverpool in each year from 1980 to date;

  (2) pursuant to his reply of 4 July, Official Report,
  columns 110–12, concerning Palatine Graphic Arts Company Limited, Liverpool, on which dates the six jobs created under the grant approved on 15 December 1986 became vacant.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 17 July 1989]: The financial assistance made by the DTI to Palatine Graphic Arts Co. Ltd., Liverpool in each year from 1980 to date was as follows:

  Regional Development Grant I For the provision of approved plant, machinery and building works

  £

  1980

  Nil

  1981

  Nil

  1982

  1,030

  1983

  636

  1984

  10,664

  1985

  21,146

  1986

  55,419

  1987–89

  Nil

  128

  Regional Development Grant II For the provision of assets and creation of jobs within approved projects

  £

  1980–86

  Nil

  1987

  26,840

  1988

  6,471

  1989

  75,000

  Regional Selective Assistance For the purchase of new equipment and the creation or safeguarding of jobs

  £

  1986

  6,461

  Six of the jobs which comprised part of an approved project under the regional development grant II scheme became vacant, five of these became vacant on 5 May 1988 and one on 5 June 1989. It should be noted that however the period of conditions relating to these six jobs expired on 27 June 1988.

  Unsolicited Telephone Calls
  Mr. McCrindle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will have discussions with the British Direct Marketing Association concerning the establishment of a register of consumers not wishing to receive unsolicited telephone calls.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 17 July 1989]: No, this is a matter for the Director General of Telecommunications, who has, indeed, held discussions with the British Direct Marketing Association and other interested parties about the establishment of such a register.

  Chlorofluorocarbons
  Sir Hugh Rossi
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what discussions he is having with the manufacturers of refrigeration equipment for the clear labelling of the chlorofluorocarbon contents of their products in order to assist the public to make a choice in their purchases in furtherance of Government policy for the protection of the ozone layer.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 13 July 1989]: As my hon. Friend will be aware, this Government's policy is to encourage all industries using chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and halons to reduce their use to the maximium extent. In addition it is open to manufacturers of their own volition to label their products with such details as my hon. Friend suggests subject to the provisions of the Trade Descriptions Act.

HEALTH

  Cancer Screening
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Royal Marsden hospital consulted with his Department about mobile breast cancer-screening unit leaflet advertisement campaigns to women in New Malden in April and offering screening at a cost of £50; if his Department gave guidance to the Royal Marsden hospital about conducting such schemes; how many
  129
  similar schemes are operating throughout England and Wales; and if he will make a statement on the operation of such schemes.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  My Department was made aware of the Royal Marsden hospital special health authority's private cancer screening service earlier this year. In May, the authority was advised that the principle of offering private cancer screening as a means of income generation was being considered by my Department and that a formal view on the scheme could not be given at that time. We shall shortly be informing health authorities of the types of screening procedures which should be excluded in future from income-generation schemes.

  We are aware of a handful of other similar income-generation schemes in England. Any similar programmes in Wales are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Detained Patients
  Mr. Hayward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health who is responsible for providing clothing to persons transferred from the prison system to the care of the National Health Service under the provisions of the Mental Health Act 1983, as a detained patient.

  Mr. Freeman
  Prisoners transferred to the care of the National Health Service under the provisions of the Mental Health Act 1983 become patients. Such patients bring their private clothing with them from prison but health authorities are expected to provide clothing for those patients who are unable to provide it from their own resources and who are not obtaining it from any other source.

  Self-Governing Hospitals
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what salary and other remunerated pay Sheila Masters, the director of finance for the self-governing hospital units, receives; and on what kind of contract she is engaged.

  Mr. Mellor
  Sheila Masters is on a contractual appointment to the National Health Service management executive. The contract is with her employers, Peat Marwick McLintock, who pay her salary etc.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what salary and performance-related pay Peter Griffiths, the head of the self-governing hospitals unit, receives; and on what kind of contract he is engaged.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Mr. Peter Griffiths is presently employed as general manager by South East Thames RHA on the normal terms and conditions of service for such appointments. He is made available to the NHS management executive by the RHA on a part-time basis. This arrangement will become full-time in September; the details are still under discussion.

  Benzodiazepines
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what adverse reports have been received by the Committee on Safety of Medicines about the effect of benzodiazepines on patients.

  Mr. Mellor
  To date the Committee on Safety of Medicines has received over 750 reports of adverse 130
  reactions which may be associated with benzodiazepines. These reports describe over 300 different kinds of reactions. A report of a suspected adverse drug reaction does not necessarily mean a causal relationship. The committee carefully monitors all issues of drug safety and where necessary issues advice by means of its bulletin "Current Problems" to doctors, dentists and pharmacists. In the case of benzodiazepines, "Current Problems" has drawn attention to various adverse reactions in February 1978 (No. 3), February 1981 (No. 5) and January 1988 (No. 21). Copies are in the Library.

  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department has as to the most widely accepted medical assessment of the average withdrawal period from benzodiazepines.

  Mr. Freeman
  The hon. Member may wish to refer to the Departmental publication "Guidelines of Good Clinical Practice in the Treatment of Drug misuse" which includes advice on withdrawal from benzodiazepines. A copy of this publication is in the Library.

  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his estimate of how many children under the age of 16 years are addicted to benzodiazepines.

  Mr. Mellor
  We do not have this information.

  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will discuss with the leaders of the pharmaceutical industry the setting up of a compensation scheme for those people whose lives have been ruined or damaged by benzodiazepine addiction.

  Mr. Mellor
  We have no plans to do so.

  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will take steps to reduce benzodiazepine prescriptions in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Mellor
  The Government have made every effort to ensure that doctors are aware of the problems which can arise from prolonged treatment with benzodiazepines and to encourage good prescribing habits. We have no plans to introduce restrictions.

  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has sought to encourage the development of guidelines for the maximum recommended period for children under the age of 16 years to be prescribed benzodiazepines; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  No. It is up to doctors to prescribe the drugs properly in accordance with the guidance available to them.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the price of benzodiazepines is the on cost by pharmacists.

  Mr. Mellor
  When pharmacists dispense a medicine, they are paid, in addition to the appropriate dispensing fee and container allowance, the basic price of the medicine, less a discount deduction, averaging 8·3 per cent. of the basic price, plus on cost of 5 per cent. of the basic price.

  Social Charter
  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the Government support all the health provisions contained within the social charter.
  131
  Mr. Freeman
  The preliminary draft Community charter of fundamental social rights refers to:—the enjoyment by every worker of satisfactory health … conditions, more especially in his working environment;
  —the provision for the elderly of medical assistance specifically suited to their needs and as wide an access as possible to that assistance;
  Health and safety in the workplace is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment; in other respects, these requirements are met within the National Health Service.

  Patient Throughput, Mersey Region
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the patient throughput per available bed in the Mersey region in the latest available year.

  Mr. Freeman
  During 1987–88, the number of in-patient cases treated per available bed in Mersey regional health authority was 20·8.

  EC Social Security Regulations
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has any plans to make medical treatment in the European Community more widely available to British nationals after 1992 under the European Community social security regulations.

  Mr. Mellor
  No.

  NHS Staffing
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give for each special health authority, district health authority and regional health authority for England the numbers of(a) medical and dental staff, (b) nursing and midwifery staff, (c) administration and clerical staff, (d) ancillary staff, (e) others and (f) total employees, expressed (i) as total numbers and (ii) as whole-time equivalents for 30 December 1988.

  Mr. Mellor
  We do not at present have information to this level of detail.

  When September 1988 information becomes available a copy will be placed in the Library.

  Student Nurses
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many health authorities have not been able, or will not be able, to offer their student registered general nurses full-time jobs at the end of their training contracts in 1989.

  Mr. Mellor
  We do not hold such information centrally.

  Supply Nurses
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many supply nurses are currently being used by Gateshead health authority;

  (2) how many jobs are currently available in Gateshead health authority for qualified registered general nurses.

  Mr. Mellor
  We do not hold this information centrally. The hon. Member may wish to write to the chairman of Gateshead health authority for the information.

  Drug Dependency
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent in 1988, or the latest year for which figures are available to assist(a) hard drug addicts and (b) people dependent on benzodiazepines.

  Mr. Freeman
  In 1988–89, the Government allocated nearly £5·5 million to regional health authorities specifically for the development of drug misuse services, including services for those dependent on benzodiazepines. A further £4 million was to be used to help prevent the spread of HIV among drug users and from them to the wider population. The total sum allocated to regional health authorities for all drug services has been increased to almost £15 million in 1989–90.

  The following grants were made in 1988–89 under the central drugs initiative to services specifically for those dependent on benzodiazepines:

  £

  North East Council on Addictions

  21,144

  West Cumbria Mind (Copeland)

  14,117

  In addition, over £2·5 million was allocated to 63 other projects some of which also provided a service for those dependent on benzodiazepines.

  The Department also made a grant of £25,000 to the National Association of Mental Health (MIND) to produce a national directory of services for this group as well as public information material on benzodiazepines and a grant of £10,000 to Tranx(UK) Ltd.

  Opticians
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Southport of 4 July,Official Report, column 150, why ophthalmic opticians receive a larger fee than ophthalmic medical practitioners for a National Health Service sight test; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  The fee for ophthalmic opticians includes an allowance towards the overhead costs of running their practices. Ophthalmic medical practitioners on the other hand, usually work on a peripatetic basis. The overheads they incur are therefore that much lower and this is reflected in their fee.

  Eye Tests
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has any plans to reduce the incentive for general practitioners to refer patients to National Health Service hospitals for eye tests; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  We do not accept that general practitioners will seek to refer their patients to hospital for routine sight tests when a normal sight test by an ophthalmic optician would meet the patient's needs. It is also unlikely that the hospital eye service would accept such patients.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he yet has sufficient statistical information available to assess how eye test charges have contributed to preventive health care.
  133
  Mr. Mellor
  No. Information on the number of people receiving sight tests since 1 April is not yet available. We intend to carry out a survey into numbers when the market has had time to become more stable.

  Mr. Graham Gaskin
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes to social work practice, in particular a client's right to access to a file, he intends to make following the successful appeal of Mr. Graham Gaskin to the European Court of Human Rights.

  Mr. Mellor
  In the light of the court's judgment in this case, we are taking a careful look at the present general arrangements for social arrangements for social services clients to have access to their files to see whether any changes are needed.

  Infection Control
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many district control of infection officers have been employed in the National Health Service for the most recent year for which figures are available;

  (2) what has been the cost to the National Health Service of employing district infection control officers for 1989;

  (3) when the role of district control of infection officers was established within the National Health Service; and on what authority.

  Mr. Mellor
  We announced last July that we accepted the principle of a greater commitment to the public health advanced by the Chief Medical Officer's report on "Public Health in England" and that we would be taking a number of steps to carry forward its recommendations. These include issuing in December 1988 a circular to health authorities based on the report's conclusions about their responsibilities to improve the health of the population, including the prevention, surveillance and control of communicable disease. Health authorities have been asked to report by 31 December 1989 on the action that they have taken to implement the circular and to move towards management arrangements which assign executive responsibility for surveillance, prevention and control of communicable disease and infection, in their districts to a named medical practitioner of consultant status.

  These consultants will be known as consultants in communicable disease control and will exercise comparable functions to those recommended for district control of infection officers whose appointment was recommended in "Public Health in England".

  Further guidance was issued to health authorities in February 1988 on the role of consultants in communicable disease control and in June on procedures for their appointment.

  It will not be possible to provide detailed figures on the number of such consultants appointed until health authority reports are received at the end of the year. The redeployment of consultant manpower resulting from their appointment is not expected to increase costs to the National Health Service.

  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people acquired infection, other than through food poisoning, in National Health Service hospitals during 1988; how many died as result of those infections; and if he will make a statement.
  134
  Mr. Freeman
  The latest available data held centrally is for 1985, when the estimated number of cases of post-operative infection was 15,540. The number of deaths with underlying cause of post operative infection in 1988 was 15.

  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list any independent organisations, other than the National Health Service, charged with monitoring and reporting infectious disease levels within the National Health Service; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  The organisation charged with monitoring infectious disease levels throughout England and Wales is the Communicable Disease Surveillance centre of the Public Health Laboratory service which is part of the National Health Service. The centre produces a weekly communicable disease report and an annual report on infectious disease levels. The annual report is produced jointly with the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys.

  Also within the National Health Service, registered medical practitioners are statutorily required to notify cases of certain infectious disease to local authority proper officers who are required statutorily to pass data on to other bodies including district health authorities and the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys. Serious outbreaks of disease and individual cases of particular diseases must also be reported to the chief medical officer.

  Abortion
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give the conceptions in 1987 which(a) led to maternities and (b) were terminated under the terms of the Abortion Act 1967, among residents of England and Wales aged under 16 years, 16 to 19 years, 20 to 24 years, 25 to 29 years, 30 to 34 years, 35 to 39 years and 40 years and over.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information requested is given in the table. All pregnancies of women usually resident in England and Wales which led to a maternity or termination by abortion under the 1967 Act are included (and those which led to a spontaneous abortion are excluded). The figures are provisional.

  England and Wales

  Number of conceptions in 1987

  Age of woman at conception

  Total conceptions

  Conceptions leading to maternities

  Conceptions terminated by abortion

  Total

  850,400

  689,452

  160,948

  Under 16

  9,135

  4,185

  4,950

  16–19

  114,017

  76,355

  37,662

  20–24

  261,876

  211,444

  50,432

  25–29

  264,646

  233,178

  31,468

  30–34

  139,041

  120,131

  18,910

  35–39

  50,787

  38,186

  12,601

  40 and over

  10,898

  5,973

  4,925

  Note: Data are provisional.

  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give the numbers of conceptions in 1987 which(a) led to maternities and (b) were terminated under the terms of the Abortion Act 1967, among residents of England and Wales aged under 14 years, 14 years, 15 years, 16 years, 17 years, 18 years and 19 years, giving in each case the rate per 1,000 population in each age group.
  135
  Mr. Freeman
  The information requested is given in the table. All pregnancies of women usually resident in England and Wales which led to a maternity or

  Numbers and rates conceptions leading to maternities and abortions 1987.

  Age of woman at conception

  Number of conceptions in 1987

  Conception rate per 1,000 woman in age group

  Total conceptions

  Conceptions leading to maternities

  Conceptions terminated by abortion

  Total conceptions

  Conceptions leading to maternities

  Conceptions terminated by abortion

  Under 141

  346

  145

  201

  1·1

  0·5

  0·7

  14

  1,899

  736

  1,163

  5·8

  2·2

  3·5

  15

  6,890

  3,304

  3,586

  19·7

  9·4

  10·2

  16

  16,512

  9,415

  7,097

  44·1

  25·1

  19·0

  17

  24,809

  15,915

  8,894

  67·1

  43·0

  24·1

  18

  33,648

  23,114

  10,534

  87·7

  60·3

  27·5

  19

  39,048

  27,911

  11,137

  101·1

  72·2

  28·8

  Note: Data are provisional.

  1 Rate per 1,000 women aged 13.

  Abortion
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many abortions were performed in 1988 on residents and non-residents at each of the following gestational ages; les than nine weeks, nine to 12 weeks, 13

  Abortions performed on residents and non-residents of England and Wales, 19881 by gestation period and statutory grounds

  Gestation period (weeks)

  Statutory grounds

  Less than 9

  9–12

  13–16

  17–20

  21–24

  252

  NS2

  1 (with any other)

  99

  314

  41

  20

  8

  3

  1

  2 (alone)

  55,892

  82,024

  14,879

  8,000

  2,819

  1

  9

  3 (with or without 2)

  5,138

  10,609

  1,560

  500

  94

  —

  1

  4 (alone)

  83

  191

  210

  566

  147

  18

  —

  4 (with an other except 1)

  158

  270

  55

  56

  21

  —

  —

  5 or 6

  1

  5

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1Provisional date.

  2Not stated.

  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many abortions were performed in 1988 on residents and non-residents at each of the following gestational ages: less than nine weeks, nine to 12 weeks, 13 to 16 weeks, 17 to 20 weeks, 21 to 24 weeks and 25 weeks

  Abortions performed on residents and non-residents of England and Wales, 19881 by gestation period and age of mother.

  Age

  Gestation period (weeks)

  less than 9

  9–12

  13–16

  17–20

  21–24

  25 +

  NS2

  Less than 15

  205

  403

  146

  98

  69

  —

  —

  15

  624

  1,477

  425

  266

  90

  —

  1

  16–19

  10,398

  21,637

  4,837

  2,901

  1,021

  4

  6

  20–24

  19,458

  30,097

  5,665

  3,065

  963

  7

  2

  25–29

  14,148

  18,968

  2,854

  1,423

  490

  5

  3

  30–34

  8,751

  10,852

  1,461

  704

  235

  5

  —

  35–39

  5,490

  6,964

  883

  453

  130

  2

  —

  40–44

  2,116

  2,804

  396

  199

  83

  —

  —

  45 +

  178

  204

  41

  33

  9

  —

  —

  Not stated

  3

  7

  2

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1 Provisional data.

  2 Not stated.

  Births
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give for each year for which the information is available the total numbers of live and still births in England and Wales which were jointly registered by parents who were not married to each other but lived at the same address.
  136
  termination by abortion under the 1967 Act are included (and those which led to a spontaneous abortion are excluded). The figures are provisional.

  to 16 weeks, 17 to 20 weeks, 21 to 24 weeks and 25 weeks and over on each of the following grounds: one with other, two alone, three with or without two, four alone, four with any other except one and five and six.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information is shown in the table:

  and over, on women in each of the following age groups: under 15 years, 15 years, 16 to 19 years, 20 to 24 years, 25 to 29 years, 30 to 34 years, 35 to 39 years, 40 to 44 years and 45 years and over.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information requested is shown in the table:

  Mr. Freeman
  The information requested is shown in the table.
  137

  Live and stillbirths, England and Wales, 1986 to 1988 jointly registered by parents who were not married but lived at the same address

  1986

  1987

  1988

  Live births

  65,844

  75,572

  87,601

  Stillbirths

  331

  387

  393

  TOTAL

  66,175

  75,959

  87,994

  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give the total numbers of live births and stillbirths in England and Wales in 1988, giving the numbers of each that were(a) legitimate, (b) jointly registered illegitimate and (c) solely registered illegitimate.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information requested in shown in the table.

  Legitimate

  Jointly registered illegitimate

  Solely registered illegitimate

  Live births

  516,225

  123,408

  53,944

  Stillbirths

  2,318

  574

  482

  TOTAL

  518,543

  123,982

  54,426

  Food Safety
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many outbreaks of food poisoning occurred following the consumption of food prepared in National Health Service hospitals during 1988; how many people were infected; of that total, how many fatalities occurred; which hospitals were involved; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  According to the Public Health Laboratory service, in 1988, 21 outbreaks of food poisoning or salmonellosis were reported in hospitals in England and Wales. Information is not available about how many of these outbreaks occurred following the consumption of food prepared or brought into NHS hospitals. Information on which hospitals were involved is not available centrally. At least 281 people are known to have been affected in these outbreaks. Four deaths were recorded, of which one was attributed to the infection associated with the outbreak.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what action he is proposing to take to ensure the wholesomeness of imported paté;

  (2) whether he will now review all existing procedures relating to the quality control of imported foods.

  Mr. Mellor
  All imported foods are subject to the Imported Food Regulations 1984, which prohibit the importation of unfit food. Whenever food is found to be unfit, either on importation or subsequently in this country, action is taken to prevent its sale for human consumption, to advise the exporting country so that action may be taken to deal with contamination at source.

  We are reviewing food legislation generally but we have no plans at present to change the procedures.

  Privatisation
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has any plans to privatise(a) the public health laboratory service and (b) the communicable disease surveillance centre; and if he will make a statement.
  138
  Mr. Mellor
  There are no such current plans.

  HIV Infection
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what evidence is required in order to satisfy his Department that on the balance of probabilities an HIV infection was acquired at work.

  Mr. Mellor
  Under the National Health Service (Injury Benefits) Regulations, cover is available to all National Health Service employees who contract a disease which is attributable to their employment. Each claim is considered on its merits and cases of HIV infection would be treated no differently.

  The Department would look carefully at the circumstances surrounding each claim, taking note of the duties undertaken in the employment and the claimant's description of how he or she thought the disease was contracted. The Department's medical advisers would then consider this information against the ways in which the disease may be contracted. Where title was in doubt, expert medical opinion would be sought from a consultant specialising in the particular field of medicine as to whether it was more likely than not that the infection had been acquired in the course of National Health Service employment.

  Smoking
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice his Department gives to pregnant women about the adverse affects of smoking on the health of their unborn child; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave him on Monday 17 July.

  NHS Finance
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the health authorities that are running at a deficit after the first two months of the 1989–90 financial year.

  Mr. Freeman
  Cash limits are issued to health authorities on an annual basis and it is for each authority to plan its spending for the year within the sums available. Health authority cash limit spending is monitored by the Department on a regional basis and there is no evidence that any region will exceed its cash limit for the year.

  Bonus Schemes
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has received any representations about a possible conflict of interest as a result of performance-related bonus schemes.

  Mr. Mellor
  No.

  Infant Mortality
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to publish the Government's response to the Social Services Select Committee report on perinatal, neonatal and infant mortality; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  The Government's response was published today. It sets out details of a major new initiative on infant
  139
  mortality. The infant mortality rate for England and Wales is at a new low and clinical advances and improved services mean more babies survive than ever before. There is no room for complacency however. Every effort must be made to secure further improvements and address issues such as geographical variations and the phenomenon of sudden infant death.

  Service improvements will continue and the Government do not accept that these call for central earmarking of resources or attempts at central direction on the way services are provided locally. What is needed now is to find out more precisely why particular babies die and how as many as possible of these deaths can in future be prevented. This is the focus of the initiatives set out in the response. A central feature is the application of the principles of clinical audit set out in the White Paper "Working for Patients" through the development by the professions concerned of a confidential inquiry into at least a sample of stillbirths and infant deaths.

  This central initiative is supplemented by measures designed to increase the National Health Services' capacity to undertake specialist paediatric pathological examinations and to establish, on a comprehensive basis, regional epidemiological surveys of stillbirths and neonatal deaths. In addition the Medical Research Council has agreed to carry out a major review of the present literature relating to sudden infant death syndrome and to advise on what further research is needed.

  The Government believe that these initiatives will achieve the objectives, which it shares with the Select Committee—namely, continued improvement in the maternity services and health services for the newborn in the decades to come in order to reduce infant mortality to the lowest possible levels.

  Mental Institutions
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list by health authority(a) the number of long-stay discharges from mental institutions in the past two years, (b) the number of re-settlements and (c) the decades in which these people were admitted and the age at discharge.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 12 July 1989]: The information in the form requested is not available centrally. We have placed in the Library tables showing discharges, excluding transfers and deaths, from National Health Service mental handicap and mental illness hospitals and units in England, during 1985 and 1986, after a stay of one year or more. The discharges are shown by district health authority, decade of admission and age on discharge.

  NHS Policy Board
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has to include a nursing representative on the National Health Service Policy board.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 17 July 1989]: The members of the NHS Policy board have been appointed as individuals, not as representatives of sectional interests. We therefore have no plans to include a representative of any professional group, including nurses, on the policy board.

  Measles Vaccination
  Mr. Holt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many perfectly fit babies have been brain-damaged as a result of measles vaccination in each of the past 10 years.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I have been asked to reply.

  The information requested is not available. That which is available is in the table.

  Vaccine Damage Payments Scheme: Awards made where measles vaccine or a vaccine containing a measles element was the claimed cause of severe disablement: 1979–89

  Year

  Number of awards

  11979–80

  34

  1981

  2

  1982

  3

  1983

  4

  1984

  1

  1985

  —

  1986

  —

  1987

  —

  1988

  —

  21989

  1

  1 Separate figures not available.

  2 To 30 June.

PRIME MINISTER

  Scotland
  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has received recent representations regarding the constitutional position of Scotland.

  The Prime Minister
  Since January, I have received a number of letters about the constitutional arrangements in Scotland. Under this Government's policies, Scotland, within the union, has enjoyed a record standard of living and record social services.

  British Broadcasting Corporation
  Mr. Marland
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has received recent representations regarding the role of the British Broadcasting Corporation.

  The Prime Minister
  The Government have received a number of comments about the role of the British Broadcasting Corporation, in response to the White Paper on broadcasting.

  Dogs
  Mr. Cyril D. Townsend
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has received recent representations regarding the control of dogs.

  The Prime Minister
  I have received a number of representations. I welcome the stricter proposed powers of enforcement in the Dangerous Dogs Bill introduced by my hon. Friend the Member for Plymouth, Drake (Dame J. Fookes).

  Aerospace Industry
  Mr. Fishburn
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has received recent representations regarding the aerospace industry.
  141
  The Prime Minister
  I often receive representations about various aspects of the aerospace industry. It is one of Britain's major industries and the country can be proud of its success.

  Twechar, Monklands
  Mr. Tony Clarke
  To ask the Prime Minister when she next expects to visit Twechar, in the Monklands, West constituency.

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

  Somerset
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Prime Minister whether she is planning to pay an official visit to Somerset.

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

  Social Charter
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister if the EEC Commission is now empowered to issue the social charter directives to the various Councils of Ministers in light of the majority vote at the recent meeting of the European Council at Madrid; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  The Commission of the European Communities has the right to put forward proposals to the Councils of Ministers in areas within its competence at any time. No decision was taken on the Commission's preliminary draft proposal for a Community charter of fundamental social rights at the Madrid meeting of the European Council. The conclusions of that meeting are a reflection of the views of all the heads of Government present, who noted that at the Social Affairs Council on 12 June, 11 delegations had accepted draft conclusions on a preliminary draft Community charter submitted by the Commission. The United Kingdom made clear that it was not prepared to accept those draft conclusions.

  OECD
  Mr. Goodlad
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has received representations regarding the role of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

  The Prime Minister
  No.

  Northern Ireland (Terrorism)
  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has received recent representations regarding terrorism in Northern Ireland.

  The Prime Minister
  Since April this year the only representations I have received concerned the possible effects on the level of terrorist activity in south Fermanagh following the removal of a vehicle checkpoint.

  Water Privatisation
  Mr. Kirkhope
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations she has received over water privatisation.

  The Prime Minister
  I receive many representations about water privatisation, which represents the quickest and most cost-effective way of achieving even higher standards of water quality.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has received recent representations regarding energy efficiency.

  The Prime Minister
  I have received a number of recent representations on energy efficiency on which there is an excellent record; 26 per cent. more goods are produced now than in 1973 for a lower consumption of energy.

  Northern Ireland
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has any plans to pay an official visit to Northern Ireland.

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

  United Nations
  Sir Hugh Rossi
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has received recent representations regarding the role of the United Nations.

  The Prime Minister
  I have received and continue to receive a number of representations from hon. Members and members of the public regarding the role of the United Nations. The United Nations performs many valuable tasks not least in overseeing Namibia's transfer to independence and in the United Nations Environment Programme to which the United Kingdom is now the world's second largest contributor.

  Motor Industry
  Mr. John Browne
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has received recent representations regarding the British motor industry.

  The Prime Minister
  I have not received any recent representations. The industry has recovered strongly during the past decade. United Kingdom car production last year was at its highest since 1977 and Britain is increasingly seen as an attractive place for inward investment or joint venture in the motor industry.

  Mid Kent
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Prime Minister when she next expects to make an official visit to mid Kent.

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

  Demographic Trends
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Prime Minister what recent representations she has received concerning demographic trends in the United Kingdom.

  The Prime Minister
  Representations have been received from time to time on a variety of subjects related to demographic trends in the United Kingdom; generally these related to specific topics, groups, or areas—for example, mortality, projections, the elderly—and are dealt with accordingly. The most recent comprehensive review by the Registrar General was the "Demographic Review—a report on population in Great Britain" published in 1987. In addition in OPCS quarterly journal "Population Trends" there is an annual review of the most recent trends; as well as the articles in each issue on particular topics.

  Oakenshaw
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Prime Minister when she next expects to pay an official visit to Oakenshaw.

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

  GATT
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has received recent representations regarding negotiations in the general agreement on tariffs and trade.

  The Prime Minister
  I have received a number of representations on the GATT Uruguay round negotiations from foreign Governments and United Kingdom interests. The Government will continue to act against protectionism and to sustain the world open trading system.

  Debt
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Prime Minister what action she proposes to take to reduce the debt burden on the poorest countries.

  The Prime Minister
  After the initiatives of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor, agreement was reached at the Toronto economic summit last year and subsequently implemented in the Paris club for concessional rescheduling of the debt of the poorest countries which are following approved adjustment programmes. The United Kingdom and other official creditors have reduced interest rates to prevent debt compounding. In addition, the United Kingdom has written off £1 billion of old aid loans, of which nearly £300 million were for sub-Saharan Africa, and all the United Kingdom's new aid to the poorest countries is now in grant form. The United Kingdom has also agreed to subsidise loans of up to about £750 million through a special IMF facility, the enhanced structural adjustment facility, of £4·5 billion to the poorest nations. That makes the United Kingdom the largest single contributor to the interest subsidy account. These are all substantial measures which the United Kingdom is taking to alleviate the debt burden on the poorest countries.

  WEU
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has received recent representations regarding the role of the Western European Union.

  The Prime Minister
  No.

  Council of Europe
  Sir Anthony Grant
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has received recent representations regarding the role of the Council of Europe.

  The Prime Minister
  I am not aware of any such representations.

  Chlorofluorocarbons
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will seek a meeting with the director of the Property Services Agency to establish the cost of replacing all refrigerators in Government departments and at Nos. 10 and 11 Downing street with refrigerators with reduced levels of chlorofluorocarbons.
  144
  The Prime Minister
  No. Refrigerators do not release chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in normal use, but do when they are scrapped. To scrap them before the end of their useful life would therefore increase emissions of CFCs, not reduce them.

  Madrid Summit
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Prime Minister what matters with regard to environmental protection in the European Community countries were discussed at the recent European Community summit in Madrid.

  The Prime Minister
  The European Council welcomed the recent achievements of the Environment Council. Discussion also covered the problems of desertification, erosion and deforestation within the Community, the Community's responsibility in the face of global threats and the need to preserve tropical forests. A recent Commission proposal to establish a European environment agency was noted and referred to the Environment Council. For further details I refer the hon. Member to the full conclusions of the Council which have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Greenhouse Effect
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has had any recent meeting with the Chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board to discuss the greenhouse effect.

  The Prime Minister
  I met the chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board on 26 April 1989.

  Engagements
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 18 July.

  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 18 July.

  Mr. French
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 18 July.

  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 18 July.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 18 July.

  The Prime Minister
  This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. I also attended the ceremony to mark the arrival of His Highness the President of the United Arab Emirates. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today. This evening I shall be attending a state banquet and Buckingham palace.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Land Registry
  Mr. Heddle
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the prospects of compulsory registration by Her Majesty's Land Registry by March 1990.

  The Attorney-General
  The Lord Chancellor has recently approved an order, the effect of which will be to
  145
  extend the system of compulsory registration of title on sale of land to the whole of England and Wales by 1 December 1990.

  Petty Officer John Black
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Attorney-General whether, pursuant to his letter to the hon. Member for Rutland and Melton dated 4 May, he will make a statement on the progress of his proposed application to the High Court under section 13 of the Coroners Act 1988 that the inquest into the death of the late Petty Officer John Black should be re-opened.

  The Attorney-General
  The Treasury Solicitor has prepared a draft application and accompanying affidavit in support. When approved by me the application will be entered in the Crown Office.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Unemployment Benefits
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much money has been paid in unemployment benefit to claimants in the Liverpool travel-to-work area during the past 10 years.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The information requested is as follows:

  Estimated amount of unemployment benefit paid to claimants in the Liverpool travel-to-work area

  £ million

  1979–80

  20·5

  1980–81

  41·4

  1981–82

  55·7

  1982–83

  49·3

  1983–84

  48·7

  1984–85

  51·3

  1985–86

  51·4

  1986–87

  55·8

  1987–88

  47·0

  1988–89

  36·3

  Vaccine Damage (Compensation)
  Mr. Holt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many victims of vaccine damage have been paid compensation in each of the past 10 years.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The information requested is not available. The numbers of awards made under the vaccine damage payments scheme are as follows.

  Year

  Awards made

  1980

  255

  1981

  74

  1982

  43

  1983

  42

  1984

  29

  1985

  26

  1986

  15

  1987

  10

  1988

  4

  l1989

  1

  l To 30 June.

  Mr. Holt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he has any plans to amend the vaccine damage payments scheme in the light of the decision on vaccine and causation by Mr. Justice Loveday.
  146
  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the right hon. Member for Stoke on Trent, South (Mr. Ashley) on 23 March at column 773.

  Family Credit
  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what number and proportion of family credit recipients pay income tax.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The latest information relates to the end of March 1989, when income tax was being deducted from earnings in 199,000 cases, being about 71 per cent. of all family credit cases.

  Child Benefit
  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the net saving per annum of abolishing child benefit.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Precise savings would depend on assumptions made about the effects on other benefits and numbers claiming income-related benefits. In broad terms it is estimated the net savings would be somewhat over £3 billion at 1989–90 values.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will explain the reasons for the delay in publishing year end data for the social fund for the financial year 1988–89; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The year end social fund data were subject to a number of accuracy checks. Data were published as soon as possible after completion of this action.

  Pensioners
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is his estimate of the number of pensioners in(a) Scotland and (b) the United Kingdom who have paid insufficient contributions and who therefore do not receive the full basic national insurance retirement pension;

  (2) what is his estimate of the number of pensioners in (a) Scotland and (b) the United Kingdom who have their basic national insurance retirement pension enhanced by increments from (i) deferring the date of their retirement, (ii) contributing to the graduated pension scheme, and (iii) contributing to SERPS.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 26 June 1989]: As at 30 September 1988, 1,577,470 pensioners were in receipt of a basic national insurance retirement pension enhanced by increments earned by deferring the date of their retirement. 4,457,360 pensioners were in receipt of the basic state pension and graduated pension; 163,720 were in receipt of Graduated Pension only; 2,382,350 pensioners were in receipt of the basic state pension and SERPS; 9,130 were in receipt of SERPS only.

  As at 30 September 1988, 810,050 pensioners were in receipt of less than the full basic national insurance retirement pension because of insufficient contributions.

  Note: Information is available for Great Britain only.

EMPLOYMENT

  Employment Training
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has about the number of ET placements in the north-west region.

  Mr. Nicholls
  We estimate that over 21,200 people on employment training in the north-west region are on placements with employers or projects on any one day.

  Mr. Jack Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has about the number of ET placements in the northern region.

  Mr. Nicholls
  We estimate that over 17,700 people on employment training in the northern region are on placements with employers or projects on any one day.

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any plans to review payments to trainees on Employment Training.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Lewisham, Deptford (Ms. Ruddock) on 20 June 1989 at column 113.

  Mr. Allen McKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he collects as a result of participation on ET schemes; and if he will give a breakdown for the Yorkshire and Humberside region.

  Mr. Nicholls
  A range of information is collected to enable the Training Agency to manage employment training effectively. The main information about ET entrants and trainees in the Yorkshire and Humberside region is given in the tables.

  Employment Training—Northern region Programme information

  Category

  Latest information

  Numbers

  Filled places at training managers

  30 June

  23,000

  Starts at training managers

  30 June

  36,600

  Referrals from Employment Service to training agents

  30 June

  77,300

  Action plans completed at training agents

  30 June

  47,200

  Contracted places as at

  May

  28,500

  Estimated project placements as at

  30 June

  12,200

  Estimated employer placements as at

  30 June

  5,500

  Child care allowances during April

  28 April

  253

  Table 2

  Employment Training—Yorkshire and Humberside region Trainee characteristics April 1989

  Category

  Latest information

  Percentage

  Sex

  April

  Male

  71

  Female

  29

  Duration of Unemployment

  April

  0–5 months

  25

  6–12 months

  33

  13–23 months

  11

  24 months+

  30

  Ethnic Origin1

  April

  1

  89

  148

  Category

  Latest information

  Percentage

  2

  2

  3

  4

  4

  1

  5

  3

  PWD2 cumulative 5 September to 31 March

  10

  1 Ethnic origin.

  1 - White.

  2 - Black/African/Caribbean.

  3 - Indian/Pakistan/Bangladeshi/Sri Lankan.

  4 - None of these.

  5 - I prefer not to say.

  2 PWD - People with disabilities. Those trainees answering whether they had a long-term health problem or disability which affected the type of work they could do.

  .. =less than 0·5 per cent.

  Percentages may not sum to 100 because of rounding.

  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the progress of employment training.

  Mr. Nicholls
  There are 194,000 people currently in training throughout the country which is a tremendous achievement after only 10 months of operation.

  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he collects as a result of participation on ET schemes; and if he will give a breakdown for the northern region.

  Mr. Nicholls
  A range of information is collected to enable the Training Agency to manage employment training effectively. The main information about ET entrants and trainees in the northern region is given in the tables.

  Table 1

  Employment training—Northern region Programme information

  Category

  Latest information

  Numbers

  Filled places at training managers

  30 June

  23,000

  Starts at training managers

  30 June

  36,600

  Referrals from Employment Service to training agents

  30 June

  77,300

  Action Plans completed at training agents

  30 June

  47,200

  Contracted places as at

  May

  28,500

  Estimated project placements as at

  30 June

  12,200

  Estimated employer placements as at

  30 June

  5,500

  Child Care Allowances during April

  28 April

  253

  Employment training—Yorks and Humberside region Trainee characteristics April 1989

  Category

  Latest Information

  Percentage age

  Sex

  April

  Males

  71

  Females

  29

  Duration of Unemployment

  April

  0–5 months

  25

  6–12 months

  33

  13–23 months

  11

  24 months+

  30

  Ethnic Origin1

  April

  89

  1

  2

  149

  Category

  Latest Information

  Percentage age

  2

  4

  3

  4

  4

  1

  5

  3

  PWD2 cumulative 5 September to 31 March

  10

  Notes:

  1 Ethnic origin

  1—White

  2—Black/African/Caribbean

  3—Indian/Pakistan/Bangladeshi/Sri Lankan

  4—None of these

  5—I prefer not to say

  2 PWD—People with disabilities. Those trainees answering whether they had a long-term health problem or disability which affected the type of work they could do.

  =.. less than 0·5 per cent.

  Percentages may not sum to 100 because of rounding.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures on the percentage of workers on employment training who have received the £200 bonus.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Information is not available about the number of people on Employment Training who have received a training bonus of £200.

  Employment Legislation
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of public opinion regarding the Government's reform of trade union legislation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  At each stage of the step-by-step reform of industrial relations and trade union legislation which the Government have pursued since 1979 we have submitted our proposals for public consultation, and we have been able to frame legislation in the knowledge that the measures will be welcomed by employers, employees and the public generally. Our election manifestos, which contained many of our proposals in this area, have also clearly gained widespread public support.

  Mr. Waller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he is considering any further reform of trade union legislation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Green Paper "Removing Barriers to Employment", published on 20 March, contains the Government's current proposals for the further reform of industrial relations and trade union law. In addition we will not hesitate to come forward with proposals for legislation to help prevent industrial action such as that recently experienced in certain public services, if appropriate.

  Visual Display Units
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals he has to ensure the health and safety of visual display unit operators.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Health and Safety Executive has published guidance on work with visual display units. We are currently discussing further proposals with our European partners.

  Youth Training Scheme
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many YTS places in(a) Scotland and (b) the United Kingdom had not been filled at the most recent available place.

  Mr. Cope
  At the end of May 1989 there were 13,800 unfilled YTS places in Scotland and 141,200 unfilled YTS places in Great Britain.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which European country had the fastest fall in unemployment over the past two years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  Over the past two years the unemployment rate has fallen faster in the United Kingdom than in any other major European country, and is now lower than the European community average.

  Mr. Burt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many jobs have been created in the last five years in the United Kingdom, and in the other member states of the European Community; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  Employment estimates are not yet available for many EC countries after 1987. Over the five-year period from 1982 to 1987 the increase in employment in the United Kingdom was greater than in the rest of the European Community combined. The table shows the data for each EC country for 1982 to 1987.

  Civilian employment (thousands)

  1982

  1987

  Change

  Percentage change

  United Kingdom

  23,584

  25,060

  1,476

  6·3

  Belgium

  3,578

  3,621

  43

  1·2

  Denmark

  2,476

  2,663

  187

  7·6

  Germany

  25,177

  25,440

  263

  1·0

  Greece

  3,501

  3,597

  96

  2·7

  Spain

  11,043

  11,383

  340

  3·1

  France

  21,240

  20,976

  -264

  -1·2

  Ireland

  1,131

  1,067

  -64

  -5·7

  Italy

  20,297

  20,584

  287

  1·4

  Luxembourg

  158

  169

  11

  7·0

  Netherlands

  5,009

  5,251

  242

  4·8

  Portugal

  3,959

  4,169

  210

  5·3

  EC12-United Kingdom

  97,569

  98,920

  1,351

  1·4

  Sources: United Kingdom (ED) Rest of EC (Eurostat).

  The Government have placed great stress on creating the right economic conditions in which enterprise can flourish and jobs can be created. Since 1980 the United Kingdom has had the fastest growing economy in western Europe and we are now in our eighth successive year of sustained growth. As a result of this, employment has increased greatly.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the level of unemployment in the London borough of Brent.

  Mr. Lee
  In June 1989 the number of unemployed claimants in the London borough of Brent was 8,815, a fall of 4,674 or 36·7 per cent. over the last 12 months. The comparison is slightly affected by the change of coverage in the count from September 1988 due to the changes in benefit regulations affecting young people under 18 years of age.
  151
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the increase in the number of self-employed people in work since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Bernard Braine
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were self-employed in the United Kingdom in June 1979 and June 1989; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  Between June 1979 and March 1989, the latest date for which estimates are available, there was an increase of 1,173,000, or 62 per cent., in the number of

  Changes March 1979 to March 1989 in the number of employees in employment by region

  Males

  Females all

  Females full time

  Females part time

  Region

  Change (thousands)

  Percentage change

  Change (thousands)

  Percentage change

  Change (thousands)

  Percentage change

  Change (thousands)

  Percentage change

  South East

  -77

  -1·8

  515

  16·4

  317

  16·7

  198

  15·9

  East Anglia

  96

  23·3

  93

  33·9

  44

  28·1

  49

  41·6

  South West

  -34

  -3·7

  105

  16·2

  62

  16·9

  43

  15·3

  West Midlands

  -135

  -10·1

  74

  8·2

  28

  5·3

  46

  12·5

  East Midlands

  -27

  -2·9

  90

  14·2

  38

  10·3

  52

  19·7

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  -181

  -15·2

  42

  5·3

  -5

  -1·1

  47

  13·3

  North West

  -338

  -21 9

  -21

  -1·9

  -62

  -9·3

  41

  8·8

  North

  -118

  -16·1

  21

  4·2

  -20

  -6·9

  41

  20·5

  Wales

  -129

  -21·0

  -3

  -·7

  -35

  -14·0

  32

  20·6

  Scotland

  -176

  -14·7

  40

  4·6

  -31

  -5·6

  71

  22·5

  Northern Ireland

  -41

  -13·7

  9

  4·1

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a = not available

  Mr. Hayward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the United Kingdom's current youth unemployment rate; what is the figure of other European countries; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  The table shows unemployment rates prepared on a harmonised basis and seasonally adjusted, for those aged under 25 years, for April 1989 in the United Kingdom and other European countries as published by the statistical office of the European Communities. The youth unemployment rate in the United Kingdom is about half the European Communities average.

  Harmonised unemployment rate (seasonally adjusted) for under 25 year olds, April 1989

  European country

  Total percentage rate

  Spain

  36·6

  Italy

  32·0

  Greece1

  24·4

  Ireland

  22·3

  France

  21·5

  Belgium

  17·7

  Netherlands

  16·3

  Portugal2

  12·0

  Denmark

  9·8

  Germany

  5·2

  Luxembourg

  3·8

  United Kingdom

  9·2

  EC average

  18·0

  1 April 1987.

  1 March 1989.

  Mr. Irvine
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the number of people of working age in employment in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) other European countries.

  Mr. Lee
  The United Kingdom has a higher proportion of people of working age in employment than any other
  152
  self-employed people in the United Kingdom. It is estimated that over 3 million people are now self-employed. Self-employed people now represent 12 per cent. of the work force in employment.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the increase or decrease in each standard planning region of(a) male employees, (b) female full-time employees and (c) female part-time employees since June 1979.

  Mr. Lee
  The available information is as follows:

  European Community country except Denmark. The latest available European Community figures are for 1987 when the United Kingdom had 68 per cent. of persons aged 15 to 64 in employment. Most other European Community countries had less than 60 per cent. of such persons employed. Denmark had 77 per cent. employed (Scandinavian countries outside the European Community had similar figures) and Germany and France had 61 per cent. and 59 per cent. respectively.

  Mr. Conway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment in how many parliamentary constituencies in the United Kingdom unemployment has fallen by over 50 per cent. since January 1986; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  Between January 1986 and June 1989 unemployment fell by 50 per cent. or more in 359 parliamentary constituencies in Great Britain. The comparison is affected by the change in compilation of the count in March 1986 to reduce over recording and changes in benefit regulations in September 1988 affecting young people under 18.

  Mr. Orme
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many and what percentage of claimants in Salford, East were classified as long-term unemployed in April; and what plans he has to reduce this number.

  Mr. Lee
  In April 1989 the number of unemployed claimants, in Salford, East who had been unemployed for over 12 months was 2,664 or 49 per cent. of the total unemployed. Employment training is specifically designed to give the longer-term unemployed the opportunity to acquire the skills they need to return to work.
  153
  Mr. Brandon-Bravo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the change in the number of long-term unemployed people aged 24 to 45 years in the last two years.

  Mr. Lee
  Unemployment figures are not available for the requested age group. However, the number of unemployed claimants aged 25 to 44 years in the United Kingdom who had been unemployed for over 12 months fell by 134,515 or 45·6 per cent. in the two years to April 1989.

  Dr. Woodcock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what major Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development country has the sharpest fall in the rate of unemployment over the past two years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  Over the past two years the unemployment rate has fallen faster in the United Kingdom than in any other major OECD country. The unemployment rate in the United Kingdom is now lower than the European Community average.

  Sir Fergus Montgomery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the fall in the numbers of long-term unemployed in the north-west.

  Mr. Lee
  The number of unemployed claimants in the north-west who had been unemployed for over 12 months fell by 37,633 or 25·1 per cent. in the year to April 1989.

  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the latest unemployment figure for the Rugby/Daventry travel-to-work area.

  Mr. Lee
  In June 1989 the number of unemployed claimants in the Rugby and Daventry travel-to-work area was 1,929.

  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he has taken to reduce unemployment in the last year.

  Mr. Lee
  Nearly 3 million new jobs have been created over the last six years and there are now more people in work in this country than ever before in our history. The Government will continue to provide the right economic conditions to create new jobs and reduce unemployment further. In addition, an extensive range of employment and training measures are already in place to help unemployed people back into work.

  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment by what amount unemployment in the parliamentary constituency of Bury, South has changed over the last six months for which figures are available.

  Mr. Lee: In June 1989 the number of unemployed claimants in the Bury, South constituency was 2,352, a fall of 434 over the past six months.

  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current level of unemployment in Bexley; and what was the level three years ago.

  Mr. Lee
  In June 1989 there were 3,825 unemployed claimants in Bexley local authority area compared with 8,603 in June 1986, a fall of 4,778 or 55·5 per cent. over the 154
  last three years. The comparison is slightly affected by the change of coverage in the count from September 1988 due to the benefit regulations affecting those young people under 18.

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest total for the number of people registered as unemployed in the Basildon constituency and for the corresponding period in each of the last four years.

  Mr. Lee
  The table shows the number of unemployed claimants in Basildon parliamentary constituency for each June from 1985 to 1989. The figures are affected by the change in the compilation of the count in March 1986 to reduce over-recording and by the change of coverage from September 1988 resulting from changes in benefit regulations affecting people aged under 18 years. Direct comparisons cannot therefore be made.

  Unemployment in Basildon parliamentary constituency

  June

  Number of unemployed claimants

  1985

  6,767

  1986

  6,448

  1987

  5,345

  1988

  3,701

  1989

  2,670

  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are now unemployed in the north-west.

  Mr. Lee
  In June 1989 there were 256,764 unemployed claimants in the north-west.

  Mr. Dover
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the current levels of unemployment in the United Kingdom and in the EEC.

  Mr. Lee
  Over the past two years the rate of unemployment has fallen faster in the United Kingdom than in any other major industrialised country, and is now lower than that of the majority of our European partners. The unemployment rate in the United Kingdom is also lower than the European Community average.

  International comparisons of Unemployment Standardised unemployment rates1—Seasonally adjusted

  Percentage rate

  Latest month

  Spain

  17·7

  February

  Ireland

  1(17·0)

  May

  Italy

  1 (10·7)

  May

  France

  10·1

  April

  Belgium

  9·5

  April

  Netherlands

  9·4

  January

  Greece

  1 (7·4)

  April 1987

  Denmark

  1 (7·1)

  May

  United Kingdom

  6·6

  April

  Germany

  5·5

  March

  Portugal

  5·5

  November

  Austria

  2 (4·8)

  February

  Norway

  4·8

  February

  Finland

  3·8

  April

  Luxembourg

  1 (1·8)

  April

  Sweden

  1·6

  April

  EC average

  1 (9·3)

  May

  1 For those EC countries for which no OECD standardised rates are available, similar harmonised rates compiled by the Statistical

  155
  Office of European Communities (EUROSTAT) are shown in brackets. These showed the United Kingdom rate at 6·8 per cent. in May compared with the EC average of 9·3 per cent.

  2National definitions. Standardised rates not available for Austria.

  Mr. Roger King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of the United Kingdom population is in employment; and what is the European average.

  Mr. Lee
  In 1987 nearly 45 per cent. of the total population of the United Kingdom were in employment, compared with an average of around 39 per cent. for Europe as a whole (excluding eastern Europe).

  HIV-positive Workers
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any evidence of discrimination in the workplace against persons who are HIV positive; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  There is little significant evidence available, but my right hon. Friend is concerned about any unjustified workplace discrimination. In most occupations there is no risk of infected persons passing HIV to others. There is no justification for employers to treat people who are HIV-positive differently from other employees or job applicants.

  Strikes
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has received any representations about strikes in the public sector; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has received any representations about unofficial strikes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My right hon. Friend has received many representations concerning the recent irresponsible and unnecessary industrial action in certain public sector services. The Government are considering what needs to be done to protect the public interest, and we will not hesitate to come forward with appropriate proposals for legislation if that proves necessary.

  Mr. Thornton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many strike ballots have been held before proposed strikes in the last five years; how many resulted in a vote not to strike; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service is currently aware of some 1,023 ballots which took place between 26 September 1984 and 31 May 1989 of which 115 were against taking strike action.

  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to meet the general secretary of the Trades Union Congress to discuss the current wave of strikes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My right hon. Friend has no current plans for such a meeting.

  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to introduce legislation to stop unofficial strikes; and if he will make a statement.
  156
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any proposals for the prohibition of strikes in essential transport services; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to introduce measures to curb the right of public sector workers in vital industries to undertake strike action.

  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to combat strikes in the public sector; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Recent industrial action in certain public sector services has been irresponsible and unnecessary. The Government are considering what needs to be done to protect the public interest, and we will not hesitate to come forward with appropriate proposals for legislation if that proves necessary.

  Mr. Franks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are employed in(a) the public sector and (b) the private sector; and how many working days were lost through strikes in each of 1988–89.

  Mr. Nicholls
  An article in "Economic Trends", December, page 119, set out the Central Statistical Office's estimates of the breakdown of employment in the public and private sectors in the United Kingdom at mid-1988 as 6,327,000 and 19,077,000 respectively. Revisions to employment data since the compilation of the article will be reflected in the next annual publication.

  Working days lost through stoppages of work due to industrial disputes in the 12 months ending March 1989 were 1,561,000 in the public sector and 1,296,000 in the private sector.

  A copy of "Economic Trends" is available in the Library.

  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many working days were lost through strikes in the public sector in 1988–89; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many working days were lost through strikes in the public sector and the private sector of the economy in 1988–89; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  In the 12 months to March 1989, working days lost through stoppages of work due to industrial disputes totalled 1,561,000 in the public sector and 1,296,000 in the private sector. The public sector figure includes 1,163,000 working days lost in the postal disputes in August and September last year and the private sector figure includes 754,000 working days lost in a shipyard dispute. Expressed in terms of days lost per thousand employees, the public sector figure is 247, the corresponding private sector figure 68.

  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many strikes there have been in the last 12 months; and how many there were 10 years ago.

  Mr. Nicholls
  In the 12 months to May 1989, a total of 700 stoppages of work due to industrial disputes are provisionally recorded as being in progress. In the
  157
  corresponding period 10 years ago, the 12 months to May 1979, a total of 2,453 stoppages were recorded as in progress. These statistics exclude stoppages involving fewer than 10 workers or lasting less than one day unless the total number of working days lost is greater than 100.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of the causes of the rise in working days lost through industrial disputes in April compared to March of the current year.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The latest estimates of working days lost through stoppages of work caused by industrial disputes for March and April of this year are 74,000 and 89,000 respectively. There is normally a significant fluctuation from month to month in the number of working days lost and the March to April increase is smaller than the median of other monthly increases over the past 36 months. The April 1989 figure is, apart from the April 1988 figure, the lowest for any April since 1954.

  Mr. Andrew MacKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many days have been lost by industrial action in the first six months of the current year; and what was the comparable figure for each of the previous 10 years.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The estimate for June 1989 of working days lost through stoppages of work due to industrial disputes is not yet available; but for the first five months of 1989 it is provisionally recorded that 435,000 working days were lost. The comparable figures for the first five months in each of the previous 10 years are as follows:

  Working days lost through stoppages of work due to industrial disputes in first five months of each year

  Year

  Number

  1979

  8,076,000

  1980

  2,341,000

  1981

  2,341,000

  1982

  2,510,000

  1983

  2,125,000

  1984

  8,669,000

  1985

  5,012,000

  1986

  1,082,000

  1987

  2,626,000

  1988

  1,226,000

  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to meet representatives of the Trades Union Congress to discuss strikes on London transport, British Rail and in the docks; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My right hon. Friend has no such plans. The resolution of these disputes is a matter for the parties concerned.

  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many days were lost in industrial disputes(a) in the most recent 12 month period for which figures are available and (b) in 1978.

  Mr. Nicholls
  A total of 2,911,000 working days were lost through stoppages of work due to industrial disputes in the most recent 12-month period ending in May 1989. In 1978, a total of 9,405,000 working days were lost.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has recently met the chairman of the National Training Task Force to discuss the establishment of new small businesses; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State met Brian Wolfson, chairman of the National Training Task Force, on Wednesday 12 July when development funding for the first training and enterprise councils was announced. These new, local, employer-led organisations will help establish a coherent network of support for new and small businesses by, among other things, building upon help provided by local enterprise agencies and others.

  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he plans to meet the chairman of British Venture Capital Association to discuss the development of small businesses; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  I have no immediate plans to meet the chairman of the BVCA in the near future, but I do have regular contact with the association.

  Mr. Carttiss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will report what the Government are doing to help small businesses; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  The Government's overall policy towards small businesses is to create a climate in which they can flourish and to tackle their unmet needs for professional advice and access to finance. The principal Government measures of particular help for small businesses include:

  The small firms service, which provides information and business counselling to new and established small firms and to those wishing to start a business. The SFS gives support to local enterprise agencies which also receive grants from the Government;

  The Rural Development Commission, which provides similar advice and technical services to small firms in rural areas;

  The enterprise initiative, launched by the DTI in January 1988, which offers access to specialised consultancy in a number of key business areas. particular emphasis is being given to single European market issues;

  The recently extended loan guarantee scheme, under which small firms can secure bank loans with the backing of substantial underwriting from the Department;

  The business expansion scheme which encourages equity investment in small firms by allowing tax relief on eligible investment;

  The enterprise allowance scheme which provides an allowance of £40 per week to previously unemployed people to make up for loss of benefit in their first year of self-employment; and

  A range of training programmes operated by the Training Agency which take account of new and established small firms' business training needs.

  The success of these measures is reflected in continued steady healthy growth of the small firms sector.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what role the training and enterprise councils will have in setting up and advising small business; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  Training and enterprise councils will be contractually responsible to the government within their areas for three programmes currently run by the Training Agency area offices—the enterprise allowance scheme, business growth training and small firms counseling—and they will work with local enterprise agencies and others to ensure a coherent network of support for small firms.

  Mr. Dickens
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many expressions of interest he has received in setting up training and enterprise councils; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what progress has been made in establishing training and enterprise councils; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Tracey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the number of expressions of interest he has received to set up training and enterprise councils.

  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received from employers on training and enterprise councils; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The National Training Task Force has now received 32 applications for training and enterprise council development funding. This is an excellent response. On 12 July my right hon. Friend announced the 19 applications which have so far been approved. These are listed as follows.

  List of training and enterprise council areas that have been approved for development funding as at 12 July

  South East:

  Essex

  Hampshire

  Hertfordshire

  Isle of Wight

  Milton Keynes

  South West:

  Devon and Cornwall

  Dorset

  West Midlands:

  Birmingham

  North West Midlands

  Walsall

  Yorkshire and Humberside:

  Calderdale and Kirklees

  Sheffield

  North West:

  Cumbria

  East Lancashire

  Oldham

  Rochdale

  South and East Cheshire

  Northern:

  Teesside

  Tyneside

  Wages Councils
  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of employees in the clothing manufacturing industry are paid at the wages council minima.

  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of employees in the licensed non-residential industry are paid at wages council minima.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of employees in the retail food industry are paid at wages council minima.

  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of employees in the retail food industry are paid at wages council minima.

  Mr. Nicholls
  No estimates are made of the proportion of workers paid on the wages council minimum in individual trades. Recent estimates for the wages council system as a whole suggest that a substantial proportion of workers—probably as many as two thirds are paid more than minimum.

  Mr. Lofthouse
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of the impact that the proposed abolition of wages councils will have on pay rates in Yorkshire and Humberside.

  Mr. Nicholls
  No such assessment has been made. However, the removal of wages councils minima would enable employers to offer, and workers to accept, jobs at rates which would previously have been unlawful. It is not possible to measure this greater flexibility on pay levels, but it is unlikely that there would be any general reduction in the earnings of workers in wages council trades.

  Industrial Action (Ballots)
  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received about the need for a code of practice on industrial action balloting; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Various representations on the draft statutory code of practice were received and are now being considered. My right hon. Friend will, in due course, decide whether to proceed with the draft, and if so whether to modify it in the light of these representations.

  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many pre-strike ballots were carried out by trade unions in 1988–89; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Advisory, Concilliation and Arbitration Service is currently aware of some 490 ballots which took place between 1 January 1988 and 31 May 1989.

  Fraud Investigators
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much money the employment fraud investigators saved the Exchequer in the year 1988–89; and if he will make a statement.
  161
  Mr. Lee
  The net benefit saved from this Department's fraud investigators' work during the year 1988–89 was £62·5 million.

  Tourism
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will discuss with the chairman of the British Tourist Authority the provision of training facilities for employees and employers in the tourist industry; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  I am keen to encourage improvements in training in the tourism industry, and the education and training unit, run jointly by the English tourist board and the British Tourist Authority, has made a most valuable contribution to that.

  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on his plans to encourage British tourism.

  Mr. Robert Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he intends announcing the results of his tourism review; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  I refer my hon. Friends to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 6 July to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham Yardley (Mr. Bevan) at column 278.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to meet the chairman of the English tourist board to discuss the tourism review.

  Mr. Lee
  I frequently meet the chairman of the ETB to discuss a range of matters affecting tourism.

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

  Mr. Lee
  I have nothing to add to the answer given to my hon. Friend by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 6 July at column 278.

  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the role of regional tourist boards following the tourism review.

  Mr. Lee
  I expect the English tourist board to devolve many of its activities and direct substantially more of its funding to the regional tourist boards. This will enable the RTBs to increase their marketing activities and their direct involvement in encouraging the development of tourism locally.

  Mr. Gerald Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to meet the chairmen of the regional tourism boards to discuss the tourism review; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  I hope to meet the chairmen of the regional tourist boards very shortly.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report, the total Government expenditure on the British Tourist Authority and each of the national tourist boards for each year from 1978 to the latest available year at current and constant 1988 prices.
  162
  Mr. Lee
  Responsibility for the Scottish, Wales and Northern Ireland tourist boards lies with their respective Secretaries of State. The figures requested for the British Tourist Authority and the English tourist board (including the payments of grants under section 4 of the Development of Tourism Act 1969, administered by the English tourist board) are:

  Current prices

  £ million

  BTA

  ETB

  Section 4 scheme

  1978–79

  11·0

  5·0

  1·3

  1979–80

  12·8

  6·1

  4·2

  1980–81

  14·2

  7·3

  4·2

  1981–82

  16·2

  8·7

  4·0

  1982–83

  18·1

  10·5

  4·5

  1983–84

  17·0

  8·6

  6·3

  1984–85

  17·3

  9·2

  8·4

  1985–86

  17·1

  8·8

  7·9

  1986–87

  20·4

  10·3

  9·5

  1987–88

  22·0

  11·3

  12·0

  1988–89

  23·7

  12·6

  13·2

  Constant 1988 prices

  £ million

  BTA

  ETB

  Section 4 scheme

  1978–79

  24·3

  11·0

  3·0

  1979–80

  24·7

  11·8

  8·1

  1980–81

  22·9

  11·8

  6·8

  1981–82

  23·4

  12·6

  5·8

  1982–83

  24·3

  14·1

  6·0

  1983–84

  21·7

  11·0

  8·1

  1984–85

  21·1

  11·2

  10·3

  1985–86

  19·8

  10·2

  9·1

  1986–87

  22·8

  11·5

  10·6

  1987–88

  23·4

  12·0

  12·8

  1988–89

  23·7

  12·6

  13·2

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report the total planned expenditure on the British Tourist Authority and each of the national tourist boards for 1989–90, 1990–91, and 1991–92, respectively.

  Mr. Lee
  Responsibility for the Scottish, Wales and Northern Ireland tourist boards lies with their respective Secretaries of State.

  In 1989–90, planned expenditure on grant-in-aid to the British Tourist Authority and to the English tourist board is £24·8 million and £13·2 million respectively. In addition, £10 million will be available to fulfil commitments made under the section 4 scheme prior to its suspension.

  Expenditure plans for following years will be determined under public expenditure survey arrangements in the normal way.

  TVEI
  Mr. Haselhurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the progress of the technical and vocational education initiative.

  Mr. Cope
  The technical and vocational education initiative is making excellent progress. TVEI is helping to prepare young people for working life by ensuring that their education is directly relevant to the world of work. All education authorities in Great Britain are now taking
  163
  part in TVEI: by September this year, some two thirds of them will have moved from the pilot phase to extending TVEI to all schools and colleges.

  Labour Costs
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the effect of changes in unit labour costs in manufacturing over the last year on employment.

  Mr. Lee
  Over the last year average earnings in manufacturing have risen by about 9¼ per cent., but the 5½ per cent. increase in productivity has kept the increase in unit wage costs over the period to May 1989 down to 3 per cent. In the year to May 1989, employees in employment in manufacturing fell by 37,000.

  There are many factors that affect employment over a short period of time and it is not possible to give an estimate of the effects of unit wage costs. However, if manufacturing in this country is to remain competitive it is vital that industry keeps unit wage costs under control.

  Disabled People (Legislation)
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has received the report recently published by the Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation (RADAR), and the Southwark law project on the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  I have received the report and noted the contents. The conclusions reached in it are being considered in the internal review of services which the Department provides to support the employment and training of people with disabilities.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many inspections were carried out during the last financial year of employers' premises, to check that obligations under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944 were being met; and how many of these revealed infringements.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many inspections were carried out during the last financial year of employers' premises, to check that obligations under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944 were being met; and how many of these revealed infringements.

  Mr. Lee
  In the year from April 1988 to April 1989 quota enforcement officers carried out 2,050 inspections of employers records under the terms of the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944. The number of inspections revealing infringements was 632. The inspections were targeted particularly on employers known not to hold a permit to recruit people not registered as disabled, and thus did not cover a representative cross section. The employers concerned undertook in future to comply fully with their obligations under the Act.

  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what aspects of the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944 are being considered in his Department's internal review of employment assistance to disabled adults; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  The review is considering all aspects of my Department's services for people with disabilities which 164
  are provided under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944. These include the quota scheme, sheltered employment for people with severe disabilities, and the arrangements at national and local level for advising the Secretary of State on matters concerning the employment and training of people with disabilities. It is proposed to consult widely about the conclusions of the review.

  Minimum Wages
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many prosecutions for breaches of minimum wages legislation were undertaken in 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1989 to date; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The numbers of prosecutions for all offences under wages council legislation for the years requested are as follows:

  Number

  1985

  2

  1986

  3

  1987

  8

  1988

  11

  11989

  2

  1 To date.

  The policy of the wages inspectorate under all Governments has been to seek compliance with the law by advice and persuasion and to consider prosecution only where an offence is deliberate or repeated.

  Engineering
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the average hours of full-time workers in the engineering industry including overtime.

  Mr. Lee
  The latest available information, for April 1988, is published in table X2, part B of the 1988 new earnings survey report. A copy of the report is in the Library.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the average numbers of hours of work of full-time employees in the engineering industry in each year since 1980.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Estimates compiled from the new earnings survey are provided in the table. Data on a consistent industry classification basis are not available prior to 1982.

  Average total weekly hours1 Engineering industry2—Great Britain

  April

  Hours

  1982

  40·9

  1983

  41·1

  1984

  41·6

  1985

  41·8

  1986

  41·9

  1987

  41·9

  1988

  42·3

  1 Full time employees on adult rates of pay whose earnings in the survey week were not affected by absence. However, 1982 relates to males aged 21 and over and females aged 18 and over.

  2 Covers Standard Industrial Classification (1980) Classes 32 (Mechanical Engineering), 33 (Manufacture of Office Equipment and Data Processing Equipment), 34 (Electrical and Electronic Engineering) and 37 (Instrument Engineering).

  Dock Workers
  Mr. Janman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received about the port-by-port negotiations between dock workers and the port employers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has received any representations about the need for port-by-port negotiations between the dock workers and their employers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My right hon. Friend has received no representations about port-by-port negotiations between former registered dock workers and their employers. Following the abolition of the restrictions of the dock labour scheme, employers and employees must decide what form of negotiations about the terms and conditions of 9,200 former registered dock workers meets the needs of the ports concerned.

  The Government note that terms and conditions of 30,000 other workers in scheme and non-scheme ports are the product of successful local negotiations between employers and employees, and that port employers have offered similar talks to former registered dock workers. The Government believe that the offer should be taken up, in the interests of the dock workers themselves and the ports on which their jobs depend.

  Labour Market
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to improve the labour market; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  We have taken positive steps to improve the labour market by developing an effective range of employment and training measures, improving industrial relations, promoting enterprise in small firms and self-employment and removing barriers to employment. These measures have made a major contribution to the massive improvement in the employment situation in the last three years and will be vigorously pursued in the future.

  Picketing
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to amend the code on picketing; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My right hon. Friend has no current plans to amend the statutory code of practice on picketing.

  Skill Shortages
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what measures he is taking to reduce skill shortages; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Government are continuing to encourage employers to define and tackle their own skill needs through the introduction of training and enterprise councils and business growth training. The Government are also helping young people and the unemployed to learn new skills through YTS and employment training.

  Enterprise Allowance
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of the extent to which the enterprise allowance scheme provides value for money in creating new jobs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  Both the IBBs efficiency unit and the National Audit Office have in recent reports endorsed the scheme as a value-for-money employment measure. The net cost per person who leaves the unemployed register is £1,846. This figure takes into account flow backs in the form of tax, national insurance and savings in benefit and the effects of deadweight and displacement, but excludes administration costs. Latest survey evidence shows that 65 per cent. of those who complete a full year on the scheme are still trading two years after the allowance has ended, and that for every 100 businesses continuing at this three year point, 114 additional jobs have been created.

  Mr. Bright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the progress of the enterprise allowance scheme.

  Mr. Nicholls
  A total of 446,000 people have started their own business under the enterprise allowance scheme since it began in 1982. Some 84,000 people are currently in receipt of the allowance.

  Social Charter
  Mr. Marland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement setting out his reasons for opposition to the proposed European social charter.

  Mr. Cope
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Warrington, South (Mr. Butler) on Tuesday 20 June 1989 at column 120.

  Mr. Curry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what indications he received of the intentions of the French presidency to proceed with the social charter following the EC Employment Ministers meeting in Auxerre; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  I attended the informal meeting of EC Employment Ministers at Auxerre on 10 July and agreed that the United Kingdom would take part in the working group which the French presidency now intend to set up to consider a social charter. Our view remains that the provisional draft charter proposed by the European Commission is unnecessary and unacceptable and that it will do nothing to contribute to job creation which was agreed to be the top social priority at the European Council in Madrid last month. We will be making clear in our discussions during the French presidency the problems and disadvantages we see in the Commission's proposed charter. We will continue to stress the very important point agreed in Madrid that national legislation and voluntary agreements have a legitimate role in achieving the Community's social dimension, and not everything has to be the subject of directives from the European Community.

  ACAS
  Mr. Kirkhope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many industrial disputes have been referred to the Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Information on the number and types of conciliation cases dealt with by the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service is published in its annual report. In 1988 the service received a total of 1,163 requests for conciliation. In over 80 per cent. of the cases no industrial action took place. It is entirely for the parties concerned to decide whether they wish to seek the assistance of ACAS in settling disputes.

  Part-time Workers
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on action taken to improve the working conditions and employment protection of part-time workers in the past decade.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Government believe that the interests of all workers, including part-timers, are best served by their policy since 1979 of reducing barriers to economic efficiency.

  Industrial Training Boards
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment with which industrial training boards he has still to agree a levy for the financial year 1989–90.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My right hon. Friend has agreed proposals from six industry training boards to collect levy from their industries in the financial year 1989–90. No further levy proposals are expected for this period.

  Trade Union Immunities
  Mr. Day
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received seeking the restoration of trade union immunities as they existed prior to the passing of the Employment Act 1981; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Representations seeking the repeal of the measures taken to reform industrial relations and trade union law since 1979 are made to my right hon. Friend from time to time, from various sources. These reforms have, however, helped to correct imbalances of power between unions and employers, and unions and their own members, and contributed significantly to the important changes of attitude which have made the improvement in our industrial relations record possible.

  Hairdressing (Training)
  Sir John Hunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the present arrangements in respect of training schemes within the hairdressing industry.

  Mr. Cope
  The Government actively support structured training leading to vocational qualifications and welcomes the efforts made in the last few years by the hairdressing industry to improve its training arrangements. The 168
  industry, represented by the hairdressing training board, has developed a national scheme for new entrants to the industry and has recently received approval from the National Council for Vocational Qualifications for its new qualification in hairdressing.

  Tourism (Japan)
  Mr. Butterfill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to meet the chairman of the British Tourist Authority to discuss the promotion of the British tourism and leisure industry in Japan; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  I have recently returned from Japan where I led a delegation of senior representatives of the British tourism, travel, and retail industries including representatives of the BTA. The aim was to convince the Japanese of our interest in their market and to bring back practical advice to the British tourism industry on how to encourage more Japanese visitors to Britain. I am convinced that the Japanese market offers great potential and I will be considering with the chairman of the British Tourist Authority how best to carry forward the delegation's recommendations.

  Secondary Industrial Action
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to meet the trade union commissioner to discuss secondary picketing and secondary action; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My right hon. Friend has no such plans to meet the Commissioner for the Rights of Trade Union Members.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received seeking the repeal of current laws relating to secondary picketing and secondary action; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Representations on the proposals for changes to industrial relations law put forward in the Green Paper "Removing Barriers to Employment" are currently being considered. The proposal to make it unlawful to induce industrial action by workers of an employer not party to a trade dispute, except in the case of lawful picketing, was supported by a majority of those commenting on it.

  TUC
  Mr. Ward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to meet the general secretary of the Trades Union Congress to discuss the current industrial relations situation.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My right hon. Friend has no current plans for such a meeting.

  Standards Programme
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the implementation procedures for the standards programmes launched by his Department on 22 June.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The publication "Standards significant to health and safety at work", launched by the Health and
  169
  Safety Executive on 22 June 1989, updates a similar publication first produced in 1983. It is a list, published for information, of those standards to which frequent reference is made by HSE in its advisory and enforcement work.

  Enterprise Agencies
  Mr. Hague
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many enterprise agencies are operating in the United Kingdom; how much they received from his Department in 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  We know of 433 local enterprise agencies operating in the United Kingdom. Of these, 394 are approved under statutory provisions which allow for tax relief on donations to them. In 1988–89 just over £2·5 million was also paid out in grant aid by my Department to approved local enterprise agencies in England.

  Training Agencies
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what action his Department is taking to monitor the work of private training agencies contracted to work for his Department.

  Mr. Cope
  The Employment Department, through the Training Agency, has in place a comprehensive strategy for the monitoring and quality development of training delivered through contracts with other organisations.

  Employment training and YTS contractors are examined rigorously to establish whether they should become approved training organisations. Once approved, contractors continue to be visited regularly by Training Agency staff and training standards advisory service inspectors to review the performance and quality of training, and financial and health and safety arrangements. The Training Agency also carries out an annual review of all contracts to draw together all available information before deciding the size and scope of any future contracts.

  Training providers who contract to deliver seminars and workshops under business growth training are monitored by Training Agency staff against expenditure and performance; the quality of training is reviewed at periodic meetings with contractors, and by follow-up questioning of trainees.

  Fatal injuries3 to employees at work reported to HSE's factory and agricultural inspectorates5

  Health and Safety executive area

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986–871

  1987–8816

  South West

  8

  15

  16

  16

  12

  17

  12

  South

  11

  7

  11

  9

  11

  11

  14

  South East

  17

  17

  17

  19

  21

  14

  23

  Greater London

  29

  33

  32

  29

  34

  26

  32

  East Anglia

  8

  11

  13

  14

  16

  13

  10

  Northern Home Counties

  5

  9

  9

  14

  10

  10

  8

  East Midlands

  13

  14

  9

  8

  12

  11

  8

  West Midlands

  13

  16

  18

  11

  11

  7

  11

  Wales

  22

  23

  13

  23

  19

  21

  27

  Marches

  11

  11

  12

  11

  7

  6

  5

  North Midlands

  14

  16

  16

  11

  12

  8

  8

  South Yorkshire and Humberside

  11

  14

  15

  14

  13

  15

  11

  West and North Yorkshire

  19

  18

  21

  19

  17

  19

  11

  Greater Manchester

  13

  13

  11

  14

  14

  13

  10

  Merseyside

  9

  9

  11

  16

  16

  9

  12

  North West

  10

  13

  17

  7

  4

  8

  10

  North East

  18

  21

  9

  17

  15

  15

  11

  Health and Safety
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any plans to extend the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My right hon. Friend has no such plans. The Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 already applies to the control of virtually all workplace risks in Great Britain. It also applies to offshore installations and to certain other activities within territorial waters and designated areas of the continental shelf. The Act places duties on all people concerned with work, including employers, employees and the self-employed, to ensure the health and safety of people at work and of others who may be affected by working activities.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many accidents, fatalities and diseases at work reported to the Health and Safety Executive occurred in retail in each year since 1981.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The available information for the retail industry, based on reports to the local authorities and to the Health and Safety Executive, is as follows:

  Severity of injury

  Employment Status

  Year2

  Fatal

  Major

  Over three days

  Employees

  1986–87

  4

  851

  5,291

  11987–88

  2

  831

  6,000

  Self-employed

  1986–87

  1

  2

  6

  11987–88

  1

  5

  10

  Members of the public

  1986–87

  7

  499

  n/a

  11987–88

  4

  493

  n/a

  1 Provisional

  2 For the year commencing 1 April

  n/a Not available

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing accidents at work, fatalities at work, and diseases at work reported to the Health and Safety Executive in each year since 1980 by standard region.

  Mr. Nicholls
  This information is not held by standard region and could be provided in this form only at disproportionate cost. Available information broken down by Health and Safety Executive areas is as follows:
  171

  Health and Safety executive area

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1955

  1986–871

  1987–8816

  Scotland East

  19

  21

  29

  22

  18

  22

  15

  Scotland West

  28

  27

  12

  17

  13

  8

  18

  All injuries4 to employees at work reported to HSE factory and agricultural inspectorates5

  Health and Safety Executive Area

  1986–871

  1987–8846

  South West

  6,781

  6,486

  South

  6,472

  6,556

  South East

  5,889

  5,642

  Greater London

  13,918

  12,949

  East Anglia

  5,637

  6,064

  Northern Home Counties

  4,318

  4,409

  East Midlands

  4,862

  4,987

  West Midlands

  7,728

  7,536

  Wales

  8,539

  8,203

  Marches

  5,834

  5,725

  North Midlands

  8,645

  7,891

  South Yorksire and Humberside

  8,376

  8,104

  West and North Yorkshire

  9,596

  9,022

  Greater Manchester

  8,804

  8,461

  Merseyside

  9,086

  7,959

  North West

  6,561

  6,643

  North East

  11,082

  10,723

  Scotland East

  7,734

  8,518

  Scotland West

  7,132

  7,285

  1 Data for the year beginning 1 April.

  2 From 1981 to 1985 the figures include some injuries to the self employed and from 1981 to 1983 they may also include some injuries to members of the public.

  3 Fatalities to employees reported to HSE's Factory and Agricultural Inspectorates under, and as defined in, the Notification of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations, 1980 for the years 1981 to 1985 and the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations, 1985 since 1 April 1986.

  4 Includes major injuries and over three day absences reported directly to enforcing authorities under RIDDOR.

  5 Figures reported to other enforcing authorities are not available by HSE area.

  6 Provisional.

  Ill-health notifications reported to HSE's Factory and Agricultural Inspectorates2

  Health and Safety Executive Area

  1986–871

  1987–8813

  South West

  23

  23

  South

  14

  12

  South East

  25

  15

  Greater London

  40

  15

  East Anglia

  5

  4

  Northern Home Counties

  13

  3

  East Midlands

  10

  8

  West Midlands

  29

  14

  Wales

  18

  9

  Marches

  9

  18

  North Midlands

  11

  9

  South Yorkshire and Humberside

  14

  14

  West and North Yorkshire

  12

  11

  Greater Manchester

  15

  10

  Merseyside

  12

  14

  North West

  11

  14

  North East

  16

  12

  Scotland East

  8

  4

  Scotland West

  5

  49

  1 Data for the year beginning 1 April.

  2 Figures reported to other enforcing authorities are not available by HSE area.

  3 Provisional.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take steps to make it compulsory for accidents in shops to be reported to the Health and Safety Executive.
  172
  Mr. Nicholls
  The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985 already require that accidents which arise out of or in connection with, work activities covered by the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 are reported to the relevant enforcing authority. In the case of accidents in shops this is normally the local authority.

  Training Schemes
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any plans to review his Department's schemes for the unemployed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  The Government's policies have produced a business climate in which nearly 3 million new jobs have been created over the last six years. As a result, there are now more people in work in this country than ever before in our history. My Department runs a wide range of programmes which have assisted unemployed people to secure those jobs and share in this new prosperity. These measures are kept under regular review to ensure that they continue successfully and cost effectively to help unemployed people back into work.

  French Employment Minister
  Dame Jill Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on his meeting with the French Employment Minister on 4 July in London; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Cope
  M. Soisson visited London on 4 July at the invitation of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. We held a constructive meeting covering a wide range of issues, in particular plans for the current French presidency of the European Commission.

  Co-operative Development Agency
  Mr. Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he will be announcing his plans for the future of the Co-operative Development Agency.

  Mr. Cope
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham, West (Mr. Maples) on 13 July at columns 581–82.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to develop and encourage the work currently undertaken by the Co-operative Development Agency.

  Mr. Cope
  The Co-operative Development Agency has done good work in supporting and advising co-operatives but much of this is now carried out by other support bodies. Consequently, as I announced in a reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham, West (Mr. Maples) on 13 July, the Government have decided not to extend the life of the CDA when the ceiling of grant available to support it is reached.

  The agency has also played a role in co-ordinating and representing the interests of the co-operative movement as

  173
  a whole. We believe that it is for co-operative organisations themselves to determine their future needs and arrangements in this respect.

  Restart
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many unemployed people have(a) been called for a restart interview, (b) attended a restart interview, (c) been referred to unemployment benefit office for failing to attend a restart interview, (d) been

  England

  Scotland

  Wales

  Great Britain

  (a) Called for a Restart interview

  2,506,409

  381,418

  177,809

  3,065,636

  (b) Attended a Restart interview

  1,822,031

  291,197

  136,479

  2,249,707

  (c) Referred to UBO for failing to attend a Restart interview

  277,948

  28,334

  19,265

  325,547

  (d) Been disallowed after referral to UBO

  21,075

  2,555

  1,757

  25,387

  (e) Called for a Restart follow-up interview

  261,335

  17,131

  23,140

  301,606

  (f) Attended a follow-up interview

  188,780

  12,463

  18,964

  220,207

  (g) Referred to UBO for failing to attend a follow-up interview

  23,113

  946

  1,656

  25,715

  (h) Been disallowed after referral to UBO

  not available separately (included in (d) above)

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how may unemployed people have been referred to the following outcourses as a result of their restart interviews, and, for each of the outcourses, how many people started or attended(a) a job, (b) a restart course, (c) employment training, (d) community programme, (e) new job training schemes, (f) a jobclub (g) enterprise allowance schemes, (h) voluntary work/voluntary projects programmes, (i) employment rehabilitation centres, (j) disablement rehabilitation option and (k) claimant adviser for the Training Agency in the year to March 1989 in (i) England, (ii) Scotland, (iii) Wales and (iv) Great Britain.

  Mr. Lee
  The information requested is provided in the table. We do not know how many of those interviewed ultimately end up in a job or other opportunity as a result of the restart interview.

  Restart counselling

  Numbers referred to:

  England

  Scotland

  Wales

  Great Britain

  Job

  185,405

  32,330

  17,525

  235,260

  Restart course

  56,403

  12,905

  6,829

  76,137

  Employment training

  237,256

  47,121

  21,134

  305,511

  Community programme

  25,054

  5,783

  2,802

  33,639

  New job training scheme

  98,480

  14,702

  7,869

  121,051

  Table 1 Visits to the United Kingdom by residents of Western Europe1

  Number of visits (thousands)

  Average number of nights' stay

  Average expenditure per visit at current prices (£)

  All tourists

  of which: business

  All tourists

  Business tourists

  All tourists

  Business tourists

  1978

  7,865

  1,566

  9·1

  4·5

  130·4

  152·1

  1979

  7,873

  1,646

  9·5

  4·2

  149·6

  172·4

  1980

  7,910

  1,784

  9·2

  4·8

  154·1

  185·8

  1981

  7,055

  1,650

  9·2

  4·0

  153·9

  182·5

  1982

  7,082

  1,634

  9·1

  4·4

  163·9

  203·1

  1983

  7,164

  1,712

  9·4

  4·1

  191·3

  217·3

  1984

  7,551

  1,925

  9·1

  4·1

  202·7

  219·8

  1985

  7,870

  2,035

  9·4

  4·3

  226·8

  251·7

  1986

  8,355

  2,244

  9·0

  4·3

  259·7

  291·8

  1987

  9,317

  2,473

  9·3

  4·0

  269·4

  303·1

  1988

  9,668

  2,889

  8·9

  4·3

  257·8

  299·4

  1 European Community plus Austria, Cyprus, Finland, Gibraltar, Iceland, Malta, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Yugoslavia.

  174
  disallowed, (e) been called for a restart follow-up interview, (f) attended a restart interview, (g) been referred to the unemployment benefit office for failing to attend a follow-up interview and (h) been disallowed after referral to the unemployment benefit office for the Training Agency in (i) England, (ii) Scotland, (iii) Wales and (iv) Great Britain in the year to March 1989.

  Mr. Lee
  The information requested is provided in the table:

  Numbers referred to:

  England

  Scotland

  Wales

  Great Britain

  Jobclub

  165,939

  34,506

  14,663

  215,108

  Enterprise allowance scheme

  78,832

  7,267

  5,417

  91,516

  Voluntary work/VPP

  9,263

  1,028

  1,100

  11,391

  E.R.C.

  1,790

  257

  189

  2,236

  D.R.O.

  57,204

  9,758

  4,266

  71,228

  Claimant adviser

  140,878

  20,424

  10,439

  171,741

  Western Europe (Visits)
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report (a) the number of visits to Great Britain from western Europe, (b) the number of visits from western Europe to Great Britain, giving details of (i) the number of business and tourist trips, (ii) the average number of nights' stay and (iii) average expenditure at current and constant 1988 prices for each year from 1978 to 1988 inclusive.

  Mr. Lee
  The available information relates to visits to and from the United Kingdom and is given in the following tables. Suitable price indices for the calculation of expenditure at constant prices are not available.
  175

  Table 2 Visits to Western Europe1 by residents of the United Kingdom

  Number of visits (thousands)

  Average number of nights' stay

  Average expenditure per visit at current prices (£)

  All tourists

  of which: business

  All tourists

  Business tourists

  All tourists

  Business tourists

  1978

  11,517

  1,802

  10·2

  5·4

  99·4

  107·3

  1979

  12,959

  2,037

  10·3

  5·9

  116·0

  122·4

  1980

  14,455

  2,158

  10·1

  5·6

  131·6

  137·7

  1981

  15,862

  2,147

  10·4

  5·3

  140·2

  151·9

  1982

  17,625

  2,190

  9·8

  5·3

  146·5

  165·8

  1983

  18,229

  2,328

  9·9

  4·9

  163·6

  187·0

  1984

  19,371

  2,533

  10·2

  5·0

  178·3

  202·2

  1985

  18,944

  2,566

  10·2

  5·1

  191·6

  237·1

  1986

  21,877

  2,596

  10·4

  5·2

  209·3

  242·8

  1987

  23,678

  2,898

  10·4

  5·3

  227·1

  266·4

  1988

  24,519

  3,187

  10·5

  5·1

  239·6

  263·1

  1 European Community plus Austria, Cyprus, Finland, Gibraltar, Iceland, Malta, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Yugoslavia.

  Domestic Trips
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report for each year from 1978 to the latest date available, the number of domestic trips undertaken by Great Britain residents, giving the average number of nights and expenditure at current and constant 1988 prices.

  Mr. Lee
  The following table gives the available information. Suitable official price indices for the calculation of expenditure at constant prices are not available.

  Domestic trips of one night or more by British residents

  Year

  Number of trips (thousands)

  Average number of nights per trip

  Average expenditure per trip at current prices (£)

  1978

  119,000

  4·5

  26·1

  1979

  118,000

  4·5

  32·2

  1980

  130,000

  4·3

  35·0

  1981

  126,000

  4·2

  36·5

  1982

  123,000

  4·2

  36·6

  1983

  131,000

  4·2

  40·8

  1984

  140,000

  4·1

  42·7

  1985

  126,000

  4·0

  50·2

  1986

  128,000

  4·0

  55·9

  1987

  132,000

  3·8

  51·3

  1988

  130,000

  4·0

  60·4

  Source: British Tourist Authority.

  Skills Training Agency
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his timetable for the privatisation of each skill centre.

  Mr. Cope
  An advertisement offering the Skills Training Agency for sale will be published later in the summer. Bids for all or part of STA will be invited. I expect that negotiations with potential purchasers will take place in the autumn, and that a sale will be concluded after Royal Assent to the Employment Bill.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans his Department has formulated to ensure that the quality and participation rate of training are safeguarded within the Skills Training Agency after privatisation.
  176
  Mr. Cope
  The customer will be the primary judge of training quality in the STA after privatisation. The normal monitoring will apply to programmes that they contract with the Government to provide.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps his Department is taking to ensure that all information required for collective bargaining purposes will be made available to he recognised trade unions in the Skills Training Agency.

  Mr. Cope
  The Department will disclose information required for collective bargaining purposes in accordance with their legal obligations. Since the announcement that the STA is to be offered for sale, there have been 10 meetings with the recognised trade unions, eight special information bulletins, and many letters responding to questions asked by the trade unions.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he plans to issue the sale memorandum for the skill centres.

  Mr. Cope
  The information memorandum will be ready for issue to prospective purchasers later in the summer.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in the Official Report, all monies received by the Skills Training Agency from the Manpower Services Commission, Training Commission and Training Agency in each year since 1984; if he will detail the developments in skills training provision with reference to each specific allocation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  Moneys received by the Skills Training Agency from the MSC, Training Commission, Training Agency for each financial year since 1984 are as follows:

  £000's

  1984–85

  Training Opportunities Programme

  71,339

  Youth Training Scheme

  3,755

  Total

  75,094

  1985–86

  Old Job Training Scheme

  63,078

  Youth Training Scheme

  1,615

  Total

  64,693

  1986–87

  Old Job Training Scheme

  65,354

  177

  £000's

  Youth Training Scheme

  1,467

  Jobclub and Restart1

  862

  Total

  67,683

  1987–88

  Old Job Training Scheme

  58,472

  New Job Training Scheme

  1,883

  Youth Training Scheme

  1,364

  Jobclub and Restart1

  651

  Total

  62,370

  1988–89

  Old Job Training Scheme

  29,232

  Employment Training

  7,283

  New Job Training Scheme

  1,606

  Youth Training Scheme

  1,412

  Jobclub and Restart1

  340

  Total

  39,873

  1 Sponsored by the Employment Service.

  Rural Areas
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on his employment and training policies for rural areas.

  Mr. Lee
  Rural areas benefit from the full range of my Department's measures to reduce unemployment and promote training. We are conscious of the special needs of rural areas and these are taken into account in designing and delivering our programmes.

  Accidents (Deaths)
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have been killed in accidents at work in the last 10 years; and what the figure was for the previous 10-year period.

  Mr. Nicholls
  In the 10 years ending March 1988, a total of 4,713 fatal injuries to employees were reported to the appropriate authorities. The corresponding figure for the previous 10 years was 7,297.

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