Written Answers of 7 June 1989

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Television Licences (Pensioners)
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received seeking the introduction of free television licences for retirement pensioners; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  Since 1 January this year, we have received five letters—in four cases referred to us by hon. Members —seeking the introduction of free television licences for retirement pensioners.

  Television Licences
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to permit war widows the same concession with regard to television licences as residents in sheltered accommodation.

  Mr. Renton
  The concessionary TV licence is available to retirement pensioners and disabled people who live in residential or nursing homes, or in equivalent sheltered housing provided by a local authority or a housing association. There are no plans to extend the concession.

  Barrow Borough Transport Ltd.
  Mr. Franks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Cumbria as to any investigations being undertaken into the activities of former directors and executives of Barrow Borough Transport Ltd. arising from the finding of the administrators appointed to oversee the company.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  1 understand that the police are not conducting any inquiries into this case.

  Radio Tara
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he has taken since receiving a request from the Independent Broadcasting Authority that representations be made to the Irish Government seeking alteration to the Radio Tara, Atlantic 252, aerial siting or its configuration.

  Mr. Renton
  We have made representations to the Irish authorities and await their reply.

  Her Majesty's Prison, Leicester
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many rule 43 prisoners are held in the segregational unit at Her Majesty's prison, Leicester; and what proposals he has for improving the conditions in this unit.
  136
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 6 June 1989]: On 5 June 1989, one prisoner was held in the segregation unit at Leicester prison under rule 43 for the maintenance of good order or discipline. There are no proposals for improving the conditions in that unit.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the extent and effect on the running of gym, exercise and education periods of staff shortages at Her Majesty's prison Leicester; and if he has any plans to reverse this situation.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 6 June 1989]: The PE department currently has a full complement of four full-time PE officers and the PE programme does not suffer from staff shortages. However, for the 12 months prior to 15 May 1989 the department did run with one PE officer short. This caused 90 classes to be cancelled. Nevertheless, the inmates spent some 29,248 hours on physical education from May 1988 to May 1989.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Vienna Convention
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the 82 states which voted for the adoption of the 1978 Vienna convention on succession of states in respect of treaties; and if he will indicate which of those countries have moved to ratification.

  Mr. Eggar
  According to the official records of the conference, the Vienna convention on succession of states in respect of treaties was adopted on 22 August 1978 by 76 votes in favour (including the United Kingdom) to none against with four abstentions. Subsequently two of those countries which had abstained informed the UN Secretariat that they had received authorisation to support the convention. This was not a roll call vote and the records do not list who among the 94 participating countries voted in favour.

  As at 31 December 1988 the following countries had ratified the convention: Dominica, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iraq, Morocco, Seychelles, Tunisia and Yugoslavia.

  Katyn Massacre
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of his Department's studies of Soviet involvement in the Katyn massacre taking account of the recent statement by the Polish Government on this matter.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We are following developments closely. There is substantial circumstantial evidence pointing to Soviet responsibility for the massacre. We urge the Soviet authorities to help establish the facts once and for all.

  Cambodia
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on Vietnamese troop withdrawals from Kampuchea; and what development he envisages in Her Majesty's Government's policies on recognition of(a) the coalition Government of democratic Kampuchea or (b) the state of Cambodia PRK.
  137
  Mr. Eggar
  Vietnam has withdrawn some troops from Cambodia, but significant numbers remain. We welcome Vietnam's stated intention of withdrawing fully by September.

  We recognise states, not Governments, and have dealings with neither the CGDK nor the PRK. We currently for see no change in this policy.

  Egypt
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussion Her Majesty's Government have had with the Egyptian authorities about the use of torture of political detainees in Egypt.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  None.

  Hong Kong (Ivory Trade)
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Hong Kong Government concerning the trade in ivory in Hong Kong.

  Mr. Eggar
  We have informed the Hong Kong Government about our decision to support a ban on trade in new ivory. They are now urgently reviewing their position.

  Abduction
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received during the present Parliament about the abduction and taking abroad by their foreign-born fathers of the children of United Kingdom citizen mothers; what information he has of the numbers of such children and the countries where they are now believed to reside; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  [pursuant to the reply, 23 May 1989, c. 455]: Foreign and Commonwealth consular records are kept on an individual case-by-case basis. However, it has been possible to identify 56 cases in which Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers have received, during the present Parliament, representations about British children who have been taken overseas or are being kept overseas against the wishes of their mothers in the United Kingdom.

  The following table gives details of the number of cases together with the countries to which the children have been taken or in which they are believed to be being kept.

  In five of these cases—one in Cyprus, two in the United States of America, one in Yemen Arab Republic and one in Yugoslavia—custody of one or more of the children concerned has now been restored to their mothers in the United Kingdom.

  Country

  Number of cases

  Afghanistan

  1

  Algeria

  3

  Chile

  1

  Cyprus

  3

  France

  1

  India

  1

  Iran

  3

  Libya

  1

  138

  Country

  Number of cases

  Malaysia

  1

  Morocco

  2

  Netherlands

  1

  New Zealand

  2

  Pakistan

  9

  Saudi Arabia

  4

  Singapore

  1

  Spain

  3

  Sri Lanka

  1

  Thailand

  1

  United Arab Emirates

  3

  United States of America

  9

  Yemen Arab Republic

  3

  Yugoslavia

  2

TRANSPORT

  Lichfield—Redditch Railway Line
  Mr. Heddle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has now received British Rail's submission for the electrification of the cross city line from Lichfield to Redditch via Birmingham New Street.

  Mr. Portillo
  Not yet.

  Heavy Vehicles
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many motor car axle-load movements of 12-cwt could be undertaken to equate with the equivalent damage caused by 1,000 12-ton axle-load lorries.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Except for special vehicles, 12-ton axle loads are not allowed. The road wear from 1,000 12-ton axle-load movements would be about the same as from 160 million 12-cwt axle loads.

  Speed Limits
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of how much the kinetic energy as affecting road surfaces has increased through the raising of speed limits(a) of lorries from 50 to 60 mph and (b) of coaches from 60 to 70 mph.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Detailed research into this aspect of road wear is still in progress. The interplay of the different vehicle forces and suspension types is complex, and the effect on the road surface varies according to speed and loading. Current indications are that, at higher speeds, dynamic effects increase the loading on road surfaces. The increases are small and are countered by the improved load spreading properties of most roads at such speeds. The research programme is aimed at determining where the balance between these opposing effects lies.

  Barrow Borough Transport Ltd.
  Mr. Franks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what date Barrow-in-Furness borough council applied to him for approval for the council to guarantee with National Westminster bank plc the overdraft facilities of Barrow Borough Transport Ltd.; and what was his reply.

  Mr. Portillo
  Barrow-in-Furness borough council applied to the Secretary of State for Transport for
  139
  approval to guarantee an overdraft facility on 12 August 1988 and submitted further information in support of this application on 16 September and 13 October. The application was, however, overtaken by subsequent events leading up to the appointment of administrators on 21 December.

  Mr. Franks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) on what date Barrow-in-Furness borough council applied to him to make loans to Barrow Borough Transport Ltd.; and what was his reply;

  (2) what information he has as to the total amount of loans made by the Barrow-in-Furness borough council to Barrow Borough Transport Ltd. and as to between what dates these loans were made; and whether he gave his prior consent to the making of such loans under section 79 of the Transport Act 1985.

  Mr. Portillo
  We were informed in December 1988 by the council that it had made certain payments on behalf of the company between October 1986 and March 1987 and were asked whether consent was needed. We indicated that retrospective consent was not possible. Otherwise no application for consent to loans has been received and I have no information on loans made by the council to the company. The council does not need the Secretary of State's consent to make loans in connection with the provision or improvement of assets, provided that such loans are on terms no more favourable than those on which the authority can itself borrow.

  Mr. Franks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to(a) how many directors were appointed at any one time to the board of directors of Barrow Borough Transport Ltd., (b) how many of these directors were also councillors on Barrow-in-Furness borough council and (c) the financial status of such appointees.

  Mr. Portillo
  We have no specific knowledge on these points.

  Mr. Franks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to(a) on what date administrators were appointed by Barrow Borough Transport Ltd. and (b) what the total amount of indebtedness by Barrow Borough Transport Ltd. to Barrow-in-Furness borough council was at the date of the appointment of the administrators; and whether he gave his consent to the appointment of these administrators.

  Mr. Portillo
  Administrators were appointed on 21 December. We understand from the council that £628,000 was owed to them by the company. The Secretary of State's consent was not required to the appointment of administrators, which was made by the courts following an application by the directors of the company under the Insolvency Act 1986. The Secretary of State was, however, kept informed by the council and made clear that he had no objection to the council's action in connection with the appointment of administrators.

  Mr. Franks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to the amounts Barrow-in-Furness borough council transferred to Barrow Borough Transport Ltd. between 6 October 1988 and 10 November 1988; and whether his prior consent was sought for such transfers.
  140
  Mr. Portillo
  We have no information about any such transfers.

  Mr. Franks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his consent was sought for the National Westminster Bank plc to obtain a legal mortgage over Barrow Borough Transport Ltd. property.

  Mr. Portillo
  No, and we have no information about any such mortgage. Public transport companies are, however, entitled to borrow from banks by way of temporary loans or overdrafts without the Secretary of State's consent, and may offer property as security for such borrowing.

  Fuel Duty Rebate
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport by how much revenue to the Exchequer would increase if the fuel duty rebate was abolished.

  Mr. Portillo
  In 1988–89 some £158 million of fuel duty rebate was paid to local bus operators.

  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effect of the abolition of fuel duty rebate on(a) bus fares and (b) bus services in sparsely populated rural areas.

  Mr. Portillo
  We have estimated in 1988 that, assuming all else stayed the same in the local bus industry, the abolition of fuel duty rebate would result in either an increase in fares of some 13 per cent., supposing the whole effect was on fares, or a decrease in bus miles of some 12 per cent., supposing the whole effect was on bus miles. In practice it is likely that there would be some combination of these two effects. No separate estimate has been made of the effect on bus services in sparsely populated rural areas.

  Motorcycle Test
  Mr. Roger King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to introduce the new accompanied motor cycle test; and what will the fee be for the test.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We intend to introduce the new accompanied motor cycle riding test, for both motor cycles and mopeds, throughout Great Britain on Monday 2 October 1989. The examiner, instead of conducting the test on foot, will accompany the candidate on another motor cycle (or sometimes in a car) giving directions by radio link. This will make the test more rigorous. It will cover more ground. The examiner will see the entirety of the candidate's performance in the prevailing road and traffic conditions. The change in the test has been generally welcomed.

  The test will be available from 212 driving test centres throughout the country.

  Because of the extra costs involved in providing an accompanied test (provision of examiners' motor cycles, protective clothing and mobile radio equipment) it is proposed that the current test fee of £ 16·50 be increased to £24, compared with £18, with effect from 5 June for a car test. We are consulting all interested organisations on the change in regulations to effect this increase.

  Taunton Bypass
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for repairing the Taunton bypass section of the M5; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Four major maintenance schemes will be carried out over the next few years to renew completely the southbound carriageway to enable it to carry the traffic expected well into the next century.

  The first of these contracts has recently been completed to the north of junction 26.

  Every effort will be made to minimise inconvenience to road users during the works, which will be programmed to avoid peak holiday periods.

  The decision to do the work following a study of the long-term maintenance needs of this length of M5 which was commissioned by Somerset county council at the Department's request.

  Unleaded Petrol
  Sir Hal Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made on the availability of unleaded petrol at motorway petrol service areas since the hon. Member's reply from the Minister for Roads and Traffic of 16 February,Official Report, column 294.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment and I are pleased that unleaded petrol is now available at all motorway service areas. The number of unleaded petrol pumps at sites is being increased to meet demand.

  British Rail (Investment)
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will uprate to 1989–90 prices the figures for investment by British Rail in the reply given to the hon. Member for Pembroke on 6 April,Official Report, columns 263–64.

  Mr. Portillo
  The figures are as follows:

  £ million cash

  £ million 1989–90 prices

  1948

  40

  603

  1949

  44

  640

  1950

  43

  624

  1951

  41

  548

  1952

  38

  468

  1953

  56

  666

  1954

  63

  749

  1955

  68

  771

  1956

  90

  966

  1957

  120

  1,235

  1958

  134

  1,324

  1959

  154

  1,512

  1960

  147

  1,427

  1961

  130

  1,220

  1962

  94

  855

  1963

  73

  646

  1964

  83

  710

  1965

  92

  748

  1966

  81

  632

  1967

  65

  488

  1968

  58

  423

  1969

  39

  267

  1970

  48

  305

  1971

  59

  346

  1972

  73

  397

  142

  £ million cash

  £ million 1989–90 prices

  1973

  81

  410

  1974

  103

  456

  1975

  157

  546

  1976

  176

  534

  1977

  193

  511

  1978

  208

  494

  1979

  248

  518

  1980

  304

  529

  1981

  277

  433

  1982

  243

  352

  1983

  252

  347

  19841

  280

  368

  1985–86

  399

  491

  1986–87

  399

  475

  1987–88

  526

  594

  1988–89

  596

  2629

  1 1984–5 was a 15 month financial period. The figure shown for 1984 is the 12 month internally reported result.

  2 forecast outturn.

  The figures include investment in Freightliners, BRML and BREL but exclude the laying of continuous welded track which BR do not now classify as investment.

  Indicative figures for BR's plans for future investment (excluding investment in BREL, which is being sold, and in the proposed high speed link to the Channel tunnel) are:

  £ million

  1989–90

  781

  1990–91

  865

  1991–92

  928

  1992–93

  865

  In order to show the most consistent picture the figures in the table include some elements of "corporate" as well as "railway" investment. BR's standard definitions of these have changed over the years. The figures have been adjusted to current values by the most recent indices. They show that there was a high level of investment during the modernisation programme of the late 1950s and early 1960s. BR's route mileage now is 45 per cent. less than it was in the peak investment year of 1959, but passenger mileage is currently at broadly the same levels as in 1959.

  EC Transport Ministers' Council
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the outcome of the recent European Council of Transport Ministers meeting in Luxembourg; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Channon
  I successfully negotiated a satisfactory end-date for the United Kingdom derogations from the Community maximum lorry weight limits. Against a Commission proposal that our derogation should end in 1996 I insisted that we needed more time to bring sufficient of our bridges up to suitable strength. It was a major achievement that the 40 tonne gross and 11·5 tonne drive axle weight limits will not apply in the United Kingdom until 1 January 1999.

  The Council also agreed to an improved inter-regional air services directive; a regulation to improve the working of air transport computer reservation systems, but with suitable data protection; a directive on road haulage statistics; a Resolution highlighting the need for improved co-operation in air traffic control; and conclusions reaffirming the need to make progress in the Community's

  143
  transit negotiations with Austria, Switzerland and Yugoslavia. The Commission's proposal on charging infrastructure costs to heavy goods vehicles was referred to Finance ministers. Against the United Kingdom's wishes, but on qualified majority voting, the Council agreed to increase the maximum permitted length of articulated vehicles from 15·5 to 16·5 metres; and to adopt a measure requiring a minimum tyre tread depth of 1·6 millimetres over three quarters of tyres' width.

  There was discussion but no agreement on a proposed short-term road haulage cabotage experiment; blood alcohol levels for drivers; the wearing of seat belts; and west Africa shipping.

  The Commission presented a proposal on shipping "positive measures" and a revised proposal for Community spending on transport infrastructure. There was some general discussion on the environment and transport under "any other business".

  Heavy Lorries
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the outcome of the Council meeting on heavier lorries on 5 June; and what are the implications for the United Kingdom and roads and bridge expenditure.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We agreed that 40-tonne lorries will not reach British roads until 1999. We succeeded in persuading other member states that an earlier end-date would he premature.

  This date will give us the time needed for our bridges to be adequately strengthened. The strengthening programme is already underway. There are no new expenditure implications on trunk roads. We shall be talking further to local authorities to consider any implications for their programme.

  The Council also agreed on a work programme for improving lorries so that by the late 1990s they should be fitted with road-friendly suspensions which will be less damaging to roads and bridges, safer, quieter and better for the environment.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Teachers' Pay
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he next intends to meet the teaching unions to discuss the introduction of localised pay agreements.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Hendon, South (Mr. Marshall) on 6 June 1989 at column 14.

CIVIL SERVICE

  Interchange with Outside Organisations
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service what was the level of interchange between the Civil Service and outside organisations in 1988.

  Mr. Luce
  My Department's report on the interchange of staff between the Civil Service and other organisations in 1988 shows that the number of long-term secondments 144
  —that is, those of at least three months' duration—between the Civil Service and industrial or commercial organisations increased by 7 per cent. in 1988 to 505. There was a slight decrease—of some 3 per cent.—in the number of long-term secondments between the Civil Service and other organisations, of which there were 499 in 1988.

  On 1 March 1989, my right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and I launched the Bridge programme to increase contact between Government and business. I am confident that, building on the substantial level of interchange achieved in recent years, this programme will provide a valuable boost to secondments and lead to even higher numbers of people being seconded between the Civil Service and other organisations.

  A copy of the 1988 interchange report has been placed in the Library of the House.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Interest Charges
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement setting out his forecast of the effect of current levels of interest charges on inflation.

  Mr. Lilley
  Current levels of interest rates will, in due course, lead to a reduction in inflation.

  Exchange Rates
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement setting out the considerations he takes into account in establishing whether the pound is overvalued or undervalued against(a) the deutschmark and (b) other principal currencies.

  Mr. Lilley
  The considerations the Government take into account in formulating their monetary policy, in which the exchange rate plays a key role, were set out in my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Budget speech on 14 March, at columns 294–309.

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement setting out the considerations which govern his policy in relation to the level of the pound sterling against other currencies.

  Mr. Lilley
  I refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Budget speech on 14 March, at columns 294–309.

  Exchange Rate Mechanism
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now specify the considerations which would make the time appropriate to join the exchange rate mechanism of the European monetary system.

  Mr. Lilley
  I refer my hon. Friend to the speech my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer made to the Royal Institute of International Affairs on 25 January.

  Payroll Giving
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements have been made to introduce chargeable payroll deductions in the Civil Service and associated non-departmental public bodies.
  145
  Mr. Brooke
  Where appropriate a collection charge of 2½ per cent. of the amount of the deduction is made.

  Customs Officers
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Customs officers were in post at the ports of(a) Fishguard, (b) Pembroke Dock and (c) Holyhead as at (i) 5 April 1979 (ii) 5 April 1984 and (iii) 5 April 1989.

  Mr. Lawson
  [holding answer 6 June 1989]: The numbers of Customs officers in post at the ports of Fishguard, Pembroke Dock and Holyhead at 5 April in the years 1979, 1984 and 1989 were as follows:

  1979

  1984

  1989

  Fishguard

  21

  22

  21

  Pembroke

  17

  118

  220

  Holyhead

  45

  39

  67

  1 excludes four mobile staff not solely engaged in port duties.

  2 excludes 14 mobile staff.

  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Customs officers were in post in Britain as of(a) 5 April 1979 and (b) 5 April 1989.

  Mr. Lawson
  [holding answer 6 June 1989]: On 5 April 1979 there were 7,600 Customs officers in post at ports, airports and inland premises. The figure for 5 April 1989 was 8,000.

  Value Added Tax Registrations
  Sir Anthony Meyer
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the numbers of new value added tax registrations for businesses with registered addresses in Wales for the calendar years 1987, 1988 and for 1989 to date.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 6 June 1989]: The local VAT offices that cover Wales also cover parts of England along the Welsh border. These offices are at Chester, Cardiff, Swansea, Carmarthen, Shrewsbury and Colwyn Bay.

  The numbers of VAT registrations processed by these officers for the years in question were:

  Year

  New registrations

  1987

  11,577

  1988

  14,748

  1989—to 31 March

  4,061

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Small Businesses
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what estimates he has of the number of small businesses with a turnover of less than £1 million which went into liquidation in(a) 1986, (b) 1987 and (c) 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Grade

  1 April 1984

  1 April 1985

  1 April 1986

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1988

  1 April 1989

  Allocation

  Staff in Post

  Allocation

  Staff in Post

  Allocation

  Staff in Post

  Allocation

  Staff in Post

  Allocation

  Staff in Post

  Allocation

  Staff in Post

  E/DIR/L

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  INS/GD/A

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  2

  2

  3

  3

  INS/GD/B

  5

  5

  6

  5

  7

  6

  7

  8

  8

  7

  12

  12

  146
  Mr. Maude
  I regret that the information requested is not available.

  North East Shipbuilders Ltd
  Mr. Trotter
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what arrangements he envisages for the disposal of the assets at NESL.

  Mr. Newton
  I made it clear earlier this year, following the announcement that British Shipbuilders was to close NESL, that the remaining work on ferries originally ordered by Danish interests would take some months to complete, and that no action would be taken to break up the assets in the yard before the end of June.

  In the intervening period, there have been several expressions of interest in some or all of the yards for a number of purposes including shiprepair, shipbuilding and general engineering.

  I have therefore asked British Shipbuilders and its financial advisers carefully to evaluate all such proposals with a view to advising me by the end of this month whether one or more of them provides a basis for detailed negotiation for the disposal of some or all of the assets. As with the evaluation of bids for NESL prior to the announcement of closure particular weight will be given to the security of resulting employment. In judging viability it will be necessary to allow for the fact that subsidy from the intervention fund would not be available.

  In making its judgment on the advice offered by British Shipbuilders on any possible disposal, the Government will need also to take appropriate account of its acceptability under the EC sixth directive on shipbuilding of the balance of advantage by comparison with the alternative of acquisition by the Tyne and Wear development corporation for clearance and development; of the extent to which any form of Government financial assistance was envisaged.

  Should such a disposal take place, the Government would also have to decide whether measures to assist the creation of employment to replace that in the yards continued to be necessary. Pending a decision, elements of the proposed remedial package not yet implemented, including designation of an enterprise zone, will be held in abeyance.

  Companies Investigation Branch
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the establishment and staff in post in each grade of the companies investigation branch of the Department of Trade and Industry in each year since 1984.

  Mr. Forth
  The following table shows the posts allocated by grade to the companies investigation branch on 1 April in each of the years in question. Staff in post tends to change in the course of a year. The table, there,fore also lists the staff in post on 1 April.
  147

  Grade

  1 April 1984

  1 April 1985

  1 April 1986

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1988

  1 April 1989

  Allocation

  Staff in Post

  Allocation

  Staff in Post

  Allocation

  Staff in Post

  Allocation

  Staff in Post

  Allocation

  Staff in Post

  Allocation

  Staff in Post

  INS/GD/C

  14

  14

  14

  14

  14

  14

  20

  18

  25

  25

  25

  22

  G7

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  HEO

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  1

  1

  1

  2

  2

  EO

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  —

  1

  1

  1

  1

  2

  1

  INS/GD/D & E

  4

  4

  5

  3

  5

  5

  8

  8

  7

  5

  7

  4

  AO

  4

  4

  5

  4

  5

  3

  5

  5

  5

  5

  6

  7

  AA

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  2

  2

  3

  3

  PS

  1

  1

  1

  1

  2

  1

  2

  2

  3

  2

  4

  3·5

  TYP

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  1

  Total

  32

  32

  35

  31

  38

  32

  47

  46

  55

  52

  67

  60·5

  Private Limited Companies
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) how many private limited companies registered in England and Wales have a paid-up share capital of greater than £100,000;

  (2) how many private limited companies registered in England and Wales have paid-up share capital in each of the bands (a) £25,000 to £50,000, (b) £50,000 to £75,000 and (c) £75,000 to £100,000.

  Mr. Maude
  This information is not currently available for all private limited companies on the companies' register. However, work is in hand to compile data on the lines requested for companies formed since May 1987 and this is expected to be available from Companies house in a few weeks' time.

  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what information he has regarding the minimum share capital required by private limited companies seeking authorisation under the Financial Services Act 1986 from the Securities and Investments Board or any self-regulatory organisation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  The financial resources requirements for persons authorised by the Securities and Investments Board or by self-regulating organisations recognised under the Financial Services Act are matters for the board and the organisation concerned. As far as I am aware, none of these regulatory bodies expresses its requirements in terms of minimum share capital.

  Barlow Clowes
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the sum recovered so far from the Barlow Clowes international fund; and how much has been returned to investors.

  Mr. Maude
  I understand the gross realisations, including bank interest, made by the receivers of funds promoted by Barlow Clowes International Limited amount so far to approximately £20 million.

  No distribution has yet been made to BCI investors pending the outcome of three court cases, two of which have already been heard with judgment reserved. The third case, to be heard in late June, will determine the basis upon which each individual investor's entitlement to any distribution will be calculated. I understand that it is hoped that after judgment of the three cases an interim distribution to investors in BCI may be made in the late summer or autumn this year.

  Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list regulations made under section 74(7) of the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985; and what plans he has to extend such definition.

  Mr. Maude
  Regulations made under section 74(7) of the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985 are set out in regulation 11 of the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Regulations 1985 (SI 1985 No. 1925 (s147)). There are no current plans to extend the definition.

  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will consider legislation to introduce one period applicable to gratuitous alienation to an associate of the debtor or other parties in terms of section 34(3) of the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985.

  Mr. Maude
  No such legislation is considered necessary at present.

  An associate of a person who has subsequently been bankrupt would have been in a better position than any other person to judge the bankrupt's financial circumstances when the alienation took place. To be fair and just, an alienation in favour of an associate should continue to be challengeable if it was effected five years before the date of sequestration of the bankrupt's estate while an alienation in favour of any other person should be challengeable if it was effected two years before the date of sequestration.

  Tourism
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the total value of tourism in Yorkshire and Humberside at current prices in each of the years from May 1979 to May 1989.

  Mr. John Lee
  I have been asked to reply.

  The available information relates to expenditure by international and domestic visitors staying at least one night in Yorkshire and Humberside in each calendar year from 1979 to 1988. Figures for expenditure by United Kingdom residents on day-trips within Yorkshire and Humberside are not available.

  Expenditure by tourists in the Yorkshire and Humberside region

  £ millions

  British residents1

  Overseas residents2

  Total

  1979

  255

  60

  315

  1980

  275

  65

  340

  1981

  300

  80

  380

  1982

  295

  85

  380

  1983

  335

  110

  445

  149

  Expenditure by tourists in the Yorkshire and Humberside region

  £ millions

  British residents1

  Overseas residents2

  Total

  1984

  385

  115

  500

  1984

  3405

  —

  3520

  1985

  3375

  145

  3520

  1986

  3435

  125

  3560

  1987

  3420

  150

  3570

  1988

  3500

  4

  4

  1 Source: British Tourist Survey Monthly.

  2 Source: International Passenger Survey.

  3 From 1984, an improved method of estimation was introduced, therefore, figures from 1984 to 1988 are not strictly comparable with earlier years.

  4 Not available.

WALES

  Agricultural Department
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has any plans to restructure his agriculture department in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Agriculture Department staff presently located at Plas Crug are in the process of moving to Trawsgoed. This relocation will produce worthwhile savings in accommodation costs and some staff economies. There will be no redundancies.

  Heart and Lung Transplants
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people in Wales are on the waiting list for(a) heart and (b) lung transplants for each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  Heart and lung transplants are carried out at supra-regional centres in England and the information requested is not held by the Welsh Office.

  Disabled People (Housing)
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action he is taking to ensure a sufficient supply of wheelchair housing for people with disabilities who wish to leave residential care or to set up home on their own; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  It is for local authorities and housing associations in conjunction with Housing for Wales to assess housing need in their area and to make appropriate provision for people with special needs including those with disabilities.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number of completions of(a) wheelchair housing and (b) mobility housing by (i) local authorities, (ii) housing associations and (iii) the private sector in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Grist
  Returns from local authorities indicate the number of dwellings built for the disabled to be as follows. Reliable estimates as regards the private sector are not available.
  150

  Completions of Wheelchair Housing

  Completions of Mobility Housing

  Local authority and New Towns

  Housing association

  Local authority and New Towns

  Housing association

  1979

  16

  —

  14

  —

  1980

  16

  —

  17

  —

  1981

  8

  —

  37

  —

  1982

  9

  —

  72

  —

  1983

  16

  —

  147

  —

  1984

  31

  2

  159

  —

  1985

  46

  —

  9

  4

  1986

  1

  27

  39

  1

  1987

  29

  10

  64

  175

  19881

  9

  5

  49

  26

  1 provisional.

  East Glamorgan General Hospital
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the major obstacles remaining in the way of an announcement by him of the start-up date for the construction of a replacement for East Glamorgan general hospital.

  Mr. Grist
  It is for the Mid Glamorgan DHA to indicate when construction of a replacement for this hospital might commence.

  Purolite Factory, Talbot Green
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action he is taking in response to the messages received by the Welsh Office from people in the Talbot Green area expressing concern about the operation of the Purolite factory in that village.

  Mr. Grist
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply sent to him on 6 June by my right hon. Friend.

  Higher and Further Education
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the increase in the current year of 3 per cent. in expenditure on institutions of higher and further education in Wales, in the light of the current inflation levels.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The higher education quantum for 1989–90 is based on a figure 8·75 per cent. higher than last year's allocation. Some LEAs may provide further resources for higher education in addition to their share of the quantum to meet local priorities. Recurrent expenditure on further education is supported from the overall provision for local authority current expenditure on education, which rose by 6·3 per cent. between 1988–89 and the current year. Capital expenditure on higher and further education institutions in 1989–90 is expected to exceed last year's figure of £10·7 million by a substantial factor.

  Young People (Qualifications)
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what he intends to do to overcome the shortage of young people in Wales with the higher education qualifications and training required by industry and the financial services.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The reform of college governing bodies under the Education Reform Act, the priorities
  151
  adopted by the Wales Advisory Body in formulating its advice on the distribution of the higher education quantum and the establishment of a transbinary Wales access unit to encourage and support the development of access courses will all assist higher education institutions to meet the demands of industry for highly skilled manpower. We have been encouraging employers to prepare for potential labour shortages by retraining existing workers, and drawing on the unemployed and other adults entering or re-entering the labour market. Our own training programmes are designed to facilitate this. We are particularly aware of the needs of the financial services sector in Wales and my right hon. Friend is discussing with interested parties measures to strengthen the skill base. He will be making an announcement on this shortly.

  Stone Quarrying (Taff Ely)
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his policy towards a physical expansion of stone quarrying in and around the borough of Taff Ely.

  Mr. Grist
  Responsibility for mineral planning in Taff Ely lies with the mineral planning authority, Mid Glamorgan county council.

  Litter
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he intends to take to combat the problems of litter on and around the streets of the valleys communities.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  We are considering placing a duty on local authorities to clean public areas, having regard to codes of practice which the Government would issue. We are also looking at ways of enabling local authorities to enforce the Litter Act more effectively.

  Sewage Disposal
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what measures he intends to take to ensure that the Welsh water authority reduces the volume of sewage which it releases into the rivers of south Wales during periods of high rainfall.

  Mr. Grist
  None. The operation of storm sewage overflows during periods of high rainfall is a necessary practice to prevent the surcharging of sewers and the likely consequent flooding of properties with sewage.

  Research and Development (New Industries)
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he intends to take to promote the business of research and development in the new industries of south Wales.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  My Department actively promotes a wide range of measures aimed at stimulating industrial research and development. Financial assistance is available for collaborative research and for exploring key technologies. The Link scheme encourages companies to work jointly with universities and polytechnics, while small firms can benefit from the SMART competition and the regional enterprise grants for innovation. WINtech, a division of the WDA, has been established specifically to 152
  advance the development and use of new technology in Welsh industry. It provides quality advice on technology transfer and product development, and access to seed capital. Welsh Development International complements this broader effort by working hard to encourage inward investors to establish research and development facilities in Wales.

  Welsh Water Authority (Headquarters)
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of the bill for the current construction of the reinforced concrete monitoring building at the Welsh water authority's area headquarters at Nelson, Mid Glamorgan, will be written off under the Government's write-off of water authority debts.

  Mr. Grist
  Recent Government statements on debt write-off relate only to water authority borrowings from the national loans fund. The Government will not be seeking to identify notional borrowings against specific projects.

  Out-patient Waiting Lists
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has on the reasons for the differences in the time it takes to clear out-patient waiting lists in Glamorgan general hospital, Cardiff royal infirmary and the average for all hospitals in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  As the introduction to Welsh Hospital Waiting List Bulletin 1989: No. 1 makes clear, for a variety of reasons care is needed in interpreting the data given in the bulletin, thus making meaningful comparisons difficult. In the case of Cardiff royal infirmary the hospital provides a range of specialties which are particularly to it and may be different from those found in other hospitals, notably East Glamorgan hospital. There are further differences between individual specialties, notably in the case of Cardiff royal infirmary trauma and orthopaedics. The East Glamorgan general hospital is understood to have had staffing problems at consultant level which will have affected the notional waiting time figures there, at least in the short term. Detailed information on the explanation for waiting list performance by particular hospitals may be obtained direct from the relevant health authorities, upon which the responsibility to achieve the right balance of services and resources in serving their patients in the light of local circumstances and needs.

  Channel Tunnel
  Dr. Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will takes steps to ensure that south Wales rail passengers and freight will enjoy direct access to the continent via the Channel tunnel as soon as any other region of the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  I am keen for British Rail to provide Wales with an appropriate level of service to meet identified needs. It is for British Rail to determine the level and nature of such services in the light of available forecasts of traffic.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he proposes to make any changes to the 1989–90 cash limits for class XVII, vote 5 and WO/UA1.
  153
  Mr. Peter Walker
  Yes. Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate for class XVII, vote 6, I propose to increase the WO/UA1 urban aid non voted cash limit by £7,000,000, from £58,646,000 to £65,646,000. This will permit enhanced land acquisition this year by the Cardiff Bay development corporation.

  This increase will be offset by reductions elsewhere within my expenditure programmes and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  These savings are being found from the roads and transport section of class XVII, vote 5. Accordingly, the cash limit for this vote is being reduced by £7,000,000, from £273,711,000 to £266,711,000.

DEFENCE

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals exist for the multiple launch rocket system to be capable of firing short-range nuclear weapons.

  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals exist for the multiple launch rocket system to be capable of firing short-range nuclear weapons.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) on 20 February 1989, at column 445.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his oral reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Oldham, Central and Royton (Mr. Lamond) of 7 March,Official Report, column 738, what distinction he makes between (i) a warhead and (ii) a system when comparing the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and Soviet reductions in nuclear weaponry.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  A warhead is that part of a missile, projectile, torpedo, rocket or other munition which contains either the nuclear, thermo-nuclear or high explosive device, the chemical or biological agents, or the inert materials intended to inflict damage. A weapon system is the means of delivering the warheads.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many nuclear missiles have been removed from the United Kingdom since the United States/Soviet intermediate nuclear forces treaty; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  By the end of 1988, 16 operational missiles had been removed.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation general political guidelines for use of nuclear weapons; and how many times they have been followed.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The general political guidelines were agreed by Ministers at the Gleneagles NPG meeting in October 1986. The purpose of the document is to provide political guidelines for the employment of nuclear weapons in defence of NATO within the framework of NATO's strategy of flexible response and forward defence.154
  These guidelines are the basis for both peacetime planning by political and military authorities and a guide for carrying out their respective responsibilities in times of tension or conflict. They are consulted regularly.

  Nuclear Deterrent
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received about the case for modernising the nuclear deterrent.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend has received a number of letters from individuals and organisations.

  F111G Aircraft
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many United States Air Force F111G aircraft are based in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  None.

  NATO (Scotland)
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated total value to the economy for(a) Strathclyde and (b) Scotland as a whole of the presence of military establishments of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation armed forces in various locations in the region and the country.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No such estimate has been made for Strathclyde or for Scotland.

  Type 23 Frigates
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his programme for ordering Type 23 frigates for 1990, 1991 and 1992.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Tenders have recently been invited for a batch of up to four type 23s. Decisions will be taken on the precise size and timing of the order after the tenders have been received, evaluated and fully analysed. In the longer term, we have plans to place sufficient orders to maintain a force of about 50 destroyers and frigates.

  Procurement Staff
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average time in post of each of the grades in the procurement executives of his Department.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Information about average time in post, by grade, is not compiled in the form requested, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  CPS (Pay)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Attorney-General what recent discussions he has had on the pay levels within the Crown prosecution service; and what was the outcome of his discussions.

  The Attorney-General
  Pay for lawyers in the Crown prosecution service at grade 7 and above was settled in July 1988, setting levels until the new review date of 1 August 1989.
  155
  It is not my practice to disclose matters relating to any discussions of the nature of those referred to by the hon. Member.

  Serious Fraud Office
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Attorney General, what is the establishment and staff in post in each grade of the Serious Fraud Office in each year of its existence, together with the number of cases referred to it.

  The Attorney-General
  The Serious Fraud Office was established on 6 April 1989. On 31 March 1989, the final day of the financial year 1988-89, the position was as follows:

  Grade

  Establishment

  Staff in post

  2

  1

  1

  3

  2

  2

  5

  10

  9

  6

  18

  13

  7

  5

  5

  Senior Executive Officer

  5

  6

  Higher Executive Officer

  10

  8

  Executive Officer

  8

  7

  Administrative Officer

  3

  1

  Administrative Assistant

  2

  0

  Senior Personal Secretary

  1

  1

  Personal Secretary

  4

  5

  Typing Manager

  0

  1

  Typist

  6

  0

  Support Manager 3

  1

  1

  Support Grade 2

  3

  0

  Of those staff in post, one higher executive officer was on loan from the Crown prosecution service. There were in addition to the figures shown 29 agency staff employed on a temporary basis.

  The position to 1 June 1989 in the financial year 1989–90 was follows:

  Grade

  Complement

  Staff in Post

  2

  1

  1

  3

  2

  2

  5

  10

  10

  6

  18

  13

  7

  5

  5

  Senior Executive Officer

  6

  6

  Higher Executive Officer

  11

  8

  Executive Officer

  9

  8

  Administrative Officer

  3

  2

  Administrative Assistant

  2

  0

  Senior Personal Secretary

  1

  1

  Personal Secretary

  6

  5

  Typing Manager

  1

  1

  Typist

  12

  0

  Support Manager 3

  1

  1

  Support Grade 2

  4

  1

  Total

  92

  64

  Of those staff in post, one higher executive officer was still on loan from the Crown prosecution service. Three of the four grade 5 accountants currently in post are seconded from private practice. There are in addition 29 agency staff employed on a temporary basis.

  In the period 6 April 1988, when the Serious Fraud Office was established, to 31 December 1988, 109 separate cases were referred to it for consideration. This number includes some matters which have previously been dealt with by the Crown prosecution service. From 1 January 1989 to date 28 separate cases have been referred.

ENERGY

  Pacific Sandpiper
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy why, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Newport, West,Official Report, 11 May, column 481, on the Pacific Sandpiper, a consignment of spent irradiated nuclear fuel was transported into and out of the United Kingdom without it being reprocessed; and on how many occassions such a stop-off has taken place since May 1979.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The irradiated fuel was from an overseas research reactor and was being returned to its country of origin. The material was subject to international safeguards. It came to the United Kingdom as part of a cargo of irradiated fuel the balance of which was for reprocessing at Sellafield. Since May 1979 there has been an average of about one such shipment a year.

  World Association of Nuclear Operators
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what departmental representation was made at the launch of the World Association of Nuclear Operators in Moscow on 15 May.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  None. The World Association of Nuclear Operators comprises representatives of every organisation that operates electrical power producing nuclear reactors. It is independent of Government. However, I welcome its establishment and support its aims.

  Pressurised Water Reactor, Wylfa
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has considered the terms of reference for the public inquiry into the proposed pressurised water reactor at Wylfa in Anglesey; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  My right hon. Friend received an application from the CEGB on 18 April 1989 for his consent to construct a PWR nuclear power station to be known as Wylfa B. He directed the board to advertise its application and allowed a period of up to 31 July 1989 for objections to be made to him.

  Until the response to the advertisements is known and the views of the relevant local planning authorities are received, it is too early to speculate whether a public inquiry will be necessary or, if a public inquiry is held, what matters my right hon. Friend will ask the inquiry inspector to consider.

  Berkeley Nuclear Power Station
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give a timetable for the decommissioning of Berkeley nuclear power station over the next 14 years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  This is a matter for the Central Electricity Generating Board. I will ask the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

  Trawsfynydd Power Station
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if the Central Electricity Generating Board has any
  157
  plans to reschedule the natural circulation test at Trawsfynydd nuclear power station that was cancelled due to public concern; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  I understand from the Central Electricity Generating Board that it has no immediate plans to carry out a natural circulation test at Trawsfynydd nuclear power station. However, if the board should decide to undertake such a test it will publicise its plans in advance. No test can go ahead unless the Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate is satisfied that it is safe.

  Miners' Pension Scheme
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he intends to introduce the amending order with regard to the retired mineworkers pension scheme benefits lost by former mineworkers due to changes in the availability for work procedures.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The draft Redundant Mineworkers and Concessionary Coal (Payments Schemes) order 1989 will be introduced shortly.

EMPLOYMENT

  Birkenhead Jobcentre
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if Birkenhead jobcentre has sufficient staff to answer claimants' inquiries about possible job opportunities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  Birkenhead jobcentre has sufficient staff to deal with the range of functions and activities offered by an office of its size. There have been no reports of queues or delays from either staff or members of the public.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment on what date he plans to publish his Department's internal review of employment services for disabled people commissioned in March 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  I have nothing to add to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Exeter (Mr. Hannam) on 8 November 1988, at column 54.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what consultations his Department has had with disability organisations and disabled people on the review of employment services for disabled people.

  Mr. Lee
  I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Exeter (Mr. Hannam) on 7 November 1988, at columns 54–55.

  Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act
  Mr. Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to implement section 131 of the Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978.

  Mr. Cope
  My Department has published a consultation paper today seeking views on the desirability of extending the jurisdiction of industrial tribunals to cases 158
  involving breach of employment contract in certain circumstances. The consultation paper, a copy of which has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses, has been sent to a number of interested organisations. The deadline for receipt of comments is 4 August.

PRIME MINISTER

  Gross Domestic Product (Defence)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will publish in the Official Report a table showing the information she has on the percentage of gross domestic product spent on defence in (a) Russia and (b) North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries, together with figures showing (i) gross domestic product and (ii) gross domestic product per head in dollar terms.

  The Prime Minister
  The table sets out the information requested for NATO countries for 1987, the latest year for which complete figures are available. Provisional figures for 1988 defence expenditure as a percentage of GDP in each NATO country were included in the 1989 Statement on the Defence Estimates, Cm. 675-I, page 39. The Soviet Union has recently stated that its defence expenditure for 1989 will be 77·3 billion roubles. We do not know how this figure has been compiled and assess that, when compiled according to the definitions common to NATO countries, outlays should be roughly twice this level. As such, they would constitute an estimated 15 to 17 per cent. of Soviet GDP. No accurate estimates can be given of Soviet GDP or GDP per capita in dollar terms; conversion of rouble data into dollars using commercial exchange rates is likely to prove highly misleading.

  Defence expenditure as a percentage of GDP

  GDP million US$1

  GDP per capita US $1

  Belgium

  3·0

  138,526

  14,030

  Canada

  2·1

  414,244

  16,050

  Denmark

  2·1

  101,315

  19,750

  France

  4·0

  879,879

  15,710

  Federal Republic of Germany

  3·1

  1,118,839

  18,270

  Greece

  6·2

  47,179

  4,720

  Iceland

  —

  5,326

  21,740

  Italy

  2·4

  751,261

  13,090

  Luxembourg

  1·2

  6,061

  16,290

  Netherlands

  3·1

  214,641

  14,630

  Norway

  3·4

  82,661

  19,770

  Portugal

  3·1

  36,312

  3,530

  Spain

  2·4

  288,098

  7,420

  Turkey

  4·4

  65,044

  1,250

  United Kingdom

  4·7

  665,732

  11,730

  United States

  6·5

  4,436,018

  18,190

  1 Based on 1987 average market exchange rates.

  Russia—Nato (Military Advantage)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will publish in the Official Report a table showing the Government's assessment of the change in the balance of military advantage between Russia and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries in 1959, 1968, 1978 and 1988 respectively.

  The Prime Minister
  Information on the balance between NATO and the Warsaw pact forces for 1978 and 1988 is available in the relevant tables in the Statements on
  159
  Defence Estimates for those years, Cmnd. 7099 and Cm. 344-I. Similar information for 1959 and 1968 is not available.

  Self-governing Hospitals
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister in what ways the costs of self-governing hospitals can be expected to be reduced.

  The Prime Minister
  Self-governing hospitals are not being established as a cost saving exercise. They will help to improve the choice and quality of the services offered to the public and the efficiency with which these services are delivered.

  Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (Troops)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister what assumptions about the proportion of the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance nations' troops which would be supplied to take part in an invasion of Europe underlie Her Majesty's Government's defence policy.

  The Prime Minister
  The Council for Mutual Economic Assistance is not a military organisation. Details of the forces available to the Warsaw pact are set out in chapter six of the Statement of the Defence Estimates 1989, Cm. 675-I.

  Patient Care (GPs' Budgets)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister what will be the effects on patient care of the Government's proposal that overspending by a group of general practitioners in one year will result in a reduction in their budget in the following year.

  The Prime Minister
  None. If a practice budget becomes overspent, it will be open to the budget holders to seek a budgetary review. Should the review find that a higher level of spending was justified by virtue of changed circumstances since the initial budget was set, there will be no compensatory reduction in the following year. In any event, practice budgets will always be set at levels which safeguard the interests of patients and no changes will be made to budgets which would jeopardise this fundamental principle.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) whether any nuclear weapons sited in Britain may be used for defensive purposes without the consent of Her Majesty's Government;

  (2) whether nuclear weapons sited in West Germany can be used for defensive purposes without the consent of the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany.

  The Prime Minister
  At the North Atlantic Council meeting at Athens in 1962, both the United Kingdom and the United States specifically committed themselves to consult their allies, time and circumstances permitting, before releasing their nuclear weapons for use. The Council also adopted guidelines on the degree to which political consultation on such use might be possible. Subsequently the nuclear planning group, meeting in The Hague in 1968, agreed that special weight should be given to the views of the NATO countries most directly affected. It would not be in the public interest to reveal the precise details of the arrangements.
  160
  The separate arrangements for joint decision over the use of United States bases in the United Kingdom were set out in the reply of my right hon. Friend the Member for Tonbridge and Mailing (Sir J. Stanley) to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Strang) on 24 February 1987, at column 222.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Prime Minister whether she is prepared to use nuclear weapons first.

  The Prime Minister
  The possibility of first use of nuclear weapons in response to a conventional attack is central to NATO's strategy of deterrence to which I fully subscribe.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister what are Her Majesty's Government's policies on the use of available nuclear weapons in the event of a Soviet breakthrough to the Channel ports using conventional weapons.

  The Prime Minister
  It would undermine our strategy of deterrence to spell out in advance the precise way in which nuclear weapons would or might be used in any given circumstance.

  European Community (Benefits)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Prime Minister what benefits have been brought to Nottingham and Nottinghamshire arising(a) from membership of the European Community (b) the consequences of the Single European Act.

  The Prime Minister
  Membership of the EC has contributed, with the policies of the present Government, to faster growth and greater prosperity in which Nottinghamshire has shared, and which has reduced unemployment in the Nottingham travel-to-work area from 12·8 per cent. to 8·3 per cent. in the two years to April 1989ߞa reduction of 35 per cent.

  The Single European Act will facilitate the creation of the single European market which will enhance these opportunities still further, particularly in view of the United Kingdom's proven attraction as a location for inward investment projects such as Toyota's, which will create new business and employment opportunities throughout the east midlands.

  Nottinghamshire is likely to benefit substantially from the EC's recent decision to make new areas of the county, including Mansfield and Worksop, eligible for help from the European regional development fund.

  Kincora Boys' Home
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will establish a further inquiry into events at the Kincora boys' home following the publication of the book "Who Framed Colin Wallace?" by Paul Foot which gives evidence of doubt concerning the validity of information supplied to the Hughes inquiry by the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

  The Prime Minister
  No. The matter has been fully and carefully investigated by successive inquiries. Any new evidence should be presented to the appropriate authorities.

  "Forward Area" (Definition)
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to her oral reply to the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Baldry) of 11 April,Official Report, column 738, what precise area is covered by the term "forward area".

  The Prime Minister
  The area referred to in my reply covers territory of the German Democratic Republic, Poland, Czechoslovakia and Hungary.

  Taxation
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister if Her Majesty's Government will bring forward proposals to amend section 2 of the European Communities Act 1972 to enable Parliament to decide the level of taxation.

  The Prime Minister
  We have no plans to amend section 2 of the European Communities Act 1972.

  EEC (Harmonisation)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will make it her policy that Her Majesty's Government will not agree to any form of harmonisation within the European Economic Community of monetary, fiscal or exchange rate policy under the treaty of Rome or the Single European Act.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the exchange between myself and my hon. Friend the Member for Thanet, South (Mr. Aitken) on 18 May at column 1474 and to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend, the Member for Crawley (Mr. Soames) on 2 May at columns 13–14.

  Monetary Union and Fiscal Harmonisation
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister what assessment has been made of the disadvantages for the United Kingdom, France, West Germany, Benelux and Spain agreeing to monetary union and fiscal harmonisation.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the speech 1 made to the College of Europe at Bruges, Belgium on 20 September last year and to the speech my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer made to the Royal Institute of International Affairs on 25 January.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister what is the Government's estimate of the number of jobs which will be lost in United Kingdom manufacturing as a result of the completion of the internal market.

  The Prime Minister
  Completion of the single market should result in job gains over a number of years: whether or not these potential gains are achieved will depend on how employers and employees respond to the opportunities that the single market will present.

  European Community (Integration)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister whether Her Majesy's Government will commission a survey of public opinion to measure the proportion of voters which want the United Kingdom to be more integrated into the European Community.
  162
  The Prime Minister
  No.

  Germany (Reunification)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister whether Her Majesty's Government will promote the reunification of Germany and a political settlement between Germany and the East European states on terms acceptable to the Federal Republic of Germany.

  The Prime Minister
  I remind the hon. Gentleman of article 7 of the convention on relations in the Bonn-Paris conventions of 1955:"Pending the Peace Settlement the signatory states will co-operate to achieve, by peaceful means, the common aim of a reunified Germany enjoying a liberal-democratic constitution, like that of the Federal Republic."
  This long-standing commitment enjoys our continuing support.

  EEC (Social Policy)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister whether she will publish in the Official Report a table showing which of the proposals put forward by the European Economic Commission in the social field could not be enacted by the British Parliament on its own account.

  The Prime Minister
  Parliament can enact legislation in all of the areas proposed in the social field. However, in framing any legislation, the Government will of course have regard to our international obligations, including our obligations under Community law.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Disabled People (Housing)
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he is taking to ensure a sufficient supply of wheelchair housing for people with disabilities who wish to leave residential care or to set up home on their own; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  The Department of the Environment (NI) funds the provision of special needs housing in response to proposals by the Housing Executive and by registered housing associations. It is a matter for the Housing Executive and individual associations in consultation with statutory bodies and voluntary agencies to determine the numbers and locations of units to be provided to wheelchair standard. In practice the supply of wheelchair accommodation has, I believe, kept broadly in line with the needs of physically handicapped people who wish to leave residential care or to set up home on their own.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the number of completions of(a) wheelchair housing and (b) mobility housing by (i) local authorities, (ii) housing associations and (iii) the private sector in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Needham
  i. I am advised by the chairman of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive that information in the form requested is not readily available and could be compiled only at disproportionate cost. However during the period 1976 to 1 April 1989 102 dwellings were built for use by tenants confined to a wheelchair and 6,044 dwellings were built to mobility standard.
  163
  ii. The number of wheelchair units completed by registered housing associations in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 financial years is as follows:

  Year

  Number of units completed

  1979–80

  10

  1980–81

  11

  1981–82

  11

  1982–83

  15

  1983–84

  53

  1984–85

  29

  1985–86

  39

  1986–87

  10

  1987–88

  41

  1988–89

  79

  Total

  298

  No separate record is kept of units built by registered housing associations to mobility standard. However, most sheltered housing for the elderly is built to mobility standard and the number of such units completed in each of the last 10 years is as follows:

  Year

  Number of units completed

  1979–80

  181

  1980–81

  285

  1981–82

  97

  1982–83

  448

  1983–84

  356

  1984–85

  448

  1985–86

  497

  1986–87

  227

  1987–88

  364

  1988–89

  421

  Total

  3,324

  iii. Further units to mobility standard were provided for client groups other than the elderly but specific numbers are not readily available.

  There are no statistics available for the provision of facilities for the wheelchair disabled within the private housing sector.

  Short Bros. plc.
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress he is making towards the privatisation of Short Bros. plc.

  Mr. Tom King
  I refer my hon. Friend to the statement that I made this afternoon, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.

ENVIRONMENT

  Rating Reform
  Sir William Shelton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what would a(a) single person on half average earnings, (b) single person on average earnings and (c) typical ward sister pay in capital value rates and local income tax combined, assuming an 80/20 capital rate to local income tax split if he or she lived in a property in Lambeth worth (i) £65,000, (ii) £75,000, (iii) £85,000, (iv) £100,000 and (v) £150,000.
  164
  Mr. Gummer
  The information requested is provided in the table.

  Illustrative annual liability in Lambeth under a system of capital value rates combined with local income tax, 1988–89

  Property value £

  (a) single person1 earning £6,360 £

  (b) single person2 earning £12,725 £

  (c) typical3 ward sister £

  65,000

  1,220

  1,400

  1,415

  75,000

  1,395

  1,570

  1,585

  85,000

  1,656

  1,745

  1,755

  100,000

  1,825

  2,000

  2,015

  150,000

  2,685

  2,860

  2,875

  Notes:

  1 Assuming taxable income of £3,755 per year.

  2 Assuming taxable income of £10,120 per year.

  3 Assuming taxable income of £10,595 per year.

  The figures are based on the illustrative tax rates placed in the Library on 23 June 1988 and are for 1988–89. No allowance has been made for rebates for those on low income. They assume that the person lives alone, in each case.

  Departmental Policy
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list(a) the failures of implementation of policy and (b) the successes in the implementation of policy by his Department since May 1979.

  Mr. Ridley
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to my hon. Friend the Member for Pembroke (Mr. Bennett) on 25 May(Official Report columns 695–719). Columns 706–08 list the major achievements for which my Department is responsible. There have been no failures.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the circumstances in which a carer, as a consequence of their caring, may become subject to paying more than one poll tax; and if he will take steps to introduce legislation to remove all such circumstances.

  Mr. Gummer
  The Government have no plans to introduce a poll tax. By the act of caring no one becomes responsible for anyone else's community charge.

  Development Grant
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total budget for the Yorkshire and Humberside region in grant-in-aid for development for the years May 1979 to May 1989; how much central Government gave towards the budget; and how much was obtained from other sources.

  Mr. Trippier
  Comprehensive figures for Yorkshire and Humberside are not available, but as a measure of the contribution made by Government the three main Departments concerned with encouraging development—Environment, Employment and Trade and Industry—contributed £489 million in 1988–89 alone.

  Housing Grants
  Mr. Ken Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his Department's policy on the timing of announcements as to who will receive grants under(a) section 16 of the Housing and Planning Act 1986 and (b) section 73 of the Housing Act 1985 in relation to the beginning of the relevant financial year; and how many times this target has been achieved in the last five years, for each grant.

  Mr. Trippier
  It is the Department's policy now to announce the award of grants under section 73 of the Housing Act 1985 and under section 16 of the Housing and Planning Act 1986 where possible before the start of the financial year to which they apply. Applications may be considered (and grants awarded) at any time during the year.

  Section 73 grants

  Over the last five years, awards of grants were notified in each July or August with the exception of 1987–88 when grants were not announced until September.

  Section 16 grants

  This grant regime started in May 1987. Awards for the latter half of that year were made in October 1987. For 1988–89 and 1989–90, all recipients of grant were notified before or at the start of the financial year.

  Housing (Grants)
  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the grants which are made by his Department under section 16 of the Housing and Planning Act 1986 and under section 73 of the Housing Act 1985 are normally made on an annual basis; and for what periods grants have been made under those powers for the current financial year.

  Mr. Trippier
  The grants made by my Department under section 16 of the Housing and Planning Act 1986 and under section 73 of the Housing Act 1985 are normally made on an annual basis. This year has been no exception for grants made under section 16. Section 73 grants have been offered for six months pending the outcome of the review of the section 73 grant regime.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Nottingham, North of 16 May,Official Report, column 183, what was the exact amount of the city of Nottingham expenditure on the setting up costs of the community charge which has been supported through the rate support grant.

  Mr Gummer
  The grant-related expenditure assessment for Nottingham for 1989–90 included £307,000 in respect of community charge preparation costs. This is the level of expenditure which is supported through rate support grant. As I explained in my answer to the hon. Member on 16 May, there will in addition be a specific grant of £306,864 made available to Nottingham in 1989–90 for these purposes.

  Housing (Kirklees)
  Mr. Reddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many new dwellings have been built in 166
  the area covered by Kirklees council in total since 1979 and in each of the last five years for which figures are available by (a) private builders, (b) Kirklees council and (c) housing associations.

  Mr. Trippier
  The reported housebuilding completions in 1979 and 1988 for the borough of Kirklees are published in issues 59 and 89, respectively, of "Local Housing Statistics". Annual figures for intervening years appear in "Housebuilding in England by local authority areas: 1980 to 1987."

  Copies of these publications are in the Library.

  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many tenants of Kirklees council have exercised their right to buy their council house or flat in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Trippier
  I refer my hon. Friend to the "Statistics on Right to Buy and Other Council House Sales" tables which have been placed in the Library giving available information up to December 1988. The tables show year by year information since 1979–80 together with cumulative figures since April 1979. No returns of sales to sitting tenants have been received by the Department from Kirklees district council since December 1986.

  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the latest figure for the number of council houses in the Kirklees council area which are empty.

  Mr. Trippier
  The information was provided by Kirklees metropolitan district council in its April 1988 housing investment programme return (HIP 1), a copy of which is in the Library.

  Housing Statistics
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total number of dwellings in the United Kingdom in 1979; and what is the equivalent figure today.

  Mr. Trippier
  It is estimated that there were 21·3 million dwellings in the United Kingdom at the end of December 1979 and 23·0 million at the end of December 1988.

  Housing Needs (National Forum)
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what response he is giving to the report of the national forum on housing needs in the nineties; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  My right hon. Friend has received no such report. If he does, no doubt he will consider it carefully.

  Renovation Grants
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the proposed lower thresholds for a renovation grant contained in the consultation paper "Renovation Grants: Proposed Test of Resources", for(a) a single disabled person with a disability premium, (b) a single disabled person with a severe disability premium, (c) a married couple, one of whom is in receipt of the disability premium, and (d) a married couple with two children one of whom is in receipt of the disability premium.
  167
  Mr. Trippier
  The consultation paper proposes that the lower income threshold for the new renovation grants should be related to each household's circumstances. It would be calculated using weekly allowances and premiums broadly similar to those used in the calculation of housing and community charge benefits, with the addition of a £20 per week "renovation grant premium". Using the allowances and premiums currently in force under the housing benefit regulations, the lower income thresholds would be as follows:

  (a) Single disabled person: £68·60 (£3,567 pa)

  (b) Single severely disabled person: £94·80 (£4,930 pa)

  (c) Married couple, one disabled: £94·30 (£4,904 pa)

  (d) Married couple, two children, one disabled: £122·50 (£6,370 pa)

  In each case the applicant is assumed to be between 25 and 59 years old and any children are 11 to 15. Where the applicant is younger a different personal allowance would apply, and there will be a scale of allowances for children of different age groups. There will also be different premiums for people aged 60 or over. The lower threshold will therefore depend upon the precise composition of the household.

  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the proposed upper income thresholds for a grant for eligible works contained in the consultation paper "Renovation Grants: Proposed Test of Resources, amounting to(a) £5,000, (b) £10,000, (c) £15,000 and (d) £20,000 in each of the following cases (a) a single disabled person with a severe disability premium, (b) a single disabled person with a severe disability premium, (c) a married couple, one of whom is in receipt of the disability premium and (d) a married couple with two children one of whom is in receipt of the disability premium.

  Mr. Trippier
  The upper income threshold for renovation grant eligibility depends upon the cost of eligible works and the composition of the applicant's household. Net income would be assessed according to rules broadly the same as those applicable to housing and community charge benefit and be subject to similar disregards. Using the rules currently in force for housing benefit, the upper income threshold for renovation grant eligibility in each of the cases cited would be as follows:

  case

  Upper net income threshold for renovation grant eligibility—£pw (£pa) by cost of eligible works

  £

  £

  £

  £

  Works costing

  £ 5,000

  £ 10,000

  £ 15,000

  £ 20,000

  (a) Single, disabled

  170·48 (8,865)

  257·35 (13,382)

  344·23 (17,900)

  431·10 (22,417)

  (b) Single, severely disabled

  196·68 (10,227)

  283·55 (14.745)

  370·43 (19,262)

  457·30 (23,780)

  (c) Married couple, one disabled

  19618 (10,201)

  283·05 (14,719)

  369·93 (19,236)

  456·80 (23,754)

  (d) Married couple, two children, one disabled

  219·38 (11,408)

  306·25 (15,925)

  393·13 (20,443)

  480·00 (24,960)

  These figures assume that the applicant is earning, and take into account the appropriate earnings disregards (£15 per week in cases (a) to (c), £10 per week in case (d). In
  168
  each case it is assumed that the claimant is between 25 and 59 years old, any children are aged 11 to 15, and that capital after any appropriate disregard is £5,000 or less.

  Disability Premium
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the maximum proposed level of grant contained in the consultation paper "Renovation Grants: proposed test of resources" in each of the following cases(a) a single disabled person with a disability premium, (b) a single disabled person with a severe disability premium, (c) a married couple, one of whom is in receipt of the disability premium, and (d) a married couple with two children one of whom is in receipt of the disability premium for a person with savings of (i) nil, (ii) £3,000, (iii) £5,000, (iv) £8,000 and (v) £10,000.

  Mr. Trippier
  The amount of grant will depend upon the cost of eligible works, the composition of the applicant's household and the financial resources of the applicant. There is no grant maximum.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he intends to seek powers to rectify the position where local authorities have sought information on poll tax registration forms in excess of his recommendation; and if he will seek powers to determine what information local authorities are able to seek in future years;

  (2) what guidance he issued to local authorities about the information they should seek on the poll tax registration form; which information he has concerning local authorities which have asked for information in excess of his recommendation; what communications he has had with those authorities; and what advice he has given to them concerning rectification.

  Mr. Gummer
  The Government have no plans to introduce a poll tax.

  It is for community charges registration officers to ensure that any request for information made for the purpose of compiling registers falls within their statutory powers. Guidance on these matters is contained in Community Charge Practice Note No. 8 published in November 1988. Copies of all practice notes are in the Library.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the progress in the establishment of local arrangements to cover payment by student nurses of the poll tax; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 26 May 1989]: The Government have no plans to introduce a poll tax.

  Most student nurses training under the existing arrangements are salaried and will pay the full personal community charge reduced by any community charge benefit to which they may be entitled. Nursing students training under the proposed Project 2000 scheme will pay only 20 per cent. of the personal community charge like other full time students.

  Home Improvement (Document)
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the disability organisations
  169
  which responded to the consultation document entitled "Home Improvement Policy: Proposed Test of Resources".

  Mr. Trippier
  The following disability organisations responded to the consultation paper "Renovation Grants: Proposed Test of Resources":

  Association of Disabled Professionals;

  Derbyshire Centre for Integrated Living;

  Disabled Living Foundation;

  Disablement Information Centre and Advice Line, Wakefield;

  Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation (RADAR);

  Royal Society for Mentally Handicapped Children and Adults (MENCAP)

  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in light of responses from disability organisations to the consultation document entitled "Home Improvement Policy: Proposed Test of Resources", he plans to review his decision to impose a test of resources on disabled facilities grants; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  The proposed test of resources is intended to ensure that those least able to afford the costs of adaptations receive the grants that they need. We do not propose to abandon the principle of the test, but we are not committed to the precise details proposed in the consultation paper. We shall announce our decisions in due course.

  Rural Development (Leicestershire)
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if any of the expenditure for 1989–90 by the Rural Development Commission will be for rural development programmes in the county of Leicester.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  There is no rural development programme as such in Leicestershire. The Rural Development Commission makes grants under other headings in the county, as well as providing advice and loans to small rural businesses.

  Steel-framed Homes
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will meet a delegation in July from the National Steel-Framed Home Owners Association and their local members to discuss the problems of steel-framed homes.

  Mr. Trippier
  No.

  BISF Estate, Nottingham
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on what grounds the Nottingham city council's estate action application for the BISF estate in Nottingham was rejected; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  The Nottingham city's application for Estate Action resources for the BISF houses was turned down because the scheme did not meet the main Estate Action criterion which is to promote innovation in the way local authorities manage and refurbish their estates.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what offers of estates action assistance were made to the deputation on Nottingham BISF properties.
  170
  Mr. Trippier
  Nottingham city council was invited to make an application for funding improvements to the Bilborough estate which would meet the Department's Estate Action criteria.

  Council Tenants (House Purchase)
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list each local authority which has applied to his Department under the Housing Act 1988, section 129, for approval for a scheme providing cash incentives for their existing tenants to purchase homes elsewhere; and if he will list for each such scheme submitted to his Department for approval(a) the total amount of cash which would be made available per annum for the scheme, (b) the total number of households which would be eligible each year for assistance, (c) the minimum level of assistance which the scheme would provide per household, (d) the maximum level of assistance which the scheme would provide per household, (e) the criteria which would be used to select which households would be assisted and (f) the criteria which would be used to select which properties they would be assisted to buy.

  Mr. Trippier
  The table sets out the local authorities which have sought approval for schemes in 1989–90, the maximum expenditure to be incurred, and the grants to be made available to households. Most of the schemes are limited to tenants of family houses, and in some cases the grant to be paid varies according to the size of the property vacated; it will be for each authority to determine which tenants to assist if the number of eligible applicants exceeds the funds available. The choice of a new home is left to the recipient of the grant, subject to a price limit.

  Local authority

  Maximum expenditure £

  Maximum number of households assisted

  Grant for each household £

  Adur

  80,000

  8

  10,000

  Arun1

  50,000

  5

  10,000

  Bromley1

  1,000,000

  100

  10–13,000

  Carrick1

  100,000

  20

  5,000

  Colchester1

  150,000

  20

  10,000

  Croydon1

  650,000

  50

  13,000

  Ealing

  1,500,000

  70

  15,000

  Hammersmith/Fulham

  200,000

  30

  5–10,000

  Haringey1

  500,000

  38

  13,000

  Harrow1

  200,000

  16

  12,500

  Hart1

  100,000

  12

  8,000

  Havering

  350,000

  35

  10,000

  Hillingdon

  250,000

  16

  15,000

  Leominster

  Details awaited

  Mendip1

  80,000

  21

  10,000

  New Forest1

  250,000

  30

  7–9,000

  North Beds

  100,000

  13

  7,000

  North Cornwall1

  70,000

  13

  7,500

  Rochester1

  200,000

  15

  6–8,000

  Rushmoor1

  50,000

  6

  7–8,000

  Shepway1

  100,000

  8

  13,000

  Slough1

  500,000

  30

  18,000

  South Bucks1

  66,000

  6

  9–11,000

  St. Albans

  150,000

  12

  13,000

  Taunton Deane1

  275,000

  35

  10,000

  Test Valley1

  250,000

  25

  10,000

  Tunbridge Wells1

  200,000

  20

  10,000

  Wandsworth1

  2,000,000

  150

  13,000

  Wealden1

  60,000

  10

  6,000

  Westminster

  1,500,000

  100

  15,000

  1 Approved schemes.

  Rent Officers (Guidance)
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's guidance to rent officers in carrying out their new role under the Housing Act 1988, Part V. as from 1 April 1989.

  Mr. Trippier
  The detailed basis on which rent officers assess the rent paid by, and accommodation occupied by, private tenants claiming housing benefit is set out in the Rent Officers (Additional Functions) Order 1989. Advice on how rent officers might approach their new task—particularly in circumstances where no direct market evidence is available—was included in a study of the private rented housing market commissioned by the Department from the consultants Price Waterhouse. Copies of that report were circulated to rent officers and were placed in the Library in February.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his Department's plans to monitor the impact of the Housing Act 1988, Part I, on(a) the number of homeless households accepted by local authorities in England and (b) the ability of local authorities in England to secure housing for homeless households.

  Main housing subsidy (MHS) claimed and net rate fund contributions (RFCs) made

  (£0·0 million, 1987–88 prices)

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  Area

  MHS

  RFCs

  MHS

  RFCs

  MHS

  RFCs

  MHS

  RFCs

  MHS

  RFCs

  MHS

  RFCs

  MHS

  RFCs

  (a) Inner London boroughs and Corporation of London

  466·0

  287·0

  367·6

  252·7

  321·0

  283·7

  318·2

  217·0

  359·8

  211·8

  328·8

  234·2

  287·1

  227·4

  (b) Outer London boroughs

  226·2

  89·1

  122·4

  68·2

  84·4

  67·6

  81·8

  40·1

  93·3

  21·7

  80·8

  22·9

  66·0

  11·1

  (c) GLC/LRB

  105·2

  122·3

  47·8

  126·3

  37·8

  142·1

  30·5

  130·5

  17·5

  144·4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  (d) South-East — outside London

  127·6

  -3·6

  32·3

  0·4

  16·6

  -2·2

  16·3

  -3·1

  23-2

  -7·9

  18·0

  -8·6

  15·9

  -15·3

  (e) Metropolitan areas —outside London

  327·9

  195·6

  68·6

  167·5

  19·7

  154·9

  25·0

  103·6

  34·5

  65·1

  35·1

  45·2

  30·2

  65·4

  (f) Non-Metropolitan areas —outside the South East

  344·1

  38·8

  51·5

  33·6

  21·4

  28·9

  22·0

  19·5

  66·9

  13·2

  44·2

  -0·9

  37·4

  -8·4

  (g) All England

  1,597·0

  729·2

  690·2

  648·7

  500·9

  675·0

  493·8

  507·6

  595·2

  488·3

  506·9

  292·8

  436·6

  280·2

  Notes:

  1. The LRB ceased to operate a Housing Revenue Account after 1985–86.

  2. The main housing subsidy figures are entitlements for each financial year and not payments made in that year.

  3. The rate fund contributions may not be the final figure for each year but are based on information received by the Department in connection with housing subsidy claims.

  Disabled People (Water Bill)
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what provision he is proposing to include in the Water Bill to protect disabled people on dialysis machines from disconnection.

  Mr. Howard
  Water undertakers already take special precautions to ensure continuity of supplies to customers who use dialysis machines. Further safeguards against disconnection of domestic customers will be included in the conditions of appointment of the new water undertakers. Disconnection will not normally be allowed without prior application to the county court for debt recovery, nor where the local social security or social services office has requested a delay to examine the customer's circumstances. No Bill amendment is needed.
  172
  Mr. Trippier
  Part I of the Housing Act 1988 should improve the supply of rented accommodation and therefore reduce homelessness. Research into its effects will be carried out in due course, as part of the Department's research programme.

  Housing Revenue Accounts
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was(a) the level of central Government housing subsidy, and (b) the level of discretionary rate fund contributions to local authority housing revenue accounts (a) in inner London. (b) in outer London, (c) in the south-east outside London, (d) in metropolitan areas outside London, (e) in non-metropolitan areas outside the south-east, and (f) in England as a whole in each year from 1981–82 to 1987–88; and if he will give this information at constant 1987–88 prices.

  Mr. Trippier
  The information requested is shown in the table. The rate fund contribution figures (RFCs) are net amounts (the balance between contributions to housing revenue accounts and transfers the other way to general rate funds). For completeness, the information for the GLC/LRB is shown also. The main housing subsidy figures will differ from those published previously because they include subsequent adjustments to the original claims received by the Department and are expressed at 1987–88 prices.

  Rural Development
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what criteria are used in reaching decisions on rural development programmes in(a) the county of Leicester and (b) Northamptonshire.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Rural development programmes are drawn up for the rural development areas designated in 1984 by the rural development commission. The criteria which the Department laid down for the selection of such areas were:

  (a) above average unemployment;

  (b) an inadequate or unsatisfactory range of employment opportunities;

  (c) adverse effects from population decline or sparsity of population;

  (d) net outward migration of population;

  (e) disproportionate number of elderly people;

  (f) poor access to services and facilities.

  Disabled People (Housing)
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he is taking to ensure a sufficient supply of wheelchair housing for people with disabilities who wish to leave residential care or to set up home on their own; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  It is for housing authorities to analyse needs locally and to bid for resources through the housing investment programme system to enable provision to be made—in collaboration with voluntary and private agencies.

  My Department will be sponsoring a research project this year to assess what proportion of disabled and elderly people need special accommodation and to examine the most cost-effective methods of provision.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the number of completions of(a) wheelchair housing and (b) mobility housing by (i) local authorities, (ii) housing associations and (iii) the private sector in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Trippier
  Numbers of new completions of wheelchair and mobility dwellings for local authorities and new towns and for housing associations in 1988 appear in table 1.6(b) of "Housing and Construction Statistics", part 1 No. 36; figures for earlier years appear in table 6.7(b) of "Housing and Construction Statistics 1977–87"; copies of both publications are in the Library. No reliable estimates of private sector completions are available.

  Bottle Re-use Schemes
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has commissioned any studies on the operation of bottle re-use schemes, with standard specification bottles, in other countries.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The former Waste Management Advisory Council published a study in 1981 of returnable and non-returnable containers, based on a review of overseas practice. The Government believe that the council's recommendations against mandatory re-use schemes are still valid.

  Discharge Consents (South West Water)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what ministerial permission has(a) been requested and (b) been granted for relaxation of STW discharge consents for South West Water; and what period of time they are to cover.

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 6 June 1989]: On 7 December (Official Report, column 199) I announced a capital programme costing around £1 billion to bring sewage treatment works into compliance with their discharge consents by March 1992. Water authorities may apply for time limited consents for those works to regularise current performance and maintain the current river water quality while improvements take place.

  Eighty three applications for such consents have been received from South West Water. A list of those sewage works for which these applications have been made has been placed in the Library of the House. None has yet been
  174
  granted. The capital works will generally be completed by March 1992. The time limited consents for any individual works will cover the period up until commissioning of the upgraded works. Thereafter consent conditions no less stringent than those which currently apply will be imposed.

  EC Habitats Directive
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress is being made on discussions about the EEC habitats directive; and when he expects an agreement to be reached.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 6 June 1989]: Discussions on the proposal for an EC directive on habitat protection have continued at three working group meetings called by the Spanish Presidency. A technical and scientific working group has been set up to prepare four of the annexes omitted from the Commission's draft. Many of the points which led member states unanimously to reject the Commission's proposals at the Environment Council on 24 November 1988 remain to be resolved.

  Grants
  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what system his Department operates to ensure that recipients of grant aid under section 16 of the Housing and Planning Act 1986, and section 73 of the Housing Act 1985 are accountable to his Department for expenditure and performance; and whether that system takes into account such factors as the size of the grant made by the Department, and the administrative capacity of small organisations in receipt of such grants.

  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 26 May 1989]: The formal conditions of grant for organisations contain the expenditure and performance targets and rules designed to secure the necessary accountability for the proper and effective use of funds. Any organisation unable to meet these vital terms would not receive grant aid. Monitoring by my Department is through audited claims and accounts, general and specific reports and through visits and meetings with the organisations concerned.

  Land Register (Statistics)
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many sites are currently on the land register; and what is the total acreage owned by local authorities.

  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 6 June 1989]: There were 7,900 sites on the land register at 31 May 1989. The total acreage owned by local authorities is 49,900.

  Barrow Borough Transport Ltd.
  Mr. Franks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will exercise his powers under section 22(2) of the Local Government Finance Act 1982 to require the Audit Commission to order an extraordinary audit into loans made by the Barrow-in-Furness borough council to Barrow Borough Transport Ltd.

  Mr. Gummer
  These are matters which the auditor would normally examine in the course of the audit and on which he could take such action as he thought necessary.
  175
  Mr. Franks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to obtain a copy of the report by the chief executive of Barrow-in-Furness borough council dated 20 April and entitled "Inquiry into the Formation of Barrow Borough Transport Ltd. and the Borough Council's Investment in the Company".

  Mr. Gummer
  This is a matter for the local authority and its auditor.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in Scotland are in receipt of housing benefit in the private and public sectors, respectively.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The estimated number of recipients in 1988–89 in Scotland is:

  Persons

  Rent rebate (public sector)

  490,000

  Rent allowance (private sector)

  75,000

  Disabled Persons (Partial Incapacity Benefit)
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if, in light of the Social Security Advisory Committee's report entitled, "Benefits for Disabled People: a Strategy for Change," he is examining ways in which a partial incapacity benefit for disabled people could be introduced.

  Mr. Scott
  I have noted the views of the Social Security advisory committee. We shall look at the need for a partial incapacity benefit when we examine existing benefit provision against the findings of the OPCS surveys.

  Disabled Persons Act
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is his latest estimate of the costs of implementing section 7 of the Disabled Persons Act 1986;

  (2) when he plans to conclude discussions with local authority associations on the implementation of section 7 of the Disabled Persons Act 1986;

  (3) when he plans to implement section 7 of the Disabled Persons Act 1986.

  Mr. Scott
  We cannot at present indicate when we will implement section 7 as we are still in discussion about the costs, which the local authority associations estimate at more than £100 million a year. We hope to reach firm conclusions later in the year.

  Fraud
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish the number of prosecutions and convictions for social security frauds in Scotland in each of the past ten years, giving the sums of money and the number of people involved; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The number of people prosecuted at the instigation of the Department and convicted for social 176
  security frauds in Scotland are detailed in the table. Information relating to the sums of money involved is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Statistics prior to 1984–85 are not available.

  Total

  Benefit fraud

  Instrument of payment fraud

  Prosecutions

  1984–85

  463

  306

  157

  1985–86

  541

  327

  214

  1985–87

  791

  578

  213

  1987–88

  769

  430

  339

  1988–89

  986

  566

  420

  Convictions

  1984–85

  444

  301

  143

  1985–86

  529

  320

  209

  1986–87

  777

  569

  208

  1987–88

  754

  424

  330

  1988–89

  950

  550

  400

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much money he estimates has been lost in each year since 1979 as a result of fraudulent social security claims and how many persons have been successfully prosecuted in(a) England and Wales, (b) Scotland, (c) Strathclyde and (d) Greenock and Port Glasgow.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [pursuant to his reply, 10 February 1989, columns 857–58]: I regret an inaccuracy has been discovered and the corrected information is as follows:

  The numbers of successful prosecutions instigated by the Department in respect of fraudulent social security claims is as follows:

  Great Britain1

  Scotland2

  Strathclyde2

  Greenock and Port Glasgow2

  1979–80

  16,236

  —

  —

  —

  1980–81

  18,369

  —

  —

  —

  1981–82

  13,856

  —

  —

  —

  1982–83

  11,312

  —

  —

  —

  1983–84

  5,987

  —

  —

  —

  1984–85

  6,550

  301

  —

  —

  1985–86

  6,586

  320

  176

  3

  1986–87

  6,203

  569

  147

  9

  1987–88

  6,931

  424

  181

  3

  1 Includes both fraudulent benefit claims and fraudulent instrument of payment encashment. Separation of figures not available.

  2 Relates only to fraudulent benefit claims. Earlier information is not available.

SCOTLAND

  Local Authority Tenants
  Mr. Gow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses and flats are owned by local authorities in Scotland; and what proposals he has to give to their tenants the opportunities to become owner occupiers.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Returns by local authorities indicate that, at 30 September 1988, local authorities in Scotland owned some 808,000 houses and flats.

  In the light of the continuing success of the Government's right-to-buy policy, we have no plans at present to change the current statutory arrangements.

  Bus Services
  Dr. Bray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his plans for the privatisation of bus services in Lanarkshire.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his plans for the privatisation of buses within Lanarkshire.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Legislation to provide powers for the privatisation of the Scottish Bus Group, including its operations in Lanarkshire, is currently before Parliament. The Government welcome the interest shown by management and employees of the Scottish Bus Group in Lanarkshire in the opportunities provided by privatisation. The Government are encouraging local authorities to dispose of their bus undertakings and welcome Strathclyde regional council's plans to privatise its undertaking including its operations in Lanarkshire.

  European Community
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what direct input Scottish Office Ministers and officials have on the European Commission and the Council of Ministers.

  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what direct input Scottish Office Ministers and officials have on the European Commission and the Council of Ministers.

  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what direct input Scottish Office Ministers and officials have on the European Commission and the Council of Ministers.

  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what direct input Scottish Office ministers and officials have on the European Commission and the Council of Ministers.

  Mr. Rifkind
  The Scottish Office is represented at meetings of the Agriculture and Fisheries Councils by Ministers and/or senior officials. There are also frequent meetings between the Scottish Office and the EC Commission on a wide range of policy issues.

  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what considerations he has given to the future representation of Scottish interests within the European Community; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Rifkind
  Ministers and officials will continue to represent Scottish interests through attendance at Agriculture and Fisheries Councils. Officials will also continue to ensure that particular Scottish interests in other Councils are identified and taken into account in the most appropriate way.

  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has of the proportion of(a) primary and (b) secondary legislation relating to Scotland in the last 12 months which originally emanated from institutions of the European Community.

  Mr. Rifkind
  The only item of primary legislation concerns the adoption of the EC directive requiring member states to recognise professional qualifications 178
  obtained elsewhere in the Community, as it applies to teachers. This is included in the provisions of the Self-Governing Schools Etc. (Scotland) Bill. So far as secondary legislation is concerned, my Departments have implemented 16 regulations or statutory instruments ranging over agriculture and fisheries, environmental protection, planning and health.

  National Health Service
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from general practitioners about the proposed changes in the National Health Service.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  About 1,650 letters from GPs and members of the public have been received about the White Paper on the Health Service "Working for Patients", and/or the new contract for general practitioners. Agreement on all the major outstanding contract issues was reached with the profession's negotiators on 4 May.

  Mr. Alan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made in implementing policies of competitive budgeting in the National Health Service in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Since the last general election savings from competitive tendering have increased from £600,000 to £25 million on 74 contracts. This represents substantial additional resources for patient care in Scotland's health service over the next three to four years. Boards will continue to make progress in both the scope and range of services to put to competitive tender and are much encouraged by their success to date.

  Mr. Ernie Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many representations he has received supporting his proposals for the National Health Service in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Most correspondence on the White Paper has shown support for some proposals and criticism of others. It is not therefore appropriate to categorise the responses in the manner requested.

  Mr. Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what further representations he has received from doctors in the Borders about the proposals in the White Paper "Working for Patients" since his reply of 5 April,Official Report, column 231, to the hon. Member for Kilmarnock and Loudoun (Mr. McKelvey).

  Mr. Rifkind
  It is not possible to supply the information in the form requested. About 30 letters have been received from doctors in the Borders region since 5 April 1989, either direct or through hon. Members about the White Papers "Promoting Better Health" and/or "Working for Patients" and/or the new contract for GPs.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many replies have been received to the letter sent to general practitioners in Scotland by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Stirling (Mr. Forsyth) on 12 April.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  About 762 letters have been received from GPs since I wrote on 12 April, but it is not possible to identify which of these are specifically in
  179
  response to my letter. Agreement on all the major outstanding contract issues was reached with the profession's negotiators on 4 May.

  Freedom of Speech
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received seeking the extension of section 43 (Freedom of speech in universities, polytechnics and colleges) of the Education (No. 2) Act 1986 to Scotland.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received seeking the extension of section 43 (Freedom of speech in universities, polytechnics and colleges) of the Education (No. 2) Act 1986 to Scotland.

  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received seeking the extension of section 43 (Freedom of speech in universities, polytechnics and colleges) of the Education (No. 2) Act 1986 to Scotland.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will consider extending section 43 (Freedom of speech in universities, polytechnics and colleges) of the Education (No. 2) Act 1986 to Scotland.

  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will consider extending section 43 (Freedom of speech in universities, polytechnics and colleges) of the Education (No. 2) Act 1986 to Scotland.

  Mr. Janman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will consider extending section 43 (Freedom of speech in universities, polytechnics and colleges) of the Education (No. 2) Act 1986 to Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I refer my hon. Friends to the answer given earlier today to my hon. Friends the Members for Hexham (Mr. Amos) and Sherwood (Mr. Stewart).

  Secondary Schools (Expenditure)
  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much was spent per pupil in secondary schools in Scotland in the most recent year for which figures are available; and what was the comparable figure in 1978–79 at constant prices.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  In 1987–88 net current expenditure per pupil in secondary schools in Scotland at outturn prices was £2,000. This is 36 per cent. more in real terms than the comparable figure in 1978–79 which at 1987–88 prices was £1,469.

  Schools
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received arguing that schools in Scotland should be allowed to opt out of local authority control; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I have received a number of representations from individuals and groups of parents expressing interest in the possibility of self-governing status for schools. I expect that when the Self-Governing 180
  Schools Etc. (Scotland) Bill reaches the statute book parents associated with individual schools will begin to assess seriously the benefits of self-governing status for their schools.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Douglas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he now expects to be able to make a statement on the numbers who have not paid the poll tax for April.

  Mr. Lang
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 3 May 1989, at column 166.

  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has of the number of people in Scotland who are on poll tax registers but who have not yet paid at least the first instalment of the poll tax; and whether he will express this figure as a percentage of all the people in Scotland who are on poll tax registers.

  Mr. Lang
  Local authorities are continuing to receive initial payments of the community charge. However the information required from local authorities to enable an estimate to be made of the numbers of people throughout Scotland who are liable for the community charge but have not made a payment will not become available for some months.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the cost of publicising the implementation of the poll tax in Scotland.

  Mr. Lang
  Expenditure to date on the public information campaign on the community charge has been in the region of £950,000.

  Dr. Reid
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to modify the poll tax regulations.

  Mr. Lang
  The Government are monitoring the present community charge arrangements in Scotland. If experience shows that there is a need for any changes to the regulations or to statute we will take appropriate action.

  Ayr Bypass
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his plans for the Ayr bypass.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I assume the hon. Member is referring to the section of new road planned between Drumbreck road and Glasgow city boundary which is the responsibility of Strathclyde regional council, and the new trunk road from the city boundary to Malletsheugh which together constitute the Ayr road route.

  My right hon. and learned Friend is considering the report of the public local inquiry in respect of this project. The works are at present programmed to start in late 1990 but achieving this will depend upon the outcome of the inquiry.

  Criminal Injuries Compensation Board
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how long it takes the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board in Scotland to deal with a typical application.
  181
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Since the criminal injuries compensation scheme operates on a Great Britain basis, information in this form is not available. Details of the time taken by the board to resolve cases were provided in the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Isle of Wight (Mr. Field) on 20 January 1989, at column 350, by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Home Office.

  Hospitals (Opting Out)
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with health organisations in Scotland about the possibility of hospitals opting out under the Government's proposals for the National Health Service.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I am currently giving consideration to this matter.

  Economic Growth
  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the rate of economic growth in Scotland in the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Lang
  The output-based estimates of Scotland's gross domestic product show that between 1986 and 1987 Scotland's economy grew by 2·4 per cent. Later information is available only for the output of the production and construction industries which grew by 5·8 per cent. between 1987 and 1988, the fastest rate of growth since 1973.

  Single European Market
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to alter regional development policy in Scotland in the light of the forthcoming single European market.

  Mr. Lang
  The Government made a number of changes to regional policy in 1988 which took into account the single European market. In addition, through the Government's "Europe Open for Business" campaign information, advice and assistance is provided to all United Kingdom businesses in an effort to increase understanding during this run-up period.

  Regional Policy
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to make regional policy for Scotland more effective.

  Mr. Lang
  The Government already have an effective regional policy. Provision for regional assistance in Scotland this year is approximately £120 million and we do not expect any underspend. This level of provision is broadly maintained for the following three years.

  Fishing Policy
  Mr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he takes to co-ordinate fishing policy in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Officials of the Department of Agricultural and Fisheries for Scotland are in regular contact with their colleagues in the other United Kingdom fisheries Departments and representatives of the fishing industry, and they participate in EC meetings and working groups as appropriate. My noble Friend the Minister of State, Scottish Office is regularly in touch with the other United Kingdom fisheries Ministers and attends meetings of the European Council of Fisheries Ministers as a member of the United Kingdom delegation.

  Development Agency
  Mr. Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will next be meeting the chief executive of the Scottish Development Agency to discuss attracting industry to areas of high unemployment.

  Mr. Lang
  My right hon. and learned Friend and I met the Agency Board, including the chief executive, on 22 May and discussed a range of issues of mutual interest.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next expects to meet the chairman of the Scottish Development Agency; and what matters he intends to discuss.

  Mr. Lang
  My right hon. and learned Friend and I met the Agency Board on 22 May and discussed a range of issues of mutual interest.

  Farmers
  Sir Hector Monro
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he now expects to meet the president of the National Farmers Union of Scotland.

  Mr. Rifkind
  My noble Friend and I have regular meetings with the union to discuss current issues affecting the farming industry in Scotland. My noble Friend met the president on 19 May and expects to meet him again at the Royal Highland show later this month.

  GPs (Seniority Payments)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from Scottish general practitioners about the changes to seniority payments.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  A number of the letters which have been received from general practitioners referred to the proposal to replace seniority allowances and redistribute the released income through other payments. At the meeting on 4 May with the profession's negotiators it was agreed that seniority payments would be retained but reduced by the value of the new postgraduate education allowance.

  "Working for Patients"
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many representations he has received on the White Paper "Working for Patients" and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Some 1,900 letters have been received, offering comments and suggestions in relation to various aspects of the White Paper.

  New Towns
  Mr. Norman Hogg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the future of the new towns.

  Mr. Lang
  It is intended that the Government's proposals for the future of the Scottish new towns will he announced before long.

  Electorates
  Mr. Holt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average electorate in each Scottish constituency.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The average electorate of the constituencies in Scotland on publication of the 1989 electoral registers in February was 54,624.

  Bathing Waters
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he intends to take to ensure that Scotland's bathing waters conform to standards set by European Economic Community directives.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Dumfries (Sir H. Monro) on 13 April 1989, at columns 682–83, and in particular to the paper placed in
  184
  the Library on that day which sets out the results of monitoring in 1988 and the plans to improve bathing waters where necessary.

  Dogs
  Mr. Buchanan-Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will carry out a review of measures for control of dogs in Scotland and, in particular, of the powers and financial resources of local authorities in this respect; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Such an exercise is already in hand as part of a general review of the provisions of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 upon which we intend to consult later this year. There is, however, a range of powers relating to the control of dogs already available to local authorities.

  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will set out the statutory powers under which local authorities have power to control dogs; and if he will indicate which authorities are empowered to act.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information is as follows.

  The Dogs Act 1906, as amended by the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, empowers the police and proper officers of district and islands councils to seize, detain and dispose of stray dogs, and prescribes procedures for dealing with dogs so detained. The Control of Dogs Order 1930, made under powers consolidated in the Animal Health Act 1981, requires dogs to wear identity discs bearing the name and address of their owner when in a public place and enables district or islands councils to make curfew regulations to control dogs. The Pet Animals Act 1951 provides for the inspection and licensing by district or islands councils of pet shops and the attachment of conditions to the licence. The Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963 provides for the inspection and licensing of boarding establishments for dogs and cats by district or islands councils and for the attachment of conditions to the licence. The Road Traffic Act 1972 makes it an offence for a dog to be on a designated road without being held on a lead. The regulations prescribing the procedure involved in designation by regional or islands councils are contained in the Control of Dogs on Roads Order (Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 1962. The Breeding of Dogs Act 1973 provides for the inspection and licensing by district or islands councils of dog breeding establishments and for the attachment of conditions to the licence. The Guard Dogs Act 1975 lays down requirements for the supervision of guard dogs and the licensing of guard dog kennels by district or islands councils.

  There are, in addition, indirect powers such as the power conferred by section 112 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, whereby any local authority may make management rules which could include rules relating to dogs while on land or premises owned, occupied or managed by the authority.

  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from community groups or statutory organisations about the problems posed by lack of control of dogs; what replies he has sent; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. and learned Friend has received representations from the
  185
  Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, the National Farmers Union, Scotland as well as from hon. Members and individuals about the problems posed by dogs. Most of these have urged tighter legislative controls and the introduction of a dog registration scheme. Replies to these representations have indicated that we are not convinced that registration would be an effective answer to the range of problems associated with dogs but that we intend to publish later this year a consultation paper in which other options for improving existing measures for more effective control of dogs will be explored.

  Prescription and Residential Charges
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether he has any plans to extend exemption from prescription charges in Scotland to people requiring long-term medication related to mental illness;

  (2) whether he has any plans to introduce a sliding scale of charges for residents with mental health problems in special accommodation schemes in Scotland who have other sources of income.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  When the existing list of specified medical conditions for which exemption from prescription charges is given was drawn up it was suggested by the medical profession that it should include only readily identifiable conditions which called for prolonged medical treatment, in most cases replacement therapy. The list has been reviewed on a number of occasions by successive Governments, but on each occasion it was decided no change could be made. There are no plans to extend the list at this time or to introduce sliding scales of charges relating to patients' circumstances.

  Disabled People (Housing)
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he is taking to ensure a sufficient supply of wheelchair housing for people with disabilities who wish to leave residential care or to set up home on their own; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Government attach high priority to the provision of all types of special needs housing. It is for housing authorities to assess local needs. Scottish Homes has been asked in determining its expenditure programme for housing associations for 1989–90 to place more emphasis on housing provision for the disabled. I am pleased to note that the number of sheltered wheelchair and wheelchair houses provided by public agencies in Scotland has increased from 636 in 1979 to 2,586 in 1988.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the numbers of completions of(a) wheelchair housing and (b) mobility housing by (i) local authorities, (ii) housing associations and (iii) the private sector in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  This information is not available. Information on housebuilding by user category has been collected centrally for authorities on a quarterly basis since 1986 but not for the breakdown required.

  Leaflets
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many information leaflets were published by the Scottish Office in each of the past five years: and what was the total cost each year.

  Mr. Rifkind
  Leaflets have been produced in a wide range of circumstances, and central records do not make it possible to provide the information requested without incurring disproportionate cost. If the hon. Member has a particular subject area in mind, perhaps he could write to me about it.

  Midwives
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many midwives there are in Scotland; how many claims for regrading he has received; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  In the current year 4,119 midwives have been indexed to practise in Scotland. Claims for regrading are for health boards to deal with. Information on such claims is not held centrally.

  Health Budget (Research)
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much of his current health budget is spent on research in Scotland as a percentage and as a cash sum; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The provision for research expenditure in the current year is £5,144,000, or 0·2 per cent. of the total health budget. The cash figure represents an increase of nearly 12 per cent. over estimated expenditure in 1988–89.

  Water
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what long-term funding his Department will be apportioning to upgrade water treatment plants in Strathclyde region.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Scottish Development Department has asked all regional and islands authorities to provide information about improvements necessary to achieve compliance with drinking water quality standards. When this information has been fully assessed Strathclyde regional council's needs will be taken into account, along with those of other authorities, in reviewing the capital expenditure allocations for water and sewerage services in Scotland.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received regarding the reduction in capital allocation to Strathclyde regional water authority for the next financial year.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  None. Allocations for water supply services are not issued separately. The provisional allocation for Strathclyde region's water and sewerage programme in 1990–91 was first set in 1988 at £41 million but was increased in February 1989 to £44 million, a rise of £3 million. While this increased provisional allocation is £1 million less than the capital allocation for the present year, it is still provisional and subject to review before final allocations for 1990–91 are set.
  187
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has any plans to reduce the proposed time of 20 years given to Strathclyde regional water authority to satisfy European Community requirements for drinking water.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  A time period has not yet been agreed with Strathclyde regional council for achieving full compliance with European Community drinking water standards. Water quality improvement schemes currently programmed are due for completion not later than the end of 1995.

  Sheepmeat Regime
  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has about the current negotiations on the EEC sheepmeat regime and its implications for Scottish farmers.

  Mr. Rifkind
  At last week's meeting of the Council of Agriculture Ministers member states once again made it clear that they had difficulties with the Commission's current proposals for reform of the sheepmeat regime. The Council agreed, however, that it should seek to make early progress in the first instance through discussions at official level.

  Energy Sources
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to promote alternative and renewable energy sources including wind, wave, water and solar technology.

  Mr. Lang
  Scotland already enjoys the large-scale development of our hydro-electric resources. In addition, a comprehensive research and development programme is under way which incorporates a number of major projects based in Scotland.

  Local Health Councils
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received regarding local health council funding; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 6 June 1989]: I have received a number of representations and I am currently considering the most effective means of representing consumers interest in the NHS.

  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what funds, in cash and in real terms, his Department has allocated to local health councils since 1979.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 6 June 1989]: The information is as follows:

  Year

  Local health council expenditure on a cash basis £'000

  Local health council expenditure at 1989–90 prices 1 £'000

  1979–80

  430

  852

  1980–81

  505

  844

  1981–82

  556

  847

  188

  Year

  Local health council expenditure on a cash basis £'000

  Local health council expenditure at 1989–90 prices 1 £'000

  1982–83

  596

  848

  1983–84

  605

  823

  1984–85

  661

  856

  1985–86

  705

  866

  1986–87

  760

  903

  1987–88

  820

  928

  1988–89

  867

  915

  1989–902

  909

  909

  1 Using GDP deflator.

  2 Estimate.

  Village and Community Halls (Grant Aid)
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what level of grant aid was approved by the Scottish Education Department in 1988–89 for village and community halls in Scotland; what is the anticipated level for 1989–90; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 6 June 1989]: In 1988–89 the Scottish Education Department approved projects for the building and improvement of youth, village and community halls in Scotland to the value of £2·35 million (on which a grant of £1·14 million will become payable over the next few years assuming the projects proceed as planned). In the same year the total amount actually paid in grants in respect of these, and projects approved in earlier years, was £950,000. Provision has been made for the payment of up to £1·045 million in grant aid in 1989–90 and I am at present considering how to allocate this amount, having regard to commitments in respect of previously approved projects.

  Fishing
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his assessment of the current financial position of the Scottish fishing industry; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 23 May 1989]: The value of landings reached a record high in 1987 but declined during 1988 and there are indications that this trend will continue in 1989. This is mainly because of reductions in quotas for North sea cod and haddock, but we have accepted the need for these reductions based on scientific advice to be made to secure the long-term fishing opportunities and the future prosperity of the industry.

  Children (Dumbarton)
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many children in Dumbarton constituency are dependent upon(a) supplementary benefit or income support, and (b) family income supplement or family credit in each year since 1978–79 (i) in total and (ii) as a percentage of all children in Scotland.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I have been asked to reply.

  I regret that this information is not available.

HEALTH

  Deaf-Blind People
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are deaf-blind; and how many are aged between five and 65 years.

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the right hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ashley) on 15 March 1989 at column 235.

  Abortions
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the number of women resident in the United Kingdom who had an abortion in 1987 who already had(a) one, (b) two, (c) three, (d) four and (e) five previous abortions;

  (2) if he will list the number of women in the Basildon area health authority who had an abortion in 1987 who already had (a) one, (b) two, (c) three, (d) four or (e) five previous abortions.

  Mr. Freeman
  The notification form for abortions carried out under the Abortion Act 1967 requires information about previous abortions to the woman concerned to be recorded, distinguishing between spontaneous miscarriages and legal terminations.

  The table shows the information requested for abortions performed in England and Wales in 1987 for those women having had one or more previous spontaneous miscarriages or legal terminations.

  Notifications having at least one previous spontaneous miscarriage and also at least one previous legal termination, and women having more than one abortion under the Act in 1987 will be counted more than once in the statistics.

  Numbers of abortions performed to usual residents of (a) United Kingdom and (b) Basildon District Health Authority where the woman had had 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 previous abortions, England and Wales, 1987

  United Kingdom

  Basildon DHA

  Previous spontaneous miscarriages

  1

  9,269

  881

  2

  1,592

  85

  3/4/5

  626

  11

  Previous legal terminations

  1

  26,466

  173

  2

  3,703

  17

  3/4/5

  832

  3

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many abortions have been performed in England and Wales under the Abortion Act 1967; how many of these abortions were performed in an emergency to save the life of a mother; and what percentage this latter figure represents of the lower, in each year since 1968.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information is shown in the table.
  190

  Number of abortions performed in England and Wales, under the Abortion Act 1967, and number performed under ground 5 of the Act3, 27 April 1968 to September 19881

  Year

  Total abortions

  Number under ground 5

  Per cent.

  A

  B

  B of A

  1968

  23,641

  16

  ·068

  1969

  54,819

  14

  ·026

  1970

  86,565

  10

  ·012

  1971

  126,777

  10

  ·008

  1972

  159,884

  10

  ·006

  1973

  167,149

  7

  ·004

  1974

  162,940

  3

  ·002

  1975

  139,702

  6

  ·004

  1976

  129,673

  1

  ·001

  1977

  133,004

  3

  ·002

  1978

  141,558

  5

  ·004

  1979

  149,746

  3

  ·002

  1980

  160,903

  4

  ·002

  1981

  162,480

  5

  ·003

  1982

  163,045

  7

  ·004

  1983

  162,161

  3

  ·002

  1984

  169,993

  9

  ·005

  1985

  171,873

  5

  ·003

  1986

  172,286

  2

  ·001

  1987

  174,276

  3

  ·002

  19881

  137,103

  4

  ·003

  Total2

  2,949,578

  130

  ·004

  1 1988 data are provisional.

  2 Total from 27 April 1968 to 30 September 1988.

  3 In emergency, to save the life of the pregnant women.

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many abortions have been performed on girls under the age of 16 years; and what percentage this represents of abortions performed, in each year since 1968;

  (2) how many abortions were performed on girls in the Basildon area health authority, under the age of 16 years; and what percentage this represents of abortions performed, in each year since 1968.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information is shown in the table.

  Number of abortions performed in England and Wales, and to usual residents of Basildon and Thurrock2 , all ages and to those under 16 years, 27 April 1968 to 31 December 1987.

  Year

  England and Wales

  Basildon and Thurrock2

  Total under 16

  Per cent.

  Total under 16

  Percent.

  A

  B

  B of A

  A

  B

  B of A

  1968

  23,641

  553

  2·3

  151

  4

  2·6

  1969

  54,819

  1,231

  2·2

  287

  9

  3·1

  1970

  86,565

  1,822

  2·1

  427

  10

  2·3

  1971

  126,777

  2,618

  2·1

  435

  6

  1·4

  1972

  159,884

  3,320

  2·1

  592

  16

  2·7

  1973

  167,149

  3,660

  2·2

  541

  10

  1·8

  1974

  162,940

  3,948

  2·4

  620

  23

  3·7

  1975

  139,702

  4,006

  2·9

  628

  24

  3·8

  1976

  129,673

  3,835

  3·0

  635

  21

  3·3

  1977

  133,004

  4,067

  3·1

  626

  29

  4·6

  1978

  141,558

  3,724

  2·6

  624

  21

  3·4

  1979

  149,746

  3,856

  2·6

  614

  22

  3·6

  1980

  160,903

  4,143

  2·6

  549

  17

  3·1

  1981

  162,480

  3,949

  2·4

  586

  20

  3·4

  1982

  163,045

  4,343

  2·7

  687

  22

  3·2

  1983

  162,161

  4,566

  2·8

  602

  26

  4·3

  1984

  169,993

  4,609

  2·7

  779

  21

  2·7

  1985

  171,873

  4,427

  2·6

  840

  25

  3·0

  1986

  172,286

  4,240

  2·5

  958

  30

  3·1

  1987

  174,276

  4,075

  2·3

  998

  27

  2·7

  TOTAL1

  2,812,475

  70,992

  2·5

  12,179

  383

  3·1

  191

  1 Total from 27 April 1968 to 31 December 1987.

  2 1968–1974: Basildon and Thurrock non-metropolitan counties.

  1975–1982: Basildon and Thurrock Health District.

  1983–1987: Basildon and Thurrock District Health Authority.

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many abortions were performed on girls aged 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 years of age in each year since 1968; and how many were performed to save the life of a pregnant woman.

  Number of abortions performed in England and Wales to usual residents of England and Wales by single year of age, 10 to 17 years, 1968 to 1987

  Year

  Age of mother

  10

  11

  12

  13

  14

  15

  16

  17

  1968

  n/a

  3

  6

  21

  150

  363

  559

  693

  1969

  n/a

  2

  7

  38

  279

  848

  1,445

  1,816

  1970

  n/a

  3

  20

  85

  391

  1,233

  2,530

  3,188

  1971

  n/a

  3

  16

  77

  529

  1,671

  3,465

  4,426

  1972

  n/a

  0

  7

  98

  586

  2,113

  4,318

  5,395

  1973

  1

  4

  14

  108

  693

  2,270

  5,082

  5,775

  1974

  0

  1

  9

  117

  718

  2,490

  5,348

  6,225

  1975

  0

  0

  12

  120

  747

  2,691

  5,411

  6,394

  1976

  0

  6

  14

  122

  738

  2,545

  5,429

  6,285

  1977

  0

  1

  13

  105

  805

  2,701

  5,510

  6,367

  1978

  0

  3

  20

  113

  708

  2,454

  5,675

  6,733

  1979

  0

  9

  18

  116

  698

  2,693

  6,030

  7,412

  1980

  0

  5

  17

  141

  770

  2,717

  6,370

  8,108

  1981

  8301

  2,701

  n/a

  n/a

  1982

  9311

  2,921

  n/a

  n/a

  1983

  1,0291

  3,058

  n/a

  n/a

  1984

  0

  1

  9

  111

  898

  3,139

  6,802

  8,406

  1985

  0

  0

  7

  118

  899

  2,978

  6,648

  8,432

  1986

  0

  0

  5

  77

  842

  2,970

  6,175

  8,309

  1987

  1

  1

  10

  114

  781

  2,858

  6,251

  8,252

  n/a + Data not readily available.

  1 These data relate to "under 15 years of age".

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has as to the medical circumstances which created the need for abortions to be performed in emergency to save the life of the mother in those cases which have arisen since 1967; and if he will indicate the number of times each of those conditions has been a relevant factor.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Special Hospitals
  Mr. Ashton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what compensation he is offering to nurses at special hospitals for their loss of civil servant status;

  (2) what consultations he has had with representatives of the Prison Officers Association concerning the recommendations of the Olliff report; when he next expects to meet them; and whether he will list the organisations with whom he has discussed the report;

  (3) what is his policy regarding the future negotiations, with the Prison Officers Association on promotion procedures, uniforms, assisted travel, grievances, disciplinary procedure and security if the Olliff report is implemented; and whether the Prison Officers Association will still be able to negotiate locally at each special hospital;

  (4) whether he will pay an official visit to Broadmoor, Rampton, Park Lane and Moss Side special hospitals to discuss the Olliff report with nurses who are members of the Prison Officers Association;

  (5) whether it is his policy to act on the Olliff report recommendation that the influence of the Prison Officers
  192
  Mr. Freeman
  The information on the total number of abortions performed in England and Wales to the requested ages could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, the readily available data is shown in the table, which relates to abortions performed on usual residents of England and Wales. Information on the number of these which were performed under ground 5 of the Abortion Act cannot be released for reasons of maintaining confidentiality.

  Association in special hospitals must be eroded and its assessment that attitudes within the special hospitals concentrate more on the secure control of patients than their treatment;

  (6) why the future conditions of service and negotiations with the Prison Officers Association at special hospitals is being transferred to the Whitley council; what date he expects this transfer to be implemented; and whether legislation is required for this and for the transfer of direct responsibility for the admission of patients from the Secretary of State to the Special Hospitals health authority;

  (7) why the Olliff report on the future of special hospitals was not distributed to the Prison Officers Association.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 26 May 1989]: The Government are setting up the Special Hospitals Service Authority (SHSA) to take over the management functions presently exercised by my Department and the three local hospital boards, which are to be abolished later this year. These changes were announced in a ministerial statement in May 1988. Later in 1988 the Government specified the following six main national objectives for the service:

  (i) to continue to ensure the protection of the public;

  (ii) to ensure the provision of appropriate treatment for patients;

  (iii) to provide a good quality of life for patients, and a good working environment for staff;

  (iv) to develop closer working relationships with local and regional psychiatric services;

  (v) to promote the hospitals as centres of excellence for the training of staff of all disciplines, in forensic and other branches of psychiatry;

  193

  (vi) to promote research into forensic psychiatry, and related conditions.

  The statements referred to are in the Library.

  Statutory instruments have been laid before Parliament which will establish the SHSA from 1 July 1989, and render it fully operational from 1 October 1989. From that date the SHSA will assume all functions, including the admission of patients.

  There has already been extensive discussion and consultation on these important changes with staff, management and unions. I have myself visited all the four special hospitals where I met a cross section of staff and patients. Department of Health officials have also been engaged in a programme of visits to all the hospitals where they have had wide ranging discussions with all groups of staff. We are producing full briefing packs to explain the rationale for and effects of the changes. These packs will be sent to all staff and patients before 1 October, when the SHSA becomes the new employing authority for all but administrative staff.
  194
  There have been exchanges with staff side interests, including the POA. Indeed, at a meeting with my officials on 18 May the General Secretary of the POA and his colleagues were assured that their members and other non-administrative staff will suffer no material loss through the removal of Civil Service status and will remain on existing NHS terms and conditions. As pay and superannuation will not be affected, the question of compensation does not arise. The POA was also assured that it will continue to be recognised as representing its members in the special hospitals locally (in the hospitals) and centrally (with the new special health authority) in the new arrangements.

  It will be for the SHS authority to consider the appropriateness of existing staff procedures in the new arrangements, and in reviewing such procedures we would expect it to talk with the relevant staff interests, including the POA. The Olliff report was a confidential, internal working document about the future operations of the Department's HQ branch responsible for the special hospitals.

  AIDS SUFFERERS: HOUSING
  AIDS SUFFERERS: HOUSING
  WATER AUTHORITIES: FINANCIAL RESERVES
  WATER AUTHORITIES: FINANCIAL RESERVES
  EC TRANSPORT MINISTERS' MEETING
  EC TRANSPORT MINISTERS' MEETING
  LONDON UNDERGROUND: CRIME STATISTICS
  LONDON UNDERGROUND: CRIME STATISTICS
  TA: APPLICATIONS BY EX-REGULAR OFFICERS
  TA: APPLICATIONS BY EX-REGULAR OFFICERS
  TRIDENT PROGRAMME
  TRIDENT PROGRAMME
  ETHIOPIA: HUMAN RIGHTS
  ETHIOPIA: HUMAN RIGHTS
  MOZAMBIQUE
  MOZAMBIQUE
  NHS POLICY BOARD: MEMBERSHIP
  NHS POLICY BOARD: MEMBERSHIP
  FINANCIAL, ETC., INTERESTS OF PEERS: DECLARATION
  FINANCIAL, ETC., INTERESTS OF PEERS: DECLARATION