Written Answers of 23 June 1989

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Harp Seals
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy towards the culling of baby harp seals.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Since there are no harp seals which are native to the United Kingdom, the question of culling does not arise in this country.

  Prisoners (Transfers)
  Mr. Burt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what basis his Department considers requests by prisoners to serve the remainder of their sentences in another United Kingdom jurisdiction.

  Mr. Hurd
  My Department, in conjunction with the Scottish and Northern Ireland Offices, has recently reviewed the policy governing requests by prisoners to be transferred to another jurisdiction in the United Kingdom. Any inmate in England and Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland who applies to be transferred to either of the other jurisdictions to serve the rest of his or her sentence will normally be transferred, provided that (1) the inmate would have at least six months left to serve in the receiving jurisdiction before his or her date of release; (2) the inmate was ordinarily resident in the receiving jurisdiction prior to the current sentence; or his or her close family currently reside there and there arc reasonable grounds for believing that it is the inmate's firm intention to take up residence there on release; and (3) both Departments concerned are reasonably satisfied that the inmate will not, if transferred, disrupt or attempt to disrupt any prison establishment, or otherwise pose an unacceptable risk to security.

  Even if these conditions are met, however, transfer may be refused if it is considered that the inmate's crimes were so serious as to render him or her undeserving of any degree of public sympathy or to make it inappropriate that the inmate should benefit from a substantial reduction in time left to serve, if that would be a consequence of transfer. Similarly, transfers may be refused if there are reasonable grounds for believing that the inmate's primary intention in making the application is to secure a reduction in the time left to serve. On the other hand, an application that does not meet these conditions may nevertheless be granted where there are strong compassionate or other compelling grounds for transfer.

  Budgeting loans

  Crisis loans

  Community care grants

  Social Security Office

  Number of applications

  Number of awards

  Number of applications

  Number of awards

  Number of applications

  Number of awards

  Downpatrick

  1,155

  678

  433

  375

  446

  238

  Newcastle

  465

  309

  169

  143

  202

  134

  Kilkeel

  164

  146

  33

  32

  165

  133

  Ballynahinch

  204

  141

  84

  73

  168

  109

  Newry

  2,011

  1,496

  392

  352

  956

  548

  Banbridge

  744

  493

  210

  158

  420

  289

  Students (Immigration)
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the new immigration rule which prevents visitors switching to student status whilst in the United Kingdom will be applied to visa nationals only; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  Yes. The generous provisions in the current rules have been abused by some who are not students but whose aim is to take work or to remain here permanently. Many of these enter as visitors and subsequently switch to student status, but have no intention whatsoever of pursuing genuine study here. The "no-switching" provision is designed to prevent this abuse and has been confined to visa nationals because the available evidence suggests that passengers from visa countries are the major source of the abuse. Hence, while in recent years visa nationals have made up only about 20 per cent. of those admitted to the country as students, they have constituted 60 per cent. of grants of extensions of stay as a student to those originally admitted as visitors. Further, two exercises conducted by the immigration service and the police against suspect educational establishments revealed that, of some 6,000 alleged students on the books of these establishments, 95 per cent. were visa nationals and 95 per cent. of these had been orginally admitted as ordinary or business visitors. The educational facilities offered were adequate for only a fraction of the number on the books.

  The change is therefore necessary to ensure the effective operation of the visa system. It would he wasteful of resources and unnecessary to extend it to non-visa nationals; in particular such an extension would require the needless issue of over 100,000 additional entry clearances worldwide each year. Visa nationals will still be able to come to the United Kingdom for study, even if they have been unable to finalise all the arrangements beforehand, provided that they make their intentions clear and obtain the necessary visa in advance. Genuine visitors will not be affected in any way.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Social Security (South Down)
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the number of claimants who made application, were awarded and accepted(a) social fund loans, (b) community care grants at each of the social security offices in South Down for the financial year 1988–89.

  Mr. Needham
  The information for the period 11 April 1988 to 31 March 1989 is given in the table.
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  The balance of applications in each category were refused, withdrawn by the applicant or were still to be decided at the end of March 1989.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many pensioners at each of the social security offices in South Down no longer qualify for housing benefit as a result of the recent pension increase.

  Mr. Needham
  The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of the total social fund expenditure has been written off as unrecoverable for the financial year 1988–89.

  Mr. Needham
  Total social fund expenditure in the period 11 April 1988 to 31 March 1989 was £18,485,998. It was not practicable to pursue recovery of funeral payments of £934,665 and loans of £1,952. These figures are provisional.

  Kincora Boys' Home
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his reply of 18 April,Official Report, column 130, to the hon. Member for

  Armagh city estate

  Number of executive owned units

  Number of units unoccupied

  Number of units vandalised/boarded up

  Emania Terrace

  12

  —

  —

  Banbrook/Brookhill/Railway Street

  122

  —

  —

  Callanbridge Park

  140

  8

  3

  Callan Street/Crescent

  40

  4

  3

  Cregagh/Mullanstown Primates Cottages

  59

  —

  —

  Culdee/Upper Irish Street

  102

  —

  —

  Daires Willows

  19

  —

  —

  Dalton

  66

  —

  —

  Druid's Villas

  28

  —

  —

  Drumarg

  126

  1

  —

  Drumbreda

  112

  —

  —

  Duke's Grove

  39

  3

  —

  Legarhill Park

  56

  —

  —

  Longstone

  94

  —

  —

  Mullacreevie

  187

  —

  —

  Navan Street/Terrace/Niall's Crescent

  60

  —

  —

  Windmill

  42

  —

  —

  Alexander

  60

  —

  —

  Ardmore Drive

  75

  —

  —

  Ballinahone

  62

  —

  —

  Barrack Street/Gaul Square/Woodford Place

  27

  —

  —

  Bridge House

  17

  —

  —

  Folly

  154

  7

  —

  Gough Avenue/Barrack Hill

  87

  —

  —

  Lisanally Gardens/Villas

  54

  —

  —

  Lonsdale Gardens

  14

  —

  —

  Newry Road

  4

  —

  —

  Orangefield Drumadd

  156

  —

  —

  Victoria Park

  13

  —

  —

  Total

  2,014

  23

  6

  The number of units of accommodation planned in Armagh City in each of the next five years are as follows:

  Year

  Number of units

  1989–90

  21

  1990–91

  116

  1991–92

  2—

  1992–93

  2—

  1993–94

  2—

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  Brent, East, on what date the three claims were settled; and when he expects the eight other claims to be processed by.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 22 June 1989]: One claim was settled on 15 April 1988, the other two on 5 April 1989. It is not possible to give any indication of when the eight other claims will be processed.

  Housing (Armagh City)
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many units of accommodation there are in each Housing Executive estate within Armagh city; how many units are currently unoccupied at each estate; how many units of each estate are presently vandalised or boarded up; and how many new units of accommodation does the executive propose to construct in Armagh city in each of the next five years.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 15 June 1989]: This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. I am advised by the chairman that at 1 May 1989 the number of units of accommodation, the number of units unoccupied and the number of units vandalised or boarded up in each estate in Armagh city are as follows:

  1 Joint scheme with SHSSB. Includes six dwellings to be allocated for mentally handicapped.

  2 No schemes as yet programmed.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Government Bonds
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the value of the early repurchases of Government bonds since the April Budget.

  Mr. Lilley
  Q2 figures will be published in the August Bank of England Quarterly Bulletin. Net transactions, including redemptions, for March and April are published in table F of the Bank of England's monthly monetary statistics.

  Value Added Tax
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the operation of the value added tax cash accounting scheme; and whether he has any plans(a) to adjust the turnover level of £250,000 to take into account changes to the retail prices index and (b) to review the level of the threshold.

  Mr. Lilley
  The cash accounting scheme was introduced on 1 October 1987 and is available to businesses with an annual taxable turnover not exceeding £250,000. It is used by about 60,000 businesses. Customs and Excise have recently consulted representative bodies and small businesses to consider all aspects of the scheme with the aim of improving take-up. The views of those who responded are currently being considered and the outcome of the consultation will be announced in due course. The existing turnover limit is significantly higher than that originally proposed and required the formal agreement of the European Commission. Any further increase would also have to he approved by the Commission.

  Privatisation (Debt Repayment)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the individual amounts of debt repayments written off in each of the privatisations and sale of Government assets since 1979 and the aggregate of these write-offs.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The normal practice on privatisation of a nationalised industry or company wholly or majority owned by Government is to repay, rather than write off, debt. This repayment may be financed from the company's existing resources, the injection of new equity or new debt finance. In some cases the Government have provided the finance to repay debts, for example, by an equity injection.

  National loans fund debt has been written off only in the cases listed in the table, totalling £3,014,662,728. These write-offs had no direct effect on public expenditure since they represented a reconstruction of the balance sheets of the industries concerned. In each case, having had NLF debt written off, the successor company issued new equity or debt securities to be held by the Secretary of State as assets on the consolidated fund pending realisation.

  Year and Company

  Amount £

  1980–81

  National Freight Corporation (under Section 45 of the Transport Act 1980)

  100,000,000

  1982–83

  British Transport Docks Board (under Section 6(1) of the Transport Act 1981)

  81,293,616

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  Year and Company

  Amount £

  1984–85

  British Telecom (BT Extinguishment of Loans Order 1982)

  2,789,865,772

  1986–87

  BAA (under section 3 of the Airports Act 1986)

  43,503,340

TRANSPORT

  Rail Electrification (Birmingham)
  Mr. Snape
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has received a letter dated 16 May from the chairman of the West Midlands passenger transport authority seeking a meeting between him and a delegation of members of the authority to discuss the electrification of the Birmingham cross-city railway line; and if he will meet such a delegation in the near future.

  Mr. Portillo
  I have agreed to meet the chairman of the West Midlands PTE when I have had BR's formal submission on this scheme.

  Pedestrian Safety
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the annual cost of the major research programme designed specifically to help identify further ways of reducing pedestrian casualties to which he refers in his pedestrian safety proposals published in April.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The cost of the research programme referred to in the Department's leaflet on pedestrian safety is roughly £1·6 million in the current year. It is likely to increase next year.

  Over 40 per cent. of the current figure is being spent on research aimed primarily at pedestrian safety. The remainder will benefit pedestrians along with other road users.

  Fast Rail Link
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish in the Official Report the terms of reference and time scale to which private interests will need to work in order to bring about the construction of British Rail's proposed fast rail link from the Kent coast to London.

  Mr. Portillo
  These are matters for British Rail to discuss with the private interests concerned.

  Birmingham North Orbital Route
  Mr. Richard Shepherd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those private companies who have approached his Department in connection with alternative methods of finance for the Birmingham north orbital route; and the date of their first approach.

  Mr. Portillo
  Some approaches have been made but these must remain commercially confidential.

  MV Majestic
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 16 June,Official Report, column 550, to the hon. Member for Carrick,

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  Cumnock and Doon Valley relating to MV Majestic, what futher details he has of the nature of the underwater obstruction referred to.

  Mr. Portillo
  The investigation is continuing. It is known that the nets caught on an obstruction on the sea bottom but the nature of the obstruction has not been determined.

  Road Traffic Law
  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he proposes to bring forward legislation to implement his proposals in "The Road User and the Law".

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Legislation will be brought forward as soon as parliamentary time is available.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Timetable Motions
  Mr. Richard Shepherd
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if, further to his reply of 16 March,Official Report, column 311, he will list the further occasions on which the Government have introduced the guillotine this Session.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The information requested is as follows:

  Allocation of time order

  Bill

  Self-Governing Schools Etc. (Scotland)

  3 May 1989

  Dock Work

  8 May 1989

WALES

  Medical Physicists
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action he intends to take on the problem of medical physicists leaving National Health Service hospitals in south Wales.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The number of medical physicists—whole-time equivalents—employed by health authorities in Wales over the past four years is given in the table. The management side of the Scientific and Professional Staffs Council is currently investigating the recruitment and retention of scientists, including medical physicists, within the NHS generally.

  In Wales, medical physicists have been included in staff groups designated for detailed scrutiny as part of the 1989 manpower resource planning exercise being undertaken by all district health authorities under the auspices of the manpower steering group, established by my Department, with the intention of examining manpower requirements over the next 10 years. Those plans will also examine wastage and recruitment rates for the purpose of identifying potential staffing difficulties and to enable action to be taken at the local or all-Wales level to forestall problems. Work is also in hand by the manpower steering group on a study of medical physics and bio-engineering in the NHS in Wales, which will address the question of staff retention, particularly in the area of equipment management.
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  WTE as at 30 September

  Health Authority

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  Clwyd

  5·0

  4·0

  4·0

  3·0

  East Dyfed1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Gwent1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Gwynedd

  2·0

  2·0

  4·0

  3·0

  Mid Glamorgan1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Pembs1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Powys1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  South Glamorgan

  37·0

  37·0

  34·0

  32·0

  West Glamorgan

  11·0

  10·8

  12·8

  15·7

  Wales

  55·0

  53·8

  54·8

  53·7

  1 Medical physics services for these authorities are provided by the relevant departments in the four authorities which do employ medical physicists.

  Water Shortages
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list in the Official Report the outstanding capital projects and their estimated cost throughout Wales proposed by the Welsh water authority which plan to alleviate dry weather water shortages; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will list in the Official Report, for each of the years since 1979 and giving their cost, all those capital projects of the Welsh water authority which have been initiated to guard against water shortages as a consequence of dry weather;

  (3) if he will list those areas in Wales where water supply levels give cause for concern; and if he will make a statement;

  (4) if he will make a statement concerning water shortages in Wales consequent upon the current heat wave and the Welsh water authority's banning of water hoses and sprinklers in all areas.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  No. This is a matter for the Welsh water authority.

ENVIRONMENT

  Unleaded Petrol
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has about the effectiveness of the Government television advertising campaign on unleaded petrol.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  In a survey conducted during the week commencing 21 April, 60 per cent. of those interviewed, when prompted, were aware of the advertisement. This put it in the top 10 TV advertisements most remembered by the public.

  The advertisements ran from 1 to 14 April and were shown on all commercial TV stations in the United Kingdom. It is estimated that 76 per cent. of all adults had the opportunity to see them at least once and 33 per cent. at least four times. On average the target audience of all motorists responsible for purchasing petrol had four opportunities to see the advertisement.

  The unleaded petrol share of the market has increased dramatically from 6·4 per cent. in March to 19·3 per cent. in May.

  Teesside UDC (Jobs)
  Mr. Bell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many jobs have been created within the Teesside urban development corporation zone since its inception; how many jobs were created as a consequence of the direct intervention of the corporation; and what has been the cost per job.

  Mr. Trippier
  Comprehensive figures on the total number of jobs created within the Teesside development corporation area since its inception are not readily available. The corporation estimates, however, that up to the end of March 1989, 1,459 permanent jobs had been created within the UDA, in projects assisted by the corporation, at a cost per job of £984. The Government also have two task forces and an action team contributing to the regeneration of inner cities on Teesside, and unemployment in the 15 wards within the Teesside DC zone has fallen by over one third in the two years since May 1987.

  All Souls Burial Ground, Halifax
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to reply to queries about the closure of All Souls burial ground raised by the parochial church council of All Souls Living Church council, Haley hill, Halifax, on 3 May 1988, 23 September 1988, 14 March 1989 and 16 May 1989; and why it is still waiting for a reply.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Department replied on 22 June. I very much regret the long delay in replying due to an oversight which has now been rectified.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated cost of the minority language versions of the community charge leaflet, "The Community Charge (The So-called Poll Tax): How It Will Work For You."

  Mr. Gummer
  Translations in eight languages are being produced, in initial print runs of 10,000 each. The total cost is estimated at £40,000 approximately.

  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on progress on the implementation of poll tax registration by local authorities, with reference to support facilities provided by his Department.

  Mr. Gummer
  Community charges registration officers (CCROs) have until 1 December 1989 to compile their registers. I believe that most CCROs are making good progress. To assist CCROs and authorities with implementation generally, the Department has issued 18 practice notes, and laid the regulations as soon as was practicable after the enactment of the primary legislation.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he intends to issue any further advice to community charge registration officers on the information which can be properly sought through community charge registration forms;

  (2) if he intends to issue a leaflet to every household in England and Wales informing potential poll tax payers of their precise rights and duties in completing registration forms;
  274
  (3) if he will make a statement on action that should be taken by individuals who are asked by community charge registration officers to answer non-statutory questions on their community charge registration forms;

  (4) what steps he is taking to monitor the information being requested by community charge registration officers as a part of the registration process in England and Wales.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 19 June 1989]: The Department has given clear and explicit advice to local authorities and community charges registration officers on this matter, and, in conjunction with the local authority associations, issued a model registration form last autumn. It is for registration officers to ensure that their requests for information comply with their statutory powers and the Data Protection Act.

  Registration officers may require only such information as is necessary for them to carry out their statutory functions, which are to compile and maintain the register. Advice on the information that needs to be sought from the public in order to compile the register was provided to registration officers in community charge practice note number 3. Advice on the requirements of the Data Protection Act is contained in community charge practice notes numbers 4 and 10 which deal specifically with the data protection aspects of registration, and the need to register as a data user. Practice note number 8 contains the model registration form, and advises registration officers to ensure that any requests for information additional to that needed for registration purposes should be clearly indicated, so that people would know that they did riot have to supply it. Practice note number 16, on joint and several liability, specifically points out that joint and several liability is not a registration matter, and advises against including questions on relationships on registration forms.

  Birds
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has made to his counterpart Ministers in the EEC concerning the shooting and trapping of protected bird species during migration; and if he will seek to persuade them to enforce in full the provisions of the appropriate European legislation.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 22 June 1987]: The EC directive 79/409 EEC on the conservation of wild birds requires all member states to protect migratory and other birds. The Government fully support the directive and its enforcement. It is the responsibility of the EC Commission to ensure that adequate measures are taken.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Barlow Clowes
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment he has made of the effect on recovery by Barlow Clowes investors in the United Kingdom of last Friday's High Court ruling authorising the transfer of funds from the British-based to the Gibraltar-based operation.

  Mr. Maude
  It is too soon to make any such assessment.
  275
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects to be able to provide sufficient information about the Barlow Clowes collapse to make a full statement to the House.

  Mr. Maude
  The Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration is currently considering the role of my Department in this matter. In addition, there are a number of actions before the courts. It is too soon to say when all these matters will be resolved.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether there are any outstanding requests from the ombudsman to his Department in connection with the cases currently under investigation by him arising out of the Barlow Clowes collapse.

  Mr. Maude
  My Department is co-operating fully with the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration and endeavours to respond to all his inquiries as quickly as possible.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Antarctic (Protection)
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 14 March,Official Report, column 143, what appraisal he has made of the possible effects on the ecology of the Antarctic as a result of the passage of the Antarctic Minerals Bill.

  Mr. Eggar
  We believe that the Antarctic minerals convention provides protection of the Antarctic environment of a very high order. Its entry into force will protect the Antarctic environment against uncontrolled minerals exploitation. We are proceeding with the Antarctic Minerals Bill to enable the United Kingdom to ratify the Convention.

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 14 March,Official Report, column 143, what steps he is taking to negotiate specific treaty obligations to protect the Antarctic in the event of an oil spill or blowout.

  Mr. Eggar
  Control of marine pollution and therefore of oil spills in Antarctica is on the agenda of the XV Antarctic treaty consultative meeting in Paris in October.

  There can be no oil exploration in Antarctica, and therefore no blowouts, until the Antarctic minerals convention comes into force and a liability protocol has been negotiated and has itself entered into force. The convention contains strict safeguards for the protection of the Antarctic environment, and requires that no minerals activity can take place until the capacity exists to respond effectively to accidents.

  Cambodia
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will detail the moves, in which the United Kingdom is participating being taken to oppose a return of the Khmer Rouge army in Cambodia.

  Mr. Eggar
  The surest way to prevent the Khmer Rouge returning to power by force is a political settlement 276
  under which Cambodians can freely elect a Government of their choice. We are actively involved in international efforts to achieve such a settlement, both multilaterally and in bilateral contacts with those most closely concerned.

  DNA Testing
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the projected public expenditure savings arising from the introduction of a central DNA testing scheme for those seeking entry clearance to the United Kingdom; and if he will identify the savings to his Department.

  Mr. Eggar
  We need practical experience of the numbers who will be processed under the scheme to judge what, if any, resource savings may be achievable. The scheme will be voluntary and take-up will vary from post to post. The position will be closely monitored.

  Foreign Service Staff (Children's Education)
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how many independent boarding schools are accepted by his Department as suitable to receive grant payment for the education of children employed by the foreign service; how many children are currently in receipt of this financal assistance; how often members of his Department visit the schools to satisfy themselves about the education and the welfare provided for young people; and how often financial assistance has been withdrawn because a school has failed to meet the required criteria,

  (2) what criteria are used for judging the quality and academic achievements of independent boarding schools before agreeing to provide finance for members of the foreign service wishing to have their children educated at these schools.

  Mr. Eggar
  As I explained in my written answer of 16 June at column 562, diplomatic service staff may receive an allowance to send their children to any registered independent boarding school in the United Kingdom, provided it offers the full range of subjects normally offered by a state day school and in a form generally available in the state system. Within that broad range parents accept responsibility for choosing a school whose record of accomplishments appears to suit the requirements and capabilities of their children. All such schools will have been approved by the Department of Education and Science and will be inspected periodically by one of Her Majesty's inspectors. We have neither the expertise nor the resources to duplicate the work of that Department.

  Allowances are currently paid in respect of 881 children attending a total of 355 schools. There has never been a case of allowances being withdrawn as a result of a school's performance.

  Entry Clearance
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when instructions were sent to the British embassy in Islamabad to issue a visa to Mr. Zahood Ahmed to enter the United Kingdom; when Mr. Ahmed, whose date of birth is 22 July 1967 and whose Home Office reference is A412361, first applied for entry
  277
  clearance; when Mr. Ahmed's appeal against refusal to grant him a visa was upheld; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  [pursuant to his reply, 12 June 1989 c. 310]: In accordance with the recent guidelines on the handling of representations by Members of Parliament in immigration cases, issued to Members on 14 December 1988, I have referred the question to the correspondence unit of migration and visa department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The hon. Member will receive a reply from the unit in due course.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Mr. Afzal Kahn, whose date of birth is 18 November 1969, and whose reference is IMM 92807, applied for entry clearance to the United Kingdom at Her Majesty's embassy in Islamabad; when his application was refused; and when an explanatory statement setting out the detailed grounds of refusal was despatched to Mr. Khan or his representation.

  Mr. Eggar
  [pursuant to his reply, 12 June 1989, c. 310]: Mr. Khan applied for an entry clearance at the embassy in Islamabad on 18 November 1987. His application was refused on 25 September 1988 and the embassy received an appeal from him on 10 November 1988. I regret that due to pressure of work at the embassy the explanatory statement has not yet been despatched. It is, however, nearing completion and will be forwarded to the appellate authority very shortly.

PRIME MINISTER

  European Community
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Prime Minister what benefits have been brought to(a) Doncaster and (b) South Yorkshire from membership of the European Community.

  The Prime Minister
  The European regional development fund has made grants during the last four years of some £53 million to South Yorkshire, of which about £11 million went to Doncaster. Low interest loans worth £750,000 for Doncaster and £13 million for South Yorkshire have been obtained from the European Coal and Steel Community. In the last three years the European social fund made grants of some £1·65 million to Doncaster, within £11·4 million for South Yorkshire as a whole.

  Ivory
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to her answer of 20 June Official Report, column 78, when she returned from Zimbabwe; when the articles were deposited with Her Majesty's Customs and Excise; whether an import licence under CITES was applied for in respect of these items; when she decided that they should be retained by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise; on what date and by what means she informed Her Majesty's Customs and Excise of her decision; if she will describe the three items of silver and ivory jewellery and state a valuation of each item; and whether she took any steps to determine the origin and the legality of the ivory contained in the ivory jewellery.

  The Prime Minister
  I returned from Africa on 2 April 1989. I deposited the articles with Her Majesty's Customs 278
  and Excise as soon as I was informed that the requirements for importation had not been completed. I have nothing further to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member on 20 June.

  Israel
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Prime Minister whether at her recent meeting with the Israeli Prime Minister she asked him whether he accepted Security Council restriction 242.

  The Prime Minister
  During my talks with Mr. Shamir, I stressed that, to be successful, negotiations on a middle east settlement must be held on the basis of territory for peace as called for in resolution 242. Mr. Shamir has not so far given any commitment on this point.

  Malaysia
  Miss. Lestor
  To ask the Prime Minister who indicated on behalf of Her Majesty's Government that they would consider a request from the Malaysian Government for overseas aid, contained in correspondence concerning the sale of arms to Malaysia that preceded the signing of the memorandum of understanding in 1988; and what period of time elapsed before Her Majesty's Government stated that it would not be acceptable to link aid with the defence sales package.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 22 June 1989]: The Government made clear to the Malaysian Government on a number of occasions in 1988 that we were most willing to consider Malaysian requests for aid. However, as indicated in the answer given to the hon. Member on 13 June by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence Procurement, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence made it clear in his letter to the Malaysian Finance Minister of 28 June 1988 that the provision of overseas aid as an integral part of a negotiated agreement on the defence package was not possible.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  AIDS
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what advice he has received concerning the cost of a recommended diet for people with AIDS or HIV infection; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what is his estimate of the current underprovision of benefit for a person on income support who has been recommended a diet for someone with AIDS or HIV infection who (a) does and (b) does not qualify for a disability premium;

  (3) what is his estimate of the double provision a person on supplementary benefit before April 1988 would have received if he had been awarded the full cost of a recommended diet for someone with AIDS or HIV infection; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  The supplementary benefit scale rates did not include a specific amount for food. It was for individuals to decide how best to spend their money in the light of their own needs and preferences. The same is true of income support. The estimates requested cannot therefore be made.

  I am aware that people with AIDS are frequently advised to follow a high protein, high calorie diet. I have

  279
  been advised that a diet giving 150 per cent. of normal protein and calorie requirements can be devised to meet the needs of individual patients. Such a diet was costed at £14·19 per week (1986 prices) in an article by MacDonald and Forsythe from St. James' university hospital, Leeds, which was published in "Human Nutrition: Applied Nutrition" in 1986.

  I am also aware that people with HIV infection, but who are otherwise healthy, are advised to follow a healthy eating plan which is simply a normal balanced diet. Such a diet was costed by Macdonald and Forsythe in their article at £9·46 for a moderately active man.

  State Pensions
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the normal level of state pension available to(a) a single male and (b) a married couple in each European Community country for those aged 60, 65, 70, 75 and 80 years who have no private resources or pension including social security payments unrelated to living condition, but related to age subsequent to the increases in benefit about to be made available.

  Mr. Lloyd
  I refer my hon. Friend to the Department's publication "Tables of Social Benefit Systems in the European Communities (Position at 1 January 1988)", a copy of which is in the Library. These tables set out the levels of pension in the national currencies together with the sterling equivalent converted according to the OECD's purchasing power parity figures as shown in the introduction to the tables.

  Community Care Grants
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the success rate in obtaining community care grants in the offices covering the Peckham constituency for applicants(a) assisted and (b) not assisted by an advice worker.

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

  Social Fund
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security why the budget for social fund loans and grants in the offices covering the Peckham constituency was not increased in the current financial year.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  A note explaining the basis of allocation of social fund budgets to local offices for 1989–90 is in the Library. The allocation formula was applied in exactly the same way to all local offices.

HEALTH

  NHS Beds (Occupation)
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of National Health Service beds are occupied by people over 70 years of age.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information available centrally is that in 1987–88, 53 per cent. of NHS beds were occupied by patients aged 65 years and over, and 34 per cent. by patients aged 75 years and over.

  Bristol Channel (Bathing Waters)
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has received about illness caused to individuals from bathing in coastal waters on either side of the Bristol channel.

  Mr. Freeman
  I am not aware at present of any reports of any adverse effects to health caused by bathing in coastal waters in the Bristol channel.

  Liver and Kidney Transplants
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the latest position in relation to the shortage of blood for liver and kidney transplants.

  Mr. Freeman
  There was a temporary shortage of blood following the late May bank holiday. There has now been an excellent response from donors, and national stocks are again sufficient for all operations to go ahead.

  Abortions
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has any plans to instigate any new studies into the nature and incidence of post-abortion syndrome; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  We await the report of a joint Royal College of General Practitioners/Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists study "Attitudes to Pregnancy". A large body of data from this United Kingdom study, which was funded by the Department, is currently undergoing careful analysis. I understand that the report should be available later this year.

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the number of non-National Health Service abortions performed in each gestational week according to licensed clinic in 1987 and 1988.

  Mr. Freeman
  The table shows the readily available data. Details relating to numbers performed by individual licensed clinics cannot be released for reasons of confidentiality.

  Number of abortions performed in non-NHS premises by gestation week to usual residents of England and Wales, 1987 and 1988

  Gestation weeks

  1987 Non-NHS

  1Of which agency

  1988 Non-NHS

  1Of which agency

  Under 9

  38,879

  2,283

  42,387

  2,709

  9–12

  35,637

  4,346

  42,544

  5,096

  13–14

  4,493

  539

  4,940

  597

  15–16

  2,430

  258

  2,795

  277

  17–18

  2,659

  384

  3,237

  436

  19–20

  1,446

  189

  1,766

  196

  21–22

  779

  31

  1,007

  27

  23–24

  413

  9

  510

  15

  25+

  2

  —

  —

  —

  Not stated

  11

  2

  9

  4

  Total

  86,749

  8,041

  99,195

  9,357

  1 These figures represent the operations carried out in the private sector on NHS patients.

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice his Department gives to women about the risks of abortion to their mental and physical health; and if he will make a statement.
  281
  Mr. Freeman
  This is a matter for the clinical judgment of the medical staff involved in the light of all the relevant facts about the woman's condition.

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the latest medical evidence available to him as to the earliest gestation age at which an unborn child may be capable of being born alive; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The 22nd gestational week is considered by doctors to be the earliest time that there is the slightest possibility of a foetus being born alive, since before then the lungs are not mature enough to function even if ventilated. Between the 22nd and 24th week of gestation the chance of being born alive and the chance of surviving afterwards increase, but up to 24 weeks both are rare. Whether or not any particular foetus is capable of being born alive must be a matter for the clinical judgment of the doctor concerned in the full knowledge of the circumstances of the particular case.

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the procedure adopted by his Department in checking and approving abortion notification forms.

  Mr. Freeman
  All operating doctors are required to notify the chief medical officer, within seven days, of each abortion they perform. The detailed information in these forms is scrutinised by staff authorised by the chief medical officer to ensure that they do not indicate any contravention of the abortion law.

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he received in 1987 and 1988, respectively, on(a) abortion and (b) human embryo experimentation; how many were hostile to each of these practices; and what percentage the latter represents of the former.

  Mr. Freeman
  In 1987 and 1988 we received some 9,000 representations about abortion issues and 500 about human embryo experimentation. Most were from members of the public and the views expressed varied widely. Any analysis on the lines requested would involve disproportionate cost.

  Blood Transfusion Service
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement concerning the circumstances in the national blood transfusion service that has caused the recent cancellation of operations and on the action he is now taking to prevent a repetition of such circumstances.

  Mr. Freeman
  The recent shortage of blood which led to the postponement of a small number of operations in some regions arose primarily because blood donors were not coming forward in sufficient numbers to maintain supplies.

  The fine weather, bank holidays, and transport striked contributed to the fall in numbers of donations.

  The national directorate of the blood transfusion service will be improving its monitoring of blood stocks
  282
  and donor attendances so that timely steps can he taken to encourage donors to attend blood donor sessions in the future.

  The temporary shortage of blood following the late May bank holiday has now been corrected.

  SERCO/Capita plc
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he or his Department have had any representations from, or meetings with, SERCO plc; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what recent meetings he or his Department had with Capita plc; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The director of NHS procurement, Mr. Tom Critchley, has had two meetings in March and May with the director of Capita Health Care group to discuss the services which that company, in collaboration with SERCO plc, is prepared to offer by way of facilities management or technical and non-clinical support services to the NHS. The meetings were part of a wider series of meetings which Mr. Critchley and officials from the NHS procurement directorate have had with a number of service companies able and ready to bid for NHS site management contracts covering a range of different support services. By way of explanation I refer the hon. Member to paragraph 9.11 of the White Paper "Working for Patients".

  Venereal Disease
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give the latest figures for venereal disease as a total and then disease by disease; and if he will give an indication of the trends in this group of diseases.

  Mr. Freeman
  The available information is given in the table. This relates to new cases seen at NHS genito-urinary medicine clinics over the last 10 years. Not all patients seen at clinics have conditions which are sexually transmitted, and some do not require treatment. Some patients have more than one condition, and are counted under each condition found. Discernible trends over the last ten years are:

  (a) The total number of new cases seen in clinics has been increasing steadily in recent years until 1987, when it fell by over 25,00 compared with 1986. This was the first time since 1962 that the number had declined. The main components of the increase were non-specific genital infection, herpes, wart virus, and candidiosis in women. However, cases of syphilis and gonorrhoea have been declining.

  (b) Since 1977 the incidence of syphilis has declined by 64 per cent. and gonorrhoea by 57 per cent. Gonorrhoea has been declining more rapidly, particularly among males aged 35 to 44, since about 1982, but there was a very marked fall in both male and female cases between 1986 and 1987. This is probably due to changes in sexual behaviour following the publicity about AIDS.

  (c) The number of new cases of herpes increased rapidly until 1985, but declined slightly in 1986 and again in 1987.

  (d) The number of new cases of genital warts has continued to increase at a rapid rate and now accounts for 12 per cent. of all new cases seen.

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  New cases seen at NHS genito urinary medicine clinics, England, 1977 to 1987, 1987–88

  1977

  1978

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1987–88

  Syphilis

  4,266

  4,375

  4,001

  4,059

  3,810

  3,564

  3,327

  2,933

  2,404

  1,932

  1,538

  1,463

  Gonorrhoea

  58,734

  56,673

  55,062

  54,433

  52,200

  52,156

  48,393

  47,662

  46,314

  40,705

  25,265

  22,884

  Chancroid

  43

  52

  42

  54

  91

  125

  80

  40

  61

  47

  39

  44

  Lymphogranuloma venereum

  34

  26

  30

  28

  40

  30

  36

  30

  30

  42

  15

  16

  Granuloma inguinale

  17

  11

  30

  20

  25

  15

  21

  19

  17

  20

  27

  22

  Non specific genital infection

  95,491

  98,390

  102,390

  114,306

  120,018

  128,197

  134,079

  139,352

  149,524

  157,792

  131,383

  125,973

  Non specific genital infection with arthritis

  496

  457

  456

  544

  583

  501

  462

  428

  487

  504

  533

  571

  Trichomoniasis

  20,051

  19,781

  19,511

  20,641

  20,224

  20,162

  18,274

  16,751

  15,381

  14,041

  10,658

  9,889

  Candidiasis

  38,090

  39,564

  39,700

  44,604

  46,947

  52,404

  57,876

  59,668

  60,517

  63,108

  59,768

  58,817

  Scabies

  2,185

  2,186

  2,076

  2,288

  2,145

  2,044

  2,192

  2,043

  2,015

  1,742

  1,365

  1,224

  Pubic lice

  6,058

  6,778

  7,478

  7,966

  8,718

  9,799

  9,093

  10,183

  9,859

  9,333

  6,920

  6,628

  Herpes simplex

  7,722

  8,406

  8,854

  10,043

  11,147

  13,653

  16,534

  18,301

  18,935

  18,800

  16,699

  16,510

  Warts

  22,766

  24,136

  24,490

  28,176

  29,704

  33,343

  37,899

  44,050

  52,177

  67,068

  74,542

  74,655

  Molluscum contagiosum

  930

  964

  968

  1,153

  1,212

  1,378

  1,574

  1,928

  2,195

  2,820

  3,228

  3,140

  Other treponemal diseases

  1,107

  1,080

  1,086

  923

  878

  833

  745

  658

  592

  526

  532

  471

  Other conditions requiring treatment

  42,437

  46,431

  49,555

  59,963

  67,842

  79,019

  90,817

  100,213

  109,318

  119,460

  111,667

  108,172

  Other conditions not requiring treatment

  95,537

  99,268

  99,813

  107,123

  111,407

  117,127

  121,900

  120,951

  130,162

  143,092

  168,556

  155,527

  Other conditions referred elsewhere

  1,749

  2,133

  2,242

  2,655

  2,933

  3,318

  4,135

  4,718

  5,318

  6,327

  7,531

  7,719

  Grand total, all conditions

  397,713

  410,711

  417,784

  458,979

  479,924

  517,668

  547,437

  569,928

  605,306

  647,359

  620,266

  593,725

EMPLOYMENT

  Social Measures (EC)
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Southend, East on 14 June,Official Report, column 909, if he will list the issues which the Commission proposes to deal with in social measures related to the European Economics Community and the draft directives issued to date; and if he will seek the guidance of the Commission on what social issues it will be presenting directives on the basis of majority voting.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 21 June 1989]: The European Commission has put forward a preliminary draft proposal for a "Community charter of fundamental social rights", which it proposes should be adopted as a solemn declaration of the 12 heads of state and Government. The preliminary draft proposal invites the Commission to draw up a programme of work by June 1990. A copy of the preliminary draft has been deposited in the Library, and an explanatory memorandum has been provided to the Select Committee on European Legislation. The preliminary draft is not based on any article of the treaty and is proposed as a political statement.

  The following draft legislation proposals, which have not yet been agreed, have been issued to date:
  draft directive on procedures for informing and consulting employees in complex undertakings;
  draft directive concerning temporary work;
  draft directive on voluntary part-time work;
  draft recommendation on the reduction and reorganisation of working time;
  draft directive on parental leave and leave for family reasons;
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  draft directive on the burden of proof in the area of equal pay and equal treatment for men and women;
  draft directive amending directive 68/360/EEC on the abolition of restrictions on movement and residence within the Community for workers of member states and their families.
  draft directive concerning the minimum health and safety requirements for work with visual display units.

  Whether the voting arrangements for specific proposals are based on simple majority, qualified majority or unanimity depends on the subject matter and the article(s) of the treaty of Rome on which they are based. The proposed treaty base is indicated on draft legislation.

  In addition, in the area of health and safety at work, there are:
  draft directive concerning the minimum health and safety requirements for the workplace;
  draft directive on the approximation of the laws of the member states relating to machinery;
  draft directive on the approximation of the laws of the member states relating to personal protective equipment;
  draft directive on the minimum health and safety requirements for handling heavy loads when there is a risk of back injury for workers.

DEFENCE

  Type 23 Frigate
  Mr. Duffy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress on the new command system for the type 23 frigate programme.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. and learned Member for Fife, North-East (Mr. Campbell) on 6 June at column 124.

  CONTINENTAL SHELF: MODERN SURVEY
  CONTINENTAL SHELF: MODERN SURVEY